Dalton—The Floor Covering Education Foundation (FCEF) is expanding its team to include a new education project manager and named Jen Zurn, a CFI-certified hard surface installer, to the position. The foundation said this role will be essential to implementing technical college programs across the country and making the training needed to become a flooring installer more readily available.
“We are elated to have Jen join the FCEF team,” said Jim Aaron, executive director of FCEF. “Her understanding of the industry along with her passion and dedication are just what we need to grow technical college programs quickly and effectively.”
Zurn said she is excited to take on the new challenge and support the industry she is passionate about. She said she has seen first-hand the need for more professional installation craftsmen and will now put her project management skills to work to build basic flooring installation programs in schools throughout North America.
“I can’t wait to take on this new challenge in my career,” Zurn said. “What FCEF is doing is going to change the industry for the better and I’m honored that I will get to be a part of their success.”
Zurn has co-owned, managed and installed flooring for Precision Surfaces, an independent installation company focused on hard surface flooring installation, for over 17 years. She and co-owner and husband, Jay Zurn, have built a successful business giving her experience in project management, relationship building and working with budgets—all skills that will be instrumental to her success as FCEF’s new education project manager, according to the foundation.
Zurn officially started her new role on September 15, and will spend her first few weeks getting up to speed on FCEF’s programs. She will be responsible for working with technical and community colleges to get buy-in on starting a program, coordinate with donors and schools to get programs up and running and monitor active programs to make sure they are operating to the standards set by FCEF and their training partners.
“Jen has already contributed so much to our work in her free time,” said Kaye Whitener, director of operations for FCEF. “We’re so lucky to have her helping to make things happen full time. I know that she will make a huge impact through her work at FCEF.”