CFI’s booth at the Connections Convention and Trade Show, Sept. 9-11, was a very busy place, with President Matthew Sanders and the regional directors answering questions and meeting with members and guests.

The CFI Annual Business Meeting was standing room only, and included guests from the Carpet Cleaners Institute of the North West (CCINW). IICRC President Patrick Winters opened the meeting by sharing his thoughts and concerns about the future of our industry.

A new slate of CFI directors and officers was sworn in as well: Graham Bedwell as President Elect; Greg Trigeiro as Secretary/Treasurer; Vince Attardo as Los Angeles Director; Rick Lewis as Central California Director; Norma McCormick as Arizona Director; Gabe Mathews as San Diego Director; and new Northern California Director Matt Cole.

This meeting also marked the completion of the term for CFI Chairman of the Board Gabriel Peretti. Gabriel served as the Los Angeles Chapter Director from 1999 through 2005, and was elected president of CFI in 2007.

CFI is in the process of creating a new memorial award, the Carl Williams Mentorship Award. Bobbie Williams thanked everyone for their love and support during the award announcement. Bobbie also presented the Bill Bailey Award to two-time recipient Patrick Moffett. The Bill Bailey Award is designed to perpetuate the memory an industry pioneer who was always willing to share his time and expertise with others.

The Dick Maplesden Award is for the chapter director who has done an outstanding job both in his/her chapter and for the CFI as a whole. This award honors a man who helped start what is now the CFI, and who gave his own personal time and financial support to promote our industry and our organization. This year the award was presented to Rick Lewis.

The Jackie Maplesden Award is reserved for the person who supports a spouse in our industry and is a member of the CFI. This person is someone that helps out at chapter meetings/Red’s/board meetings and the convention. This year the honor went to Ana Attardo, who does all the work and makes Vince look good.

The Joe Laurino Carpet Cleaner of the Year Award was named for a supplier who made it his personal agenda to help and share his personal knowledge with every cleaner he came in contact with. The recipient of this award is CFI supporter Ralph McKinley of A+Plus Environmental Supply.

The Golden Quill Award is given to a person who contributes extraordinary time and effort for the betterment of the CFI. This year the award was given to the ghostwriter of the CFI newsletter, shameless plagiarizer, master hack, and word-plunderer-of-all-time Jack Freedman.