It has been a whirlwind couple of years for all of you, so it’s important to pause with your industry. It’s time for all of us to come together as the wood flooring industry, take time away from unending work, supply chain issues, and stress to focus on your business, your network, and even your health.
There are more reasons than ever to join us at the NWFA Expo in Tampa, April 12-14. You’ve never been under more pressure to deliver, but with less time to plan your own business needs.
With so many people making career changes and getting into or out of new businesses, there has never been a more important time to plan for your company’s succession. That’s why we’ve arranged for a special pre-show workshop on April 12 with succession planning experts to map out your company’s future. Is it time to sell while prices are high and labor is unfound? Do you pass your company to your kids? When is the right time for you, personally, to make a financial change for yourself? Get insights from experts and your peers in this half-day session on April 12.
Another pre-Expo opportunity on April 12 is with the NWFA Certified Professionals Symposium. Spend a day with fellow certified professionals as they review the latest science and technologies in wood flooring, share best practices, and review the latest trends in inspections.
One final mention for April 12’s pre-Expo schedule: If you are new to NWFA, kick things off with members of our Board of Directors, Emerging Leaders Network, and other leaders ready to welcome you to NWFA at the New Member Reception. If you aren’t already a member of NWFA, visit our Expo website at nwfaexpo.org for a special incentive: receive the Expo free ($150 value) when you join NWFA ($475 per company). While you’re on the website, take advantage of our hotel room rate discounts before March 25, 2022.
Another new event at Expo this year: We will take the Women in the Industry off the pages of Hardwood Floors magazine and bring this group together in person for its first-ever networking event with a breakfast on Thursday, April 14.
And, as far as niche groups go, you also will have an opportunity to visit with the NWFA Emerging Leaders, where the pages of the magazine’s “40 Under 40” come to life for a networking reception on Wednesday, April 13. On the tradeshow floor, you also can rely on the top notch education for contractors from our NWFA Regional Instructors during demo times on April 13 and 14. Learn the latest installation and finishing trends from the masters in one-hour increments.
Most importantly, this year’s Expo focuses on setting sail into a more-plannable future. The pandemic has changed many things in many ways, both short-term and long-term. It’s time to navigate a course for your company’s future with this year’s keynote presentation from the Bowtie Economist, Dr. Elliot Eisenberg, Ph.D. If you’d like to get familiar with the Bowtie Economist, check out his daily blog at econ70.com. As he notes, you’ll get both graphs and laughs with his unique and humorous insights. You also can listen to him on our Real Answers Podcast from June 8, 2021.
We enjoyed our podcast with Dr. Eisenberg so much, we had to bring him to you as a keynote speaker. With a long history as an economist for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), Dr. Eisenberg knows our market, and our sense of humor. After all, there’s really nothing more important in today’s work environment than a strong sense of humor, sense of self, and plan for the future.
I look forward to seeing you in Tampa, catching up with you, and hearing your own success stories, and even a few war stories from the last couple of years.