MFMA 2026 Hall of Fame Inductees

The MFMA honors those members, past and present, who have made a lasting impact on the maple flooring industry. Inductees into the MFMA Hall of Fame have accomplishments ranging from founding mills to educating architects and specifiers to developing innovative milling and installation techniques.

These outstanding members helped the MFMA become the recognized leader in quality product and technical expertise, and their legacy is evident in the work the association does today.

This year's four inductees were honored at the 2026 MFMA Conference in Orlando.

The 2026 Inductees are:

Ron Davidson

Born in 1941 in Kansas City, Ron Davidson earned a basketball scholarship to the University of Mississippi, where he completed his degree. His passion for basketball led him into the sports surfacing industry.

Ron began his career in 1969 with a 3M subsidiary selling Tartan surfacing. During his seven years at 3M, he built strong, trusted relationships with business owners who sold and maintained sports surfaces, successfully expanding the dealer network. He later joined Robbins, where he spent nine years strengthening contractor relationships and reinforcing the value of a strong, well-supported dealer network.

In 1987, Ron moved to Connor, which at the time had a less developed contractor base. Drawing on his expertise, industry relationships, and commitment to dealer success, he helped significantly grow Connor's contractor network. His efforts led to many of the company's largest clients—several of whom remain partners today—and many of those relationships evolved into multigenerational partnerships.

Ron was instrumental in bringing the Connor QuickLock portable floor to market. One of his most notable accomplishments was securing the replacement of the Boston Celtics' portable floor, followed by widespread adoption of QuickLock systems across the NBA and NCAA. Over approximately 40 years selling MFMA maple, Ron was involved in nearly 50 million square feet of maple sales.

While at Ole Miss, Ron met his wife, Gay Enchelmayer of Glencoe, Illinois. Married in 1964, they have four children—twins Brent and Dawn, Scott, and Todd—and six grandchildren: Zach, Graham, Brody, Presley, Lochlan, and Liam.

Dave Fields

Dave Fields brings more than 47 years of experience in the flooring industry, including over three decades serving as East Coast Regional Sales Representative for Action Floor Systems. His expertise spans installation, supervisory management, and sales, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the gymnasium flooring industry.

Dave joined Action Floor Systems in August 1989, initially covering New England, New York, and New Jersey. In 1991, he expanded his territory southward and today represents Action from Maine to Georgia and west to Ohio. During his 33 years in the gym flooring sector, he has played a significant role in strengthening Action’s presence across the region.

Prior to his sales career, Dave worked extensively in floor installation, including gym floors, racquetball courts, tennis courts, and synthetic flooring systems. He spent much of his early career on the East Coast with Martin Surfacing, followed by a two-year period in Plano, Texas, with Surfacing Technology and Versaturf Synthetic Floors, where he bid and installed racquetball courts. His work during that time took him from Texas to Montana, further broadening his industry experience.

In January 1987, Dave relocated to Maine to work for Space Design Systems. Two years later, he transitioned into his representative role with Action Floor Systems. Since then, he has helped develop and position Action’s product line as one of the most competitive in the marketplace. He credits this success to strong cooperation among the dealer network, high manufacturing standards, efficient order management, and reliable, on-time delivery.

Dave considers his role one of the most rewarding of his career and values the relationships he has built with Action and its dealers. He looks forward to continuing those partnerships for years to come.

Dave Ponder

After graduating from North Texas State University in 1966 with a degree in marketing, Dave Ponder set his sights on the construction industry, inspired by his family’s background in the field. With limited capital to launch his own venture, Dave pursued a variety of sales roles, determined to gain experience and save the resources needed to start his own company.

An opportunity with Haden Company in Dallas, Texas introduced him to the sales and production side of sports construction. In July 1975, Dave founded Ponder Company in Lubbock, Texas as a sole proprietorship. His vision was clear: to build an honest, reliable, debt-free company that would serve as a trusted consultant to churches, schools, and government agencies for their sports surfacing needs.

During this time, Dave began working with Robbins Inc., then newly acquired by the Stoehr family, and after two years of negotiations became the sports flooring specialist for West Texas. To better serve the region, Ponder Company opened an Amarillo office in 1978, where Dave focused on establishing the company as the premier sports surfacing specialist in West Texas.

Throughout the late 70s and early 80s, Ponder Company expanded its product offerings to include factory-direct wood and residential flooring, specialty equipment, commercial kitchens, synthetic track surfaces, and racquetball courts. As racquetball surged in popularity, Robbins appointed Ponder Company as its racquetball specialist for West Texas, later expanding coverage to Dallas, East Texas, and ultimately all of North Texas. In 1983, Ponder Company, Inc. was formed, with Dave as president.

Over the years, the company expanded into Colorado and Wyoming, and Dave became a respected leader within the Robbins dealer network and the broader industry. As he moves toward retirement, Dave leaves a lasting legacy—mentoring many along the way and positioning his daughter Abby to lead Ponder Company into its next chapter of success.

Floyd Shelton

Floyd Shelton has devoted nearly five decades to advancing the maple flooring industry through leadership, innovation, technical expertise, and education. After earning an engineering degree in the early 1970s, Floyd entered the industry with a gym floor installation company originally founded in the late 1800s. Over time, he progressed from installer to salesperson and ultimately to business owner, gaining comprehensive experience in installation, manufacturing, sales, and inspection.

Floyd founded Superior Floor Company, Inc. in Wausau, Wisconsin, manufacturing maple gym flooring in Laona, Wisconsin, for approximately 20 years. Under his leadership, Superior produced more than 30 million square feet of MFMA-certified maple flooring and established a global presence through a network of trained dealers and installers. He later founded Arizona Gym Floors and Gym Floor Inspectors, continuing to apply his extensive expertise to serve clients throughout the Southwest and nationwide.

Widely recognized for his commitment to innovation, Floyd holds seven patented gym floor systems, including the ScissorLoc® system, which introduced advanced airflow and humidity detection technology to enhance floor performance and durability. The system has been installed in millions of square feet worldwide and represents a significant advancement in gym floor design.

Floyd also provided distinguished service to the Maple Flooring Manufacturers Association, serving as President and as Chair of the Technical Committee for 17 years. In these roles, he helped develop and refine installation standards, inspection practices, and technical guidance that continue to shape the industry. A certified Gym Floor Inspector, Floyd has represented owners, manufacturers, installers, attorneys, and architects in matters related to performance and long-term floor use. Known for his direct, practical approach, he has trained more than 1,300 installers throughout his career, consistently promoting quality workmanship and professionalism.

Now retired, Floyd enjoys spending time with his wife, Pat, golfing, and traveling with family and grandchildren.