Occupation: Independent Sales Representative.

Special Interests/Hobbies: “I really enjoy traveling the Midwest. My territory gets me from Michigan on the east to both North and South Dakota on the west. In the spring you’ll find me with a fly rod or casting in a lake. In the fall it’s hunting birds or waiting for a big buck to pass by my stand. In the winter, I love ice fishing. I’m fortunate to have a family that joins me on a lot of these outings.”

Problems/Issues Facing the Patio Furnishings Industry: “The issues when I first started 30 years ago have changed very little: good help, competition, Box stores, overseas product.”

Key Trends in the Industry Today: “The word is eclectic, which I googled as deriving ideas, style or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources. I see more dealers building floor collections using tables from one source, chairs from another, outdoor lighting from another. The new “Poly Sol” reclaimed-wood-look tables are dispersed among many manufacturers’ goods.”
    
Forecast for the Patio Furnishings Industry in 2018: “I see us continuing to sell indoor “Out.” I see many manufacturers spending time adding pieces to complete smaller groups,  or settings, i.e., they have the deep seating chairs, and now are adding side tables, chat tables, fire pits.”

Years Reading Hearth & Home: “Probably 30 years.”

Reasons for Reading Hearth & Home: “I have been on both ends of the industry – retailer and sales rep – been on many boards in both the fireplace industry as well as furniture. Hearth & Home has done a really good job at keeping us all close together.”