The Floor Covering Industry Foundation (FCIF) raised $300,000 during its recent black-tie gala at Gotham Hall in New York City. Honoring the lifetime achievements of Sy Cohen, Dan Frierson and Roger Marcus, the fundraiser included a cocktail reception, speeches, dinner and dancing to support the FCIF’s mission of assisting people in the floor covering industry who are facing extreme medical and financial hardships.
As attendees passed through the imposing brass doors, they entered Gotham Hall’s stunning Grand Ballroom, featuring a one-of-a-kind, 3,000 sq. ft. stained-glass ceiling. Regal granite walls and solid limestone Corinthian columns frame the oval space, further enhancing its architectural splendor. The building was designated as a New York City landmark in 1992 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.
This year’s honorees were:
Sy Cohen – Founder & Chairman, Stanton Carpet
Sy Cohen has been a fixture in the flooring industry for more than 50 years. He launched Stanton in 1980 after founding Country Carpet in 1972, which catered to interior designers with moderate to high-end products. Inspired by his visits overseas, Cohen introduced exclusive, decorative items that transformed his business. Under his leadership, Stanton grew into a powerhouse with more than 800 carpet products, becoming a pioneer in high-end woven goods for the retail community in the U.S. and Canada.
Dan Frierson – Chairman & CEO, The Dixie Group
Dan Frierson has been a leading figure in the flooring industry for nearly six decades, beginning his career at Dixie Yarns in 1966. Following in his father’s footsteps, he worked in various plant roles before becoming CEO in 1980 and chairman in 1986. To adapt to market changes in the early ‘90s, Frierson transformed Dixie from a textile to carpet company, acquiring Masland Carpets in 1993 and completing more than a dozen acquisitions by 2000. Under his leadership, The Dixie Group has become a prominent luxury flooring manufacturer.
Roger Marcus – Chairman & CEO, American Biltrite
Roger Marcus has dedicated nearly 60 years to the floor covering industry, leading American Biltrite for the past four decades. His family’s journey began after WWII when his father transitioned the company from making rubber heels to producing rubber flooring, and in the 1950s, thermoplastic vinyl tiles. Marcus joined the company as a sales rep in 1967, becoming CEO in 1983 and overseeing the merger with Congoleum in 1992. He has driven innovations like DuraStone and DuraCeramic. An active industry supporter, he has served as president of the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) and has significantly contributed to the FCIF.
View a list of past FCIF award recipients and honorees at: https://www.fcif.org/fcif-honorees.
