Issue Date:11/27/2006
Manufacturer News
Underlayment manufacturer
Ardex Engineered Cements (Pittsburgh, Penn.) has launched its LevelMaster Elite Installer program, which certifies installers based on their reputation, experience and Ardex product commitment. LevelMaster Elite installations are backed by a 10-year extended product warranty and a 10-year installation guarantee. For more information, call 724/203-5196.
Distributor News
The Greer Company (Memphis, Tenn.) has opened a branch located at 8114 Scott Hamilton Drive, Suite A, Little Rock, AR 72209.
Gabe Sewell is the branch manager,
Mike Scalingi is in sales and
Darrel Sheddon is responsible for warehousing/delivery. For more information, call 501/570-8522.
Garco Clear Finishes (North Brunswick, N.J.) has added Conrad Blasius Supply (Plainview, N.Y.); Hudson Floor Supply (Weehawkin, N.J.); and T & T Flooring Supply (Bellmawr, N.J.) as distributors.
People News
BonaKemi USA (Aurora, Colo.) has named
Paul England vice president of operations. England is based out of Bona’s Monroe, N.C., plant.
Appalachian Flooring Ltd. (Cowansville, Quebec) has appointed Jennifer Fraser quality manager. Fraser is a forest engineer and previously worked in the hardwood flooring industries in Brazil and Paraguay.
R & R Hardwood Inc. (Boise, Idaho) has added Tom Guisto as sales representative for western Idaho, Wyoming and Montana. Guisto has more than 20 years of sales experience.
By the Numbers
Total housing starts for October 2006 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,177,000 units, according to the
U.S. Commerce Department. This is 15.9 percent below the September 2006 figure of 1,400,000 units.
On the Web
Green River American Hardwood (Great Barrington, Mass.) has updated its Web site at
www.greenriverlumber.com.
Mark Your Calendar
NOFMA: The Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association will host its Annual Meeting at the Grand Hotel in Tunica, Miss., February 15-17. NOFMA members can register by visiting
www.nofma.org/meetingregistration or by calling 901/526-5016.
Blastrac Global (Oklahoma City) will hold its Surface Preparation Academic Resource Center classes January 9-11, February 20-22 and March 27-29. For more information, call 800/256-3440, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.blastrac.com.
Shaw Industries Inc. (Dalton, Ga.) will host its sixth annual convention for its dealers in Orlando, Fla., January 14-17. For more information, visit www.shawfloors.com.
Job Watch
Hardwood flooring manufacturer and distributor
Schafer Hardwood Flooring Company (Tecumseh, Mich.) is looking for two self-driven, hands-on sales professionals to expand its Columbus, Ohio, and western Michigan markets. Résumés should be faxed to
Bill Smutny at 517/424-8144 or e-mailed to
[email protected].
For Sale
LumaGlass Inlays Inc. (Birmingham, Ala.), manufacturer of lighted hardwood floor inlays, is for sale. The company is debt-free, and the reason for the sale is unrelated to the market and product quality. LumaGlass products have been developed and tested over the past 10 years and are ready for promotion and new ownership. Serious inquiries should be sent to
[email protected]. For more information, call Robert at 205/808-9061.
Send us Your Company Brochures
Hardwood Floors is looking for great company brochures for its February/March 2007 dealer/contractor marketing contest. A professional branding expert will pick the best one, the winner will receive a
Hardwood Floors T-shirt, and the winning brochure will appear in the magazine. The extended deadline for submitting brochures is Wednesday, December 6. If you are a hardwood flooring dealer or contractor and think you have a great company brochure, mail it to: Company Brochures, Hardwood Floors, 4130 Lien Road, Madison, WI 53704.
Correction
Dave Mansfield and
Dave Lewis of
Norton Abrasives should have been listed as volunteer instructors for the NWFA intermediate Installation, Sand & Finish School in Atlanta November 8-10.
NWFA Member Services
The NWFA will hold its second annual Xtreme Wood Flooring Makeover Contest during the 2007 Convention in Denver April 10-13. The contest is open to NWFA members only, with competing teams limited to four members each. For more information and complete contest rules, contact the NWFA by phone at 800/422-4556 (U.S.), 800/848-8824 (Canada) or 636/519-9663 (local and international), by e-mail at
[email protected] or visit
www.nwfa.org.