The program developed in partnership with Georgia Northwestern Technical College was recently approved.
During a virtual press conference on March 22nd, the Floor Covering Education Foundation (FCEF) announced that the pilot program developed at Georgian Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) recently received accreditation through the college system of Georgia.
“We are extremely excited to share this news with the industry,” said Jim Aaron “It is proof that when the industry comes together with a common goal, we can do great things.”
FCEF spearheaded the development of the Basic Flooring Installation program last year in partnership with GNTC, the International Certified Flooring Installers Association (CFI), the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA), and the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation (CTEF). The first 10-week program began on January 10th of this year and was recently completed graduating eight students with a flooring installation technician certificate.
“What this means for our industry is that we can implement the program nationwide,” shared Kaye Whitener, Director of Operations for FCEF during Tuesday’s press conference. “We are creating pathways for a new generation of flooring craftsmen.”
After introductions to the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) facilitated by Victor Anderson, owner of Anderson’s Carpet One Floor & Home and also a state representative in the state of Georgia, GNTC was chosen to host this pilot program for many reasons including their location and availability of resources.
“Our mission is workforce development, and we recognize the great need for training for the flooring workforce,” shared Dr. Heidi Popham, President of GNTC. “Because of the immediate need, we offered the pilot program in a 10-week non-credited format. Starting this fall, we can now offer this program as a 15-week credit program which opens additional financial aid opportunities for our students.”
“We can now start working with other TCSG schools to include this program,” added Popham. “The curriculum will be the same across the state.”
FCEF will be meeting with other technical colleges in the state of Georgia to get the approved curriculum into place.
Dave Garden, CFI Certified Installer and Instructor shared his experience in teaching this pilot program. “Through this program, we get to teach the basics and make sure these craftsmen are set up to succeed. From basics as simple as how to carry a box of tile to more technical skills, it’s great to be able to teach these students the skills they need to avoid common mistakes and injuries.”
The next 10-week program will begin on May 16th. There are still seats and FCEF scholarships available for those interested in attending the program. Anyone interested in attending should visit flooryourfuture.com/gntc to get started.
As FCEF works to get this curriculum in place in technical schools across the nation, they ask for the support of the industry to make it happen.
“We have to have local representation and support from the industry,” urged Whitener. “We need support in connecting with local schools, securing local product and tool donations, and support from a job placement perspective. We need to make sure these students have a clear path to continue their training and develop their careers.”
“The industry came together to make this happen and it is an achievement 20 years in the making,” added Don Roberts, Chairman of the FCEF board. “The last two years’ efforts from FCEF and the support of the industry have made a huge difference. This is just the beginning.”
Explore our website to learn more about the Floor Covering Education Foundation, make a financial donation and learn more about helping to support their technical school initiatives.
ABOUT THE FLOOR COVERING EDUCATION FOUNDATION
The FCEF was established to support the floor covering industry in several ways depending on the current needs of the industry. The mission of the FCEF is to bring awareness to the opportunities in the flooring industry, recruit new talent, aid in the funding of the student’s education, and facilitate job placement for these individuals into flooring industry careers.