Going into Surfaces 2001, many questions swirled throughout the industry -- at all levels and in all quarters. They were sparked, in part, by such things as the gyrations of the stock market, the desire of many to create a recession mentality and the beat goes on. Then, of course, there were those who wondered what Surfaces would be like now that it is owned by Hanley-Wood and not by the WFCA.
Only once in a great while does someone come along to make profound differences in the way the floor covering industry conducts business. Across a wide spectrum of important industry issues, Ron VanGelderen has distinguished himself as one of these rare individuals.
In mid-November, Walter Guinan died at the age of 87 after a lengthy illness. With his death, the industry lost a true giant, a unique man who inspired thousands of people throughout the floor covering industry.
With the appointment of Mohawk as a national distributor of Congoleum vinyl still very much a high-profile topic of discussion around the industry, NFT approached the heads of both companies, Congoleum Chairman and CEO Roger Marcus and Mohawk Chief Operating Officer Jeffery Lorberbaum, to obtain their personal insights on their new alliance.
In NFT’s June issue, Industry Perspectives carried this headline: “Why are Flooring Contractors Responsible for Moisture Emission Testing? The Time for Change is Long Overdue”. At the time I wrote that column, seeing something positive happen was a key item on my wish list. I had no idea it would happen quickly. What a great surprise.
In an industry not known for keeping secrets, the Sept. 25 announcement that Mohawk would be a Congoleum distributor throughout the continental United States beginning Nov. 1 was one deal that was successfully kept under tight wraps.
Several hundred coworkers, colleagues and well-wishers recently gathered in Montreal to honor Bob Van Buren on his retirement after 50 years in the floor covering industry.