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 | # of CEUs | Type of CEUs | Name | Business Name | Description |
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Evosus Manufacturer Specific Training | Wednesday, June 23, 2021 | 8:00 am | 10:00 am | MFG | Sheryl Smith | Evosus | Coming Soon | ||
NFI Core Review Class | Wednesday, June 23, 2021 | 8:00 am | 11:00 am | 3 | Technical | Trent Simmons | Top Hat Chimney Sweeps | 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. | |
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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NFI Hearth Design Specialist Review Class | Wednesday, June 23, 2021 | 8:00 am | 3:00 pm | 6 | Technical | Johanna Dorn | Ace Hardware and Hearth | 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 Exams | Wednesday, June 23, 2021 | 8:00 am | 5:00 pm | Rick Vlahos | HPBEF | Online exams are now available at HPBExpo! You can take the exam when it is convenient for you.
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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 | This session will cover the latest IRC requirements and their impacts on the fireplace industry. We will discuss different construction requirements for the climate zones as defined in the codes and the requirements for adding mechanical make up air, room sizing, chase construction and other challenges confronting the industry. | |
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:
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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:
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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. | |
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. | |
NFI Gas Review Class | Wednesday, June 23, 2021 | 12:00 pm | 3:00 pm | 3 | Technical | Tom Parks | Coastroad Hearth and Patio | 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 Pellet Review Class | Wednesday, June 23, 2021 | 12:00 pm | 3:00 pm | 3 | Technical | 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 | Fireplaces Plus, Inc. | 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. | |
Maximizing the Value of Your Business | Wednesday, June 23, 2021 | 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. | |
Where's The Beef? Panel Discussion | Wednesday, June 23, 2021 | 1:00 pm | 2:00 pm | 1 | Elective | John Crouch | HPBA | Coming Soon | |
Building a Service Department: The Right Way | Wednesday, June 23, 2021 | 1:00 pm | 2:00 pm | 1 | Elective | Grant Falco | Falco's | Everyone wants to have a service department that’s effective and profitable, but building it is harder than it sounds. How do you find the right people? What happens in the offseason when things slow down? How do you know if you’re making the right investment? This session will teach you why it’s absolutely necessary (and wildly profitable) to invest in a top-notch service team. You’ll learn:
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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 sessions, 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.” | |
Testing Protocol For Hearth Appliances | Wednesday, June 23, 2021 | 2:15 pm | 3:15 pm | 1 | Technical | Wayne Terpstra | PFS Corporation | Coming Soon | |
Transform Your Website in 60 Minutes | Wednesday, June 23, 2021 | 2:15 pm | 3:15 pm | 1 | Elective | Tim Reed | Reed Marketing, LLC | This session will cover:
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Service Contracts | Wednesday, June 23, 2021 | 3:30 pm | 4:30 pm | 1 | Elective | Ron Segars | Ron's Fireside Shop | Coming Soon | |
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 | Truecraft BBQ | 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:
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Installing and Servicing Products You Did Not Sell | Wednesday, June 23, 2021 | 3:30 pm | 4:30 pm | 1 | Elective | Mark Stoner | Ashbusters Chimney Service | Coming Soon | |
NFI Core Review Class | Thursday, June 24, 2021 | 8:00 am | 11:00 am | 3 | Technical | Dan DeMagistris | Hearth Products LLC | 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 Hearth Design Specialist Review Class | Thursday, June 24, 2021 | 8:00 am | 3:00 pm | 6 | Technical | Suzanne Turner | Retired | 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 Exams | Thursday, June 24, 2021 | 8:00 am | 5:00 pm | Rick Vlahos | HPBEF | Online exams are now available at HPBExpo! You can take the exam when it is convenient for you.
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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:
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NFI Gas Review Class | Thursday, June 24, 2021 | 12:00 pm | 3:00 pm | 3 | Technical | Bob Wise | CVC Success Group | 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 Pellet Review Class | Thursday, June 24, 2021 | 12:00 pm | 3:00 pm | 3 | Technical | Steve Gagnon | Fireplace Showcase | 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 | Superior Fireplace and Hot Tubs | 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. | |
Empire Comfort Manufacturer Specific Training | Thursday, June 24, 2021 | 1:00 pm | 3:00 pm | MFG | Tim Cummings | Empire Comfort | Coming Soon | ||
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. | |
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 sessions, 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 Exams | Friday, June 25, 2021 | 8:00 am | 5:00 pm | Rick Vlahos | HPBEF | Online exams are now available at HPBExpo! You can take the exam when it is convenient for you.
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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 | Dexen Industries | Help your customers choose the right smart home set up for their fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, and firepits. We'll go over the platforms in the market, various ways to connect hardware and key considerations to achieve the desired outcome. Join our lively session and get all your questions answered. | |
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 | The speaker will share openly about their personal journey with stress and how they dealt with both the typical and unusual physical impacts experienced. They will share with you why they believe stress often goes undiagnosed and dismissed as the possible cause of significant physical damage and how you can be your own best advocate. Hear the 15 Key Learnings and what you can do to help effectively manage not only the stress in your life but your teams and those you love. Hear 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. | |
Embracing And Driving Powerful Positive Change In Your Organization | Friday, June 25, 2021 | 11:00 am | 12:00 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, learn 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 the number #1 key that companies fail to do that is absolutely essential for your team. You will also learn the three stages that must occur to embrace change and to sustain it. You will learn:
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Moving Forward 4 Process: The procedures and systems that affect your customers | Friday, June 25, 2021 | 1:00 pm | 2:00 pm | 1 | Elective | Ted Topping | Creative Insights | In five integrated sessions, 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 sessions, 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. | |
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:
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