Sean James is a territory manager for Pallmann. Based in Santa Cruz, California, he covers Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah. He has more than 20 years of experience in the industry and is an NWFA Certified Installation Professional and Certified Sand and Finish Professional. Since joining NWFA in 2014, he has volunteered to assist as a guest instructor at NWFA schools over the years.
James was recently featured on the NWFA Wood Talk podcast, so Hardwood Floors magazine caught up with him to ask him a few more questions.
Tell us something interesting about yourself. I have a small specialty drumstick company called “Seabright Stick Company,” where I make and sell multi-rod drumsticks. It’s something I started out of necessity, playing in a band in 2010, where I needed better quality sticks for the type of music I play. So, I always have sticks for what I do and can provide quality hand made sticks to other players at a fair cost.
How did you get started in the industry? I started in the construction industry doing foundation-to-finish work, primarily focused on trim carpentry and hardwood installation. When the recession hit in 2008, I found a hardwood flooring contractor, Andy Orgain, with Orgain Hardwood Floors. Working for him taught me more about the sand and finish side of things. One thing I’ve always done, from the start of working in the trades, is if there were a new task, project, product, etc., at the end of the day, I would go home, look it up, and read about it. That’s how I found out about the NWFA and many other resources along the way.
Who has influenced your career the most and why? Along the way, I’ve gained lots of inspiration from my peers and educators like Howard Brickman, Jason Elquest, Lenny Hall, and Kjell Nymark, to name a few.
What is your favorite wood floor project that you’ve participated in? Pretty much every sand and finish job I’ve ever done, ha! I’ve got far too many to name. Whether it was a custom herringbone job or bringing a 100-year-old redwood floor back to life, I love them all.
What energizes you to stay in the wood flooring industry? Learning and helping others. I get excited to go out and help people sand or even scrape a floor, troubleshooting issues, and learning more about the past and new ways of doing things. Despite how difficult it can be at times, it is all so much fun.
What are you listening to right now? Amigo the Devil, Chuck Ragan, and Possessed by Paul James. Pretty much a weird mix of folk, bluegrass, Americana, and punk rock with some hardwood flooring podcasts peppered in there.
Do you have a morning routine that sets you up for success? I generally like to get all my prep work and schedule done and planned out for the next day. At the end of the day, I’ll gather whatever tools or materials I need from my shop and have them ready. Then, I get a mental game plan for the next day so I can sleep at night. Sure, every day is different, but this helps make things smoother. Also, planning ahead and making notes for jobs, regarding materials that will be needed, issues that might come up, and mapping things out for an easier workflow.
What keeps you busy outside of work? When I’m not on the road, on a jobsite, on the phone, or behind a computer, I play music (drums). I have a band called Diggin’ Trails that plays a few times a month. We are currently working on a new record and more shows (find us on iTunes or Spotify). Or I’m hanging out with my wife and two dogs. If you ever need any help or information on Pallmann products, I’m always available and happy to help!
You can listen to a technical-focused discussion between Sean James and NWFA’s Brett Miller, as well as other hardwood flooring experts by visiting hardwoodfloorsmag.com/nwfa-wood-talk-podcast.
