Hardwood Floors E-News - 6/29/2009

Dean Hardwoods Exits Chapter 11 Dean Hardwoods Inc. (Wilmington, N.C.) has exited Chapter 11 after filing in August 2008 due to an "unanticipated and unreasonable demand" for the repayment of $1.5 million the company borrowed to renovate its facilities. The company issued a release stating all of its foreign and domestic suppliers and clients will be "paid in full per the terms accepted by the court." "Thanks to the protection afforded by Congress, we were able to continue uninterrupted operations during that year while renegotiating acceptable terms with the [bank]. It afforded us the opportunity to strengthen our position in the marketplace during the economic downturn," company President Chuck Dean said.

NWFA Holds Glue Down and Intermediate Installation Schools The NWFA held an Engineered Glue Down School on June 26 in Folsom, Calif., and it is holding an Intermediate Installation and Sand & Finish School in Minneapolis from June 29-July 1. Avi Hadad of Avi's Hardwood Flooring led the instruction in Folsom, and other volunteer instructors included Dee Lenston, Bona US; and Mathias Klein, Klein Hardwood Flooring. NWFA's Steve Seabaugh is leading instruction in Minneapolis, while volunteer instructors include: Galen Fitzel, 3M; Josh Neuberger, Basic Coatings; Matthew Thrane, Bona US; Mike Farrell, Clarke American Sanders; Larry LeFevre, Dura Seal; Stephen Schmid, Floors By Steve Inc.; Roy Reichow, National Wood Floor Consultants Inc.; Gene Jarka, Powernail Company Inc.; Douglas Dreis and Daniel Dreis, Solum Inc.; Johannes Boonstra, Synteko Floor Finishes; Todd Theisen, TMT Integrity Flooring LLC; and Mike Summers, UFloor Systems Inc.

Manufacturer News Ua Wood Floors Inc. (Douliu City, Taiwan) is now selling directly to retailers in California and Nevada. For more information, call 708/557-9663.

CA International LLC (Berkeley, Calif.), a United States building materials company, has acquired Pinnacle Interior Elements Ltd. (Dallas); terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Distributor News Southwest Hardwood Distributors LLC (Phoenix) has been named the Arizona distributor for Ua Wood Floors Inc. For more information, call 480/440-7567.

Kennebec Lumber Company (Solon, Maine) has named Select Flooring Distributors (Overland Park, Kan.) its distributor for Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. For more information, contact 888/859-8080.

Southern Wholesale Flooring Co. (Kennesaw, Ga.) is now a distributor for Cikel America LLC (Miami) in Georgia, Alabama and Florida. Southern will distribute Cikel's products from its multiple locations in Georgia and Alabama.

CDCLarue (Tulsa, Okla.) has added five distributors: PRP Plus (Denver), Klein and Company (Canton, Ga.), Marr Industrial Coatings Inc. (Winnipeg, Manitoba), Desco Coatings of Alberta (Edmonton, Alberta), and Global Concrete Solutions (Coburg, New South Wales, Australia).

Association News The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification has named Patrick Winters president; Winters' job will begin in August. He is the organization's first full-time, paid leader.

The Adhesive and Sealant Council (Bethesda, Md.) has released a new ASTM International standard, D7447-08, to better represent adhesives in CAD programs. Dubbed the "Standard Practice for Symbolizing Adhesive Applications," a free executable plug-in of the standard is available at www.adhesives.org. It can be used in popular CAD programs like AutoCAD and TurboCAD.

People News Rob Johnson has been named Midwest sport manager by Bona US (Aurora, Colo.); he is responsible for new business in professional sports arenas. Johnson brings 34 years of wood flooring and management experience to Bona, most recently working for Basic Coatings.

Wayne Wenger, 61, has retired from the Preferred Brands/Floor to Ceiling group; Wenger spent 35 years in the floor covering industry.

By the Numbers

Job Watch Pollmeier Inc. (Portland, Ore.) seeks qualified sales representatives for the Western United States. Candidates should have a wood flooring sales background, excellent customer service and follow-up skills, along with a client base and leads in the applicant's local region. Résumés or inquiries should be sent to [email protected].

Junckers Hardwood Inc. (New York) seeks sales agents. Résumés should be sent to [email protected].

Resource Book Update Requests Have Been Sent Update requests for Hardwood Floors' 2010 Resource Book and NWFA Networking Guide have been sent to all NWFA members. If you have not received an update request by e-mail (or, for members without email, by mail), please e-mail Pam Walker at [email protected] or call 800/722-8764, ext. 117.

Hardwood Floors ad deadline July 7 is the deadline to reserve ad space in Hardwood Floors' August/September 2009 Green Issue. For more information, contact Publisher Kris Thimmesch at [email protected] or 800/722-8764, ext. 107.

Correction In the June 15, 2009, E-News, the company location was incorrectly listed for Belknap White Alcco dba United Hardwood Distributors; the company has locations in Avon, Mass., and Albany, N.Y.

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