In an effort to introduce more young people to the hardwood flooring industry as a career option, the National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) hosted a "Learn the Ropes" day at the NWFA Expo on April 14. Local area high school students were shuttled to the Tampa Convention Center where a panel of experts explained their own career paths into the flooring industry. NWFA Regional Instructors demonstrated how to bend wood for flooring applications, and the students went on a guided trade show tour.
According to Stephanie Owen, vice president, education, NWFA, the NWFA’s Emerging Leaders Council had been planning a student event at Expo since 2020. One of the group’s objectives is to advocate for careers in the wood flooring industry and develop new leaders. The group initially had the event planned for Milwaukee, with several schools scheduled to attend, and then the pandemic forced the cancellation of the entire Expo. The group was determined to fulfill its mission, however, so they set their sights on Tampa.