The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) will hold its second annual Leadership Development Summit October 15-17, 2025, at Live! by Loews – Ballpark Village in St. Louis. The three-day event focuses on professional growth, networking, and business development for NWFA members across the wood flooring industry.

The summit's centerpiece is the Real Answers Small Business Workshop on October 16, a full-day session targeting contractors and retailers. Led by Doug Howard of Growth Team Strategies, the workshop covers strategic leadership, team development, cash flow forecasting, value-based selling, and operational efficiency through expert training and Mastermind breakout groups.

"The Leadership Development Summit is a transformative opportunity for our members to elevate their skills and build lasting connections," said Stephanie Owen, NWFA President/CEO. "This event equips professionals at all career stages with practical strategies to strengthen their businesses and lead with confidence in an ever-evolving industry."

Key Events

Wednesday, October 15:

• Emerging Leaders Panel (3:00-5:00 PM)
• Opening Reception (5:30-7:30 PM)

Thursday, October 16:

• Real Answers Small Business Workshop (7:30 AM-4:30 PM)
• Manufacturers Assembly (7:30 AM-3:30 PM)

Friday, October 17:

• Exclusive Golf Tournament (8:00 AM-2:00 PM)

The Manufacturers Assembly will provide a dedicated forum for solid and engineered wood flooring manufacturers, featuring presentations on industry trends and challenges. The summit concludes with a golf tournament supporting the NWFA Education & Research Foundation.

Registration information is available on the NWFA Leadership Development Summit event webpage.