Russell Grizzle, president of the USA Carpet Division of Milliken & Co., was elected as chairman of the board of the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) at the trade association's annual meeting.

Grizzle moves up to the position after having served as vice chairman for the past year and will replace outgoing chairman Jeff Lorberbaum of Mohawk Industries.

Jim Bethel of J&J Industries was elected to serve as vice chairman for 2005. The CRI Board of Directors is comprised of six permanent members from the Institute's largest manufacturer members which include Robert Shaw of Shaw Industries, Jeff Lorberbaum of Mohawk Industries, Carl Bouckaert of The Beaulieu Group, Dan Hendrix of Interface, and Mac Bridger of The Tandus Group. The board also includes three members from fiber producers which include Alan Wolk of Invista, Dick Prinstein of Honeywell, and Brad Hill of Solutia.

The remaining four members of the board are rotating seats which will be filled for 2005 by Dan Frierson of The Dixie Group, Jim Bethel of J&J Industries, Jack Ganley of Mannington Carpet, and Mike Gallman of Blue Ridge Industries. Also, Gerald Embry of Shaw Industries has been reappointed to serve as CRI Treasurer for 2005.

In addition, the newly elected Board appointed six members to the CRI Policy Committee for 2005. Those appointed include Grizzle, Shaw, Lorberbaum, Bethel, Bouckaert, and Wolk.