Ed Korczak, the National Wood Flooring Association's (NWFA) current executive director/CEO who is retiring at the end of 2011, was recognized Wednesday evening during the association's annual Awards Dinner for his 17 years of dedicated service. During Korczak's tenure, membership in the association grew about from less than 900 when he started to thousands, and member services were greatly expanded, including a comprehensive package of technical education.
The highlight of the evening was the Dean Martin-style roast, emceed by Bamboo Flooring Hawaii's Mark Elwell (at right in above photo), during which colleagues from throughout the industry took cheeky jabs at Korczak and shared memories about his career. The Hawaiian-themed roast emcompassed everything from old photos of Korczak to hula dancing.
Korczak joined the NWFA in 1994 after serving as president and CEO of the Chicago-based American Floorcovering Association for 16 years; membership in the NWFA then was 868. Throughout the next 17 years, Korczak would lead the association to many firsts. In 1995 alone, the NWFA held its first Advanced Installation School, membership topped 1,000 for the first time, and its member-site www.nwfa.org was launched.
By 2007 NWFA membership was more than 4,000, and the year previous saw more than 4,500 attend the NWFA Convention. During his tenure the NWFA improved its international presence by holding technical schools in Canada, Australia, and Mexico, and by attending trade shows in Germany, the United Arab Emirates and China.
Korczak also moved the association to effect change through legislative channels, first by joining the Small Business Legislative Council and then the Hardwood Federation (HF); in 2008, HF was active in passing the Lacey Act amendment banning illegal logging. Also in 2008, the NWFA launched its own multi-tiered forest management program, the Responsible Procurement Program (RPP), which is a recognized as a forerunner to FSC certification.
Korczak himself spoke at the end of the roast. "I have been so blessed to be part of such a great industry and fine association," he said. "My only hope is that I have made a positive impact."
3M's Jim Schumacher roasts Korczak. For more videos from the roast, see Hardwood Floors' YouTube page.(Photo by David Stluka Photography)
