NWFA Wood Talk

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Join Brett Miller, NWFA Vice President of Education & Certification, as he speaks with hardwood flooring experts about tips and tricks on how to run a successful business. If you want to-the-point, practical advice on how to advance your career in the hardwood flooring industry, then this podcast fr…

NWFA Wood Talk


    • May 16, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 36m AVG DURATION
    • 96 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from NWFA Wood Talk

    How AI is Shaping the Future of Hardwood Flooring

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2025 25:48


    In this episode of NWFA Wood Talk, Brett Miller sits down with Clyde Calhoun, Founder and CEO of Root Idea LLC, to discuss how artificial intelligence is beginning to impact the hardwood flooring industry. From improving efficiency to enhancing decision-making, Clyde shares insights into how AI can support—not replace—skilled professionals and why those who embrace new technology are poised to lead the way.

    A Conversation with John Kiepper of Sheoga Hardwood Flooring & Paneling, Inc.

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 34:51


    Brett Miller chats with John Kiepper of Sheoga Hardwood Flooring & Paneling, Inc about his long history in the hardwood industry.

    A Conversation with Brian Conklin from Gutchess Lumber Company

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2025 57:34


    Brett Miller chats with Brian Conklin of Gutchess Lumber Company to discuss the story of wood, the environmental benefits of wood flooring compared to look-alike alternatives, and more.

    The Science of Wood Identification with Dr. Frank C. Owens - NWFA Pre-Expo Symposium Spotlight

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2025 26:20


    On this episode of the NWFA Wood Talk podcast, Brett Miller sits down with Frank C. Owens, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of Sustainable Bioproducts at Mississippi State University. They dive into the science of wood identification, discussing key techniques for distinguishing different species and the importance of accurate identification in the wood flooring industry.Dr. Owens also previews his upcoming presentation at the NWFA Pre-Expo Symposium on April 15th, titled “Wood Identification Tips and Techniques: Know More, Guess Less.”Links: NWFA Pre-Expo Symposium Info Wood ID Team on YouTube Connect with Dr. Owens on LinkedIn Wood Identification ResourcesTune in to gain expert insights into wood identification and how it impacts the flooring industry!

    A Conversation with Paul Rezuke of Wickham Hardwood Flooring

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 23:47


    Paul Rezuke of Wickham Hardwood Flooring joins the conversation to discuss automation technology, his insights on the current state of the hardwood flooring industry, and key sales and market trends shaping the future. He also shares how Wickham Hardwood Flooring is participating in the NWFA Engineered Refinishable Program and what that means for the industry. 

    A Conversation with Jorge Perez of Epic Hardwood Floors

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2024 30:58


    Brett Miller chats with Jorge Perez, owner of Epic Hardwood Floors LLC, in Tacoma, Washington.

    A Conversation with Michelle Kingsbury of Creative Hardwood Floors

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2024 39:03


    Brett Miller sits down with Michelle Kingsbury of Creative Hardwood Floors to explore her fascinating journey in the hardwood flooring industry. From her hands-on experience as an installer to her success as a sales representative, Michelle shares valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs she's faced along the way. Now, as she branches out into new creative ventures, Michelle discusses how she's pushing the boundaries of the industry.

    A Conversation with Carlos Mongalo, Program Director for the National Flooring Contractors Apprenticeship Program

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2024 32:35


    In this episode of the NWFA Wood Talk Podcast, Brett Miller interviews Carlos Mongalo, Program Director for the National Flooring Contractors Apprenticeship Program (NFCAP). Amidst ongoing skilled labor challenges, Carlos discusses innovative solutions such as apprenticeships and increased training in high schools and community colleges. Learn how NFCAP, in partnership with organizations like Job Corps, is setting standards and training the next generation of certified flooring tradespeople.

    A Conversation with Jerry Levinson of Profit Now 4 Flooring Dealers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2024 46:57


    Brett Miller chats with Jerry Levinson of Profit Now 4 Flooring Dealers about the importance of sharpening your sales skills to increase profits and more.

    A Conversation with Steve Marley

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2024 43:16


    In this episode of NWFA Wood Talk, Brett Miller chats with Steve Marley, Technical Director at Johnson Hardwood.  

    A Conversation with Reid Lambright of Lambright Flooring

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2024 42:15


    A Conversation with Mark Scheller of Scheller Hardwood Floors

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2024 51:23


    A Conversation with Mark Whatley

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2024 38:19


    Brett Miller chats with Mark Whatley, Operations Manager, at Amber Flooring

    Hardwood Flooring Inspecting with Billy Simmons of ITAC International

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2024 36:49


    Brett Miller and Billy Simmons discuss the role of the hardwood flooring inspector, the process of becoming an NWFA Certified Inspector, the challenges inspectors face on the job, and more.

    A Conversation with Hank Adams, Director of Manufacturing for Bison Hardwood

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2023 45:02


    Brett Miller chats with Hank Adams, Director of Manufacturing for Bison Hardwood.

    A Conversation with Tom Bodett

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2023 56:42


    Brett Miller chats with writer, voice actor, and HatchSpace founder and president Tom Bodett.  They discuss Bodett's career, which includes his work as the voice of Motel 6, and how his passion for woodworking lead to the creation of HatchSpace, which was conceived as a gathering place to support fine woodworking.

    A Conversation with Odie's Oil

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2023 42:05


    Brett Miller is joined by James, Tracy, and Michael Tinghitella of Odie's Oil to discuss the company's founding, its products, and more.

    A Conversation with Paul Nelson of Western Sports Floors

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2023 57:00


    Brett Miller is joined by Paul Nelson, founder and operations manager of Western Sports Floors and Wyoming Wood Floors, to discuss the gym floor side of the hardwood flooring industry.

    A Conversation with David Watson of Grand Parkett

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2023 37:08


    Brett Miller chats with David Watson of Grand Parkett in Liverpool, England.  They discuss Watson's history in the hardwood flooring industry, similarities and differences between the wood flooring market in the United States and the United Kingdom, and more.

    A Conversation with Daniel Moore of Antique Floors

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2023 63:10


    Brett Miller sits down with Daniel Moore, an experienced professional from Antique Floors, to discuss his long-standing career in the hardwood flooring industry. They delve into Daniel's expertise with reclaimed wood, his work in historical buildings, and the challenges and expectations that come with it. This podcast episode offers valuable insights and firsthand experiences, providing listeners with a deeper understanding of the hardwood flooring industry.

    A Conversation with Jacob Durham and Megan Sherman from Loba-Wakol

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2023 38:29


    Join Brett Miller as he chats with Jacob Durham and Megan Sherman from Loba-Wakol during a break at an NWFA hands-on training event. They discuss their history in the wood flooring industry, their unique partnership as a couple, the importance of industry engagement through hands-on events, and more. 

    A Conversation with Willie Short

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2023 20:54


    Brett Miller and NWFA Regional Instructor Willie Short of Willie James Quality Flooring discuss his background, experiences as a hardwood flooring inspector, failures over concrete slabs, the importance of floor prep, working with crawlspaces, and more.

    NWFA Expo Symposium Preview with Gene Wengert, aka The Wood Doctor

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2023 14:41


    Brett Miller and Gene Wengert, aka The Wood Doctor, discuss the upcoming  Pre-Expo Symposium: Stump the Wood Doctor with Dr. Eugene Wengert.  Gain the knowledge you can use daily to be a better hardwood flooring installer, learn how moisture impacts wood flooring, and discover hidden factors that can affect your bottom line.https://www.nwfaexpo.org/NWFA2023/Public/SessionDetails.aspx?FromPage=Sessions.aspx&SessionID=482&SessionDateID=32

    A Conversation with John Alford

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2023 28:30


    Brett Miller is joined by John Alford, who is an NWFA Regional Instructor and owner of Alford's Custom Hardwood Floors, located in Loveland, Ohio.

    A Conversation with Robert Pelletier of Pacific Hardwood

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 31:27


    Brett Miller and Robert Pelletier, Owner, and CEO of Pacific Hardwood, discuss his company, its recent involvement with the NWFA's Engineered Wood Flooring Refinishable Program, the importance of sustainability, and more.

    A Subflooring Conversation with Paigh Bumgarner and Jaime Perkins

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2023 54:04


    Brett Miller chats with Paigh Bumgarner, Product Manager for Advantech, and Jaime Perkins, Perkins Builder Brothers. They discuss subflooring systems, testing, and subsequent advancements that the OSB industry has engaged in, how the wood panel industry has engaged with the wood flooring industry, unique wood flooring installations, and more. 

    A Conversation with Steven Suntup of Elastilon USA

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2022 21:29


    In this sponsored episode of the NWFA Wood Talk podcast, Brett Miller chats with Steven Suntup of Elastilon USA about his product, a peel-and-stick underlayment installation system.

    A Conversation with Norman Kaswell of Kaswell Flooring Systems

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2022 43:24


    Brett Miller chats with Norman Kaswell, a second-generation owner of Kaswell Flooring Systems, about the history and future of end grain flooring in commercial and residential applications. They also discuss tips on installation, finishes, fillers, and long-term care of this unique cut of wood flooring. 

    A Conversation with Greg Mihaich of Norton/Saint-Gobain Abrasives

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2022 59:25


    Brett Miller chats with Greg Mihaich, an application engineer for Norton/Saint-Gobain Abrasives.  In this role, he works in the professional floor sanding and DIY/Contractor markets on new product development, testing, and training. A second-generation wood flooring contractor, Mihaich has been active with NWFA, serving as an instructor at schools and assisting with updates to NWFA's Sand and Finish Guidelines.

    A Conversation with Tim Nassis of Woodchuck Flooring

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2022 25:39


    Brett Miller and Tim Nassis of Woodchuck Flooring in Toronto, Canada discuss his company's business model and more.  This podcast is sponsored  by Woodchuck Flooring.

    A Conversation with Mike Somodean of MSCS Inc.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2022 36:39


    Brett Miller and Mike Somodean of MSCS Inc. discuss the value of education, what it means to be credentialed in the wood flooring industry, and the responsibilities you carry as a qualified professional in your market.

    A Conversation with City Floor Supply

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2022 60:41


    Brett Miller and staff from City Floor Supply, including owners Mike and Joe Glavin, as well as Caran Baxter, and Amanda Fox-Rouch discuss distribution in today's wood flooring industry. They talk about changes in today's distribution business, the economic climate, supply chain issues, the importance of keeping in front of their customers through different marketing strategies, their annual nailing competition, the importance of training, and some of the continuous challenges distributors face, including the fire that ravaged their business several years ago, and how they rose from the ashes.

    A Conversation with Damian Bush of Berger-Seidle America

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2022 45:03


    Brett Miller and Damian Bush, Technical Sales Advisor for Berger-Seidle America, discuss his background in the industry, installation differences in dry climates, and more.

    A Conversation with Jared Fitzgerald

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2022 47:02


    Jared Fitzgerald of Southern Oaks Flooring in Nashville, TN, talks with Brett about his career path in and through the wood flooring industry, the unspoken values of collaborating with other professionals to stay motivated, the importance of education, and what to expect with Spanish classes and technical publications through NWFA. 

    A Conversation with Russ Watts of Lägler/Palo Duro

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2022 48:16


    Brett Miller and Russ Watts discuss the science of sanding, changes in customer expectations, how finishing furniture differs from flooring, the meaning of 'sand job topography' in relation to wood flooring, equipment maintenance, upcoming equipment maintenance class hosted at Lägler's facility, and more.

    A Conversation with Alex Korbut and Chris Yates

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2022 42:06


    Brett Miller is joined by wood flooring professionals Alex Korbut and Chris Yates to discuss their experiences in Ukraine and how they are participating in relief efforts. Korbut discusses his experiences in Ukraine since the war began. And Chris Yates discusses  his efforts to assist refugees.

    A Conversation with Joe Rocco of Artistic Floors by Design

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2022 42:38


    Wood Talk welcomes Joe Rocco of Artistic Floors by Design. Brett and Joe discuss Joe's background in the wood flooring industry, how he went from being an employee to building his business, the importance of investing in employee education, the purpose of NWFA Certification, finding artistic inspiration, Wood Floor of the Year projects, and more.

    NWFA Expo 2022 - A Conversation with Alfred Melka, Michael Fischer, and Ashley Carter of Loba-Wakol, LLC

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2022 25:25


    Recorded at the 2022 NWFA Expo on Wednesday, April 13th,  Brett Miller and Michael Martin are joined by Alfred Melka, Michael Fischer, and Ashley Carter of Loba-Wakol, LLC on the day of Loba's 100th anniversary.  They discuss the company and its culture and philosophy, the importance of education, the future of the company, and more.

    A Conversation with Andrew St. James

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2022 55:02


    The guest on this week's Wood Talk episode is Andrew St. James. Andrew holds a Ph.D. in Physics and is a wood science enthusiast who is an independent consultant in the wood flooring industry. Andrew consults for manufacturers such as Goodwin Heart Pine, as well as others. In this discussion, Brett and Andrew talk about the relationship between relative humidity, temperature, and the moisture content of wood. 

    A Conversation with John Yarema - Defining Your Niche

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2022 40:05


    Brett Miller and John Yarema discus Yarema's path into the hardwood flooring industry, and the upcoming presentation on Tuesday, April 12, at the Pre-Expo Symposium - Define Your Niche and Tap Into a Million Dollar Market.https://www.nwfaexpo.org/NWFA2022/Public/Content.aspx?ID=2251

    A Conversation with Kjell Nymark

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2022 42:24


    Brett and Kjell discuss the NWFA Certified Professional program in depth. They discuss what the word certification truly means, the differences between professional certifications, product certifications, certificates of completion, other types of certificates, and more.

    A Conversation with the NWFA Regional Instructors

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2022 40:02


    Brett Miller kicks off 2022 with a group discussion with the NWFA Regional Instructors as they prepare for the year ahead at their annual meeting at NWFA headquarters.

    A Conversation with James Toal of Loba-Wakol

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2022 35:55


    Brett Miller and James Toal of Loba-Wakol discuss his history in the industry, theories on the sanding process, finishes, and the importance of education...

    A Conversation with Daniel Boone

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2021 37:56


    Brett Miller is joined by Daniel Boone, Training Manager at American Sanders. Brett and Daniel discuss the history of industry training, the importance of mentors, sanding tips and tricks, unsung industry veterans who have shaped the hardwood flooring industry, and more.

    A Conversation with Kayleen McCabe

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2021 31:39


    Brett Miller is joined by Kayleen McCabe, general contractor, TV host, and trades advocate, to discuss apprenticeship, the importance of inspiring the next generation to get involved in the trades, and more.

    A Conversation with Bryan Park of Footprints Floors - Part II

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2021 43:53


    Brett Miller chats with Footprints Floors owner, Bryan Park. They discuss being a businessman versus being a craftsman and how to understand your market. Park also talks about understanding the vital role margins play in the success of your business.

    NWFA Inspector School - How Becoming an NWFA Certified Inspector Can Benefit Your Career

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2021 24:28


    Join Brett Miller as he talks with several students at the recent NWFA Wood Floor Inspector school. This school happens once each year and takes a heavy commitment from each of the students who attend. This five-day in-person course has been developed to prepare wood flooring professionals to earn the NWFA CWFI credential. Training involves learning about the inspector's role, their legal responsibilities, identification of wood flooring problems, testing methods, tools, report writing, and more.

    A Conversation with Bryan Park of Footprints Floors

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2021 48:19


    Brett Miller chats with Footprints Floors owner, Bryan Park. They discuss the importance of honing your sales skills and how they translate into company growth, how he took a leap of faith and started his business, his recent educational partnership with the NWFA, and more. 

    A Conversation with Jason Goldberg, Founder and CEO of America's Floor Source

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2021 50:48


    Brett Miller chats with Jason Goldberg, founder and CEO of America's Floor Source. They discuss the labor crisis, addressing the shortage of qualified workers in the flooring industry, how trade associations should be playing a vital role, and combining forces to put trainers on the street to bring new installers to the trade. They also talk about the importance of investing in training, his passion for training for the wide variety of employees under his supervision, and the process he uses to create a pipeline for employees to succeed in the flooring trade. 

    Wood Floor of the Year - Best Staircase - With Czar Floors & Stairbuilders and Manufacturers Association

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2021 17:18


    Brett Miller chats with Edward Tsvilik of Czar Floors and Terra Erb and John Wonderly from the Stairbuilders and Manufacturers Association. To learn more about Czar Floors' winning entry, click here.

    Humidity, Hardwood, and Homes - Protect the Air You Breathe and Floor Underneath Your Feet

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2021 26:22


    Brett Miller is joined by Joseph Hillenmeyer from Aprilaire, and Matt Hoots of Sawhorse Inc. to discuss an upcoming webinar on how humidity impacts wood flooring.  The  free webinar will be held on Thursday, August 26 at 11:00 AM CDT.  Register now at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5569924012807502351

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