The National Wood Flooring Association handed out 43 degrees to members who proved their wood flooring acumen through the hours put into training courses and flooring projects.
The professionals who received the Craftsman Degree in 2015 (for individuals who have attained 25 credits for education, achievement and service, of which 15 must be in education) are: Artur Alayen, Artex Flooring Inc.; Steve Brattin, SVB Wood Floor Service; Levon Karapetyan, Artex Flooring Inc.; Charles Lee, Lumber Mart Sdn Bhd; Doug McGrew, Clarke American Sanders; Toby Merrill, Walk on Wood; Darin Nesline, Bona US; Eric Nolin, SVB Wood Floor Service; Tom Owen, Superior Coverings and Construction; Bryan Rathbun and Lavinia Rathbun, On The Level Floor Inspections; John Rudolph, SVB Wood Floor Service; Tom Skowron, Atlas Floors Inc.; Matt Thrane, Gehl Flooring Company; Allen Townsell, ECMD Distribution; David Watson, David Watson Company; and Ben Totta and Mike Totta, Totta Hardwood Flooring.
Once a Craftsman, members who receive an additional 25 credits, 15 of which are for achievement, and have attended or served as an instructor for an NWFA Advanced of Expert School or received an NWFA Floor of the Year Award, can obtain a Master Craftsman Degree. The recipients of the Master Craftsman Degree in 2015 are: Marla Jakovljevic, Pasadena Wood Floors; Dinu Luca, ADL Floors Inc.; Keith Long, Thunderheart Flooring; and Victor Mulbauer, Michigan Hardwood Floors Services.
The recipients of the Advanced Master Craftsman Degree (Master Craftsman recipients who have earned an additional 25 credits) are: Wayne Highlander, Bona US; and Joe Rocco, Artistic Floors by Design Inc.
Vanguard Degree recipients (members who have received 25 credits, 15 of which are for industry service or achievement) are: Elizabeth Baldwin, Metropolitan Hardwood Floors; Dennis Bradley, Matt Casey, Zack Clavin and Bobby Mohr, Bona US; Claudia Lezzell, Inspections Too Inc. dba Floor Technology Institute; Kevin Murphy, Trinity Hardwood Dist. Inc.; Kjell Nymark, Precision Hardwood Floor Services; Jenny Riddle, Riddle Wide Plank Floors; Jon Smith, Smith Flooring Inc.; Scott Taylor, Scott Taylor; Barbara Titus, Sheoga Hardwood Flooring & Paneling; and Rob Zehnder, Basic Coatings.
Ambassador Degree recipients (Vanguard recipients who obtain an additional 25 credits for service to the industry) were: Avi Hadad, Avi's Hardwood Floors Inc.; Dan Harrington, Galleher Hardwood Company; Steve Lima, MAPEI Corporation; Tim Moore, Moore & Neville Inc.; and Chris Zizza, C&R Flooring Inc.
Earning an Honorary Vanguard degree in 2015 is Kevin Mullany of Benchmark Wood Floors in Albuquerque, N.M. That degree recognizes people who have made a significant impact on the NWFA and the wood flooring industry. Over the years, Mullany has served on many NWFA committees, chairing the Technical Education and Technical Manual committees, and holds every NWFA degree. He also is NWFACP-certified in Installation, Sand & Finish and Inspection. He has served as an NWFA board of directors member and as chair of the NWFACP board, and currently serves on the board of the NWFA Education and Research Foundation.
