NALFA Reports on 2026 Spring Meetings in Phoenix

Springfield, MA, March 23, 2026-The North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA) hosted its 2026 Spring Meeting in Phoenix from March 10 to 12, bringing together industry leaders to advance technical standards and align the category around real-world performance.

Attendees engaged in discussions on standards development, industry advancements, and long-term growth strategies, reinforcing NALFA’s commitment to strengthening laminate flooring’s position in the market. 

Opening the meeting, NALFA president Tom Wright, VP product management & innovation at Mohawk Industries, emphasized the importance of collaboration in advancing both standards and the broader category.

A keynote presentation by Jared Mathusek, VP of installation services at Empire Today, brought a field-driven perspective to the discussion, highlighting ongoing challenges, including labor shortages, inconsistent training and gaps between manufacturer documentation and on-site realities. Beth Ziesenis, “Your Nerdy Best Friend,” also presented, sharing strategies for leveraging technology and AI to improve productivity and communication.

NALFA’s Board of Directors reviewed progress on key initiatives, including updates to LF-03, NALFA’s Underlayment Certification Standard, and LF-04, its Moulding and Transition Performance Standard, as well as continued investment in standards development and efforts to improve communication around certification and performance. Tyler Snyder of Kronospan was appointed to the Executive Committee as Secretary, and Katherine Baxter of Mohawk Industries was named Chair of the Moulding Committee. 

NALFA’s Technical, Underlayment, Mouldings, and Marketing committees met during the event, led by Anthony Drevet of Shaw Industries Group, Deanna Summers of MP Global Products, Mickey Davis of Pak-Lite, Katherine Baxter of Mohawk Industries, Heather Knutson of CALI Floors, and Danielle Lancianese of Shaw Industries Group, respectively. Discussions focused on advancing a more integrated, system-based approach to performance, aligning with ongoing work within LF-03 and LF-04. 

NALFA will continue these discussions at its Fall Meeting, scheduled for October 13 to 15 in Savannah, Georgia.