Hardwood Floors December 2025/January 2026

NWFA WOOD STUDIES SCHOLARSHIP HIGHLIGHT

and build the kind of peer network that makes everyone more successful. If you have ever wished you had “a few trusted people to call,” this is a place those relationships form. PILLAR 2: DEVELOP TOOLS Value must be obvious and usable. We are creating simple frameworks along with plug-and-play resources that help professionals explain – clearly and quickly – how membership pays off, such as installation guidelines that prevent problems, certifications that differentiate your business, education that grows capability, and a network that opens doors. These are everyday tools your team can put to work in sales conversations, onboarding, and jobsite planning. PILLAR 3: AMPLIFY THE MESSAGE Great tools are useless if no one uses them. Our social media team packages and shares consistent, high quality content – highlighting Certified Professionals, demonstrating the practical impact of NWFA guidelines, and pointing to training opportunities that move the needle. The aim is simple: to meet people where they already spend their time and make it easy to take the next step. A CLEAR PATH TO GET INVOLVED: THE EMERGING LEADERS NETWORK Interest has outpaced the 18 seats on the Council – which is a good problem. To keep the door wide open, we created the Emerging Leaders Network. Any young professional in the wood flooring industry can participate by collaborating on community efforts, contributing to tool development, and helping drive our social campaigns. This is a meaningful contribution with real impact, and is also a great way to demonstrate your initiative and consistency that will make you a strong candidate when Council seats become available. If you are a young professional, you are not just the future – you are the force that shapes what comes next. You don’t need a title to lead. You need a clear mission, a supportive community, and a place to contribute. We are not waiting on the future of wood flooring, but building it together. Come add your voice, your energy, and your leadership. Reid Lambright is chair of the NWFA Emerging Leaders Council and president of Lambright Flooring in Charlotte, Michigan. He can be reached at reid@lambrightflooring.com.

The NWFA Education & Research Foundation (NERF) Wood Studies Scholarship promotes the post-secondary study of forestry and forestry-related sciences. This nonrenewable scholarship for $1,000 each is awarded to one high school senior and one current college student who will study forestry to advance and improve forestry practices for generations to come.

Brandon Zahner Eldersburg, Maryland

Brandon Zahner This year’s high school scholarship recipient, Brandon Zahner, will attend West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia, majoring in forestry conservation with a minor in fisheries sciences. “I am pursuing a career in forestry as I want to be a part of protecting and restoring forests so future generations can enjoy them like myself,” says Zahner.

Faith Maurais Franklin County, Maine

The college student scholarship recipient is Faith Maurais. She majors in wildlife and conservation biology with a minor in forestry at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, New Hampshire.

Faith Maurais

“I have always loved nature and wildlife and have felt a deep connection to it. While at UNH, I have taken classes that discuss ecosystems’ functions and how they are affected by conditions such as wildfire,” says Maurais. “I believe that it is our responsibility as humans to be stewards of the land and protect those who are vulnerable, especially endangered or threatened species. That is why it is my goal to pursue a career in wildlife conservation and minor in forestry. I hope to use my education to better serve our nation’s wildlife and better understand the best ways to manage American forests.” NERF was established to provide industry research and educate future generations of wood flooring professionals. Thanks to the generosity of its members, NWFA has conducted such research as the Life Cycle Analysis of Wood Flooring and awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships since its creation.

To learn more about this scholarship opportunity and others offered, visit NWFA.ORG/SCHOLARSHIPS

the magazine of the national wood flooring association

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