The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) is not just an association that’s recognized for education, training, and installation guidelines in the United States. The association is recognized on a global scale, and I recently had the opportunity to spend time in Mexico City, Mexico, for an NWFA member-sponsored training event.
Some of the veteran (older) installers out there may remember the days when here in the United States, NWFA, NOFMA, or even a manufacturer or distributor would host an event, and 75- to 100-plus contractors would show up for the opportunity to network, get some education, and food. It seems the days of the larger attended events are fewer nowadays. Well, that is not the case when it comes to Mexico. Contractors, retailers, distributors, architects, and manufacturers are thirsting for education, and the NWFA/Bostik three-day events are no exception.
The first-ever event held in Mexico City back in 2014 had more than 200 attendees who were taught through the NWFA Installation Guidelines about jobsite and subfloor preparation, safety requirements, moisture testing, and glue-down installation methods over the course of four days, and they all left with a wealth of new knowledge. Now, trainings typically are limited to around 100 attendees, and these classes are filled completely, often with a waiting list every time.
I’ve had the privilege of being an instructor and teaching in Mexico at each one of these events, and being able to share knowledge and to network with the attendees is a learning experience for me as well. I learn a few more words in Spanish every time I attend and get to see how installations are done outside of the U.S. When you see everyone get involved with the hands-on installation of products, and I do mean everyone, you realize just how eager they are to learn proper installation techniques. Having this reach into international markets is so important for growing the trade, teaching proper installation techniques, and expanding the reach of the NWFA.
One thing I’ve noticed between the countries is the difference in the availability of quality tools. We take it for granted when it comes to purchasing tools in the U.S., as we are able to head down to our local distributor or the local big box stores and get what we need for the most part. Unfortunately, this is not the case in Mexico, where quality tools need to be special-ordered and are much more difficult to acquire. To see the skills of the contractors with the limited tools they have is amazing.
As with any training event, it’s an investment in time and money. Attendees are taking time away from work, learning skills to better their business, and several of them now attend events annually to keep honing their skills.
So, if you would like to host an NWFA/manufacturer/distributor event within or outside the United States, please reach out to the NWFA staff to see what educational opportunities are available for your region of the globe. We would love to share our knowledge and get to know you as we continue to promote professionalism through education and networking.
Jon Namba is an NWFA Regional Instructor and owner of Namba Services Inc. in Taylorsville, Utah. He may be reached at jnambacfi@gmail.com.
I would love to help train in these events. I can help translate and have more connection with students at any level to help develop relationships and deeper understanding of tools and developing. What a cool site and it brings me excitement and joy to see this industry develop into not just my back yard but world wide. Kudos and I hope to learn more so I can too share bits of what the NWFA and other organizations have taught me to develop my skills.