NWFA Wood Talk

Brett Miller sits down with Matt Garcia, owner of Craftsman Hardwood Flooring, to talk about his journey in the hardwood flooring industry and the challenges of building a successful business. Matt shares his approach to employee retention, along with insights from the NWFA Competitive Edge series that help contractors sharpen their skills. They also look ahead to the upcoming NWFA Leadership Summit and discuss how opportunities like this can shape the future of the trade.

Brett Miller visits Olde Wood Limited and chats with owner Tommy Sancic about his passion for working with reclaimed hardwood. 

Brett Miller talks with Rose Fall of Floors by Fall Design about her journey in the hardwood flooring industry, her unique business model, building wood homes and working with wood flooring in West Africa, the importance of documenting work, and more.

Brett Miller sits down with Alex Hamilton of Grain Design Flooring to discuss his journey in the hardwood flooring industry, the value of mentorship, perspectives on competition, and his recent recognition with the 2025 Wood Floor of the Year Members' Choice Award.

Brett Miller chats with Neil Moss, who has been involved in the wood flooring industry for more than 50 years and has been part of the NWFA since its inception.  He was instrumental in the development of the NWFA technical publications, served on both NWFA committees and the NWFA Board of Directors, and has dedicated many hundreds of hours training wood flooring professionals throughout the country.  Neil is an NWFA certified installer, sand and finisher, and inspector, holds numerous NWFA degrees, and received the NWFA Industry Leadership Award in 2008.

In this episode of NWFA Wood Talk, Brett Miller sits down with Clyde Calhoun, Founder and CEO of Root Idea LLC, to discuss how artificial intelligence is beginning to impact the hardwood flooring industry. From improving efficiency to enhancing decision-making, Clyde shares insights into how AI can support—not replace—skilled professionals and why those who embrace new technology are poised to lead the way.

Brett Miller chats with John Kiepper of Sheoga Hardwood Flooring & Paneling, Inc about his long history in the hardwood industry.

Brett Miller chats with Brian Conklin of Gutchess Lumber Company to discuss the story of wood, the environmental benefits of wood flooring compared to look-alike alternatives, and more.

On this episode of the NWFA Wood Talk podcast, Brett Miller sits down with Frank C. Owens, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of Sustainable Bioproducts at Mississippi State University. They dive into the science of wood identification, discussing key techniques for distinguishing different species and the importance of accurate identification in the wood flooring industry.

Dr. Owens also previews his upcoming presentation at the NWFA Pre-Expo Symposium on April 15th, titled “Wood Identification Tips and Techniques: Know More, Guess Less.”

Links:
 NWFA Pre-Expo Symposium Info

•  Wood ID Team on YouTube
•  Connect with Dr. Owens on LinkedIn
•  Wood Identification Resources

Tune in to gain expert insights into wood identification and how it impacts the flooring industry!