Speakers
Sunday, May 21 to Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Doug Brown
Doug is the Chairman and CEO of Paradigm (PAIR-ah-dime) Associates LLC,
a company he founded in 1985 and is now represented by professionals in multiple states. He has worked with clients in over fifty different industries and sectors, representing every corner of the US and Canada. He has worked with people from Central America, Europe, Asia, and South Africa. He has been invited back to speak to MAHPBA and HPBEF/NFI conferences multiple times.
His previous career included line and staff management responsibilities in several companies, including Procter & Gamble.
While attending the University of Delaware, Doug was active locally and nationally. He led campus and national organizations, earned an internship in the US Senate, and received an Undergraduate Research Grant to study Leadership Styles vs. Group Behavior.
An active member of the Meadowlands Regional Chamber, Doug received the Arline Simpson Leadership Award in 2014. The New York Society of Association Executives (NYSAE) honored him as its Outstanding Associate Member in 2017, and the Trusted Advisors Network inducted Doug into their Hall of Fame in 2019.
When not working, Doug is an active member of the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS) and President of the Atlantic Harmony Brigade. Doug was elected to the Mid-Atlantic District (M-AD) Board of Directors and the BHS International Board of Directors. In 2015, M-AD inducted him into their Hall of Honor. He and his wife, Jill, have two adult children and a cat named Pickles.
Business: Finding and Keeping People, Part 1
May 22, 2023, 9:30 am
Business: Finding and Keeping People, Part 2
May 22, 2023, 11:00 am
Kurt Matthews
Sales: You are a brand, whether you like it or not
May 22, 2023, 9:30 am
Kevin Chambers
Kevin Chambers is the Area Director for the Harrisburg Area Office of the Occupational Safety & Health Administration. The Area Director for the Harrisburg Area Office oversees the safety and health enforcement and compliance assistance efforts for 14 counties in southcentral Pennsylvania.
Kevin is in his thirty-first year of Federal Service. After a tenure with the Department of Defense, he joined OSHA in 2008 as a Compliance Safety and Health Officer in the Allentown Area Office. Kevin has been the Area Director in Harrisburg since 2020. Additionally, he served in the U.S. Air Force and, later, retired from the Pennsylvania Air National Guard after a 23-year career.
Kevin holds a Master of Business Administration, and a Master of Science in Occupational Safety & Health.
Tech: Common Safety and Health Hazards in the Masonry Industry
May 22, 2023, 9:30 am
Casey Harvey
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.
Sales: Outdoor Living Sales
May 22, 2023, 11:00 am
Rich Sedgwick
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.
Tech: Gas Tech 101
May 22, 2023, 11:00 am
Tech: Small Changes, Big Results
May 23, 2023, 9:30 am
Tech: Unleash Your Full Potential
May 23, 2023, 10:45 am
Johanna Dorn
Johanna Dorn is a seasoned professional with a rich background in the hearth industry, boasting a career spanning nearly three decades. Since 1995, she has been an integral part of Costello's Hearth & Spa, where she currently serves as the Director of Category Management, Marketing, and Sales.
Johanna's passion for the hearth industry shines through her commitment to education and is underscored by her NFI (National Fireplace Institute) certifications in wood, pellet, and gas, elevating her to the esteemed status of a Master Hearth Professional (MHP). Furthermore, her proficiency is recognized with the NFI Hearth Design Specialist certification, demonstrating her comprehensive understanding of hearth design principles.
Business: Don't Settle or Sacrifice - How financing can work for you AND your customer
May 22, 2023, 1:00 pm
Brad Good
Brad works closely with clients and affinity partners to develop new strategies, improve existing ones and develop on-line marketing tools. Additionally, Brad manages Google Ads, data research and direct marketing.
One of the strengths to understanding the home service market is that he is a demographic target customer himself. This gives GMG unique and vital insight into speaking with a client's potential customer.
Sales: The Homeowner Experience
May 22, 2023, 1:00 pm
Sales: Social Media: Like it or not, why and how you should engage
May 22, 2023, 2:30 pm
Shannon Good
Shannon founded The Good Marketing Group in 2003. Specializing in campaign management, graphic design, media planning, on-line marketing, social media and SEO/SEM, Shannon looks at the unique goals of her clients and creatively 'integrates' various media to accomplish those goals, on any marketing budget!
Shannon believes having a successful marketing campaign must include an understanding of the target audience. Therefore, Shannon and Brad feel they have a unique perspective for their clients because they are also husband and wife small business owners who meet the demographics or "target audience” for their client's products and services. Shannon and Brad also get involved in their client's industries so they can fully understand the relevant benefits and value to the target audience to allow for effective communications and messaging.
As a previous member of the Board of Directors for the Mid-Atlantic Hearth Patio Barbecue Association (MAHPBA), Shannon learned the various terminology and the sales/operation process while always keeping the customer experience top of mind. In addition, Good Marketing Group is also an approved affinity partner of HPBA. This involvement includes teaching marketing tips at the national and regional conventions and providing discounted marketing services for members.
Sales: The Homeowner Experience
May 22, 2023, 1:00 pm
Sales: Social Media: Like it or not, why and how you should engage
May 22, 2023, 2:30 pm
Keith Szczepanski
Keith worked as an installer and service technician in residential, commercial, and light industrial applications from 1987 to 2008. He then joined Ray Murray, Inc. as a technical service representative, advising on equipment selection , installation and service of various propane applications including heating, hearth and plant systems.
Tech: SIT Control Technical Training
May 22, 2023, 1:00 pm
Tech: Dexen Control Technical Training
May 22, 2023, 2:30 pm
Tim Reed
Keynote Address: Netflix or Blockbuster: Why Now is the Moment to Change with the Market
May 23, 2023, 8:00 am
Sales: 7 Steps to the Sales Process
May 23, 2023, 9:30 am
Sales: Building a Framework of Sales Management
May 23, 2023, 10:45 am
Heather Hockenberry
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.
Business: Treat Your Customer How They Want to be Treated: Understanding Customer Personalities and Styles
May 23, 2023, 9:30 am
Jeff Hockenberry
Jeff launched Hockenberry Management Consulting in 2001 and contributes over 30 years of professional experience, helping businesses, individuals, and non-profits get to where they need to be. He specializes in areas critical to organizational performance and growth, including strategy, management systems, operations, leadership, culture, and sales.
With a passion for helping individuals and companies, Jeff partners with business leaders to identify solutions to challenging situations, working together to implement the necessary steps to facilitate positive change and improvement. He enjoys involving people within client organizations and doesn't hesitate to call upon his network of trusted partners when appropriate.
Jeff operates with a client-centered mindset and creates truly customized approaches for each situation, rather than merely offering “off-the-shelf” solutions. Most importantly, Jeff has built the business on a firm foundation of honesty and integrity, even when the truth may be unpleasant, believing it is best to begin any venture from a foundation of objective reality.
Business: Strategic Planning for Intentional Business Growth
May 23, 2023, 10:45 am