St. Louis, Mo.—The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) has announced a significantly expanded training schedule for 2014, which includes more than 40 weeks of training being held in 20 different locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.
The new schedule includes approximately 10 one-day workshops that will be offered in different locations to provide training opportunities in areas where large populations of contractors are located. Along with these workshops will be the opportunity for more in-depth hands-on training offered in six permanent locations, including Richmond, Va.; Marietta, Ga.; Chicago; St. Louis, Mo.; Grand Rapids, Mich., and Las Vegas.
NWFACP student workshops, like this recent one held in St. Louis, Mo., will be expanded in 2014 to include 40 weeks of training in 20 different cities throughout the U.S./Canada.“The workshop format we introduced this past year was well received by our students,” said Brett Miller, NWFA’s director of education and certification. “This flexibility allows our students to sign up for training that meets both their needs and their schedule. They can come for the whole week, or just the days that address the areas where they need additional training, or just the days when they don’t have conflicts with paying jobs. It allows the learning to be totally driven by the student.
“The workshops then provide the foundation for more intensive hands-on training that will be offered in six permanent locations from the West Coast to the East Coast,” he explained. “Our goal is to provide training where it is needed, and where the contractors are doing business.”
Specific workshops vary by location and date. Dates and locations include:
Jan. 13-17 Minneapolis
Jan. 16-18 Micanopy, Fla.
Jan. 31 Las Vegas
Feb. 11-14 Tulsa, Okla.
Feb. 18-21 Chicago
Feb. 24-28 St. Louis, Mo.
Feb. 24-28 Marietta, Ga.
Feb. 25-28 Reno, Nev.
March 5-7 Stoughton, Mass.
March 10-14 Grand Rapids, Mich.
March 11-14 Boise, Idaho
March 11-14 New Orleans
March 14-15 Riverdale, N.J.
March 17-21 St. Louis, Mo.
March 26-28 Las Vegas
March 31-April 4 Houston
April 29-May 2 St. Louis, Mo.
April 30-May 2 Salt Lake City, Utah
May 6-9 Richmond, Va.
May 6-9 Denver
May 7-9 Toronto, Canada
May 12-16 Nashville
May 20-22 Marietta, Ga.
May 20-23 San Jose, Calif.
June 10-13 St. Louis, Mo.
June 17-20 St. Louis, Mo.
July 21-25 St. Louis, Mo.
Aug. 5-8 Chicago
Aug. 12-15 Chicago
Aug. 26-28 Chicago
Aug. 26-28 Marietta, Ga.
Sept. 9-12 St. Louis, Mo.
Sept. 16-19 St. Louis, Mo.
Sept. 22-26 St. Louis, Mo.
Sept. 25-26 Conshohocken, Pa.
Sept. 30-Oct. 3 Albuquerque, N.M.
Oct. 6-10 Grand Rapids, Mich.
Oct. 6-10 Los Angeles
Oct. 10-11 Riverdale, N.J.
Oct. 13-17 St. Louis, Mo.
Oct. 15-17 Minneapolis
Oct. 28-31 Marietta, Ga.
Nov. 3-7 Chicago
Nov. 10-14 St. Louis, Mo.
Each of the week-long training sessions also includes an Open House, which provides attendees with opportunities to meet with manufacturer members to learn about their products, and to establish relationships with local businesses that may lead to job referrals.
“We also are setting up pilot programs with Habitat for Humanity and Operation Finally Home, which gives our students an option to become certified installers, while helping our local community and wounded veterans,” Miller said. “It’s a great opportunity for a student to improve his/her skills while providing a much-needed service in our communities.”
For more information, as well as a complete list of workshops and registration fees, visit nwfa.org under Technical Education, Education Schedule.