What CISCA - Ceilings and Interior Systems Construction Association does

CISCA (Ceilings and Interior Systems Construction Association) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit trade association founded in 1950 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, serving the specialty ceiling, acoustical, and interior systems construction sector. The association's members span the industry value chain: contractors who install specialty ceilings and wall systems, manufacturers of ceiling tiles, panels, grids and acoustic materials, wholesale distributors, independent manufacturer representatives, and service providers. CISCA's members are reported to represent more than half of the multi-billion dollar U.S. interior systems industry.

Name

CISCA - Ceilings and Interior Systems Construction Association

Legal name

Ceilings and Interior Systems Construction Association

Website

https://cisca.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: CISCA generates revenue through membership fees from contractors, manufacturers, distributors, independent representatives, and service associates in the ceilings and interior systems industry.
2. Event Registrations: Revenue from signature events including CISCA Summit, CISCA TECH (East/West), CONNECT, and Emerging Leaders programs. Pricing varies by member type (Contractor, Distributor, Manufacturer, Service Associate, Independent Rep) and non-member rates.
3. Publication Sales: Sale of technical publications and digital downloads including Ceiling Systems Handbook, Acoustical Terms & Definitions, technical guidelines for metal ceilings, wood ceilings, glass reinforced gypsum, seismic construction, and other industry-specific resources. Prices range from free (for members) to $20-$95 for non-members.
4. Magazine Subscriptions: Complimentary subscription to Acoustical Interior Construction quarterly magazine for members. The magazine features industry news, workforce topics, safety, legal news, and member profiles.
5. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship program with tiered levels (Sapphire, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Supporting) providing visibility and marketing exposure to members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CISCA is a non-profit trade association that serves the ceilings and interior systems construction industry through membership programs, signature events (CISCA Summit, CISCA TECH, CONNECT, Emerging Leaders), technical publications and guidelines, a quarterly industry magazine, and professional development initiatives such as the Emerging Leaders program and Women Enhancing Building (WEB) networking group. The association also runs the CISCA CARES charitable initiative donating supplies to underprivileged schools and communities.

Product overview

CISCA offers a portfolio of technical publications (PDF downloads) covering various aspects of ceilings and interior systems construction, including handbooks, technical guidelines, test procedures, and reference guides. Key publications include the Ceiling Systems Handbook, Acoustical Terms & Definitions, and various technical guidelines for metal, wood, and glass reinforced gypsum applications. The association also publishes the Acoustical Interior Construction quarterly magazine. Most publications are available in both English and Spanish translations. The offering is structured as individual downloadable publications rather than a unified software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CISCA Summit

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CertainTeedcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025CertainTeed is a Sapphire Sponsor of CISCA and serves as an Emerging Leaders Program Partner, hosting manufacturing facility tours at Conyers and Norcross locations for the 2026 Emerging Leaders event in Atlanta. The partnership includes sponsorship of the Atlanta Braves game during the event.
• Armstrong World IndustriescoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Armstrong World Industries is a Sapphire Sponsor of CISCA and a prominent member. The company participates in WEB (Women Enhancing Building) group with Melinda Nett serving as co-chair.
• RockfoncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Rockfon is a Sapphire Sponsor and member of CISCA. Jose Hernandez serves on the Board of Directors as Manufacturer Director.
• USG Building SystemscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025USG Building Systems is a Sapphire Sponsor and serves as Summit 2026 sponsor, presenting the Economic Forecast session with speaker Bob Treadway. Matthew Cronin serves as Manufacturer Director on the Board.
• Gordon IncorporatedcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Gordon Incorporated is a Sapphire Sponsor and member. The company participates in WEB (Women Enhancing Building) group.
• ABC Supply InteriorscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025ABC Supply Interiors is a Platinum Sponsor and member. Nicholas Moritz serves as Distributor Director on the Board.
• Specified.coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Specified. is a Gold Sponsor and member. Beau Johnson serves as Finance Committee Chair and President of CISCA's Board of Directors.
• C.J. Coakley Co.coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025C.J. Coakley Co. is a Silver Sponsor and member. Paul Gallagher serves as Chair of the Publications committee, and Michael Coakley chairs the Long Range committee.
• Walls & Ceilings MagazineminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Industry media partner participating in WEB (Women Enhancing Building) group. Amy Tuttle serves as Publisher, and Jill Bloom serves as Executive Director.
• Mortenson ConstructionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Construction company presenting at CONNECT 2025 with Ruth Stabile (Chief Estimator) and Lukasz Dubaj (Business Development Manager) discussing GC Perspective on planning ahead in the Western Region.
• Hilti North AmericaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Bronze Sponsor and member company providing construction tools and services. Participates in WEB (Women Enhancing Building) group with Aimee Head.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ASHRAE: ASHRAE is a large building-systems society serving HVAC&R professionals. Although focused on mechanical systems, ASHRAE's model — membership-driven, standards-setting, technical publications, and major annual conference — closely parallels how CISCA operates in the ceiling/interior niche.
• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB): NAHB is a much larger trade association covering the residential construction industry including interior systems and ceiling product categories. While broader in scope, NAHB overlaps with CISCA's contractor and manufacturer membership base.
• Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC): ABC is a national construction trade association representing commercial contractors including specialty ceiling and interior systems contractors. Comparable membership structure with dues, events, training, and certification offerings that overlap with CISCA programs.
• National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI): NARI represents remodeling contractors and related industry professionals with a member-driven association model. Operates similarly to CISCA with membership fees, events, certifications, and technical publications for a construction specialty.

Direct peers

• Construction Specifications Institute (CSI): CSI provides technical specifications, standards (MasterFormat), and certification programs for the commercial construction industry. Comparable to CISCA in producing technical publications and serving as an industry-knowledge authority for specifiers and contractors.
• National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA): NTCA is a specialty construction trade association serving tile contractors and manufacturers with technical standards, certification, and events — operating with a very similar member-driven model to CISCA in an adjacent interior specialty.
• Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry (AWCI): AWCI is the most directly comparable trade association for the wall and ceiling industry. Both organizations serve contractors, manufacturers, and distributors in acoustical, drywall, and interior systems construction, and host competing convention/event programming.
• Gypsum Association: The Gypsum Association represents manufacturers of gypsum-based building products and develops technical guidelines. Both organizations serve as technical-standards bodies for the interior construction industry with overlapping manufacturer members.

Emerging players

• Walls & Ceilings Magazine: Walls & Ceilings Magazine is the leading trade publication covering the wall and ceiling industry and is a CISCA media partner. It produces editorial content, news, and industry intelligence that overlaps with CISCA's Acoustical Interior Construction magazine and digital newsletter.
• Finishing Contractors Association (FCA): FCA represents union-affiliated finishing contractors including drywall, plaster, and ceiling systems contractors. Overlaps significantly with CISCA's contractor segment and competes for similar trade-craft membership in commercial interior construction.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ciscaassociation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CISCA - Ceilings and Interior Systems Construction Association