Water Based Hardwood Finishes & Other Innovations with Chad Nordhagen of BonaKemi

In This Podcast Episode

Floor guy, Rob McNealy, interviews Chad Nordhagen, Director of Marketing & Product Management at BonaKemi about the company and their innovative products. They discuss how BonaKemi pioneered waterborne hardwood floor finishes, and a new hardwood floor mop which sprays a BonaKemi floor cleaner.

More About Chad Nordhagen and BonaKemi

Chad Nordhagen joined BonaKemi in early 2006 as a marketing project developer and quickly moved into the position of finish product manager, where he was responsible for all wood floor finishing products, as well as activities for all market channels, including: new product introductions, promotions, line extensions and meeting the demands of the marketplace for these products.

In his current role as director of marketing and product management, Nordhagen leads marketing and Bona’s Strategic Business Units (SBU) in Finishes, Floor Care and Machines/Abrasives. He is responsible for creating and implementing marketing strategies, developing sales and public relations efforts and overseeing product development for BonaKemi, while seeking out global solutions.

Most recently, Nordhagen comes from Echostar Communications Corporation as promotions and communications manager, where he focused on sales lead generation, sales collateral support materials, trade shows, event marketing and retail sales.

Chad acquired his MBA from the University of Denver with a focus on E-Commerce Marketing and earned his BA in Business from Washington State University.

Since 1919, BonaKemi has provided professionals with premium quality finishing and cleaning products and systems developed to maintain the natural beauty of wood floors. With global headquarters in Malmö, Sweden and subsidiaries and distributors in over 50 countries, BonaKemi has led the industry worldwide with innovative, environmentally responsible solutions to a formerly hazardous and toxic process. The pioneer of waterborne finishes and dust containment in the industry, Bona provides the cleanest, most convenient and healthiest hardwood floor finishing process available.

The BonaKemi product line includes a trailer-mounted dust containment system, waterborne hardwood floor finishes, and floor care products, including the hardwood floor mop pictured here, which sprays a specially designed hardwood floor cleaner.

HGTV & DIY with Eric Stromer of Over Your Head

In This Podcast Episode

Floor guy, Rob McNealy interviews Eric Stromer, popular HGTV host, author and do-it-yourself expert, about his career in contracting, and how he got his start in the entertainment business. They also discuss his hit HGTV television show, Over Your Head .

Eric Stromer’s Bio

What do you get when you mix construction, comedy and music? Chicago native Eric Stromer, host of the hit HGTV show Over Your Head, author of Do-It-Yourself Family, and one of People magazine’s “Sexiest Men Alive.”

Eric’s entertaining DIY advice and infectious personality have won the hearts of millions of viewers nationwide! He is a spokesman for SEARS/Craftsman Tools and can be heard regularly dishing out home improvement advice to listeners of Adam Carolla’s nationally syndicated radio show.

As the host of Over Your Head, one of HGTV’s top series, Eric comes to the rescue of homeowners who have tackled a home improvement project that failed miserably! Saving rooms, homes and potentially marriages, Eric and his team guide the homeowners’ projects to completion every week. You never know when one of Eric’s alter egos (such as knitting guru Granny Stromer) will show up to join in on the fun!

In 2007, Eric partnered with AOL and GMC to create Home Improvement with Eric Stromer, a series of web videos and interactive features that help viewers conquer their fears and tackle home repair projects themselves. The series of videos feature a wide range of projects such as hanging wallpaper and eco-friendly landscaping, and they are available for free on AOL’s Living channel.

Eric is also an accomplished author. His book, Do-It-Yourself Family, is a helpful guide for busy parents, with suggestions for home projects that will not only bring the family together but also buy some quality time for mom and dad. Published by Random House/Bantam Dell, it is available in stores nationwide! Eric also pens a monthly column, “Superhandy Dad,” for LA Parent magazine.

Born and raised in Evanston, Illinois, Eric grew up enjoying both sports and drama. He excelled in track and football and participated in local talent shows. His passion for the arts and an early break in commercials led him to enroll in the University of Colorado’s theater department where he lasted only one week. After realizing a structured curriculum in drama was not satisfying, he desperately tried to return home, but soon found himself on the next plane back. In order to financially survive, Eric found a niche in construction. Eric’s four years of painting and putting crown molding in just about every house in Colorado laid the foundation for his future career.

Upon graduation, Eric moved to Los Angeles and began remodeling houses. His eye for design, attention to detail, and great craftsmanship captured the attention of many A-list celebrities. In 1993, Eric started his own company, Big House Construction, which quickly flourished into a lucrative business. Eric has remodeled homes for celebrities including Dylan McDermott, Elijah Wood and Jasmine Guy.

Although his business is thriving, Eric has not given up his first love of entertaining. And it didn’t take long for Hollywood to come knocking on his door. He was even honored with the Best Comedy Short award at the Houston Film Festival for producing, scoring and starring in The Acting Thing, a comedy film that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Eric is also an accomplished singer/songwriter who has written and performed music for The Drew Carey Showtime Special, The Wild Side starring Christopher Walken, and numerous television shows. Eric is currently recording his debut full-length album with some of Nashville’s greatest musical talents.

A father to three, television host, construction extraordinaire and product spokesman keep this blonde hunk busy, but just ask Eric; there is nothing else he would rather do!

Be sure to tune in to watch Eric on Over Your Head on HGTV! See him save the day for American families that have undertaken home renovations that have turned into nightmares.

Ethics in Building with Jeffrey Prager of NARI

In This Podcast Episode

Floor guy, Rob McNealy, interviews Jeffrey Prager, the acting president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) about ethics in building. Jeff is also the founder of the Front Range Chapter of NARI.

Jeffrey Prager’s Bio

Jeffrey K. Prager is the President of Backroom Management Services. This company serves small to medium sized businesses and is designed to relieve some of the frustration and stress of running the financial side of a business. Backroom provides hands-on bookkeeping assistance using a proprietary web-based accounting system. In addition, the company offers the kind of guidance, financial interpretation and strategic planning associated with having a CFO in-house, but without the expense. A CPA with 36 years of experience, Prager also serves as a teacher of managerial economics (applying economic theory to business decisions) at the University of Colorado -Denver.

Prager is himself a very successful entrepreneur who built his own company to $26 million in annual revenue. Simultaneously, he served as the CFO for another company, helping guide it to $100 million+ in annual revenue. He retired in May of 2007 only to find out he was allergic to retirement.

He authored courses called Business Planning (A Cookbook Approach to Writing a Business Plan), Monitoring Your Company’s Vital Signs (An Approach for Analyzing and Reacting to Conditions Impacting the Profitability of a Business), and Marketing Your Professional Services which were taught at various state societies of CPA’s.

Mr. Prager has taught courses on accounting, management and finance for the National Association of Homebuilders (HBA). He also assisted in writing the business section for the “Certified Remodeler” designation, which is a program run by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI).