WFCA Luminary Award
The WFCA Luminary Award is inspired by the definition of “luminary” as a person who inspires or influences others. The purpose of the Luminary Award is to honor extraordinary and inspirational actions of people for their mentorship, leadership, and contributions advancing the floor covering industry. The WFCA Luminary Award is selected not on an annual basis, but rather in recognition of an individual whose contributions are deserving of this exceptional honor.
Nominating individuals for this prestigious recognition is an ongoing process. In the following pages, you will find all of the information necessary for you to submit your nominee, as well as the judging criteria. Nominee must have made an extraordinary contribution that has been a driving force of positive change and has had a significant, profound, and lasting impact on the floor covering community.
Award Criteria
Nominations for the Luminary Award may be made for any person associated with the floor covering industry and demonstrate:
- Visionary Leader
- Effective Leadership
- Building Community
All entry material will be treated with complete confidentiality and will be reviewed only by the judging panel. All WFCA members are welcome to submit a nomination.
Click here for an application.
Pami Bhullar of The Dixie Group is the inaugural recipient of the WFCA Luminary Award. According to WFCA CEO Scott Humphrey, “The purpose of the WFCA Luminary Award is to honor excellence and inspirational actions of people for their mentorship, leadership and contributions advancing the floor covering industry. Pami is a leader who makes the world around him better. We are proud to celebrate all that influencers do for our in
Recognized by just his first name and always guided by his core values of principles, passion, and commitment, Pami has created a personal brand built on a genuine desire to help people grow not only professionally, but personally. His signature “Friendship Card” reveals a slice of his personality and turns a happenstance meeting from a casual conversation into a friendship in the making.
Pami, who recently announced a transition from INVISTA™ to The Dixie Group, entered the flooring business over 40 years ago. He began his career with the May Company where he learned the trade and how to impact people, then became the Director of the Rug Gallery in Phoenix, AZ before he landed at DuPont in 1998. Pami was instrumental in developing and building the DuPont Flooring Center (now STAINMASTER® Flooring Center), an innovative selling system that rapidly expanded into the preeminent flooring retail program in the industry, with over 400 retailers in North America participating. He later was a driving force in designing the STAINMASTER® Showcase Dealer program and has successfully reinvigorated and perfected the “Private Sale” concept for retailers.
Although Pami has had a tremendous influence on retail systems and programs, he is most widely known for his contributions to the development of floorcovering professionals. Throughout his career, Pami has trained over 10,000 sales professionals while making each one feel that personal touch. He is an exemplary mentor to anyone he meets and is driven to help others become the best they can be. Whether he’s imparting retail, sales or marketing wisdom, the power of selling through emotional connection is at its core.
“Pami has spent the last 40 years working to make this industry a better place,” said Jeff Dill, former Director of Mill & Retail Sales, INVISTA. “His passion, desire, gratitude, and humbleness have enabled him to contribute to the development of thousands of floorcovering professionals during this career. He is perhaps the first one to work so hard on salespeople; to become “Retail Sales Professionals.”
Winning the hearts and minds of everyone he meets, Pami has had a transformative effect on this industry. Whether it’s through his trainings, video series, “Pami Talks,” annual New Year’s Resolutions message, books he’s written, or speaking at industry engagements, Pami’s impact, presence and charisma connects, inspires, and motivates. His love for people shines through in everything he does.
“He is always trying to lift others up and help them be more successful. Due to his ability to communicate and help others without shining the spotlight on himself, he is respected and revered in our industry. There just isn’t another Pami,” said Dan Frierson, Chairman/CEO of The Dixie Group.
Pami has made pro bono work a cornerstone of his career and of his life. He has consistently been active in multiple industry organizations and service to his community. Whether it’s contributions to causes without recognition, foregoing speaking fees to donate to his causes or his effort, his humility shines through. He is steadfast in believing that more can be done.
Jay Kopelson, VP of Corporate Accounts for Mannington Mills, will receive its Luminary Award. The Luminary award honors excellence and inspirational actions of people for their mentorship, leadership, and contributions to advancing the floor covering industry.
Kopelson has spent his entire career in the flooring industry, working in various capacities, including sales, merchandising, and management. After five years at American Biltrite, he has been with Mannington Mills for over 30 years, where he is VP of Corporate Accounts and leads the annual “Jay’s Bargain Basement” at TISE. Both personally and professionally, he has a passion for helping others and serves on the board of directors for the WFCA, and is a coach for the High Five Soccer Program for special needs players.
“I am blessed to call Jay Kopelson my best friend, but so is everyone else he meets,” said Scott Humphrey, WFCA CEO. ” Jay is blessed with the amazing ability to make everyone feel special. I have yet to meet anyone with his ability to inspire everyone who crosses his path. Even his competitors light up when you mention his name. Taking Jay Kopelson and cloning him would solve the problems of our industry and our world because Jay has no enemies, only friends he has yet to meet. This award is defined by the life of my friend and yours – Jay Kopelson.”
Kathy Young is the recipient of the esteemed Luminary Award in recognition of her exceptional contributions and remarkable 45-year career in the floor covering industry.
Young, the former Vice President of Marketing Services at Shaw Industries, embarked on her professional journey in 1975 during high school. Starting in a vocational office training position, she diligently worked through various administrative roles, including reception, inventory control, project planner, and customer service representative.
In 1988, Young’s career reached a pivotal juncture as she transitioned into sales assistant and product management roles at Sutton Carpet Mills, later acquired by Salem Carpets and Shaw Industries. Throughout this transformative period, Young exhibited exceptional resilience, accountability, and reliability, persevering during a male-dominated era in the industry.
Her career progressed into product marketing and Creative Director, eventually reaching the position of VP of Marketing for 15+ years. Young played a crucial role in Shaw’s growth, overseeing retail licensing programs for prominent brands like Kathy Ireland, Martha Stewart, and HGTV. Leveraging her position as a woman in a an industry typically led by men, Young recognized the importance of understanding the female consumer in marketing, given that women make the majority of flooring purchases.
“I am proud to have been known as an important voice, both for the female consumer and my peers. Contributing to women’s inclusion in the traditionally male-dominated residential flooring market has been an honor. It is deeply gratifying to witness the thriving of diversity and inclusion as I pass the torch after 45 years,” expressed Young.
Her leadership exceeded beyond corporate success, as Young spearheaded Shaw’s efforts, making the company the top sponsor for St. Jude Marathon fundraising, raising over $700,000.
“I am thrilled to announce that Kathy Young, an esteemed female leader within the floor covering industry, has been awarded the Luminary Award by the World Floor Covering Association,” stated Freida Staten, WFCA VP of Marketing, Communications & Membership. “Kathy’s unwavering commitment, innovative spirit, and transformative leadership have shaped companies and left an indelible mark on the floor covering industry.”
Scott Sandlin, former EVP Residential Division at Shaw, also admired Young’s exceptional leadership, emphasizing her impact on the industry and the positive changes she brought: “Kathy was a great leader in our industry. She had it all stacked against her and essentially led through her innate spirit for making great things happen. The details of her early days in the industry were alarming to hear what she was up against. There was no way she would be held back by tradition. When the rooster crowed, she went to work and used her charm, street sense, intelligence, and genuine empathy for our customers as her guiding light. Young is a fighter and made a better future for all. Her impact on me and my family has been a true gift.”
Danny Crutchfield, longtime Shaw Industries executive and former Vice President of the Shaw Flooring Network (SFN), is the recipient of the 2025 Luminary Award. Crutchfield was recognized at a special ceremony at The International Surface Event (tise) in Las Vegas in January, 2026.
Crutchfield’s nearly 40-year career with Shaw Industries has made him one of the most influential voices supporting independent flooring retailers. Known for his principled leadership and collaborative approach, he has championed retailer success through education, operational development, and programs designed to strengthen the independent retail channel.
“It is often said that we do not remember what someone says, but rather how they make us feel. Danny is the rare exception. We remember what he says, and we absolutely love how he makes us feel: seen, heard, and loved,” said Doug McCool of McCool’s Flooring in Indianapolis, IN. “After talking to Danny, one feels important. He has made a career of pouring into others, inspiring industry leaders and entrepreneurs alike.”
Crutchfield began his career in residential sales as a TM in Tampa, FL. Later, he was hired by Mr. Shaw to establish a more formalized residential sales training program for college recruits at the company’s headquarters in Dalton, GA.
Working across the organization, Crutchfield helped develop a comprehensive program that taught future sellers essential selling skills while also assigning them temporary roles in manufacturing, customer service, distribution, and financial services. These experiences gave trainees a deeper understanding of how the company operates and of the care that goes into the products they sell. The program also helped sellers build meaningful relationships across the organization, ensuring they always had trusted colleagues to reach out to—long before cell phones and the internet.
Over time, Crutchfield’s influence in training and development expanded beyond sales to include recruiting, corporate training, and organizational development. His leadership in customer and leadership education helped establish Shaw as an industry leader in workforce development. Together, these efforts produced foundational training models that enhanced sales effectiveness, customer experience, and leadership capability across the company and the broader industry.
In 2018, Crutchfield was appointed Vice President of the Shaw Flooring Network, where he led one of the industry’s largest member networks with a philosophy centered on listening, transparency, and partnership. Under his leadership, SFN grew overall sales, strengthened dealer engagement, expanded business-building resources, and elevated the voice of independent retailers in strategic decision-making.
“Danny’s heart and passion to help others are strong. His integrity, honesty, character, and love for customers have impacted our business and our personal growth more than he will ever know,” said Sheldon Yoder of Yoder & Co. in Columbus, OH. Industry leaders consistently credit Crutchfield with fostering deeper partnerships between manufacturers and the retail community while keeping retailer needs at the forefront of innovation.
Over nearly four decades with Shaw Industries, Crutchfield played a central role in advancing sales leadership, workforce development, and customer-focused innovation across the company and the broader industry.
“Danny Crutchfield embodies the spirit of the Luminary Award,” said Scott Humphrey, WFCA CEO. “His unwavering commitment to retailers, his decades of service to the industry, and his leadership grounded in humility and listening have made a profound impact. Danny is someone who has always put people at the center of his work, and the flooring industry is better because of his influence.”
Reflecting on Crutchfield’s impact, Tim Baucom, Chief Executive Officer of Shaw Industries Group, noted that Danny’s leadership has always extended beyond individual roles or titles.
“He understands how to shape markets by first investing in people. Danny helped redefine how Shaw partners with retailers, develops talent, and creates value across the enterprise. By honoring our core values while pushing us to evolve, he has left a lasting mark on both Shaw and the broader industry.”
The WFCA Luminary Award honors individuals whose leadership and commitment have made a lasting impact on the flooring industry. Crutchfield’s dedication to education, collaboration, and strengthening the independent retail channel reflects those values. The presentation took place during tise on Wednesday, January 28, at 3:30 PM at the WFCA booth.