Hardwood Floors February/March 2024

Rick Holden (middle) receives the NWFA Hall of Fame Award from Michael Martin (left), president and CEO of NWFA and Julie Russell (right), chair of NWFA, at the 2023 NWFA Expo in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NWFA

is integral to our success. Our most important asset is our people. Almost 25 percent of our staff have been with us for more than 20 years and are committed to the Derr philosophy of serving our suppliers and customers. Is there advice you would offer to wood flooring professionals that you wish you had known in the early days of your career? I received advice early in my career that I have tried to adhere to, which I believe was instrumental in my growth and success. It was to never stop learning! If you are a doctor or a realtor, you are required to continue your education throughout your career. Our industry deserves no less. I have enjoyed staying up to date on new installation and sanding techniques, new methods of moisture mitigation, improvements in wood flooring manufacturing, and the ever-changing government regulations. How will you spend your time in retirement? It will be a learning process to fill 11-12 hours in my day. Some of the time

PHOTO COURTESY OF DERR FLOORING CO.

will be spent fishing, golfing, and learning to play pickleball. Some will be volunteering, and some time will be spent traveling the U.S. and, hopefully, some countries I have not seen.

What will you miss about working in the wood flooring industry? I definitely will miss the people of the wood flooring industry. It truly is a family, and from that family, I have formed lifelong friendships. The amount of professional and personal support you can receive from this group is amazing.

the magazine of the national wood flooring association

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