Rich Sedgwick is the Executive Director of the National Fireplace Institute. A graduate of Towson University with a degree in Business, Rich was a retail business owner for 20 years. After selling the business in July 2019 he came to work for the National Fireplace Institute. Rich also served on the Mid-Atlantic Hearth Patio and Barbecue Association Board for 7 years culminating as President in 2018. Rich has taught many industry classes for the National Fireplace Institute including technical and safety classes.

When not working you can find him at the beach with family, crabbing, or Training Jiu Jitsu. Rich currently resides in the Washington DC area with his family and can be contacted at sedgwick@nficertified.org.

Casey Harvey is the Vice President of Sales at Ray Murray, Inc. Joining the hearth industry in 2008 as Regional Sales Manager at RMI, he quickly realized that once you're in—you're in for life.

Prior to his time at RMI Casey spent a decade in progressive sales and management roles at a large fuel and propane marketer in Baltimore. Casey is passionate about sales, marketing, fire, family and guitars.

He puts his degree in philosophy to work sitting by the fire pondering the big questions—like The Beatles or Stones, Gas or Wood. Casey is a proud father of two and occasional guitar slinger.

Heather brings a valuable perspective to the team at Hockenberry Management Consulting. She has a passion for teaching, training, and coaching, and always looks at situations from multiple angles to discover the best overall approach for improving the situation and moving forward.

She enjoys finding ways to have a greater, positive impact on the organization by maintaining a high-level perspective that allows her to understand cross-functional influences. Working together with client organizations, Heather has successfully crafted and executed successful marketing strategies that align with organizations' business strategies and sales plans.

Heather also works with leaders to develop and grow in their professional and personal lives through executive coaching.

As the Immediate Past President of her local Toastmasters International club, Heather has a passion for public speaking and loves to educate audiences on interesting topics.

Bill has been servicing, installing, inspecting and building chimneys, hearth appliances, venting systems and assemblies since 1980! Yes at the ripe old age of 6, Bill started his career under the wind of his father. Fast forward to adulthood and chimneys and venting have been a full time career for 28 years.

Bill is a FIRE certified Fireplace and Chimney Inspector, NFI Master Hearth Specialist, CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep, ICC RCS Certificate completion holder and Certified Baseball Coach.

Bill has previously served on the Mid Atlantic HPBA Board for 9 years and is a two time past President. Bill is a past recipient of the Pat Magnotti award (2014). Other Board service includes the New Jersey Chimney Sweep Guild as Past President (3 x) Vice President and Treasurer. Bill was also the first and founding Chairman of the Board of the International Association of Fireplace and Chimney Professionals, a group instrumental in forcing change toward code compliance of our industries. Bill serves on the Board of Planning and Adjustments for Roxbury Township, NJ.

Bill serves on the National Chimney Sweep Guild Education Committee as well as the Technical Advisory Committee, specializing in the Levels of Inspection, Codes, Standards and Documentation. Bill is also a lead instructor for Copperfield Academy and its Professional Course series.

In his free time Bill enjoys playing and coaching baseball, boating on Lake Hopatcong, cooking, cigars and time with family and friends. He also may just be the biggest fan in the world of the Rock group GENESIS.

Upon graduation of high school, I joined the United States Coast Guard where I became one of the last Certified Lighthouse Technicians that oversaw 51 lights on Western Lake Superior. After serving 12 years in the USCG, I transferred to the United States Air Force Reserve, where I ran the Training Protocol that integrated the Reserves with the Active Duty personal for the 27th Aerial Port Squadron, allowing me to retire after 23 total years of service as a Master Seargent (E-7). Using my Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communication, I took a job at a manufacturer's representative agency where I was tasked with growing the business of multiple product lines, one being Simpson DuraVent. My extremely fast and overt growth of DuraVent products was witnessed by Todd Lampey, VP of Sales at Simpson DuraVent, who hired me to replace him as the North Central Sales Manager, at the beginning I covered 8 states and then eventually 17 states. After nearly 20 years as the North Central RSM, I was promoted to Director of Sales - Retail for which I took over the Big Box and Farm & Home Market customers that included Home Depot, Lowes and Tractor Supply Co. In the time that I oversaw retail at DuraVent, I managed over $33 Million in annual sales. Today, I'm the newest member of the growing company RM Manifold, where I serve as the Vice President of Sales - Hearth, overseeing the expansion of KW Draft Fans, Makeup Air Systems and other accessories that go into the Stove, Fireplace, Sweep and Venting trade throughout the America's and beyond.