SURFACES 2009 Education Program Focuses On The Future of Floor Covering

(Dallas, Texas) The 2009 SURFACES Education Program will again have an accomplished lineup of industry educators sharing their expert knowledge and
offering real solutions aimed at increasing attendees’ bottom line and the success for the future of their businesses.

The Education Program, co-sponsored by Mannington Mills and Floor Covering Weekly, offers 43 educational sessions to choose from in five targeted tracks – Marketing, Business, Sales, Design and Installation. Retailers, installers, architects, designers, distributors and builders can get all the information they need to succeed, all in one place, at SURFACES 2009.

In an ever-changing economic environment, SURFACES continues to push the industry forward by offering numerous educational opportunities for floor covering professionals specifically targeted at the economic forecast and the future of the industry.  Many of the program’s courses will provide attendees the tools and information they need to be profitable in today’s economy.  Numerous business and core financial topics on maintaining and growing market share are incorporated throughout the program. 

Some of the sessions focusing on increasing profitability and the future of the economy are:

• “Economic Trends and the Outlook for Homebuilding and Remodeling” – Kermit Baker, Ph.D, Boyce Thompson, Editorial Director, BUILDER Magazine, and Sal Alfano, Editorial Director, Remodeling Magazine
• “Overview of Housing and the Macro Economy” – Dennis McGill, Zelman & Associates
• “Increase Your Profitability with ‘S.U.C.C.E.S.S’ – Caren McCabe, McCabe Training & Consulting. LLC
• “POW! ZAP! Supercharge Your Sales!” – Warren Tyler, Motivations Plus
• “Smart Moves in Difficult Times” – Jonathan Trivers, Consultant
• “Prospecting for Profit” – Scott Perron, Big Bob’s of America

New to the program this year are sessions centered on what is trending upward for 2009 and beyond in design, color and purchasing behaviors. Two of the design sessions are walking, interactive tours where attendees can get an up-close look at some the most exclusive properties in Las Vegas such as Wynn Las Vegas
with “Wynn Tour with Roger Thomas” led by Roger Thomas, Executive Vice President Design, Wynn Design and Development and The Shoppes At The Palazzo
with “Seek, Experience, Inspire: Finding Your Creative Inspiration” led by Mark Woodman, Owner, Mark Woodman Design & Color.

Additional sessions are:

• “Color Trends for Fall – Winter 2009/2010” – Carolina Calzada, Global Color Research™ Limited
• “Marketing to the Ultimate Power Consumer: WOMEN” – Patricia Flavin, Beaulieu of America
• “Interpreting Generational Marketing Trends” – Annette Callari, ASID, CMG
• “Color Trends for Spring – Summer 2010” – Carolina Calzada, Global Color Research™ Limited

Highlighting the program will be the first-ever General Session – “Prevailing Through the Current Crisis – An Industry Wake-Up Call!” - featuring six of the most distinguished industry executives sharing their insights for the future of floor covering and how they plan on guiding floor covering professionals through these
difficult economic conditions. The General Session will be held on Tuesday, February 3 in The Venetian Hotel’s Palazzo Ballroom from 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
and will serve as the opening session of the show and is sponsored by The Floor Covering Institute and Affluent Insights, benefiting the Floor Covering Industry Foundation.
The cost to attend is $25.

New to the General Session panel is Rainer Blair, President and CEO, Mapei of Americas. Mr. Blair is the President and Chief Executive Officer of MAPEI Americas, where he has responsibility for the North American, South American and Caribbean subsidiaries of the MAPEI Group. Mr. Blair joined MAPEI in June 2006 in Deerfield Beach, Florida, headquarters of MAPEI Americas.

Mr. Blair joins current panelists Ralph Boe, President and CEO, Beaulieu of America, Tom Davis, President and CEO, Mannington Mills, Tom Lape, President, Mohawk Residential, Randy Merritt, President, Shaw Industries and Frank Ready, Executive Vice President, Armstrong and CEO, Armstrong North American
Floor Products. Moderator for the session is Gerri Willis, Anchor, CNN.

The 2009 Education Program starts Monday, February 1 with Pre-Show Workshops, which cost $85 each ($110 after December 30). Seminars run Tuesday,
February 3 – Thursday, February 5 for only $60 each ($80 after December 30). Mini Sessions are $45 each ($65 after December 30) and are offered Tuesday,
February 3 and Wednesday, February 4.  For complete course descriptions, speaker bios and schedules, visit www.Surfaces.com.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to learn challenging techniques and trend-setting design applications using the newest products and materials on two live demonstration stages featuring 15 hands-on demos. These live sessions, the always popular Installation Showcase located upstairs in the back of Hall A and the brand new SURFACES Elevations stage located downstairs in Hall G, will cover the latest in installation and design methods using carpet, tile, stone, resilient, hardwood, laminate, mixed media and more. For complete titles, descriptions and times, visit www.Surfaces.com.

For more information on SURFACES and the Education Program, call 800.547.3477 or 972.536.6400 or visit www.Surfaces.com.

SURFACES 2009 takes place February 3 – 5 (Tuesday – Thursday) at the Sands Expo & Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada USA.

The official sponsor of SURFACES is the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA), the floor covering industry's largest advocacy organization representing floor covering retailers, contractors and allied service providers throughout North America.

The WFCA is a recognized leader in marketing research, industry certification programs, and operates the premier consumer flooring web site, www.wfca.org,
providing unbiased information about every type of floor covering and connecting customers to members’ retail stores. The WFCA also influences public policy
affecting the floor covering industry and consumers. For more information about the WFCA, visit www.wfca-pro.org.

About Hanley Wood
Hanley Wood, LLC, is the premier media company serving housing and construction. Through four operating divisions, the company produces award-winning magazines and Web sites, marquee trade shows and events, rich data and custom marketing solutions. The company also is North America’s leading publisher of home plans. Hanley Wood Exhibitions (Dallas) conducts 18 trade shows, including World of Concrete, one of the top 20 trade show events in the country.

Founded in 1976, Hanley Wood is a $250 million company owned by affiliates of JPMorgan Partners, LLC. CCMP Capital Advisors manages the Hanley Wood investment for JPMorgan Partners.

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