The National Wood Flooring Association's (NWFA) degree program was started 16 years ago to recognize members for serving the industry and continuing education. Over the years, the association has given 730 degrees, and during its Wood Flooring Expo in Orlando, Fla., on Wednesday, it increased that total by 51. Following are degree and award recipients from the past year who made the trip to Florida.
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The National Wood Flooring Association's (NWFA) degree program was started 16 years ago to recognize members for serving the industry and continuing education. Over the years, the association has given 730 degrees, and during its Wood Flooring Expo in Orlando, Fla., on Wednesday, it increased that total by 51. Following are degree and award recipients from the past year who made the trip to Florida.
The most prestigious degree is the Honorary Vanguard Degree, which recognizes those who have made significant contributions to the NWFA and the wood flooring industry; they must also be nominated by a member, reviewed by the executive committee, and approved by a two-thirds majority vote of the board of directors. This year, Mickey Moore of Wood Flooring Advisors was the recipient. Moore, who holds a degree in woodworking technology and biology from the University of Memphis, was recognized because of all his work with NOFMA, where he held the position of technical director since 1988.
Those receiving a Craftsman Degree (for individuals who have attained 25 credits for education, achievement and service, of which 15 must be in education) were: Matt Crawford, Clarke-American Sanders; John Freeto, Woodcraft Wood Floors; Joseph Ho and Sharlene Lacroix, Qualiwood Enterprises; Claudia Lezell, Inspections Too; Michael Mcdermott, Mcdermott Hardwood Flooring; Joe Rocco, Artistic Floors By Design; Kellie Hawkins Schaffner, Waterlox Coatings Corporation; John Shepard, Carpet One Floor & Home; Troy Smith, Smith Bros. Enterprises; Joe Szenyeri; Jason Vivash, Vivash Custom Wood Floors; Peter West, West Flooring & Design; and John Wong, Golden Trim Enterprises. Those also earning a Craftsman Degree but who were not present at the show include: Jeff Meltzer, Universal Hardwood Flooring & Moulding Inc.; David Paal, Premier Flooring Services LLC; and Tony Ziola, Basic Coatings.
The Master Craftsman Degree is given to Craftsman Degree holders who have attained an additional 25 credits, 15 of which are for achievement, and have attended or served as an instructor at an NWFA Advanced or Expert School and/or received an NWFA Floor of the Year Award. Rob Zehnder of CBA Sports Floors was the only recipient of a Master Craftsman Degree this year.
Individuals receiving an Advanced Master Craftsman Degree (for those who attain another 25 credits) were: Reed Maddray, Maddray Flooring; and Craig Mcintosh, DuraSeal.
Those receiving a Vanguard Degree (who have received 25 credits, 15 of which are for industry service or achievement) were: Hank Adams, Buckeye Hardwood & Lumber; Craig Anderson, Fine Cut Wood Flooring; Scott Avery, Modern Tech Floors; Martin Ceballos, Bona US; Peter Connor, W•D Flooring; Brian Gamet, Glitsa, a Division of the Rudd Company; Greg Gaylord and Lewis Gaylord, Gaylord Forest Products; Bob Haggard, Hassell & Hughes Lumber Company; David Harrison, Custom Wholesale Floors; Gary Horvath, ATC Hardwood Flooring; Mike Johns, Bostik Inc.; Brenda Kubasta, Oshkosh Designs; Brett Miller, Basic Coatings; Chris Pryjomski, Pryjomski Wood Floors; Briggs Sanders, Bostik Inc.; John Saunders, Connecticut Wood Floor; and John Wooten, CMH Space Flooring Products. Those also earning a Vanguard Degree but who were not present at the show include: Steven Heller, HY Hardwood Floors; Mike Hodges, UFLOOR Systems Inc.; Kim Holm, Mannington Wood Floors; Matt Hudson, Bona US; Bill Matney, Trinity Hardwood Dist. Inc.; Eric Muench, Sika Corp.; Jean Paul Pierre, Galleher Hardwood Co.; and Roland Vierra, Flooring Forensics.
Individuals accepting an Ambassador Degree (Vanguard Degree recipients who have earned an additional 25 credits for serving the industry) at the show were: Mark Elwell, Bamboo Flooring Hawaii; and Jeff Fairbanks, Palo Duro Hardwoods. Jon Namba, who was not present at the show, also earned an Ambassador Degree this year.
The NWFA's Golden Mallet Award recognizes those who have recruited more than four new members. Drew Kern, Flooring Works, received a Golden Mallet Award this year.
Last, during the expo's opening party on Tuesday evening, Neil Moss's peers on the NWFA's Technical Manual Committee recognized him with a plaque for all his years dedicated to improving the association's educational manuals. Moss had a long career at Hartco Wood Flooring as technical services manager and has since then worded at Robbins Hardwood Floors, Triangle Pacific Corp. and Armstrong World Industries.
