More Than a Lookalike

Some of you have heard this story before, so bear with me while I retell it. And stick around, because there’s a point to it.

Several years ago, Dana Spessert and I were in Austin, Texas, for some training. We were sitting outside the Omni Hotel in a small group when I looked over at the bar and saw someone I recognized. I said, “Hey, there’s John Stamos.” The group wasn’t convinced. I got all kinds of responses like “That’s not John Stamos” and “That guy’s too short to be John Stamos,” but I knew it was him, so I called out, “Hey, John!” and walked over to shake his hand. Sure enough, it was him. He told me about how he and the Beach Boys were on tour and were in town for a concert, and he came over and chatted with our group for a couple of minutes.

I’m not telling you this story to impress you with a John Stamos sighting. It was just kind of an incredible moment. But here’s what I’m getting at. What if I’d called out “Hey, John!” and the guy hadn’t even looked up, because it wasn’t him? Maybe it was just a guy with great hair and an AWESOME first name, but not the real deal. This story wouldn’t be worth repeating if that had been the case.

That’s exactly how I look at membership with NHLA. There are plenty of groups out there that might “look” like NHLA from a distance. They might host a convention, have some educational offerings, or even publish a newsletter. But when you walk up and shake their hand, it’s just not the real thing.

When it comes to the hardwood industry, NHLA is the original—setting the bar long before imitators showed up. For over 125 years, we’ve been setting the rules, educating the future, advocating for our members, and creating a community where real business gets done. That’s not something you can fake.

When you choose NHLA, you’re not settling for an imitation. You’re choosing the organization that knows the entire hardwood industry inside and out—not just by state or region, but across North America. We recognize that our members in Canada, and in every region we serve, bring unique challenges and perspectives to the table. And we’re listening. We are working to improve communication, expand support, and make sure your needs are reflected in the work we do every day.

Because when it comes to your business, nothing less than the real thing will do—and that’s exactly what you get with NHLA.

John Hester
Chief Development Officer