At last year’s NWFA Wood Flooring Expo, for the first time, we brought together a cross-section of young professionals from across the wood flooring supply chain to network and talk about the future of our industry. Since then, the group has had several conference calls and began making plans for what they’d like to accomplish as the NWFA Emerging Leaders Council in 2018. The group is chaired by Allie Finkell, American OEM, and Jesse Joyce, Middle Tennessee Lumber serves as Board Liaison.
If you’re under 40, you can take part in the following activities at the 2018 Expo:
- Emerging Leaders Networking Reception, April 12, 6:30-7:30 pm
- NWFA Strategic Planning Roundtables, April 13, 7-9:15 am
- Expo Sales & Marketing Track, April 12 & 13 (speakers provided by Emerging Leaders)
In addition, the Emerging Leaders group will work with the three NWFA Boards of Directors in a strategic planning meeting about NWFA’s future.
After Expo, September 11-13, the Emerging Leaders will hold its first stand-alone meeting in Washington, D.C. in conjunction with the Hardwood Federation’s annual Fly-In. The Hardwood Manufacturers Association (HMA) will be bringing its NextGen Leaders Council to the Fly-In as well, providing for a unique opportunity for the upcoming leaders from across the hardwood products industry to learn and work together to educate our congressional and senate leaders.
Further, the two groups will gather together for a private meeting to discuss leadership issues faced by both individuals and companies as the transition from baby-boomer leadership continues. This transition allows for the generations coming behind to take on new roles in individual companies and the industries they serve in a very short timeframe.
The time is now to get involved – whether you want to network with your peer group at the NWFA Expo or take your generation’s message to our leaders in Washington, the opportunities to participate have never been greater. Our association needs you now to make sure we create an association you get value from in the future.