The newly formed National Association of Floor Covering Technicians (NAFCT), announced its development of a trade association, comprised of technical flooring professionals, with a common goal to improve the flooring industry through training. NAFCT is focused solely on continuously working to provide a solution to the installation shortage the industry has been experiencing. With future focused training, NAFCT will be working with industry experts, manufacturers, and other flooring associations to provide advanced and affordable hands-on training, locally to the installer. In January 2021, NAFCT will be launching specific training segments, compiled with key industry partners and manufacturers.
“New, enhanced and ongoing training services are needed to elevate the skilled trade status of flooring installers,” said Paul Pleshek, executive director and co-founder of NAFCT. Flooring installation is typically one of the most expensive components of the construction project and not always respected as such. “Experience, knowledge, certification, craftsmanship should mean more in our industry than it currently does, we [NAFCT] want to work to change this,” says Pleshek.”
Co-founder and Chairman, Sonny Callaham adds, “It only takes one failure for an installer to go out of business. Training participation and learning ‘ONE-THING’ could be the difference in one’s success. We [NAFCT] want to be here for you and be your ‘Go-To’ association for training, whether it is installation, inspection, maintenance or sales. Not only will NAFCT provide affordable, accessible and frequent training, we will also be supplying the installer with the possibility of an endless career path. What other industry has opportunities in installation, inspection, technical, project management, operations, and sales.”
The National Association of Flooring Covering Technicians (NAFCT), a new, non-profit 501(c)(6) trade association, developed with the purpose to improve the flooring industry by partnering with industry experts, manufacturers, and other flooring associations to provide accessible, affordable, advanced training and certification programs. Co-founders, Sonny Callaham and Paul Pleshek, have extensive knowledge and experience within the flooring industry. Both flooring professionals have served on many committees and Board of Directors for first-class organizations, such as NWFA, FCICA, NICFI, CFI and IICRC. These flooring organizations and others are working tirelessly to improve the industry and combat installation shortage. All have run into the same hurdle – Costs. The costs of attendance, travel, continuing education, membership, etc. have come to a point where too many small businesses or single operators cannot afford to attend. Manufacturers within the flooring industry have been ardent supporters of such organizations, as well as implementing their own training programs to further educate their end-users. However, due to logistics, liability, and lack of multiple category trainings, manufacturers commonly do not offer certification. NAFCT was developed to assist in bridging this gap and bringing low, no cost structured certified trainings directly to the installer.
Understanding the value and driven by the need of this training assistance program, NAFCT has begun to establish strong partnerships with key flooring manufacturers. Some of the founding members include ARDEX Americas, Divergent Adhesives, H.B. Fuller, LATICRETE International, Inc., Loba-Wakol, LLC, MAPEI Corporation, Novalis Innovative Flooring, Roppe Holding Company, Schönox HPS North America, Uzin Utz North America, Inc., and Wagner Meters. NAFCT is looking for a diverse, robust program and welcoming companies to be a significant part of this noble initiative. Visit NAFCT.com and connect with them on social media @NAFCT4U to learn more.
