Hardwood Floors February/March 2026

BUSINESS BRIEFS

MANUFACTURER MEANDERINGS Bjelin has been chosen as one of the flooring suppliers for Strawberry, a hotel operator with properties across Scandinavia and the Baltics. LP Building Solutions (LP) has announced the continuation of its partnership with the Forest Workforce Training Institute’s ForestryWorks® program and a new collaboration with the First Nations Forestry Council. Both initiatives aim to develop the next generation of forestry professionals and advance sustainable forest management across North America. MAPEI Corporation has announced its sponsorship of Special Olympics Florida’s “Court of Dreams” Tennis and Pickleball Pro-Am, which is taking place in Spring 2026 in Delray Beach, Florida. MIRAGE, the hardwood flooring manufacturer behind the Mirage, Vintage, Ten Oaks, and Alexandra brands, has appointed Jean

Metropolitan Floors announced the appointment of Trevor Williams as president and chief operating officer. PG Flooring announced that Chad Young has joined its team as a senior territory manager. Uzin Utz North America Inc. announces the appointment of two new territory managers to the PALLMANN team, Jonathan Mannella and Jason Owen . Mannella will support the Northeast and Owen will be responsible for a territory including Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri. To be included in the Business Briefs section of Hardwood Floors magazine, please send your happenings to libby.johnston@nwfa.org. Get in the news!

Chad Young

Jonathan Mannella

Pierre Thabet as president and CEO. After more than 40 years at the helm of the business, Pierre Thabet is handing over the leadership of the company to his son.

Jason Owen

Pierre Thabet

Jean-Pierre Thabet

In Memoriam: Denny Hickman With sadness, we share that Dennis “Denny” Hickman passed away on Nov. 27, 2025, at the age of 65 following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Denny was a third-generation steward of the family business, who devoted his life to the lumber and hardwood industry. Hickman Lumber was founded by his grandfather, Harry, and Denny’s father, Larry, eventually took over operations. A 1980 graduate of the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) in Memphis, Denny returned home to Hickman Lumber. He helped expand the company through hard work, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to quality. He served the industry in leadership roles, being on the Pennsylvania Forest Products Association Board and the Allegheny Hardwoods Utilization Group Board. He was also a longtime member of the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA).

In 2000, Denny founded Allegheny Mountain Hardwood Flooring (AMHF). His expertise brought AMHF into high profile projects and he was featured on HGTV’s “This Old House” and “Restored by the Fords,” WQED’s “Family Tree,” and multiple industry documentaries.

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