John Miller, III, Promoted To General Counsel
Manager of Government Affairs Adds New Duties to Role

Contact: CRI Communications Department, 706.428.2103

November 22, 2002, DALTON, GA - Werner Braun, president of the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI), has announced John L. Miller, III, CRI's manager of government affairs, will also assume the duties of general counsel for the trade association beginning January 1, 2003.

"We are always looking for synergies both within and outside our organization, and with John's background and knowledge of both the carpet industry and the legal system; it was a natural fit for him to take on these additional duties. We are excited about this opportunity and feel the best interests of CRI and our members are being served by having John handle these duties,'' said Mr. Braun at the trade association's 2002 Annual Meeting.

At CRI, Mr. Miller's responsibilities have included handling government relations activities at the state and local level throughout the southeast and the western part of the United States. Mr. Miller has also been significantly involved with the CRI Political Action Committee.

Prior to coming to CRI, Mr. Miller worked as assistant general counsel of Shaw Industries for nearly 10 years. He also served as an associate counsel for J.C. Penny Company in Dallas for six years, and worked as an associate legal counsel for Georgia International Life Insurance Company in Atlanta for five years.

"John will greatly assist CRI in becoming more much responsive to member's needs. He is a great asset in the legislative and regulatory arena and is also very familiar with worldwide and legal issues. This is another effort on our part to strengthen CRI's staff to increase advocacy for carpet and the industry to as many audiences as possible,'' said Frank Hurd, CRI's Chief Financial Officer and Director of Government Affairs.

Mr. Miller received his law degree from Mississippi College and is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and Texas. He and wife Kathryn live in Rocky Face with their six year old son, John Eric.