NWFA 40th Anniversary Special Edition

“The first thing we had to do with the National Wood Flooring Association was get installers trained. Keep in mind that was the big program, because at the time we had one school a year and then that got expanded to two schools a year, so you could probably train a total of 100 installers. The biggest problem we saw, as did our distributors, was that when our wood flooring installers had a chance to install a wood floor, they were so poorly trained that there were too many failures. So, that was Virgil, and the group’s whole idea was to get these guys trained properly. We couldn’t get them trained properly unless they had guidelines to go by, and that’s where I got selected to write those guidelines.” NEIL MOSS, NWFA HALL OF FAME AWARD RECIPIENT As told to Brett Miller during an interview for the NWFA Wood Talk podcast. Listen to the full episode by visiting hardwoodfloorsmag.com/nwfa-wood-talk-podcast

“The relationships we’ve built through the NWFA – with contractors, distributors, and even fellow mills – have been instrumental in shaping Allegheny Mountain Hardwood Flooring into the company it is today. Seeing how widely respected and loved our flooring is across the country made a lasting impression on me. It played a big role in my decision to stay involved in the family business and focus on sales and marketing. The NWFA community helped turn our work into something much bigger than just what happens at the mill, including meaningful partnerships like donating flooring for homes built by the Gary Sinise Foundation. It has been an incredible experience to be part of something that gives back in such a tangible way.”

“When I decided I wanted to be a wood flooring craftsman in 1998 in Ontario, Canada, I quickly found NOFMA and the NWFA. Over the years, I’ve attended nearly 10 different training courses and have become a certified professional. The NWFA has given me direction and support and helped shape my career. I feel like my skills are a combination of all the masters and trainers I’ve studied under.” JASON VIVASH, J.L. VIVASH CUSTOM WOOD FLOORS LTD.

JESSICA HICKMAN FRESCH, ALLEGHENY MOUNTAIN HARDWOOD FLOORING

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