Manufacturer News
Miltec Corporation (Stevensville, Md.) has donated $10,000 from its September 2005 sales to the Red Cross Katrina Disaster Relief Fund.
Distributor News
Elias Wilf Corporation (Owings Mills, Md.) has acquired a 12,000-square-foot warehouse terminal in South Plainfield, N.J., to accommodate its territory expansion for distributing Mannington Mills products. Its expanded territory includes Philadelphia, Delaware, New Jersey, Long Island and the five New York boroughs.
K & M Bamboo Products Inc. (Markham, Ontario) has selected Nadurra Wood Corporation (Markham) to distribute its Silkroad Bamboo Flooring line. Ian Jackson, the former general manager of K & M Bamboo, heads Nadurra. Michael Boulger leads the retail service team, which includes Valerie Nembhard and Katie Collver. For more information, contact Nadurra Wood Corporation by mail at 300 Esna Park Drive, Unit #26, Markham, ON L3R 1H3; by telephone at 905/947-1688; by fax at 905/947-1588; by e-mail at [email protected]; or visit www.silkroadflooring.com.
People News
Wood Floors Unlimited Inc.’s (Shreve, Ohio) General Manager
Marlin Yoder has been appointed president of the Home Builders Association of Wayne and Holmes Counties for 2006. Marlin has served as a board member for the HBA for four years and as an active committee member for six years.
Synteko Floor Finishes (Troy, Mich.) has promoted George Meeker from marketing manager to senior sales and marketing manager. The rest of Synteko’s sales organization now includes Bill Harrison, regional sales manager, responsible for the western U.S.; Chuck Stinnett, new account manager, responsible for the southern U.S.; Johannes Boonstra, technical sales manager responsible for the central U.S., and technical and training support. Lou Jones will continue her role as Synteko administrative assistant and customer support representative.
Oneida Vac Systems (Syracuse, N.Y.) has added Tim Holihan as product manager for its dustless floor sanding system. He oversees sales, manufacturing and technical support. Holihan has more than 20 years’ experience in the wood flooring industry and can be reached at 866/387-8822, ext. 127.
OSI Machinerie (St. Georges, Quebec) has restructured its sales department. The team now consists of President André Lapointe, Jacques Veilleux, Jean-Luc Croteau and Linda Feddersen. For more information, call 418/228-6868.
Owens Flooring Company (Shawano, Wis.) has named Mike O'Neil West Coast technical sales representative. O’Neil comes to Owens with more than 25 years in the hardwood flooring industry, most recently with the J.E. Higgins Lumber Company. His territory includes Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona and Nevada. O’Neil can be reached on his cell phone at 805/345-1033, toll-free at 866/513-1022 or by e-mail at [email protected].
By the Numbers
Following strong growth over the past three years, home sales and housing production will ease back in 2006 and settle close to 2004’s levels, according to the
National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). NAHB Chief Economist
David Seiders predicts overall housing starts will reach 1.94 million units in 2006, which is down from an estimated 2.06 million units in 2005 and close to 2004’s total of 1.95 million units. Single-family starts will decline to 1.59 million units in 2006 from 2005’s 1.71 million units, while sales of new single-family homes will ease to about 1.19 million units from 2005’s record-breaking 1.27 million.
Training News
Floormasters International has a new name, address and phone number. To reflect the increased interest in the Web site and its discussion forum, the company name is now
Floormasters.com. The new address is 1588 Lynchburg Loop, The Villages, FL 32162, and the phone/fax is 352/430-0667.
Association News
NOFMA: The Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association plans to compile a comprehensive U.S. Wood Flooring Market Study, which will be conducted by the Beck Group of Portland, Ore. Slated for completion at the end of the 2006 first quarter, the study will survey a variety of sources, including manufacturers, distributors and end-users of wood flooring. The survey will include questions about solid unfinished and prefinished flooring, as well as engineered unfinished and prefinished flooring. Non-members will be able to buy the study for $3,000 per copy and members for $500. NOFMA is offering any organization that completes the survey form a significant discount on first-year membership dues.
In Memoriam
Tom Herron, long-time and respected employee of
Michelman (Cincinnati) passed away on December 13 after a long struggle with cancer. He was most recently international business manager at Michelman, with a focus on Central and South America. Herron was known as a person of the highest integrity who genuinely cared for others and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him, Michelman says. Herron, 57, was the beloved husband of Carmo Herron, loving father of Lissa and Shana, and dear brother of Mike and Dennis. Memorials may be made to the Hospice of Cincinnati or to the charity of your choice.
Mark Your Calendar
The
NWFA, in conjunction with the
Wood Floor Covering Association, will hold its Introduction to Wood Flooring School February 28-March 3 in Anaheim, Calif. For more information, e-mail
[email protected] or visit
https://nwfa.org/.
Lon Musolf Distributing Inc. (Vadnais Heights, Minn.) is holding a workshop entitled "Back to Basics With a Few New Tricks." It will take place on January 18 from 4 to 8 p.m. at 985 E. Berwood Ave., Vadnais Heights, MN 55110. C. Daniel Boone, who has more than 30 years of technical expertise and commitment to the industry, will lead the workshop. To register, call 800/537-1966 or 651/484-3020.
Job Watch
Vintage Hardwoods LLC (Scottsdale, Ariz.) is seeking an individual with experience in directing operations within a hardwood flooring manufacturing facility to be its vice president of operations. The qualified candidate will have strong leadership and management experience, an entrepreneurial spirit, expert understanding of finishing, production exposure to both solid and engineered products and experience with automated finishing. An understanding of lean manufacturing is preferred. Also, there is a $1,000 bonus for referring the candidate Vintage hires. Résumés should be sent by e-mail to
[email protected].
Mountain Lumber Company Inc. (Ruckersville, Va.) is seeking a seasoned sales professional with experience in outside direct sales and who has achieved goals of more than $1 million. Base salary and incentive are commensurate to experience, with a benefits package. Résumés, references and salary history should be sent by mail to Mountain Lumber Company, Attn: HR Director, 6812 Spring Hill Road, Ruckersville, VA 22968 or by e-mail to [email protected].
Send us Your Yellow Pages Ads
Starting later this year,
Hardwood Floors will have a contest in every issue for hardwood flooring contractor/dealer marketing pieces. A professional branding expert will pick the best one; the winner will receive a
Hardwood Floors T-shirt, and the marketing piece will appear in the magazine. The first category is Yellow Pages ads, and the deadline for sending it is Friday, March 3. If you are a hardwood flooring dealer or contractor and think you have a great Yellow Pages ad, mail it to: Yellow Pages Ads, Hardwood Floors, 4130 Lien Road, Madison, WI 53704.
Member Services
Time is running out to enter the NWFA’s 2006 Wood Floor of the Year contest. The deadline is February 1, 2006. This year’s contest will feature 10 categories, including Best Kitchen/Dining Room, Best Living Room/Family Room, Best Library/Office, Best Bedroom, Best Entry/Foyer, Best Commercial/Showroom, Best Restoration, Best Factory-Finished, Best Limited Species and Best Reclaimed. There is no entry fee. For an entry form or more information, visit
https://nwfa.org/, click on the "Convention & Expo" link, select "Attendee," and click on the "Wood Floor of the Year Contest" menu option. For more information, contact the NWFA by phone at 800/422-4556 (U.S.), 800/848-8824 (Canada) or 636/519-9663 (local and international) or by e-mail at
[email protected].