The Floor Covering Education Foundation (FCEF) recently attended the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Annual Convention in Austin, Texas. The flooring industry was represented at the largest event for school counselors boasting an attendance of more than 4,000 counselors and counseling professionals.
“Awareness is a big problem for the flooring industry – even bigger than we initially thought,” shared Jim Aaron, executive director of FCEF. “We’ve got to make sure that young people are aware of our industry and the flooring craftsman career path. Talking to the people that guide young people as they make decisions about their future, well, that’s a huge, positive step.”
The FCEF team spent three days speaking with attendees of the event. Their message – flooring craftsmen careers are in high demand and offer a great career path for individuals who like to work with their hands, be creative, and feel the satisfaction of building something beautiful and functional. In addition to Aaron, direction of operations – Kaye Whitener and FCEF administrative assistant Tiffany Ketchem, board member Bill Blackstock, CEO of the Resilient Flooring Institute, and Dave Garden, CFI trainer and current instructor for the technical school pilot program attended to help spread awareness.
FCEF came to the event with customized brochures speaking to counselors as well as student-facing handouts that show a simple representation of the flooring craftsman’s career path.
“We want to show that this is not just a job, this is a career where you are constantly learning and growing,” shared Whitener. “Flooring craftsmen have many opportunities down the road for other roles within the flooring industry. There are so many possibilities, and it all starts with learning the craft.”
To learn more, visit FCEF.org.