As Women In the Floorcovering Industry (WIFI) celebrates its 5th birthday this month, the organization is also leading several key spring industry events. The schedule includes:
- March 18 at 12:00 p.m. EST – Own the Year: How to Lead a Powerful 2026 Planning Session virtual WIFI Power Hour.
- March 29 at 4:30 p.m. CST – Winning the Floor in Today’s Market: Retail Roundtables at the Alliance Flooring Convention in San Antonio, Texas.
- March 31 at 11:30 a.m. PST – Coverings Speed Networking Lunch in Las Vegas, Nevada.
- April 22 at 9:15 a.m. EST – Confidence in Action: Owning Your Superpower Panel + Tabletop Discussion at the NWFA Convention in Orlando, Florida.
To register for events or join the Friends of WIFI community, visit womeninflooring.org.
Founded on International Women’s Day in 2021, WIFI was created with a vision to attract, educate, and empower women in the floorcovering industry. Over the past five years, the organization has grown into a vibrant community offering scholarships, mentoring, leadership development, and national networking opportunities designed to elevate women at every stage of their careers. The 2026 International Women’s Day theme, “Give To Gain,” reinforces WIFI’s mission. The campaign highlights that when individuals and organizations invest in women through mentorship, education, and opportunity, the impact extends beyond the individual to strengthen companies, communities, and the flooring industry as a whole.
To commemorate WIFI’s 5th birthday milestone, the organization is inviting industry members to participate in its 5th Birthday Wish List:
- Invite five colleagues to attend the WIFI Power Hour on March 18 at https://loom.ly/BdJyvL4
- Make a gift to support WIFI scholarships for post-secondary and continuing education at https://loom.ly/s8DzRhI
- Share a five-sentence testimonial on LinkedIn about what WIFI has meant to you and tag the organization
In addition to celebrating its anniversary, WIFI has announced several upcoming spring events:
On March 18, WIFI will host Own the Year: How to Lead a Powerful 2026 Planning Session, a free virtual event open to all industry professionals. The session will be led by Michelle Nix, director of education, World Floor Covering Association. Participants will learn a practical, repeatable one-hour framework for building a clear and aligned 2026 calendar. Nix will share facilitation strategies and tools to anchor key deadlines, sequence initiatives, manage group dynamics and create accountability. Attendees will leave with techniques they can immediately apply with their teams. Register now at https://loom.ly/BdJyvL4.
On March 29, WIFI and Alliance Flooring will host Winning the Floor in Today’s Market at the Alliance Flooring Convention in San Antonio. This peer-led conversation, hosted by Mallory Cruise-McGrath, Floor Covering Weekly; Megan Polk, and Savanna Ostrander, Alliance Flooring, will focus on what’s working in today’s flooring retail environment, offering practical insights retailers can apply immediately. Join us at https://loom.ly/XWPA1T0.
During Coverings show in Las Vegas on March 31, WIFI will engage with attendees through their collaborative Speed Networking Lunch designed to spark connection and career development. Guided table discussions and rotating small groups will explore leadership, mentorship, entrepreneurship and work–life balance. Learn more and sign up at https://loom.ly/atlL5Vo.
Looking ahead, WIFI will host Confidence in Action: Owning Your Superpower at the NWFA Wood Flooring Expo in Orlando, Florida, on April 22. This interactive session will feature both a panel and tabletop discussion focused on pinpointing what your strong suit is and how to use those skills to standout in the workplace. Turn your superpower into strategy and success within your organization. Panelists include Julie Russell, Gemini Industries; Ashley Do Carmo, Brown Oaks Flooring; and Brenda Cashion, UCX. The session will be moderated by WIFI board member Renee Littleton, Kahrs. nwfaexpo.org