Galen Fitzel, left, and Tom Peotter with their NWFA Honorary Vanguard degrees. (Photo courtesy David Stluka Photography)
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Galen Fitzel, left, and Tom Peotter with their NWFA Honorary Vanguard degrees. (Photo courtesy David Stluka Photography)
During the opening general session at the NWFA Wood Flooring Expo in Dallas, two longtime members received the NWFA Honorary Vanguard Degree.
This degree recognizes those who have made significant contributions to the NWFA and the wood flooring industry; recipients must 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 the honorees were two men who have been fixtures at NWFA technical schools over the years: Galen Fitzel, sanding services specialist at St. Paul, Minn.-based 3M Construction and Home Improvement Markets Division, and Tom Peotter, now an Oshkosh, Wis.-based industry consultant. Fitzel has taught hundreds of students over the years about sanding, abrasives and job-site safety, and has served on the NWFA board of directors, as well as multiple committees. Peotter, who founded Historic Floors of Oshkosh (the company that is now Oshkosh Designs) with his brother-in-law, has also taught hundreds of students, particularly about border and inlay installation, and has volunteered on several NWFA committees. For photos of Fitzel and Peotter teaching at NWFA Schools, see this photo album on the Hardwood Floors Facebook page.
All Things Wood Floor, created by Wood Floor Business magazine, talks to interesting wood flooring pros to share knowledge, stories and tips on everything to do with wood flooring, from installation, sanding and finishing to business management.