The Dream of the NWFA Founders

I cannot tell you how nice it was to just sand an oak floor-no stress or stain to worry about. We got the 1,100-foot job sanded and coated with not one problem. Yay for a great job, yay because it was fun! Clifford is in the learning stage of sanding floors with me; he is doing well. He did the rough cut with the big machine on most of the 1,100 feet, but it was best if I did the fine cuts. He left a few drum marks, but overall it was good. He has not worked with the edger at all, so in order for him to come behind the last cut with the jitter bug (palm sander) I had to put it in high gear to make the last cut with the big machine, then get right on the edger with the last cut. You know how we say the edger man must keep up with the big machine? Well, I had to keep up with myself and stay ahead of Clifford. When I got done, the edger was out of breath and I'm not real sure that the big machine wasn't limping a bit. That was a LOL...

I have been reading the NOFMA class, and the program was so good that it was clear to me I needed to be a part of it. My request went into my boss, Dick Hammond. I told him, "You have got to find a way for me to be a part of the NWFA and the training programs." Dick was glad to get me in the program; at the time he was the only one working with the NWFA through Clarke American Sanders.

That's me in the green shirt at the NOFMA school back in September 1997.

Dick had a great saying that still sticks with me: "If you do not train someone to replace yourself, then you can never move forward." Well, Mr. Hammond has retired, along with the founders of the training programs. It was time for his replacement to step up. I never felt worthy to take the place of so many that gave so much to the dream of the NWFA founders-the dream to make the wood flooring market stronger.

Now I sit on the sidelines, looking back at the years and the gift of being a part of the same dream. The truth be told, I was being trained for my future. Twenty-four years later, my task with Clarke is done, and my new path as a flooring contractor is growing. Some folks told me that it would not work, that I would be like the other reps that lost a job and wanted to be in the flooring market ... they told me, "You will fail." It made me think: Are they right? But at that point, my heart said, "Boy, you got this! The NWFA/ NOFMA schools have you so ready." From that point, the training kicked in, with all the information, the network of friends and the love of the dream to make the wood flooring market better… better right here in Northwest Tennessee. And along the way, to use the skills, grow the knowledge.

Here is what matters when you are going from nothing to a growing dream in this business: If you are not a member of the NWFA, then join! The network of folks is HUGE. You may think you are the only one having trouble with a floor, but someone has been there and done that. Most of all, they are willing to help share and fix your pain. Take the classes. I had never sanded a floor before the NOFMA class. I was a wrench in a service center, fixing tools with no clue how to use them. I was the best at setting up a sander, but get me behind it, and look out walls, here comes an out-of-control big machine! My desire was to be the best not only with a wrench, but also at making the sanders do what they do. After every class, my skills grew; after every class, my desire grew.

Now that you have joined, use the tools they offer at the NWFA. How many times are we getting beat up by the lowest bid? Why not sell your knowledge with your skills? Over the years it has been my pleasure to earn the NWFA degrees from Craftsman to Vanguard. You can improve your skills, but most of all, your knowledge, and we know knowledge is our first selling point with any job we bid. They do not see your skills until you start the job. I make sure folks know that Cardinal Hardwood is always learning, improving and, most of all, working with the NWFA. I take along the tech books on estimates; when a question pops up, I can give them not just my insight, but the information in print from the folks that set the standards. I use the job-site checklist and show them why we look in the crawl space, check rain water control, and on and on. You become the comfort company-the company that removes the fears and worries for the homeowner. We use the degrees over others, because they tell folks that Cardinal Hardwood is not a company with a just a drop saw and nailer-we are improving, we are leading and we are held to a higher standard.

So, here is my question: Who will fill the shoes of the founders? The Dick Hradeckis, Roland Holders, Warner Tweeds, Big Mac McLaughlins, Dick Hammonds, and the most recent, the Mickey Moores, Tim McCools, Daniel Boones and Steve Seabaughs. I like the future with the NWFA, with new leadership, new ideas and younger folks who have the dream. You have got to ask yourself this question, and please allow me wiggle room. JFK said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." Well, ask not what the NWFA can do for you, but what you can do for the NWFA and the dream of our founders. I sit (mostly) on the sidelines with joy, feeling blessed that so many people gave their time, skills and knowledge. Without it, I would still have a job, but they were the ones who gave me a craft.