|
CFI Friends News
Thanks WFCA! We can't do it without you!
Without the continued support of the WFCA, the cost of the CFI programs would significantly increase. All members are very thankful for this partnership.
CHUCK BILLINGS, CFI #419 (one of the first) from Upper Sandusky, OH has been ill since last fall. He is in the hospital with complications from cancer. Chuck and Mike Breidenbach #418 have worked together for many years. Mike is managing the store during Chuck's illness. We just know he'll bounce back soon. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his wife, Penny for a speedy recovery. Thanks to P.J. Arthur for sending this information to CFI.
BEN BOATWRIGHT has received a promotion in his job and will be working harder than ever. Don't you think he deserves this? We mean "the working harder than ever" part. Congratulations!
Michael Hetts, son Adam will be married in Washington, DC this summer. We heard that all the guests will be skydiving!
GARY BEDROSIAN has a new job and he is excited about the change. Congratulations! His new email is garyjb54@yahoo.com.
Now, how do you like this??? DAVE GARDEN has a new email address and you can't guess what it is! That's right, CFIMaster2@installationservicesmi.com. Someone is very proud and rightfully so! It's a good thing he lives in Michigan because Glenn Olsen has this and Dick Schmidt has it in Ohio.
Many thanks to Daris and Karen Mulkin, Tim Zdybek and Dave Garden for all their hard work at the Sterling Heights, Michigan CFI Training and Certification. Another great event hosted by Dave. By the way, don't feel sorry for Karen in the cold, she is "sunning" in Florida right now! Dave sent this note, "Daris and Tim really deliver the "goods." Their patience with installers is unparalleled. I am working hard to sell this program with everyone I come in contact with."
Tony Buckhardt is on his way to cold (colder than Indiana?) Green Bay, WI for the CFI event tonight hosted by CCS. Nate Hall and Gary Goessl are also on the Team. Many thanks guys!!!!
Alan Ellis and Chuck Kubich are driving in 10-feet of snow to CFI's event in Grand Island, NE tonight. We really love to schedule events in this cold, cold areas just for you guys! Chuck's daughter is working with him.
And how about this from a territory manager from Lowe's in California,
"I just wanted to take a quick moment to let you know how great the CFI training program is for our installers. Of all of the installer trainings we have, I feel this one is the best! Robert and Jonathan did an awesome job with the installers. It is an art in earning the respect of these installers as often times they become defensive when told about better ways to do things. Robert definitely possesses this art. I had several comments from the group in regards to the professionalism and knowledge that this CFI team portrayed."
TRAINING and CERTIFICATION! Now's the time to add to your certification and get involved with the hardsurface area. CFI offers certifications through the National Wood Flooring Association, the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation and through Armstrong for both wood and resilient.
WFCA celebrates 50 years of supporting the flooring industry! They did it BIG TIME at Surfaces giving away $1000.00 to 50 lucky winners! Guess who won again? You're right! ROLAND THOMPSON! CHRIS DAVIS was having a grand time giving away those $$$$$$! He never picked us, but maybe we didn't register!!! CFI is very thankful for our partner, WFCA. The support that our membership receives means so much! CFI is able to offer the finest training in the industry at reduced cost because of the support of WFCA. By the way, CHRIS DAVIS also celebrated his birthday at Surfaces with something about a "car wash!" You ask him!
HANLEY WOOD presented another great show at SURFACES 2009! Thanks to Carol Wilkins and Kelly Cooper and the rest of the Hanley Wood group for working so hard to help the rest of us do our job! For CFI, it was a fantastic show with many contacts for training.
ROBERT VARDEN sent us a picture from a recent certification in San Marco. He fondly refers to it as "training by candlelight." The power came back on as he was leaving for the airport!
Adam Olsen and his wife are expecting their second child. Glenn was in Kansas City recently and is REALLY busy with his travels for Atlas. He is doing a great job and will soon be on his way to Guam to oversee a huge installation.
Bob and Jeanette Gillespie went to Denver, CO to make plans for their son, Derrick's wedding this summer also.
Congratulations to the Long Island Floor Covering Association for 50 years of service to the industry! This is a great group of folks who brought us to New York for the first CFI certification. We know they had a wonderful time renewing friendships and remembering "fun" times at their celebration!
STEVE HARDY He always wants to know how everyone else is doing! Quite the guy! He has regained about 75% of his speech, which was a major task! He credits his therapist with this (of course, it has nothing to do with Steve)! She says it is his attitude and desire to get better are the reasons he does so well. He is going to compete again this year in the 29th Annual National Veterans Wheelchair Games July 13-18 in Spokane, Washington. His events are weightlifting, bowling and archery. His bowling bowl has a handle that comes out so he can hook it into the palm of his hand so when he throws it, the ball snaps back. He has a custom designed bow. His general health is good and he will be returning to the VA Hospital in San Diego in April for his annual physical. He has all of his strength back that he lost from the stroke at the games last year. He is moving forward with power lifting. Steve is a special guy! The VA of San Diego is planning to sponsor 20 disabled veterans for the event. A special fund where the proceeds go directly to the Wheelchair Games is the General Post Fund #1278. To contribute to the fund, checks are written to VAVS GPF 1278. All donations are tax deductible. Can't wait to see what Steve does exciting this year!!! GO GIT 'EM!!!!!
DANNY SHERMAN We received a very nice note from Danny and he is doing much better than one would expect. He has his hands full with 3 children, a home and a business and being the great dad that he is!!!
DUEY JOHNSON Another great CFI Guy who is "conquering" life! We saw Duey at Surfaces and he has some difficult moments, but just keeps really, really busy. He is still inviting everyone to that great state of North Dakota!
BOB WILSON We know he must be really ornery, but we can't prove it right now!
John McHale is vacationing in Australia! Be sure to ask him about the length of his worldwide travel THROUGH Korea!
Kevin and T. J. Twohig are in the British Isles running away as far as they can from Wisconsin! Poor souls!
AND, then there's JUNIOR AGAIN!
What an event! The photos tell the story of Junior's day in the limelight! It was a wonderful evening with over 60 in attendance at the Maryland Northern Delaware WFCA affiliate's MAN of THE YEAR AWARD dinner. This is Junior's second time to receive it for outstanding service. And, that he does! Tom Keene and Roland Thompson represented CFI. Junior was very surprised when he was honored by CFI with a special award. Roland explained was like the "Gress Award" for installers because of his contributions to help others in the flooring industry. CFI is honored to know Junior Harris!
His life-long friends were also there. The founder of J.J. Haines even left the beautiful Florida weather and his golf game to fly in for dinner, but left for home immediately! Junior was very surprised. Junior was at Surfaces dressed for GQ Magazine and always the "voice" for CFI installers! THANK YOU!
CONGRATULATIONS ALSO ----
The MNDFCA also honored L. FISHMAN as the Associate of the Year. L. Fishman has also been a great friend of CFI! In the new building, a training and educational area was included for installation professionals. THANKS!
Thanks to Jon, Suzy and Jason Namba for all the work on the Surfaces Installation Showcase! It was another great affair packed full of educational information for the attendees. Ed Braile was one of the stars as he seemed to "pop-up" in all the demonstrations!!! CFI appreciates WFCA, Hanley Wood and Floor Covering Installer Magazine for the opportunity to share techniques and information at Surfaces.
Rod Von Busch turned 50 at Surfaces!! He was with Jodi and they were having a wonderful time "celebrating!" Not quite as much as Kenny Miles with his plate filled to the sky with crab legs. Darlene was so excited to be with her friends and having a ball.
MANY THANKS to Daris and Karen Mulkin, Charles Parsley, Darlene Miles, Roy Davison, Jimmy Walker, John McHale, Ed Braile, Junior Harris, Chuck Kubich, Alan Ellis and Jerry Miller and anyone else who helped at the CFI Booth in Surfaces. The traffic was very, very busy!
The CFI Website, www.CFIinstallers.com is receiving hundreds of thousands of hits. It appears that consumers, as well as dealers are looking for the BEST for their work. This is exciting!
CFI WOVEN CARPET 2-day WORKSHOP
If you are interested in attending this workshop, please let us know as soon as possible. Nate Hall is organizing one in Wisconsin, there will be another one in Cincinnati due to the success of the workshop a few weeks ago, there may be one in New York and another in Kansas City.
Training and Certifications are busy
This weekend sponsored by Installation Services, Dave Garden's workroom in Sterling Heights, Michigan, with Tim Zdybek, Dave and Daris and Karen Mulkin. February 20-21st in Green Bay, Wisconsin sponsored by Carpet Cushions and Supplies with Tony Buckhardt, Nate Hall, Gary Goessl and other members of the CFI Chapter. Alan Ellis and Chuck Kubich will host the Lincoln, Nebraska Training and Certification Event next weekend also. March 6-7 in Charlottesville, Virginia, Duane Cassis of Carpet Plus is hosting an event with Jim Walker, Ed Braile, Roland Thompson and Tom Keene. Many more are being scheduled - watch the website.
In honor of President's Day...
Abraham Lincoln once made this statement, "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you really want to test a man's character, give him power."
CFI's friend, Hiroshi Tsujio sent us this article from TIME MAGAZINE that says it all..
"Laugh and the World Laughs with YOU: HAPPY is contagious! Ever wonder whether happy people have something you don't, something that keeps them cheerful, chipper and able to see the good in everything? It turns out they do - they have happy friends. That's the conclusion of researchers from Harvard and the University of California at San Diego, who report in the British Medical Journal online that happiness spreads among people like a disease. The merriment of one person, the researchers found, can ripple out and cause happiness in people up to three degrees away. So if you're happy, you increase your joy in your close friend by 25%, a friend of that friend enjoys a 10% increased chance. And, that friend's friend has a 5.6% higher chance. BE HAPPY! It's best for everyone!
Wayne Dyer writes in his book, You'll See It When You Believe It, "If you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you'll rarely disappoint yourself! Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don't be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd. BE AN EAGLE!!!"
Teach what you know
Learn what you need to
Care enough to share it
CFI is providing for a better tomorrow, NOW!
back to top |