Passings: D. Christopher Davis

D. Christopher Davis, 64, on Feb. 22. Davis served as president and CEO of the World Floor Covering Association, the Anaheim, Calif.-based flooring trade group and sponsor of the SURFACES trade show.

Davis worked to create the WFCA in 1995 with the merger of the American Floorcovering Association and the Western Floor Covering Association, which he headed as CEO.

D. Christopher DavisFrom 1995-2000, Davis also oversaw the SURFACES trade show, then owned by the WFCA. He negotiated the sale of the event to current owner Hanley Wood Exhibitions for $40+ million and retention of sponsorship rights by the WFCA for a 25-year minimum.

At the time of his death, Davis also Davis also served as president/CEO of WFCA Services Inc., the for-profit, independent subsidiary of the WFCA operating a captive insurance company to offer workers’ compensation insurance in California. He also served as president of the Floor Covering Industry Foundation (FCIF), a charitable organization for assisting members of the floor-covering field who experience catastrophic illnesses or severe disabilities.

Before joining the flooring industry, Davis worked as president and CEO of convention and visitors bureaus in Long Beach, Calif.; Oakland, Calif.; and Corpus Christi, Texas. He also served as communications director for the Oakland Chamber of Commerce.

During his work with communities, Davis helped coordinate logistics and supervise location management for major events including the 1984 Democratic National Convention; Super Bowl XIX ; the 1987 Major League Baseball All-Star Game; and teh 1992 American Bowling Congress.

An honors graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, Davis was named the “Outstanding Graduate in Journalism” by the Society of Professional Journalists.

A celebration of Davis will be held on March 29 at the Sheraton Park Hotel in Anaheim, Calif., with cocktails and dinner provided by the WFCA. The evening includes a toast at 4 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m. and presentations at 8 p.m. For more information and/or RSVP, contact Connie Buda at 714-978-6440, X17, or emal cbuda@wfca.org.

A Facebook memorial page is available here.