Education Program Sessions
The 2021 HPBExpo Education Program is developed by the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Education Foundation (HPBEF). More than 30 sessions designed to help industry professionals increase sales, improve business efficiency, and strengthen technical abilities. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) abound for those seeking to renew NFI or CSIA Certifications. Starting Wednesday, June 23rd, the day before exhibits open, and concluding Friday, June 25th, the Education Program consists of sessions in the CEU categories listed below, except for Manufacturer Specific Training. Learn more about the sessions below.
| Title | Date | Start Time | End Time | Room Suffix | # of CEUs | Type of CEUs | Name | Business Name | Description |
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| Building A Business You Can Actually Sell | Wednesday, June 23 2021 | 9:45 am | 10:45 am | 1 | Elective | Tim Reed | Reed Marketing, LLC | This session will cover the systems and processes that your business needs to have in place to be worth something to a buyer, what you need to understand financially about your business if you want to sell, and the key positions to have in place to run your business for you when you aren’t there. | |
| Building a Service Department: The Right Way | Wednesday, June 23 2021 | 1:00 pm | 2:00 pm | 1 | Elective | Grant Falco | Falco's | Coming Soon | |
| Chimney Physics | Wednesday, June 23 2021 | 8:00 am | 12:00 pm | 4 | Technical | Russ Dimmitt | Chimney Safety Institute of America | Learn what "The House as a System" means specifically to you as a retailer and installer of appliances that must vent to the outside atmosphere. This session will include topics like:
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| Designed to Sell: How to Increase Sales of BBQ Grills and Cooking Accessories | Wednesday, June 23 2021 | 3:30 pm | 4:30 pm | 1 | Elective | Josh Tahan | Josh has been helping retailers across the country sell a variety of grilling products and accessories through in-store demos, cooking classes and events for over 8 years. One of the most compelling cases you, as a retailer, can make for the products you sell is through the power of the demo. In this session, you will learn: • how to set up demonstrations, classes or in-depth technical experiences for a variety of products, • how to find and retain talented individuals in the community to help sell your products, or grow your sales associates into selling machines, • proven talking points & sales tools designed to maximize every customer-engagement, and • what information & support you need to request from the brands you represent. Additionally, all attendees will receive Josh's handbook outlining his tried and true processes and procedures so you can get rockin' with on-site demonstrations immediately after the Expo in March. |
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| Evosus Manufacturer Specific Training | Wednesday, June 23 2021 | 8:00 am | 10:00 am | MFG | Sheryl Smith | Evosus | Coming Soon | ||
| IRC Updates That Pertain To Gas Hearth Appliances | Wednesday, June 23 2021 | 8:30 am | 9:30 am | 1 | Technical | Bob Wise | CVC Success Group | Coming Soon | |
| Marketing Panel | Wednesday, June 23 2021 | 11:00 am | 12:00 pm | 1 | Elective | Shannon Good | Good Marketing Group | Participants will include Shannon and Brad Good from Good Marketing, Carter Harkins and Taylor Hill from Spark Marketer and Eric Davis from FLM Harvest PR. Hear their views regarding the next steps for retailers in the "new normal" everyone is talking about. | |
| Maximizing the Value of Your Business | Wednesday, June 232021 | 1:00 pm | 2:00 pm | 1 | Elective | Terry Kelm | Sunbelt Franchise Sales & Re-sales | With the Baby Boomers starting to exit their businesses, the market for selling a business is set to become very crowded over the next several years. Building your business to stand out in that crowded market is financially prudent. Join Terry Kelm, President of Sunbelt Re-sales for an informative, no nonsense session on building a sellable business, including the attributes buyers want when they evaluate potential business purchases. Whether you are thinking about selling today or down the road, the information will be valuable. | |
| Moving Forward 1: Business Strategy: The expectations and promise inherent in your brand | Wednesday, June 23 2021 | 11:00 am | 12:00 pm | 1 | Elective | Ted Topping | Creative Insights | Build your business for the “new normal” of the post-pandemic economy. These practical sessions are based on retail and service-industry best practices, which Ted is interpreting for small and medium-size businesses. The first session outlines a Moving Forward Business Strategy built on the knowledge that customers will not soon return to their pre-pandemic spending levels, which means that businesses will have to focus more on branding, experience, trust and standing out from their competitors. | |
| Moving Forward 2: Products & Services: Everything that you offer to customers. | Wednesday, June 23 2021 | 2:15 pm | 3:15 pm | 1 | Elective | Ted Topping | Creative Insights | In five integrated HPBExpo sessions this year, speaker, author and consultant Ted Topping will help you reset and rebuild your business for the “new normal” of the post-pandemic economy. These practical sessions are based on retail and service-industry best practices, which Ted is interpreting for small and medium-size businesses. The second session describes a Moving Forward strategy for your Products and Services. With more customers placing a premium on timelessness, usefulness and versatility, products and services that people recognize will hold their value will prove “worth the investment.” | |
| NFI Core Review Class | Wednesday, June 23 2021 | 8:00 am | 11:00 am | 3 | Technical | Trent Simmons | This is the official review class for the new First Edition NFI Core Certification exam. The class is based on the official reference manual for the exam, the Core Knowledge Reference Manual, First Edition, published Fall 2018. The class will cover combustion, heat transfer, construction, safety principles, and installation knowledge. This includes regulations and instructions, venting, ventilation, and basic electricity. | ||
| NFI Gas Review Class | Wednesday, June 23 2021 | 12:00 pm | 3:00 pm | 3 | Technical | Tom Parks | This is the official review class for the Sixth Edition NFI Gas Certification exam. The class is based on the official reference manual for the exam, the Gas Hearth Systems Reference Manual, Sixth Edition, published Fall 2018. The class will cover installation knowledge specific to gas appliances and venting. This includes regulations and instructions, fuel characteristics and delivery, appliance requirements, venting, ventilation, and troubleshooting. All major gas hearth appliances will be covered including fireplaces, gas log sets, inserts, and freestanding stoves. Venting methods such as conventional type B-vent, direct-vent, liner systems, and vent-free will also be covered. | ||
| NFI Hearth Design Specialist Review Class | Wednesday, June 23 2021 | 8:00 am | 3:00 pm | 6 | Technical | Johanna Dorn | The Hearth Design Specialist certification is designed to show consumers that the sales personnel understand the technical information they need to properly plan their installation. Based on the Hearth Design Specialist Reference Manual, First Edition which was published in the fall of 2017, this certification covers the technical knowledge on combustion, heat transfer, safety and venting for woodburning, and gas and pellet hearth appliances. Other topics include an introduction to codes, standards and regulations, fuel characteristics, and appliance requirements. All major hearth appliances are covered including fireplaces, gas log sets, fireplace inserts, and free-standing stoves. | ||
| NFI Pellet Review Class | Wednesday, June 23 2021 | 12:00 pm | 3:00 pm | 3 | Technical | Larry Grogan | This is the official review class for the Sixth Edition NFI Pellet Certification exam. The class is based on the official reference manual for the exam, Pellet Hearth Systems Reference Manual, Sixth Edition, published Fall 2018. The class covers the different approaches to pellet appliance fuel delivery, and venting systems. Planning, installation, and troubleshooting knowledge will also be covered. More specifically, such subjects as appliance components, electrical requirements, vent configurations and assembly, and common causes and solutions for pellet system problems will be discussed. | ||
| NFI Woodburning Review Class | Wednesday, June 23 2021 | 12:00 pm | 3:00 pm | 3 | Technical | Ron Kessner | This is the official review class for the NFI Woodburning Certification exam. The class is based on the official reference manual for the exam, Woodburning Hearth Systems Reference Manual, Sixth Edition, published Fall of 2018. This class covers both solid-fuel factory-built fireplaces and all types of wood stoves, including freestanding, inserts, and manufactured high-efficiency fireplaces. Installation knowledge specific to wood burning appliances, including installation and planning, solid-fuel appliance regulations and instructions, appliances, venting and ventilation, and troubleshooting are also included. | ||
| Pivot and Thrive: Starting A Retail Business During Uncertain Times | Wednesday, June 23 2021 | 3:30 pm | 4:30 pm | 1 | Elective | Emmanuel Munda | See Joslyn Teng | In a new world of DIY and work from home, this session will cover steps in using technology to reach the consumer market, pivoting from old practices and thriving in a new format. In addition it will cover how to use social media to online shopping services, how to best integrate and interact with customers, and examine existing platforms and new strategies to achieve income in the new normal. | |
| Service Contracts | Wednesday, June 23 2021 | 3:30 pm | 4:30 pm | 1 | Elective | Ron Segars | Ron's Fireside Shop | Coming Soon | |
| Testing Protocol For Hearth Appliances | Wednesday, June 23 2021 | 2:15 pm | 3:15 pm | 1 | Technical | Wayne Terpstra | Coming Soon | ||
| Transform Your Website in 60 Minutes | Wednesday, June 23 2021 | 2:15 pm | 3:15 pm | 1 | Elective | Tim Reed | This session will cover: • Why most websites confuse customers out of buying, • What your website needs to have in place to reach consumers today, • How to create a wireframe for your website that puts it all into action (and saves you a ton on the cost of development). | ||
| Where's The Beef? Panel Discussion | Wednesday, June 23 2021 | 1:00 pm | 2:00 pm | 1 | Elective | John Crouch | Coming Soon | ||
| Who Is Your Best Customer and How Do You Get More? | Wednesday, June 23 2021 | 9:45 am | 10:45 am | 1 | Elective | Shannon Good | Good Marketing Group | Who is your best customer and how do you get more of them? This session will analyze who is your target audience and how to create marketing strategies around them, including: • Using profiles of existing customers to find new prospects, • Marketing channels (i.e. social media, direct mail, google advertising), • Integration of marketing efforts with your website for sales conversions, and • Leveraging current customers for cross marketing and referrals. |
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| Empire Comfort Manufacturer Specific Training | Thursday, June 24 2021 | 1:00 pm | 3:00 pm | MFG | Tim Cummings | Empire Comfort | Coming Soon | ||
| Increasing Builder Sales | Thursday, June 24 2021 | 11:00 am | 12:00 pm | 1 | Elective | Sean Rosser | Hearthside | Interested in growing your builder sales? In this session, we will discuss how to grow your builder sales efforts from a simple extension of your retail store, all the way to having a dedicated builder sales rep. We will cover: • How to segment different builders, • Pricing strategies for each segment, • Marketing strategies for each segment, and • Pro-forma cost and profit expectations as you grow your builder sales. |
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| Moving Forward 3: People: The team directly and indirectly serving your customers | Thursday, June 24 2021 | 3:30 pm | 4:30 pm | 1 | Elective | Ted Topping | Creative Insights | In five integrated HPBExpo sessions this year, speaker, author and consultant Ted Topping will help you reset and rebuild your business for the “new normal” of the post-pandemic economy. These practical sessions are based on retail and service-industry best practices, which Ted is interpreting for small and medium-size businesses. The third session offers a Moving Forward strategy regarding your People. At a time when careful shoppers and leaner store shelves will be the norm, your sales and service team(s) will be the most-effective way you have of offering your customers greater value. And it all rests on the people you hire and train. | |
| NFI Core Review Class | Thursday, June 24 2021 | 8:00 am | 11:00 am | 3 | Technical | Dan DeMagistris | This is the official review class for the new First Edition NFI Core Certification exam. The class is based on the official reference manual for the exam, the Core Knowledge Reference Manual, First Edition, published Fall 2018. The class will cover combustion, heat transfer, construction, safety principles, and installation knowledge. This includes regulations and instructions, venting, ventilation, and basic electricity. | ||
| NFI Gas Review Class | Thursday, June 24 2021 | 12:00 pm | 3:00 pm | 3 | Technical | Bob Wise | This is the official review class for the Sixth Edition NFI Gas Certification exam. The class is based on the official reference manual for the exam, the Gas Hearth Systems Reference Manual, Sixth Edition, published Fall 2018. The class will cover installation knowledge specific to gas appliances and venting. This includes regulations and instructions, fuel characteristics and delivery, appliance requirements, venting, ventilation, and troubleshooting. All major gas hearth appliances will be covered including fireplaces, gas log sets, inserts, and freestanding stoves. Venting methods such as conventional type B-vent, direct-vent, liner systems, and vent-free will also be covered. | ||
| NFI Hearth Design Specialist Review Class | Thursday, June 24 2021 | 8:00 am | 3:00 pm | 6 | Technical | Suzanne Turner | The Hearth Design Specialist certification is designed to show consumers that the sales personnel understand the technical information they need to properly plan their installation. Based on the Hearth Design Specialist Reference Manual, First Edition which was published in the fall of 2017, this certification covers the technical knowledge on combustion, heat transfer, safety and venting for woodburning, and gas and pellet hearth appliances. Other topics include an introduction to codes, standards and regulations, fuel characteristics, and appliance requirements. All major hearth appliances are covered including fireplaces, gas log sets, fireplace inserts, and free-standing stoves. | ||
| NFI Pellet Review Class | Thursday, June 24 2021 | 12:00 pm | 3:00 pm | 3 | Technical | Steve Gagnon | This is the official review class for the Sixth Edition NFI Pellet Certification exam. The class is based on the official reference manual for the exam, Pellet Hearth Systems Reference Manual, Sixth Edition, published Fall 2018. The class covers the different approaches to pellet appliance fuel delivery, and venting systems. Planning, installation, and troubleshooting knowledge will also be covered. More specifically, such subjects as appliance components, electrical requirements, vent configurations and assembly, and common causes and solutions for pellet system problems will be discussed. | ||
| NFI Woodburning Review Class | Thursday, June 24 2021 | 12:00 pm | 3:00 pm | 3 | Technical | Kurt Evers | This is the official review class for the NFI Woodburning Certification exam. The class is based on the official reference manual for the exam, Woodburning Hearth Systems Reference Manual, Sixth Edition, published Fall of 2018. This class covers both solid-fuel factory-built fireplaces and all types of wood stoves, including freestanding, inserts, and manufactured high-efficiency fireplaces. Installation knowledge specific to wood burning appliances, including installation and planning, solid-fuel appliance regulations and instructions, appliances, venting and ventilation, and troubleshooting are also included. | ||
| Outdoor Kitchen 101 | Thursday, June 24 2021 | 2:15 pm | 3:15 pm | 1 | Elective | Casey Harvey | Ray Murray Inc. | In this session you will learn the tips and tricks needed to design a functional and memorable outdoor kitchen tailored to meet the needs of their specific clients. We will also cover the basics of outdoor kitchen sales and marketing. | |
| Embracing And Driving Powerful Positive Change In Your Organization | Friday, June 25 2021 | 1:00 pm | 2:00 pm | 1 | Elective | Michael Levin | Custom Solutions Inc | Embracing Change is about how to not only get your people to embrace change but actually lead and drive that change. In this session, I will share why change is so difficult for companies to create and why change that does occur so frequently becomes “Flavor of the Month”. You will learn my number #1 key that companies fail to do that is absolutely essential for your team to be open to change and how to implement that key. You will also learn the three stages that I believe must occur to create not only change that is embraced but change that is sustained. You will learn:
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| Introduction to Electric Service | Friday, June 25 2021 | 3:30 pm | 4:30 pm | 1 | Technical | Jacob Blackwell | Empire Comfort | This session will cover the fundamental relationship between voltage, current and resistance in an electrical or electronic circuit called Ohm’s Law. Each type of DC circuit contains certain characteristics that determine the way its voltage and current behave. To begin analysis of the voltages and currents at each part of a circuit, an understanding of these characteristics is necessary: tools and equipment, current, voltage, resistance,series circuits,parallel circuits,series parallel circuits, basic DC circuit calculations, basic AC power, application with respect to troubleshooting heating products. At the end of the session students will be able to describe the relationship of components of ohms law. • be able to explain usage of a multi meter, • understand basic difference between AC and DC power, • be able to apply these concepts to troubleshooting basic electrical equipment. |
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| How To Thrive In A Smart Home Era | Friday, June 25 2021 | 8:30 am | 9:30 am | 1 | Technical | George Suzuki | See Joslyn Teng | Coming Soon | |
| Let Them See You Sweat: Lessons I’ve Learned On My Personal Journey With Stress | Friday, June 25 2021 | 9:45 am | 10:45 am | 1 | Elective | Michael Levin | Custom Solutions Inc | I will share openly about my personal journey with stress and how I dealt with both the typical and unusual physical impacts I experienced including my body actually stopping sweating. I will share with you why I believe stress often goes undiagnosed and dismissed as the possible cause of significant physical damage and how you can be your own best advocate. I will also share some of my 15 Key Learnings and what you can do to help effectively manage not only the stress in your live but your teams and those you love. I will also tell inspiring stories of those who came to realize how stress impacted their lives and the miracles that occurred from recognizing and dealing with that impact. You will learn:
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| Moving Forward 4 Process: The procedures and systems that affect your customers | Friday, June 25 2021 | 11:00 am | 12:00 pm | 1 | Elective | Ted Topping | Creative Insights | In five integrated HPBExpo sessions this year, speaker, author and consultant Ted Topping will help you reset and rebuild your business for the “new normal” of the post-pandemic economy. These practical sessions are based on retail and service-industry best practices, which Ted is interpreting for small and medium-size businesses. The fourth session provides a Moving Forward strategy for Process, the many ways in which you do or don’t deliver service. It recognizes that many customers have adopted a more thoughtful approach to spending and are seeking guarantees instead of promises. Presents ways you can create a distinct competitive advantage that these customers will prefer and willingly pay a bit more for. | |
| Moving Forward 5: Place: Your physical and virtual "on stage" settings | Friday, June 25 2021 | 2:15 pm | 3:15 pm | 1 | Elective | Ted Topping | Creative Insights | In five integrated HPBExpo sessions this year, speaker, author and consultant Ted Topping will help you reset and rebuild your business for the “new normal” of the post-pandemic economy. These practical sessions are based on retail and service-industry best practices, which Ted is interpreting for small and medium-size businesses. The fifth session presents a Moving Forward strategy for your physical and virtual place. If your hearth business sells only to the trade, you just need a warehouse and a website. But if your business sells even partly to today’s knowledgeable end consumers, you have to offer a competitive retail interaction that can transform a mere sale into a long-lasting relationship. |
