Carpet and Rug Institute President Joe W. Yarbrough traveled to Washington, DC on September 17-18 for two days of back-to-back meetings with congressional representatives and the presidents of two allied trade associations.
 
Though active in government relations for many years on behalf of his former employer, Mohawk Industries, Yarbrough said the recent trip was notable as his first opportunity to meet with congressional representatives on behalf of the entire CRI membership. Yarbrough retired from Mohawk in March of 2014 as senior vice president for advanced manufacturing engineering.
 
During his visit, Yarbrough met with Georgia Sen. Johnny Isakson and ten current and former congressmen from Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee, as well as several key congressional staff members.
 
In addition to his congressional activities, Yarbrough held separate meetings with counterparts Paul O’Day and Joseph McGuire, presidents of the American Fiber Manufacturers Association (AFMA) and the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), respectively, to discuss issues those associations have in common with CRI.
 
“While things have eased somewhat since the lows we saw in 2009 and 2010, the carpet industry is still feeling the impact of the distressed housing industry. The industry’s strength, however, is exemplified by the billions of dollars CRI member companies have invested in carpet production assets and innovative technologies over the past several years. To help ensure a strong industry going forward, one role of the Carpet and Rug Institute is to maintain close relationships with our congressional leaders and inform them of the impact that laws and regulations have on this industry,” Yarbrough said.