Education Program
This year’s Education Program was stocked full of in-depth information and proven strategies to benefit floor covering and stone professionals. With a 20% increase in Education session attendance, many of the 70+ education sessions were filled to capacity with attendees serious about learning the latest information in business, sales/marketing, flooring installation, tile installation, building design and trends, care/maintenance/restoration, sustainability, and stone fabrication/installation.
SURFACES | StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas continued to offer the S²Masters Certification program for the second year, allowing education program participants to qualify for a “Master” status in any of the eight tracks offered in the program. Attendees were required to take a minimum of eight hours to receive the certification, which includes a certificate, mention on the show website and a ribbon to attach to their badge at next year’s show.
Top attended sessions included Unleashing Your Potential, presented by Warren Tyler; Carpet Fibers: New Technologies and Advancements You Should Know to Keep You Out of Trouble, presented by Lew Migliore; and Grade Your Shop’s Performance and Change Its Future presented by Robert Bromley and Jeff Brekhus.
“I came to SURFACES specifically to attend some of the educational sessions to learn more about how to run my business. I look forward to using the knowledge I learned at the show year-round to increase the success of my business,” said Sandy McKee, Memphis Flooring Company.
Show Floor Highlights and Special Events
SURFACES | StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas added new show floor features to enhance attendees’ overall show experience and hit the mark with The BEC (Business Enrichment Center), NWFA Hardwood Flooring Pavilion and Lounge, Tool Alley, S²Theater, Trends Hub, New Product Marketplace, Cleaning and Restoration Pavilion, The CAGE, and StoneLIVE Stadium.
The BEC (Business Enrichment Center), sponsored by GE Capital, was an all-new area on the show floor that featured an on-floor education stage with seating, SURFACES Social Media Lounge, and the Technology Trends Lounge, sponsored by Floor Trends. It also featured a cash bar, free Wi-Fi and a charging station. Attendees were very excited to take advantage of everything The BEC offered and it turned into a mainstay on the show floor.
The NWFA Hardwood Flooring Pavilion and Lounge was a brand new, popular area on the show floor. This area, which was dedicated to hardwood flooring products and current or prospective NWFA members, allowed for networking and browsing among new manufacturers and suppliers of innovative hardwood products.
The S² Theaterfeatured action-packed live product and installation demonstrations which instructed attendees on how to use, sell and install the latest in floor covering products, tools and technologies.
Tool Alleyfeatured exhibitors showcasing the latest tools and technologies in floor covering installation. In addition, the Tool Alley stage held daily live product demonstrations so attendees could see the tools in action. Chris Grundy, host of DIY Network’s “Cool Tools” was on-hand to assist with the demonstrations on Tuesday and signed autographs for exhibitors and attendees.
