NWFA Wood Talk

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.

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

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.

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!

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. 

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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