In reminiscence of James Donald “Don” Conner, Jr., a beloved hardwood flooring trade legend who handed away in October 2022, Mullican Flooring is encouraging people to contribute to a Nationwide Wooden Flooring Affiliation (NWFA) Schooling and Analysis Basis (ERF) Named Scholarship Fund in his identify.
Conner, a 44-year veteran of the wooden flooring trade, retired in 2013. He was launched to the trade on the age of 8, when he started working together with his father within the household enterprise, Conner Tile & Ground Masking Firm, in his native Oklahoma. He served within the U.S. Air Power, which included a tour in Vietnam, and acquired quite a few decorations and citations for his service. After his army profession, he attended school and rejoined his father’s enterprise earlier than co-founding his personal ground masking firm.
After working as vp of analysis and improvement for Harris Tarkett, Conner joined Mullican Flooring as director of product and analysis, the place he additionally served as director of coaching and nationwide gross sales consultant.
Conner was closely concerned with the NWFA, the place he helped develop technical manuals and tips, and served as an teacher on the NWFA/NOFMA/MFMA colleges and on the board of administrators. He additionally established the NWFA Licensed Professionals (NWFACP) program and earned a number of NWFA levels, together with Craftsman, Grasp Craftsman, Superior Grasp Craftsman, Vanguard, and Ambassador.
Conner retired from his function as NWFA technical director in 2013, one yr after receiving the celebrated Trade Management Award on the NWFA Wooden Flooring Expo, one thing solely 10 different people had achieved earlier than him. As well as, he was given honorary lifetime membership and certification upon his retirement.
“Don was extraordinarily enthusiastic about hardwood flooring and instructing different individuals within the trade,” mentioned Neil Poland, president of Mullican Flooring. “He was a terrific mentor who taught many individuals set up, promote, and quote hardwood flooring merchandise. He was the spine of the NWFA. He acquired many awards and honors all through his profession for his contributions to our trade and the training of many wooden flooring professionals who proceed to work within the trade at present.”
Donations to the NWFA Schooling and Analysis Basis in Conner’s honor will probably be used to fund scholarship applications for future generations of wooden flooring professionals. A complete contribution of $20,000 will meet the eligibility necessities for the NWFA’s Named Scholarship, which completely honors a person who made vital and lasting contributions to the trade. Donations honoring Conner are presently barely previous the midway level for the Named Scholarship and could also be despatched to the Nationwide Wooden Flooring Affiliation, 111 Chesterfield Industrial Blvd., Chesterfield, Missouri, 63005, or submitted on-line.
“Don genuinely cared for individuals and was one of many kindest, most educated members of our trade,” Poland added. “I’m proud to have had him as a lifelong buddy. His household was essential to him, and he cherished to speak about his grandchildren and the way his spouse, Melissa, stored him out of bother. I’ll at all times bear in mind him as a terrific husband, father, grandfather, and buddy.”