ST. LOUIS, Missouri (May 7, 2015) – The National Wood Flooring Association ( NWFA) announced that 43 recipients of NWFA degrees were honored on stage during its Wood Flooring Expo held in St. Louis. Presentations were made during an Industry Awards Ceremony held on Wednesday, April 29.

NWFA’s degree program recognizes individuals who demonstrate dedication and commitment to their profession. Individuals earning NWFA degrees actively participate in the industry through education, training, teaching and volunteerism. There are six degrees: Craftsman, Master Craftsman, Advanced Master Craftsman, Vanguard, Ambassador, and Honorary Vanguard. Requirements for each are described on NWFA’s website at www.nwfa.org/degrees.aspx.

Recipients of the 2015 degrees are as follows:

Honorary Vanguard
Kevin Mullany, Benchmark Wood Floors – Albuquerque, NM

Ambassador
Avi Hadad, Avi's Hardwood Floors – El Sobrante, CA
Dan Harrington, Galleher Hardwood Company – Santa Fe Springs, CA
Steve Lima, MAPEI Corporation – Saugus, MA
Tim Moore, Moore & Neville Flooring Inspections – St. Charles, MO
Chris Zizza, C&R Flooring – Westwood MA

Vanguard
Elizabeth Baldwin, Metropolitan Hardwood Floors – Kent, WA
Dennis Bradley, Bona US – Aurora, CO
Matt Casey, Bona US – Aurora, CO
Zack Clavin Bona US – Aurora, CO
Bobby Mohr, Bona US – Aurora, CO
Claudia Lezzell, Floor Technology Institute – Friendswood, TX
Kevin Murphy, Trinity Hardwood Distributors – Austin, TX
Kjell Nymark, Precision Hardwood Floor Services – Coquitlam, BC, CAN
Jenny Riddle, The Plank Factory – West Palm Beach, FL
Jon Smith, Smith Flooring – Mountain View, MO
Scott Taylor, Scott Taylor – Milwaukee, WI
Barbara Titus, Sheoga Hardwood Flooring & Paneling – Middlefield, OH
Rob Zehnder, Basic Coatings – Toledo, OH

Advanced Master Craftsman
Wayne Highlander, Bona US – Aurora, CO
Joe Rocco, Artistic Floors by Design – Parker, CO

Master Craftsman
Marla Jakovljevic, Pasadena Wood Floors – Sierra Madre, CA
Keith Long, Thunderheart Flooring – Greeley, CO
Dinu Luca, ADL Floors – Sammamish, WA
Victor Mulbauer, Michigan Hardwood Floors Services – Farmington Hills, MI

Craftsman
Artur Alayen, Artex Flooring – San Francisco, CA
Steve Brattin, SVB Wood Floor Service – Grandview, MO
Levon Karapetyan, Artex Flooring - San Francisco, CA
Charles Lee, Lumber Mart Sdn Bhd - Malaysia
Doug McGrew, Clarke American Sanders – Ripley, WV
Toby Merrill, Walk on Wood – McHenry, IL
Darin Nesline, Bona US – Aurora, CO
Eric Nolin, SVB Wood Floor Service – Grandview, MO
Tom Owen, Superior Coverings and Construction – La Mesa, CA
Bryan Rathbun, On The Level Floor Inspections – Parker, CO
Lavinia Rathbun, On The Level Floor Inspections – Parker, CO
John Rudolph, SVB Wood Floor Service – Grandview, MO
Tom Skowron, Atlas Floors – Gaithersburg, MD
Matt Thrane, Gehl Flooring Company – Butler, WI
Ben Totta, Totta Hardwood Flooring – Kansas City, MO
Mike Totta, Totta Hardwood Flooring – Kansas City, MO
Allen Townsell, ECMD Distribution – North Wilkesboro, NC
David Watson, David Watson Company – Liverpool, England

More information about NWFA’s degree program is available at www.nwfa.org/degrees.aspx.

The National Wood Flooring Association is a not-for-profit trade organization, with more than 3,000 members world-wide, dedicated to educating consumers, architects, designers, specifiers and builders in the uses and benefits of wood flooring. NWFA members receive the best in educational training, benefits, technical resources and networking, to advance their professionalism and success. The NWFA is located at 111 Chesterfield Industrial Boulevard, Chesterfield, MO 63005, and can be contacted at 800.422.4556 (USA & Canada), 636.519.9663 (local and international), or on-line at www.nwfa.org.