2008 Winning Walls With Wallcovering WWWW Contest Winners

The National Guild of Professional Paperhangers held its annual convention and tradeshow in Asheville, North Carolina, September 17-20. In spite of the severe economic times, the event was well attended by over 175 Guild members, guests and supporters of the industry.   There was a contingent of seven members of the Wallcovering Association of Japan who made a long trip and enthusiastically shared ideas with our members.

The Convention began with a welcome to 20 first timers by Lillian Weist, a Board member from Nashville, TN.  Thomas McNicholas, senior vice president and general manager of The Zinsser Company presented the keynote speech on “Growth in the Changing Market Place.”  This was followed by a panel-Town Hall meeting style- of a number of manufacturers includes OMNOVA, Brewster, Roman Decorating Products, Jolie Papier, DL Couch Wallcoverings, 4walls.com; and Monadnock Paper Mills who were asked questions on the state of the industry.  Several installers from the NGPP- Guy Adams, Marietta, GA, Carolyn Greene, Northridge, CA, Glen Olsen, Jr, C.P., Woodbridge, IL, Janie Reeves, C.P., Windsor, PA and Shelly Wilkins, C.P., Westminster, MD also answered questions on the industry today.  Richard Bright, director of sales and marketing for the PDCA gave an overview of the standards of the trade with follow-up at the PDCA booth at the tradeshow.

The tradeshow opened with a Carolina cookout and a crowded tradeshow floor. Those members exhibiting were: The Zinsser Company, Cavalier Wallliner, Jacaranda, PDRA, Safe & Simple Wallpaper Removal , Olfa-North America,Thibaut, Blue Mountain, Crosspoint Fabrics, Scotch Paint, OMNOVA Solutions, Gardner-Gibson, National Wallcoverings/Tapo-Fix, Sherwin Williams, Roysons, Hyde Tools, and Roman Decorating Products.

Following a breakfast for paperhangers and associates on Thursday, the tradeshow reopened for another couple of hours of information and exchange of ideas. A highlight of the paperhangers’ breakfast was the distribution of service year pins.   This year there were 38 members who received 20 year pins.

One of the highlights every year at the convention is the announcement of the Winning Walls With Wallcovering Contest winners. The contest and luncheon are sponsored by the Zinsser Company. Winners this year were: Residential Category: First place was awarded to  Scott Mulhern, Scott Mulhern Custom Paperhanging, Hopewell, NJ; Second place went to Michelle Corl, Wall2Wall, Troutville, VA and third place went to Dennis Picard, C.P.,Denis Picard Wallcovering, Kensington, CT; Commercial Category: First Place winner was Keith Long, Quality Interiors, Corona, CA, Second place went to Eunice & Frank Bokstrom, Design Wallcovering Professional Installation, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; third place to Steven Kaye, C.P., Paper Craft  Interiors, Inc, Algonquin, IL shared with Phil & Jennifer Curtis, C.P., Curtis Enterprises, Dolton, IL; Specialty Category: First Place was awarded to Glen Olsen, Jr. C.P., V & G Services, Woodbridge, IL and John Damme, C.P., Exquisite Interiors, Hickory Hills, IL; Second Place went to William White, Robert J. White Company, Cincinnati, OH, and third place went to Phil & Jennifer Curtis, C.P., Curtis Enterprises, Dolton, IL.  Each winner was given a beautiful plaque and a cash prize.

Following the luncheon, came the “The Walls: International Exchange” which had presentations of the application of Jacaranda, a wood veneer product and Lincrusta, a paintable wallcovering. Table top demonstrations by the Southeast Region contingent wowed the participants with specialty application and techniques.

Friday opened with a session on “Making Paste” - the do’s and don’ts of selecting and using adhesives by Merle Houck, Roman Decorating Products. Barry Blanchard, Finishing Touch Professional Paperhanging, Eliot, ME, gave a business session on “Knowing What You’re Worth.”

The Awards Luncheon was opened with a champaign toast to Merle Houck, retiring chemist from Roman Decorating Products. Dave DiBacco, C.P., President and Elsie Kapteina, C.P., First Vice-President gave the newest chapter of NGPP – the Rocky Mountain Chapter in Denver, CO its charter which was accepted by Rex Landem, president.  The Harold Laffer Award is presented to the person instrumental in starting a new chapter.  This award was presented to Cyndi Green, C.P. of Monroe, LA who helped start up the New Orleans Chapter in 2007.  Life Member Awards were presented to Don Leetz, Milwaukee Chapter and Jake Zagore, Chicago Chapter.  Both members have retired from the wallcovering business after many years of devotion to the industry.  Don Leetz, age 84, was present to accept his award.

The new Board members were sworn in- this included newly elected regional directors and alternates as well as the National associate representative - Northeast Region- Sarah Smyth, Director, Jack Egan, Alternate; Metro Region- Vincent LaRusso, Director, Kevin Weis, Alternate; Mid-Atlantic Region- Elizabeth Groves, Director, Phil Reinhard, Alternate; Southeast Region- Joan Hobbs, C.P., Director, Lillian Weist, Alternate; Lower Great Lakes Region-Bob Banker, Director, Mike McGinley, Alternate; Midwest Region-Steven Kaye, C.P., Director, Mike DiGilio, Alternate; Deep South- Cyndi Green, C.P., Director, Pam McCartney, C.P., Alternate; West Region- David Garnett, C.P., Director, Dennis George, Alternate.  The new National Associate Representative on the Board is Greg Laux, MDC Wallcovering, and alternate is Steve Magel, Crosspoint Fabrics.

Immediately following the induction of new Board members, the National Awards were presented: The Best Newsletter Award went to the New York Chapter, Editor Lee Epstein for The Straightedge; the Guy Cooper Golden Plumbline for the outstanding NGPP chapter was presented to the Chicago Chapter; The Bob Isenberger Paperhanger Member of the Year Award to the paperhanger member who has made noteworthy contributions to the Guild and/or industry within the past year went to Roger Coupal, C.P. of the Berkshire Chapter; the Skip Lowe Memorial Award is presented to an associate member who has given dedicated service and support to the Guild during the past year and  that award was presented to Bob Senior, President of Thibaut Wallcovering; and the Sam Kovnat Award which is the highest award bestowed by the NGPP to a member who has given outstanding service to the Guild over an extended period of years was given to Mike Kelly, Jr. C.P. of Wayne, PA.

Next on Friday’s agenda was Steve Boggess of Richmond, VA who showed the participants some neat customized and innovative tools and techniques that Boggess has “invented” to make installation more user friendly.

Last on the schedule for Friday was the “Challenging Your Wallcovering” by Sarah Smyth, Medford, MA who organized the attendees into 12 teams.  Each team was given a specific theme and had a time limit to bring the theme to life with wallcovering material.

Saturday we began by “Mixing Colors” by Shelly Wilkins, C.P. and Janie Reeves, C.P. and ended with twelve informative and unique table top demonstrations.

Many of the attendees hopped the trolley and toured and dined at the famous Biltmore Estate to conclude this wonderful four day event.

NGPP will be trying something new …. a convention at sea. Next October 11th the ship will sail from Galveston, Texas. Be sure to visit our website, www.ngpp.org for more information