Hardwood Floors August/September 2019

When Dinu first emigrated to the U.S. fromRomania in 1999, he started his career by working for a wood flooring company before deciding to branch out on his own with ADL. It was during that time that Dinu first experienced NWFA training, by taking an installation class with Jon Namba. After that, he was hooked, and quickly became a member of the NWFA and continued with his training. Today, Dinu is a Certified Installer and Sand & Finisher. He earned the original Craftsman degree, and he is working toward becoming a Certified Master Craftsman. He also strongly encourages his entire team to participate in training to continue to advance their skills. ABOUT THE NWFAU Offering more than 175 courses, webinars, and videos the NWFAU complements hands-on training to provide a convenient and affordable training alternative. With the NWFAU, members can complete training at their own pace and on own their terms.The online courses can also be used to enhance the training received when attending a hands-on NWFA class. One thing that differentiates the NWFAU from typical online learning platforms is the incorporation of digital badges. A digital badge is a graphic representation of a learned skill, but the NWFA takes them a step further by embedding its digital badges withmetadata that verifies the recipient’s proficiency with a specific skill or area of expertise.This metadata includes information about the NWFA as the third-party issuer of the badge, the date the badge was earned, and the specific skill or knowledge that was exhibited, and confirmed through testing, for the individual to earn the badge. Also, these badges become part of a lifelong digital resume, whichmakes them especially convenient for attracting customers. The NWFAU pushes the industry limits and encourages professionals to grow their knowledge and skill set to set themselves apart from their competition.The NWFAU is a resource to engage with other professionals, take part in meaningful education, and turn a job into a career. To learnmore about the NWFAUniversity, visit nwfa.org/nwfa- university.aspx. g

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the magazine of the national wood flooring association

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