Nineteen students attended the most recent training school, Intermediate Sand & Finish, at NWFA headquarters, June 6–9, and the hands-on training made a big impact.
“The NWFA educational classes are very helpful because of all the hands-on training,” said student participant David Hadidian, Bay Shore Cleaning & Restoration in Tampa Bay, Fla. “Learning to service wood flooring correctly builds confidence and credibility for me and value for my customers.”
Jason Elquest, owner of Blackhawk Floors Inc. and an NWFA Regional Instructor, led the pool of instructors, including Mark Mukosiej, Arboritec USA; Steve Bewsher, DuraSeal; Matt Thrane, Gehl Flooring; Todd McDonald, Glitsa, a div. of Rudd Co.; Chuck Phillips, Loba-Wakol LLC; Johannes Boonstra, Rubio Monocoat; Mark Schilly, Rust-Oleum Corp.; Tim McCool, The Master Craft; Kellie Hawkins, Waterlox Coatings Corp.; and John Thafvelin, Woca USA.
In addition to Hadidian, the students were Brad Puck, Ames Tile Inc.; Mark Williams, Williams Outsourcing; Lavinia Rathbun, On The Level Floor Inspections; Bob Mitchie and Ryan Hollo, DuraSeal; Brian Hagewood, Southern Floors and Blinds; Frank Lemacks, Elegant Hardwood Floors LLC; John Neuman and Jon'Anthony Neuman, Neuman's Construction; Clint Smiley, Smiley's Hardwoods, LLC; Scott Klenke and Patrick Hamill, Horizon Forest Products; Vladimir Nikolin, Hardwood Perfections LLC; Chris Slater, Arboritec USA Inc.; Jeff Gutschow, Rocky Top Flooring; Michael Inbody, Inbodys Hardwood; Alexander Prisiazhny, AA Floors & More; and James Hubbard, James Hubbard.
University-level sponsors—companies that donated $3,500 to NWFA education in 2016—include 3M, Advantech, Bona US, Bostik Inc., DuraSeal, Titebond, Lägler, Loba-Wakol LLC, Middle Tennessee Lumber Co., Primatech Inc., Wagner Meters and Weyerhaeuser Company.
Academy-level sponsors—companies that donated $1,500 to NWFA education in 2016—are Allegheny Mountain Hardwood, Basic Coatings, Delmhorst Instrument Co., Fortifiber Building Systems Group, Mannington Mills, MAPEI Corporation, Rubio Monocoat, Rust-Oleum Corp., Somerset Wood Products Inc., Timbermate Group and Woca USA.
Other companies donated materials or helped set up the school, including American Sanders, CDCLarue Industries Inc. DBA Pulse-Bac Vacuums, Cherryhill Mfg. Corp., Colorado Dustless, DuraTool, Easy Lab, Fein Tool, Festool, Flooring Pro Fastening, Hardwood Industry Products, Konig North America, Lignomat USA Ltd., Mohawk Finishing Products, Norton Abrasives, Padco Inc., ProKnee Corp., ProTeam, Protimeter Amphenol Sensors, Stanley-Bostitch, Tramex, Virginia Abrasives, WD Flooring and Woodwise/Design Hardwood Products.
