Hardwood Floors October/November 2017

CHAIRMAN’S CUT Chart Your Course with NWFA

By Chris Zizza Chairman, NWFA

As I sit here thinking about the outlook for our industry, and closer to home, the continued strength of my own company, it makes me look back over the years and reflect upon how my company has grown and the importance of NWFA in my journey. We all know I like analogies, so here I go with another one. I always think a business is similar to a boat, or a yacht, depending on the size of your company. I know many of you have companies much bigger than mine, so for the sake of argument, I will suggest mine is a boat… but it’s a really nice boat that needs deep safe water.

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While you could just steer your boat anywhere you want, it’s always more e ective (and safer) if you chart a course. I remember when I used to just steer my boat to whatever daily emergency needed my a ention, but as we grew, we needed to have a be er plan, a be er organization, and a safe harbor. For me, over the years, that safe harbor became the NWFA. When I started my company in 1986, the NWFA was also just being created, so the bene ts of membership were not in place yet. It wasn’t until my rst NWFAWood Flooring Expo in 1995 in Las Vegas that I got my rst glimpse of what the NWFA could do for me. In 2004, I received my rst NWFA Certi cation at a regional school in NewOrleans, and by 2007 in Denver, I was asking then Chairman, Ken Schumacher, “How do I get more involved?” e NWFA Expo is the perfect place to see new products, nd organizational tools, a end seminars on how to grow your business, learn newmarketing strategies, and yes, participate in the all-important networking with your industry peers. anks to the NWFA and a li le bit of hard work on my part and the part of my sta , my company has had smooth sailing in mostly calmwaters. Now, as I help chart the NWFA’s course for 2018 and beyond, I look at what’s in front of us as members, and there are some incredible opportunities to use to your advantage. So while you look for safe waters to sail your vessel through the year, I encourage you to consider some of the available options at the NWFA as you chart your course. Connect with your industry through the vast network of wood ooring professionals. Reap the bene ts of NWFA’s growing number of industry partnerships. Stay current on industry advances with Expo, Hardwood Floors magazine, and NWFA’s industry reports and resources. Increase your pro tability with NWFA’s wide variety of business services designed to improve e ciency and save money. Advance your skills as a wood ooring professional with NWFA’s toolbox of educational resources including online training, hands-on training, certi cations, industry-standard guidelines, technical publications, and technical support. Consider the NWFA your compass to success; contact the team at 800.422.4556 or visit nwfa.org today to learn more.

hardwood floors www.hardwoodfloorsmag.com

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