Issue Date:8/24/2009
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Issue Date:8/24/2009
"As the economy has weakened, our members have told us that they must reduce the number of their employees that can attend our show each year," says NWFA Executive Director/CEO Ed Korczak. "We've looked at our budget carefully and found ways to cut expenses so that we can offer free registration to anyone in our industry who wants to attend."
This doesn't mean the show will be scaled back. It will include events and perks NWFA contractors have come to expect at this event, including educational sessions, the trade show, free lunch each day and a happy hour during the expo's last hour. In accordance with the American Institute of Architects, the NWFA is looking to expand the breadth of the expo by offering a series of CEU programs for architects and designers to earn credits toward license renewals.
For more information about the NWFA's 2010 convention, visit www.nwfa.org and click on the Convention and Expo link.
NWFA Holds Intermediate Installation and Sand & Finish School The NWFA held an Intermediate Installation and Sand & Finish School Aug. 19-21 in Tacoma, Wash.; 20 students attended. The NWFA's Frank Kroupa led the instruction, while volunteer instructors included: Dennis Plaut, 3M; Wayne Highlander, Basic Coatings; Cameron Demar, Bona US; Tony Summers, Centrex Hardwood LLC; Sheldon Walker, Clarke American Sanders; Craig McIntosh, Dura Seal; Lon Vaughn, Glitsa American; Doug Klewin, Halal Hardwoods; Cort Dunlap, Hardwood Inspections; Scott Avery, Modern Tech Floors LLC; Brett Wheeler, Precision Technology LLC; Joshua Crossman, PTL Hardwoods; and Johannes Boonstra, Synteko Floor Finishes.
Manufacturer News Arboritec Holding AB (Jorlanda, Sweden) now has a United States subsidiary, Arboritec USA Inc. (Greenwood Village, Colo.). Flooring veterans Ron Peden, Mark Meglowski and Gerry Mueller serve as Arboritec USA's president/CEO, vice president of sales, and vice president of marketing, respectively; the trio has more than 70 years' combined experience. The new company will begin marketing a line of waterborne wood floor finishes, sealers, cleaners and other related products. For more information, contact Mueller at 877/416-5973.
Shaw Industries Inc. (Dalton, Ga.), a wholly owned subsidiary of conglomerate holding company Berkshire Hathaway (Omaha, Nebraska), posted second quarter earnings of $30 million, down 63.4 percent from earnings of $82 million in the same period of 2008. These earnings came from sales of $1.03 billion, down 23.1 percent from the $1.34 billion posted in the second quarter of 2008.
Distributor News American Trading Company (Hamden, Conn.) is now a representative for ProTeam (Boise, Idaho) in Mexico and South America.
Mastro Vitruvio (Bertinoro, Italy) is seeking distributors in North America. To inquire, e-mail the company at [email protected].
People News Preverco Inc. (St-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Quebec) has named Ken Maguire territory sales manager for New York City, New Jersey, Maryland, northern Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. Maguire has more than 25 years' experience in retail and distributor sales; reach him at 610/570-9602.
Golden State Flooring's (South San Francisco, Calif.) Philippe McFarland was named Distributor Representative of the Year by the Southern California Floor Covering Association. Also, Golden State has named Dave Lahr South sales manager. Lahr has 20 years' experience in the wood flooring distribution industry.
By the Numbers
On the Web Bostik Inc. (Middleton, Mass.) has launched a blog at http://flooringblog.bostik-us.com. The blog offers timely, professional, personalized answers to installers' questions, according to a company release. Blog contributors include the company's Robert McNamara, Phil Pitts and Steve Lima.The Power Tool Institute (Cleveland) is now offering downloadable PDFs of its most popular safety literature. To view them, visit www.powertoolinstitute.com.
Brazilian Direct Ltd. (Quakertown, Pa.) has launched a new Web site at www.brazilianhardwood.com. The company says its new site is easier to use, has simplified navigation and offers more product information, as well as an expanded photo gallery.
Tradeshow News Qingdao Haichen International Expo. Co. Ltd. (Qingdao, China) has named Dave Spreen Enterprises Inc. (Kneeland, Calif.) its North American agent for the China International Construction & Decoration Materials Exposition, to be held Oct. 27-29 at the Qingdao International Exhibition Center. Reach Dave Spreen at 707/445-2244 or [email protected].
Correction In the Aug. 8 edition of Hardwood Floors' e-news, a fax number for Glitsa American's Dan McDaniel was misidentified as a phone number. McDaniel's fax number is 206/789-1001.
Mark Your Calendar The NWFA will hold a Wood Flooring Basics School on Sept. 15-18 at its St. Louis headquarters followed by a Jigs and Staircase Workshop on Sept. 22-25, also in St. Louis. Stair and handrail installation, and jig construction will be covered; attendees must have at least three years' experience in the hardwood flooring industry and must have attended at least one previous NWFA school. The cost for the workshop is $750 for members and $850 for non-members. For more information on these and other upcoming schools, visit www.nwfa.org, e-mail [email protected], or call 800/422-4556 (U.S. and Canada) or 636/519-9663 (local and international).
NWFA Member Services NWFA members can save on vehicle rental services with Enterprise Fleet Management. Whether your company needs vehicle rentals for individual business trips, or fleet services for your entire crew, Enterprise has a solution to fit your needs. For more information, call Gary Silverman at 877/23-FLEET or 314/512-3304, or [email protected].