Sweeping Magazine—June 2024

TABLE OF Contents

6

Tools of the German Trade

Germany’s chimney research and development has paid off. The Wohler DP600 is the standard for chimney integrity testing.

How can American sweeps learn from Germany’s well-trained workforce, advanced tools, and strong brand recognition?

On the Cover:

A unique perspective of the timber frame structure built by chimney sweeps during Sweeps Week at Warrior Horse (page 26).

Photo by David Steward.

5

Letter From the President

Who is Chimothy, and how will he help the chimney industry?

11

Next Generation Chimney Equipment

These might be two of the most interesting tools we’ve ever seen in the industry.

14

Eyes on the Prize

Bob Ferrari shares his experience conquering Mount Rainier and the insightful parallels he draws between mountaineering and business.

16

Regional Updates

Regional directors share their perspectives on technology and equipment in the industry.

18

2024 Chimney Expo

Register today for the 2024 Chimney Expo on August 8-10 in King of Prussia, PA!

24

For the Love of Masonry

One thing that over 50 masons from across the world have in common.

26

Photos: Sweeps Week at Warrior Horse

How a group of chimney sweeps came together in support of military veterans with PTSD.

32

5 Steps for Choosing the Right Technology

Best practices when adopting new technology to ensure it meets your needs and budget.

Darwin Award

Have you ever seen some interesting things on the job?

Submit a photo with your name and location to marketing@ncsg.org.

Page 33

Classified Ads

Free Classified Ads for NCSG Members

National Chimney Sweep Guild (NSCG) members can run one 35-word classified ad for free each calendar year. 36+ words are $1 per word after. Additional ads are $1/word or $2/word for non-members. Classified ads are non-commissionable and must be pre-paid. To place a classified ad, e-mail marketing@ncsg.org.

Policy ACTION CENTER

Let us know what’s going on!

Submit industry concerns to NCSG’s Policy Action Center. We post live on the website and look into how we can take action. While you’re there, you can also check out the blog for past issues we’ve addressed. Check your email and Facebook to stay up to date!

SWEEPI NG

June 2024, Volume 48 #5 Staff

Kailah Schmitz, CAE, Executive Director director@ncsg.org

Jessica Thornton, Associate Director and Certifications Coordinator jessica@ncsg.org

Bob Ferrari, Director of Education education@ncsg.org

Sydney Upah, Director of Marketing and Communications; Sweeping Editor marketing@ncsg.org

Brittney Burton, Membership and Events Coordinator bburton@ncsg.org

Libby Fries, Membership and Certifications Coordinator ap@ncsg.org

Jill Kolars, Administrative Assistant ap@ncsg.org

DISCLAIMER

The views expressed in Sweeping do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG) or its staff.

ADVERTISING

To advertise, email Malisa Minetree at sweepingads@me.com or call (317) 603-7854.

NCSG further reserves the right to reject at any time any advertising determined not to be in keeping with the publication’s standards. Acceptance of advertising by Sweeping does not necessarily constitute endorsement of products or services advertised. NCSG does not make any effort to review or substantiate claims made by advertisers.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Stock images by iStock, Adobe.

ARTICLE SUBMISSION

NCSG encourages industry partners to submit press releases and articles to the editor at marketing@ncsg.org. Submissions should contain items of interest or importance to the chimney and venting industry. Submissions should not contain direct solicitations, prices, or other forms of advertising verbiage. Submissions may contain images or artwork attached in a JPG format.

In all cases, NCSG reserves the right to edit submissions for space limitations, keep the release and publish at a later date, or refuse to publish the release for any reason. Neither publishing, nor refusing to publish the submission should be considered a statement of NCSG’s opinion regarding the release.

© 2024 National Chimney Sweep Guild

LETTER FROM THE President

MEET CHIMOTHY!

Chimothy is our new artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot within the virtual reality (VR) learning platform that we’ve been developing with From the Future. An AI chatbot is a computer program that is trained to have human-like conversations based on data we provide it.

Do you have a question about codes and standards? Ask Chimothy! Maybe in the not-too-distant future, there will be robots who will take over the wheel of our trucks and perform dangerous roof work! Don’t laugh. I saw it on The Simpsons, so it must be true.

All kidding aside – technology like Chimothy may help industries like ours automate tasks in the future. Starting in our warehouses, AI technology could automatically order supplies from our service providers, receive them, and then place them in specific areas of the shop for loading on the day of the work. This could be a HUGE benefit for our businesses. It’s already happening at larger facilities in shipping and retail industries.

The theme of this issue of Sweeping is Technology and Equipment. In the following pages, we’ll be diving deeper into the educational aspect of this topic. But if you want to see the cool new tools or products for yourself, I would encourage you to check out an upcoming trade show – like the 2024 Chimney Expo in August (registration is open now – more on page 18)!

By the way, you can try chatting with Chimothy right now for free without a subscription! Visit ftfvr.com/ncsg and ask him a question. Keep in mind that we’re still training Chimothy, so he might not have all the answers... yet. ■

Bill Thornton, President National Chimney Sweep Guild

Handwerk: Tools of the German Trade

By Byron Schramm, Founder Midtown Chimney Sweeps

Disclaimer: The facts and statements expressed in this article are based on first-hand interviews between Byron Schramm (an English-speaking individual) and various Germanspeaking individuals and as such may not be wholly reliable due to the language barrier. The statements in this article are not to be taken as precise reliable facts but as general conversational information.

Photo copyrights belong to Byron Schramm and may not be used without prior permission.

So I’m in Germany on a family sabbatical studying chimney sweeping in Europe, and I’m walking around what might best be described as Ace Hardware for chimney sweeps. Stocked with brushes, rods, and ropes, it has everything you would ever need to sweep and inspect a chimney in any size or condition. I can walk out the door in five minutes with the tool in my hand. No two week wait. No backorder. Star brushes, weighted balls, smoke test pellets, inspection cameras, uniforms,

chimney sweep figurines, schornsteinfeger-shaped cookie cutters, logoed scarves, and key chains. Furthermore, there’s a training center downstairs with weekly classes on tools and equipment and various seminars on things like upcoming government mandates.

So how did that make me feel? Like a professional. Like a respected professional. Tools of the trade. They are the indispensable coworker. We depend on them to get the job done. I didn’t realize

A student demonstrates use of a traditional continuous stiff flex-rod (very difficult to master its use).

how much I was missing back home. In America, while I can get anything and everything on the internet, my access to chimney equipment sort of side-stepped a necessary developmental milestone. I never knew what existed in the first place, so when everything moved to the internet, it made things strangely harder to find – hiding in plain sight.

My motive for writing this article is to learn from another country who has been doing this for a lot longer. Granted, for many years, chimney sweeps in Germany have been pseudo-government employees – much like postal workers and firefighters. This model has afforded their sweeps with a guaranteed minimum amount of work. It has forced the demand, which has forced the supply.

This concept sometimes has free-market-loving Americans scared, but it isn’t necessarily a bad thing. According to

my economist wife, one of the roles of government in a free society is to help correct a market when the natural demand for something is not what it should be. For example, food safety regulations, reasonable building codes, and required education are examples of where the market might not adequately incentivize these behaviors which are, in the long run, more profitable. This is where mandates or laws are helpful. In America, the fact that chimney sweeping isn’t more legally encouraged has, in my opinion, left the American demand for sweeps lower than it should be (a discussion for another day).

So back to Germany where chimney sweeping is in high demand, albeit government mandated. What has this robust demand afforded? I saw four main enviable things during my time there: chimney sweep schools, trade stores with integrated training centers, research and development for innovative technology, and a household level awareness of the industry. Let’s take a closer look at each one.

Chimney Sweep Schools

The chimney sweep school system is sophisticated and complex. In Germany, there are 16 chimney sweep trade schools, functioning somewhat like four-year colleges –complete with dormitories and cafeterias. All new chimney sweeps (schornsteinfegers) are required to attend one day a week while also working in the field. After three years of field and classroom work, students may progress to master sweep school. This is a full-time, 12-month school experience followed by a formal graduation.

Now the sweep becomes a schornsteinfegermeister and can apply for their own district (about 1,000 homes). This will be their jurisdiction for a set period of years, and they are responsible for all official paperwork on all residences within that district. These meister chimney sweeps in Germany are so highly trained they are the official government body that approves a chimney’s use – or not.

These schools made me dream about what it would be like to have a constant stream of properly trained technicians. It would definitely be a solution to the biggest hurdle faced by American chimney companies. The true cost of recruiting, training, onboarding, deployment, and retention doesn’t live on our P&L statement or balance sheet – but it should. The better we train our technicians, the better we serve our end consumer. The better the technician’s onboarding experience, the more likely they are to stay and contribute to a profitable business. Anyone want to build a trade school?

Watch the Video:

A day in the life of a German chimney sweep: sweeping six chimneys from the outside in 1.5 hours

Uwe Richter, Shorsteinfegermeister in Stuttgart, Germany, prepares to clean an outdoor wood stove chimney.

“ These schools made me dream about what it would be like to have a constant stream of properly trained technicians. It would definitely be a solution to the biggest hurdle faced by American chimney companies.

Trade Stores with Integrated Training Centers

We are a niche industry. We have unique tools that nobody else has reason to use or buy. So why not have a physical store to sell them? In Europe, the chimney sweep stores are run by local trade guilds that buy massive quantities and sell at a discounted rate to all their members. It only takes a couple of team members to operate a store, so it is low overhead and provides tremendous credibility and convenience to the chimney sweeping specialty trade to be able to drive in and buy what you need.

It gets better! These stores always have a room downstairs where 20-40 people can sit for hands-on training. They have chimney models ready for show-andtell and tools for practical demonstrations. This gives each region of the country a physical place to train, so sweeps do not need to travel far for ongoing professional development.

R&D: German Engineering in the Chimney Industry

Chimney tools have definitely evolved over the years. The original chimney sweeping tools in Europe were bristle brushes. There are also records as early as 1432 showing grown men in Vienna sweeping large chimney shafts while clad in leather jerkins. The Germans and Austrian sweeps used a scraper tool for so long that it is celebrated in the logo of the federation of German sweeps today.

The current undisputed leader of German research and development for chimney inspection tools is Wohler, a solid 100-year-old Mittelstand company in the center of Germany. According to Wikipedia, a Mittlestand company is a company that is “highly focused, achieving unprecedented efficiencies by designing a business model with a razor-thin focus and learning to do one thing really well.”

Yup, that’s Wohler. They are known for making very high-quality cameras. Little is known about their device

Classes are rigorous and long for master chimney sweep students. They learn everything from tool techniques to current laws in Germany.

for chimney integrity testing as we don’t use this type of inspection in the United States. Yet. But I learned that it is the only way to objectively test a chimney’s integrity. The sweep places a foam block in the top and bottom of the chimney and connects the Wohler DP600 machine. The machine applies a light pressure in the cavity and measures the leakage rate, comparing it to a known permissible leakage rate. It is pass/fail. No guesswork. That is cutting-edge chimney technology.

One of the best sweeping innovations that I saw in Europe wasn’t so much in the tools, but in the building designs themselves. The rebuilding of Germany after WWII resulted in a unique opportunity – most of Germany’s residential housing was rebuilt with noncombustible materials and access points for ongoing building maintenance. In the case of chimney design, they used an air-cooled, masonry modular system. Similar to clay flue tiles in masonry fireplaces in the USA, they built chimney stacks in the center of their buildings to serve the more efficient German boilers and furnaces. Their modular aircooled masonry chimneys are so sturdy that several chimney sweeps literally burn out the creosote when they cannot sweep it out. The tool used is a weed-burner torch, fueled by propane. The process is called a controlled burn.

The chimney fire controlled burn takes about two hours, and the sweep returns later to sweep it out and ensure it is safe. We have videos of this intentional ignition and burning process, which is scary for us American sweeps and even some Germans! However,

some Germans still use this controlled burn technique for removing creosote. Warning: please do not try this at home in your wood framed house!

Household Level

Awareness of the Chimney Sweep Industry

It’s the dream of every marketing department to make their brand a household name.

The German chimney sweep logo is very recognizable throughout their country, as they have the unique advantage of being connected through a central guild.

German sweeps dress for success. Black leather trousers, black doublebreasted jackets with two rows of brass buttons, and a white kerchief around the neck. I found myself buying gear and wearing the logo with pride –even though I am American – because I wanted to connect with this massive body of men and women in the chimney

sweep trade.

Annual, government-mandated chimney sweeping in countries like Germany, Austria, and Switzerland gives chimney sweeps a legitimate position of authority on a cultural level.

In Europe, the industry has done a remarkable job of promoting the image of the sweep as a trusted, helpful character. Through marketing, toys, and swag, the perpetuation of the chimney sweep as a symbol of good luck is no accident.

My experience in Germany wasn’t just about chimneys; it was about a different approach to a niche industry. A welltrained workforce, readily available resources, and a heightened public awareness of the importance of chimney safety – these are all lessons we can learn from the German model.

So what do you want to be when you grow up – a fireman, teacher, or chimney sweep? ■

Controlled burn of creosote inside a masonry chimney in Germany consuming the gum-like tar residue from wood-burning fires.

LET’S GET Technical

The Next Generation of Chimney Equipment

This year’s convention was full of so many new and exciting gadgets and tools for our trade! I have not seen this many new things debut at the same time since Pete Luter introduced the Ro-Kleen rods, chains, and tile-breaking equipment back in the day.

I have been in this industry for 45 years, and I am more excited than ever for the future of this industry. The future is bright for anyone who wants to be a chimney sweep.

Growing up in a blue-collar family, I had dreams of becoming a chimney sweep. However, my dad, who came from a long line of printers, was hell-bent that I follow in his footsteps.

One day, while visiting my Nana (his mom), my dad expressed his frustration about my career choice. He couldn’t understand how I could make a living as a chimney sweep. My Nana quickly came to my defense, telling him to let me find my own path in life.

Now, 45 years later, I’ve been running my own chimney sweep business for the past 25 years. My dad is blown away by my success.

Back then, we were all trying to make our own tools and figure out how things work. Today, we’re on the verge of transforming the way we learn and train with virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI). These are perhaps two of the most interesting tools we’ve ever had in the industry.

What VR does, in my opinion, is revive support for smaller chimney operations. It addresses the challenges faced by those one or two truck operations, which often struggle to afford training for their technicians. Now, with VR training, we can bring the training to them virtually.

I’ve been fortunate enough to be involved in this initiative from the beginning, and I’ve witnessed firsthand what it can do for those who want to train their technicians but cannot afford traditional classes. It’s an innovative concept that I urge you to explore for the benefit of your company. ■

Steven T. Scally Treasurer; At-Large Director National Chimney Sweep Guild

After his grandfather passed away, David Moskovitz discovered a National Chimney Sweep Guild member pocket tape among his grandfather’s estate.

France Fraze was an active chimney sweep in Washington, D.C. in the 1970s and 80s (and maybe even as early as the 60s) and used an old green hearse as his work vehicle.

If anyone remembers Mr. Fraze and wants to share their memories with his grandson, feel free to contact David at david.a.moskovitz@gmail.com. ■

EYES ON THE

Despite setting clear goals and building a plan to achieve them, our paths rarely go in a straight line.

By Bob Ferrari, Director of Education National Chimney

Sweep Guild

THE PRIZE

Iwas climbing Mount Rainier (14,410’) two years ago. It is covered by 26 glaciers. Crossing glaciers requires roped teams and technical knowledge of rescue. Hidden crevasse falls and avalanches are common, as are storms, wind, and whiteouts.

Climbing a mountain is very much like running a business.

Most groups take three or four days to climb and descend. The trail down low, from the parking lot to the first glacier, is well-traveled and marked. There are no real unknowns, unless several feet of snow hide the trail (which happened to me once).

In business, even tried-and-true pathways for success are sometimes lost due to circumstances beyond your control — like an economic bust, weather event, or global pandemic. However, even under a mantle of snow, you are still heading for the top. Sometimes you can even climb a more direct path rather than wasting time searching for the path that others built.

This time, we had reached the top of the first glacier where we would camp at about 9,000’. There was no wind. It was sunny. We could see the route all the way to the top. Gorgeous. Beautiful. Stunning.

I was emptying my gear from my pack into the tent pitched on the snow ridge. My super lightweight, warm, $500 sleeping bag was in its stuff sack behind a little rock. The lightest, barely-felt puff of wind stirred the air, and suddenly my sleeping bag

was 30 yards away, careening down the glacier where, I suppose, it eventually landed about 3,000’ below us. I never found it.

My partner gave me a look that said, “What are you going to do?!” I said, “Well, we came here to climb the mountain, not to be comfortable. Let’s see how the night goes.” It’s tough when you lose a key employee or business partner. Life — even at its most beautiful — can be very unkind.

When I was teaching orienteering (the skill of navigation using a map and compass), I remember a particular instance where my students and I were aiming for a dip in the ridge on the far horizon. They understood our destination well. However, they hesitated when deciding whether to bypass a 100’ drop to the left or to the right. Before we knew it, it was too dark to reach our goal.

So often, it doesn’t matter which direction you take. Sometimes it’s a coin toss. Just go around the obstacle. It’s more important to keep your eyes on the prize.

Sure, there are times when you should turn around. But you’ll never know what choice you should have made if you’ve lost sight of where you’re going.

Three cold nights on a mountain never hurt anyone... much. However, I was very glad to be off that mountain, and I’d prefer to never experience that again. But what a prize it was to reach the top! Things happen. Night will come. What’s your prize? ■

Regional UPDATES

REGION 2

Bill Thornton Region 2 Director

Q: What is the best way for sweeps to discover new technology and tools?

Attend a state guild event! As I write this, I’m in Centre County, PA with the Pennsylvania Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps fixing issues with the chimneys and stoves at the Seven Mountains Scout Camp. Events like these give us the opportunity to learn from one another.

How to recover from liner installations gone bad. How one manufacturer’s drill works longer and stronger than another. Which drill bits or grinder blades work faster or longer than others. These were all conversations I was a part of this week.

Pennsylvania is a big state with many types of homes. Each one of our trucks or vans are set up differently for the different ways we service our customers. Sweeps in this region tend to lean toward larger box trucks or trailers to haul around what they need. In the county where I live, we need standard vans and trucks to fit in smaller driveways and city parking spaces. Attending state guild events gives us the opportunity to discover these differences and new ways of doing the job.

Then there is campfire time!

Reach out to your state or regional guild – you won’t regret it!

REGION 3

James Owens Region 3 Director

Q: What specific piece of technology or equipment has impacted efficiency, productivity, or innovation within your business or region?

If you attended the trade show at the National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG) Convention in Orlando this year, then you were likely shocked to see all the gadgets that are available to you and your team. As an industry, we have come a long way when trying to “work smarter, not harder.” I was impressed and personally can’t wait to try some of those products out!

So, where do you start? All these options can make it overwhelming. Some people are just starting out and wearing multiple hats. Others are finally at a point where they can expand and are looking to scale their business.

The answer will vary from person to person. When I really think about it, I’d have to say that transitioning to ServiceTitan was a game changer for my business. For those that don’t know, ServiceTitan is a very efficient scheduling platform. If you invest some up-front time into setup and training, then you will get a tremendous ROI. ServiceTitan really does allow for you to “work smarter, not harder” while freeing up time to focus on other opportunities within your business.

REGION 4

Debbie Wiedwald

Region 4 Director

Q: What specific piece of technology or equipment has impacted efficiency, productivity, or innovation within your business or region?

GPS tracking on our trucks and trailers, along with video cameras on-site, help us manage our work vehicles effectively. These technologies play a crucial role in monitoring our expensive company assets. Being able to pinpoint the location of our trucks is invaluable, especially when our work crews require additional assistance or materials. It also makes it easier to identify when all of the crews have completed their routes.

GPS also helps us identify crews working late, allowing us to check in on their progress or remind them to secure the premises before they finish their day. GPS alerts enable us to intervene when trucks are driving a little too fast.

When homeowners express concerns about the time spent by our crews at their property, GPS information allows us to verify the exact duration of their visit.

I’m currently exploring the addition of dashcams to further enhance our tracking methods. Ask me about how our GPS units helped locate a missing trailer!

REGION 6

Michaele Dempsey

Region 6 Director

Q: What specific piece of technology or equipment has impacted efficiency, productivity, or innovation within your business or region?

Don Levitt was always ahead of the game on chimney sweeping equipment and technology. He had one of the very first Viper systems around. On a trip from San Diego to Oregon to visit his family, he stopped at my house for a visit and loaned it to me.

“Be careful with my little friend. Treat it with the utmost respect, because not used properly, it can come undone and kick you and your customer’s butt in the blink of an eye.”

I have to wonder how Don knew that?

I landed 120 condos with that Viper. I called Don and told him to name his price. I purchased that Viper and a German Viper eye camera – two of the best purchases ever, thanks to Don and his knowledge of equipment and technology trends.

The Viper and the camera were awesome inventions. Now we have virtual reality (VR) training – another one of the best inventions ever for training and education! I highly recommend you check out the National Chimney Sweep Guild’s (NCSG) VR training platform. We are beta testing now to work out the kinks before we open it up to all members.

August 8-10, 2024

Valley Forge Casino Resort

King of Prussia, PA

SCAN HERE TO REGISTER:

Join us for the 2024 Chimney Expo on August 8-10 in King of Prussia, PA! In the chimney industry, continued education is vital to running a successful business and ensures that staff and management are always up to date on the latest safety measures and requirements. Manuals and tests are essential, but there is no greater learning opportunity than hands-on training (HOT). The National Chimney Sweep Guild’s (NCSG) Chimney Expo is the home of HOT opportunities!

Hotel Information

The 2024 Chimney Expo will return to the Valley Forge Casino Resort in King of Prussia, PA. The NCSG has secured a limited group room block rate of $139/night plus taxes and fees. This group block closes on Friday, July 12. Visit ncsg.org/chimneyexpo and navigate to the “Venue and Hotel Rooms” tab to find the group block reservation link. Your hotel reservation must be made directly through the hotel to receive the group rate, and it is not part of 2024 Chimney Expo registration.

Registration Pricing

Registration is $150 for members and $200 for nonmembers. Registration is priced to make it easy for you to bring your entire team – pay full price for your first four registrations and the rest of your team is only $50/person!

Certification Exam

There will be one in-person, proctored certfication exam session at the 2024 Chimney Expo on Wednesday, August 7 at 1pm. Complete your application at certifiedchimneyprofessionals.com and then schedule your exam. This session can only accommodate up to 30 people, so don’t wait!

CSR 360° Class

Customer service representatives can attend the 2024 Chimney Expo for free with their registration to the CSR 360° class on August 8-9! CSR 360° is a two-day, comprehensive track for customer service representatives. Visit ncsg.org/csr-360- for more information and to register. ■

Valley Forge Casino Resort

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FOR THE LOVE OF MASONRY

Sweeps Take the Heat: MHA Conference Offers Masonry Expertise and Networking

By Tim Smith, Owner, Certified Chimney Care

The annual Masonry Heater Association (MHA) conference took place April 8-12 at Wild Acres in Little Switzerland, North Carolina. Over 50 masons from across the country and around the world gathered for this event.

The week kicked off with board meetings on Tuesday. Materials were delivered, project areas were marked, and a flurry of preparation ensured everything was ready for the “real meat and potatoes” of the conference starting Wednesday.

Mornings began with classes on SketchUp, a CAD program used for designing everything from houses to, in this case, masonry heaters and ovens. Tuesday offered a wider variety of sessions. Attendees learned

about new Tulukivi products, participated in brainstorming meetings, explored sales and promotion strategies, and learned about the integration of masonry heaters into home design with architects.

On Wednesday, project construction began. A mason from Estonia even came specifically to build a heater. Everyone else jumped in to help. The projects were diverse, including ovens, masonry heaters with heated benches, Tulukivi heaters, and a heater/smoker/ soapstone cooktop combo. There was even a class on soapstone carving. The knowledge and artistry within this group of masons is phenomenal. Everyone was eager to share information,

from how masonry heaters and ovens work to the intricacies of a reverse squirrel tail vent.

Thursday night brought a lively auction with laughter, camraderie, and a chance to bid on cool items.

When projects were completed, fires were lit to begin the drying process, marking the official start of the party. It was clear that the driving force behind all this hard work was not just a love of masonry, heaters, and ovens, but also a love of food and friendship. Pizzas emerged from the ovens, smoked meats filled the air, homemade tortillas sizzled on a wood-fired flat top, and fresh seafood and meats danced in flames on the soapstone cooktop. Another oven roasted coffee beans, while smoked cheese and chocolate treats awaited for dessert. It was a true festival of food and fellowship!

This incredible event took place on a stunning mountaintop near Asheville, North Carolina with picturesque panoramic views. Lodging and meals are included with your registration.

This is definitely something that every sweep should attend. Whether you want to learn more about masonry heaters and ovens, fine-tune your masonry skills, or just enjoy hanging out with people who have the same interests as you, this event has something for everyone.

Interestingly, many attendees (like myself!) have never built a masonry heater.

Mark your calendar for next April – you won’t regret it.

The MHA offers a program specifically designed for sweeps. Contact Chris Prior or Dave Zellweger for more information about this program. ■

SWEEPS WEEK

at Warrior Horse

Kevin Russell, Founder/Executive Director/President, Warrior Horse

As I write this, we are wrapping up this year’s Sweeps Week at the Warrior Horse headquarters in Frierson, Louisiana. We are simply amazed by the heart, dedication, and support that our chimney sweep volunteers have for the Warrior Horse program.

Warrior Horse is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing healing and hope to military veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The Warrior Horse program uses a personalized and interactive equine-assisted method to assist military veterans who suffer from PTSD to begin their recovery from this debilitating disorder. This program is provided at no financial cost to the veterans.

This year again, our volunteers accomplished an

There was no shortage of delicious food during Sweeps Week. Rob Lindemann displays one of 60 wood-fired pizzas cooked and consumed this week.

The 768 square foot outdoor pavilion built this week by the chimney sweep community will help Warrior Horse’s mission to transform the lives of military veterans with PTSD.

Austin Brozowski and Ron Brigman work together to assemble the structure, one bolt at a time.

Kenny and Charlotte Paterson (right) traveled from Scotland to attend Sweeps Week. These horses assist military veterans who suffer from PTSD.

Jim Pritchett fabricates brackets for the timber frame structure.

“SWEEPS WEEK IS AS UNIQUE AS OUR INDUSTRY. EVERYONE WHO ATTENDS BRINGS THEIR OWN EXPERTISE AND SKILLS TO THE TABLE.”

— Ingrid Prior, Sweeps Week Volunteer

TOP LEFT: Rob Lindemann and Adam Buhl test out the new seats that volunteers installed in the UTV during Sweeps Week.

TOP RIGHT: Austin Brozowski and Tom Giroux prove that two is better than one when you only have one week to assemble a 768 square foot outdoor pavilion.

No task is too small for Tim Smith as he helps assemble the timber frame structure.

Mike Pemberton and Jasper Drengler fix the tools needed to landscape the property.

Chris White participates in the 2024 Sweeps Week at Warrior Horse in late April.

David Kline burns the midnight oil to get metal brackets drilled and ready for beams.

Jason Boyer participates in the 2024 Sweeps Week at Warrior Horse in late April.

unbelievable amount of projects during Sweeps Week. Although the purpose of the week is completing these tasks, it’s also about camradarie and an opportunity for attendees to restore their own hope and healing by spending time with the horses. During the week, I was able to work one-on-one with several people to build their confidence around horses. I believe there is just something about being around horses that people can sense when they are at Warrior Horse.

When I say that a phenomenal amount of work was completed this week, most people can’t even fathom it! Volunteers installed electrical fixtures, disposed of trash, landscaped the property, cleaned and organized the buildings, chopped and stacked wood, replaced and repaired fencing, repaired generators, tires, axles, shovels, and rakes, trimmed the horses’ hooves, and last but certainly not least, built the “Taj MaHorse,” a 768-square foot outdoor pavilion – and that’s just a fraction of everything we accomplished during Sweeps Week!

If you’ve never attended Sweeps Week at Warrior Horse, we hope you will put it on your schedule for next year – April 28-May 2, 2025. Next year, we’ll put more of a focus on the “gathering” aspect of the week by ending work earlier in the afternoon to make time for game tournaments like horseshoes and cornhole. There is plenty of space for tents, hammocks, and RVs on the property and plenty of Kevin’s pies and desserts to go around. I think everyone probably went home a little heavier than when they arrived!

The chimney industry is certainly the most inspirational and caring industry on the planet. We owe a great deal to each and every one of our volunteers who make it possible for us to do what we do. They are world class, just like the people we serve. ■

Volunteers from 8 states and 1 international country gather in Louisiana to make a difference in the lives of veterans with PTSD.

Jasper Drengler says a prayer for his safety as his apprentice Parker Kunze takes the controls.

The timber frame structure built this week will eventually be a cooking and camaraderie area for people to gather.

Scan the QR code to learn more about the Warrior Horse organization:

h EALING FROm BROKEN

Renée Brigman, Sweeps Week Coordinator

Folks know about Warrior Horse and what it does. A lot of folks have been to Sweeps Week and know what it’s about. But I don’t think many folks really know why the Sweeps Week coordinators chose Warrior Horse as our partner post-COVID.

Sweeps Week has always been an annual event about promoting inclusivity and camaraderie in the chimney sweeping industry. It’s about encouraging unity in the face of diversity. It’s also about finding areas of agreement and commonality among our independent and dissimilarly thinking sweeps.

“IT ’S LIKE A fAmILY REUNION fOR A fAmILY ThEY DIDN’T EvEN REALIzE ThEY HAD.”

Sweeps Week celebrates what this great industry brings to the world and the “brotherhood of soot” that exists within our ranks. Working shoulder to shoulder to accomplish common goals throughout the week, breaking bread together three times a day, and enjoying fellowship all along the way does wonders to bring people together. For those who return year after year, it’s like a family reunion. For the new folks who come, it’s like a family reunion for a family they didn’t even realize they had.

Historically, when both the National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG) and Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) had their headquarters at the CSIA Technology Center in Plainfield, IN, that was the obvious place to hold this celebratory event. But then… during COVID (while the Sweeps Week gathering was on hold), “the great divorce” happened in our industry. CSIA and NCSG had grown apart over the years and developed irreconcilable differences. Their parting of ways created a lot of hurt and confusion in our sweeping community – as most divorces do. Something broke in our community.

Well... Warrior Horse heals “broken!” What better place to take Sweeps Week than the place where healing from broken begins?

Since our sweep people shouldn’t have to choose between our organizations, it was decided that (for the time being anyway), Sweeps Week will be held on neutral ground at Warrior Horse. It is my fervent hope that with the passing of time, healing vibes of Warrior Horse, and mending of fences between the organizations, Sweeps Week can return to NCSG and CSIA in some new iteration at some point in the future, as well as continue our partnership with Warrior Horse. ■

RIGHT: Attendees built their confidence and comfort level around horses during Sweeps Week at Warrior Horse.

BELOW: David Steward, Clifton Young, and Buck Owens enjoy the camradarie that Sweeps Week offers.

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COACH’S Corner

Time for a Business Reset?

Jerry Isenhour, CVC Success Group

2024 is going to be a year of chaos on many fronts. Going into the year, it was predicted to be a down year based on several economic indicators:

• Election year

• Supply chain disruptions, amplified by the recent incident of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore

• Major disruptions at colleges and universities

• Rapidly rising home prices and sky-high interest rates

• Overflowing unsold inventory of cars and trucks

• Employee recruitment and retention challenges

• Active wars

Quite frankly, we live in incredibly challenging times.

All of this has caused many managers to assume the role of firefighter rather than strategist.

A quote from Winston Churchill comes to mind: “Never let a crisis go to waste.” It’s times like these when great leaders will do a business reset to adapt to the changing economic situation.

Oftentimes, leaders can quickly overwhelm themselves and their workforce with implementation of too many innovative ideas and concepts at one time. For change to be effective in a company, the team must be involved in the change. Successful change requires buy-in by the members of the team, and the way you obtain

this buy-in is by involving those you lead in the change.

Where do you start when you’re ready to make a change? Likely the best start is to do a case study of the company.

This is what many Fortune 500 companies do to develop a winning strategic plan to move into the future. You can find several case study examples here:

• Starbucks: https://shorturl.at/ brAXY

• Amazon: https://shorturl.at/ qrGJS

• Southwest Airlines: https:// shorturl.at/wAEQ1

You’ll notice each case study contains a similar structure: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Even though these major corporations are much, much larger than the ones in our industry, one thing remains the same – business is business. The concepts of a strategic plan are the same no matter if you’re a giant corporation with millions of customers or a mom-and-pop operation with a single truck.

The role of the manager is to build a strategic plan that produces profits for the company, positive work environment for the team members, and appealing products and services for the customer.

What would a case study of your business reveal?

Let’s take a look at some of the major questions you should ask of your business when you’re

putting together a case study:

• What is the history and annual growth rate of the company?

• What is the company’s mission – why does the company even exist, and how has it maintained itself over the course of its history?

• What are the strengths of the company? Strengths are interior and not exterior issues.

• What are the weaknesses of the company? Weaknesses are also interior and not exterior issues.

• What opportunities does the company have? Opportunities are outside factors.

• What threats are posed to the company? Threats are also exterior problems.

The Coach’s Corner column was created by Jerry Isenhour, former president of the National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG) and CVC Success Group. Jerry is an industry consultant, educator, and coach.

• How strong is the company brand? Is it truly recognized by the community they serve?

• Is the software a viable choice for the company, and is it being used effectively and efficiently?

• Is there a successful recruiting, onboarding, and training process in place?

• What are the numbers of the company? What do these numbers tell us? Remember, one of the key strengths of any company is the knowledge of their numbers and how they measure against others in the market.

• Does the company have reserves to assist in weathering downturns in business?

• What is the potential for growth and scaling? How will it be obtained?

• Does the company have a brand that identifies to customers what they do and what their mission is?

• Is the company facility adequate? How can it be improved to increase flow, eliminate waste, and add to the bottom-line profit?

• How does the workforce measure up?

• What is the culture of the company? Does it appeal to new hires, existing employees, and customers?

• What is the competition profile of the company?

• How effective is the presenting marketing plan and what changes are required for the future market?

• What is the present EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization)? It is a measure of net profitability.

These questions are a sample of the information that is collected to provide an accurate case study

of the business. An in-depth case study will go even deeper; this is simply a sampling.

Knowing this information (usually collected by an outside person without an emotional tie to the company) will enable the manager to assemble a strategic plan that will guide the company into the future, but often it may require outside expertise in financial numbers, operations, systems, and marketing to make it all happen. The great manager will recognize their own strengths and weaknesses and often rely on others to provide the expertise that may not be in their wheelhouse.

It takes a great mindset to make it happen – a mindset that guides the company on a path of daily improvement, making each day better than the one before.

This is the manager who will guide the company into the future with a profitable operation with the right culture. Make this your guiding light as a manager. ■

Darwin Award

Spark YOUR MARKETING

5 Steps for Choosing the Right Technology

Carter Harkins and Taylor Hill, Spark Marketer

It seems like every time we get on a call with someone these days, they are asking us about software, automation, or artificial intelligence (AI) – and we understand why. Our entire staff has been tasked to be on the lookout for new technology that they think will be useful to us as a marketing agency or for our clients. We get a lot of, “Have you seen this one yet?” in our internal chat channels every week, so we know how fast technology is moving, and it can be daunting. So in this month’s technology and equipment edition of Sweeping magazine, we want to help you figure out what technology will work best for you.

5 Best Practices for Vetting Technology

1The first thing to think about is what you actually need technology to do for you. This is very important, because what works for one company doesn’t necessarily work for another. Calling around and asking, “What do you use for XYZ?” could be a waste of time, because someone else’s answer might not be the best option for your issue.

Here’s an example. You are still doing everything on paper (yes, there are still people doing invoicing the old-fashioned way), and you realize doing an email campaign would be considerably less expensive than sending out letters for a spring special. That’s all you want to do – a simple email campaign. So you pick up the phone and start asking around and you get answers like, “We use House Call Pro, Service CEO, Service Titan, Jobber...” and the list goes on and on. None of these are what you are looking for. You simply need an email platform like Mailchimp or Constant Contact. Most people don’t start off thinking about what they really need technology to do. There are a lot of wants as well –and if you can find something that achieves both of those, well, great!

Second, look at how you run your company. Is your office staff the nerve center of your business, are you running it from the field, or both? You want to make sure whatever you are thinking about

purchasing will work alongside your company’s workflow and help rather than hinder productivity.

An example would be if you run your business from the field, but you bought into something that is only accessible through a computer. You will have a hard time running the business and may have to spend a lot more time back at the office. The more likely scenario is that you will be paying for software you never get around to using.

The third is to check the costs and make sure it fits your budget. We can’t tell you how many times we have heard the software someone bought into is so expensive they have to cut other places in their business or try and get out of the contract altogether. Part of this is understanding the additional costs that come with things like call tracking, chatbots, etc. Make sure those prices are in line with what you are currently paying, or do some research into what is the fair market price for those things.

One of the best examples of this is running Google AdWords, which is a technology platform within Google. We spoke to a business recently that

Carter Harkins and Taylor Hill are the authors of Blue Collar Proud: 10 Principles for Building a Kickass Business You Love, and co-owners of FutureNow Marketing, a home services marketing company specializing in human-centered AI that will optimize your business and generate leads. They’re trusted thought leaders in the industries they serve, so you’ll find them regularly speaking at service industry trade shows and conferences and writing for trade magazines. The time is now to leap into the future of marketing! Visit www.futurenowmarketing.com.

was paying a whopping $20,000+ per month for marketing services and did not know what, if anything, the company was doing for them! As crazy as you may think this is, it’s not unusual. We started asking questions and found out that they had no idea how much they were paying for Google AdWords because they paid the marketing company more when they said they needed more. You should always pay Google directly and pay a separate fee for management so you know where your dollars are going. If possible – and sometimes it’s not –everything you do should be set up this way.

4The fourth is to make sure there is someone in your company capable of learning the new technology you plan on implementing. Sometimes you will need multiple people for this! If one of them is you, great! If not, you need to have someone capable of understanding the ins and outs of what you are purchasing. You should also ask how long it will take to train these people on the technology. How do you get support? Is their support good or not? Do you have a designated representative, or is it someone different every time? If you don’t have someone to run the tech, you will have to get outside support and training that can be very expensive on top of the software. As long as you can afford these types of hiccups, you’re good. If you can’t afford these pitfalls, find something easier to implement.

5The fifth is to read your contract! There are so many ways you can get taken advantage of if you don’t read your contract. How long do they lock you in? Do they offer a trial period to make sure it works for you? How many days do I have to notify you to cancel? We’ve seen up to 90 days, and if you don’t, it’s an auto-renewal for the next X years. Crazy, but true!

Action Steps

1. Take out a pen and paper, and in one column, write down all the things you need technology to do that would make your life much easier. Then in the other column, write down all the things you want it to do if you could have everything Once you do that, you now have the right questions to ask your peers and companies when you call to vet their technology.

2. When vetting the platform with the tech company, make sure they understand how you run your business. Also, evaluate the app to make sure it will do what you need it to do.

3. Check your budget and make sure the technology you want is affordable. Ask the tech company up front if there are any additional costs associated with the technology on their side that you will be receiving bills for so you go in with your eyes wide open.

4. Before you purchase, ask around to find others who are running the technology and ask them how hard it is to run. If they think you need outside help, ask who helped them and who to call.

5. Read the contract (or give it to your attorney to read) and find any pitfalls.

There is also a lot of overlap in technology these days, so before you add something else, see if what you are currently using will do that thing you need. Sometimes you will be surprised it does!

With the advent of AI and all it brings, there are a lot of changes and amazing breakthroughs. There are also a lot of scams. Be careful, and never give your passwords to anyone unless you have a trusted relationship with them. Don’t blindly trust social media. There are so many scams using AI images, bots, and content that don’t have your best interests in mind.

We want you to be able to use technology safely when it benefits your company and understand the pitfalls so you can avoid them. If ever you have questions – whether you’re a client or not – email us and we’ll be happy to help! ■

Many people in the industry know that Owens Chimney Covers specializes in making custom chimney caps and chase covers. But did you know that we can also fabricate other things to elevate your customers’ home and experience?

Some examples are: custom smoke guards, crickets, seal off plates, clean-out doors, fireplace covers, hoods, metal shoulder covers for masonry chimneys, and other fireplace related items.

Our fabricators have nearly 40 years of combined experience. We are also fortunate enough to have field technicians that have transitioned from our service business to manufacturing. This allows us to serve our industry at an even higher level.

What items do you need that you can’t seem to find help with? Give us a call today to see if we can earn your business! ■

PAID ADVERTORIAL

Odd-shaped covers

Custom crickets

Custom smoke guards

Metal fireplace covers for outdoor fireplaces (helps keep out water and debris when not in use)

Custom shoulders for masonry chimneys

NEW Certifications

from April 2024

Brad Alexander

Environmental Chimney Service

Tyson Forshee Top Cat Chimney

Jayke Haven

Environmental Chimney Service

Chase Hicks

Environmental Chimney Service

Noah Hunter

Environmental Chimney Service

Austyn Sawyer

Environmental Chimney Service

Robert Sims

Black Goose Chimney Sweep

Grace Stamp

Environmental Chimney Service

Eliyahu Tolochinski CrownUp Pros, LLC

Aaron Golub Up On the Roof Chimney Sweep, LLC

2024-2025 Board of Directors

President; Region 2 Director

Bill Thornton Wissahickon Chimney & Fireplace wissahickonvalleysweep@yahoo.com

Vice President; Region 4 Director

Debbie Wiedwald Blackburn’s Chimney Sweeps debbie@blackburnschimney.com

Treasurer; At-Large Director

Steve Scally Fireside Sweeps firesidesweeps@comcast.net

Region 5 Director

David Steward

Copper Ridge Chimney copperridgechimney@gmail.com

Region 6 Director

Michaele Dempsey

Professional Chimney Sweep prochimneymichaele@gmail.com

Secretary; At-Large Director

Robby Murphy

Hudson Valley Chimney Service rmurphy@hudsonvalleychimney.com

Region 1 Director

Matt Mair

Black Moose Chimney and Stove matt@blackmoosechimney.com

Region 3 Director

James Owens

Owens Chimney Systems james@owenschimneysystems.com

Advocacy

Debbie Wiedwald

Blackburn’s Chimney Sweeps

Bylaws

Matt Mair

Black Moose Chimney and Stove

Certification

Steve Sobczak

Total Chimney Care

Events

Doug Rivas

New England Chimney Supply

At-Large Director

Jake Cromwell

Top Hat Chimney and Roofing jake@tophatchimneyandroofing.com

At-Large Director

Gary Smalling

Smalling Masonry gary.smalling@smallingmasonry.com

At-Large Supplier Rep

Doug Rivas

New England Chimney Supply drivas@nesbestflex.com

2024-2025 Committee Chairs

Education; Governance

David Steward

Copper Ridge Chimney

Ethics

James Owens

Owens Chimney Systems

International Relations

Victor Imgarten

Clean Sweep Chimney Service

Marketing

Jake Cromwell

Top Hat Chimney and Roofing

Membership

Michaele Dempsey

Professional Chimney Sweep

NFPA 211; NFPA 54

Jim Brewer

SureFire Training Academy

NFPA 31; Tech. Advisory Council

Steve Scally

Fireside Sweeps