Occupation: Owner, Friends of the Sun

Special Interests/Hobbies: “I play basketball a few times a week; I’m also an avid sports spectator; I dabble in woodworking, and I’m currently hooked on “Words with Friends.” Our son is a musician, so my wife and I attend quite a few performances.”

Problems/Issues Facing the Hearth Industry: “We are getting to be an industry that has a shortage of young people to fill our jobs and to be our customers. It’s hard for us older people to appreciate how automatic it is for younger people to consult their phones for answers to problems. It seems that will affect brick-and-mortar stores like ours more and more every day.”

Problems/Issues Facing the Patio Industry: “At least in our part of the country (The Frozen North), the length and timing of the outdoor season seems to be getting more and more unpredictable. Some years, I have a hard time making the transition from the heating season to the outdoor season and back again.”

Key Trends in the Hearth Industry Today: “Wood heat is still a big part of our business, so I appreciate the manufacturers’ constant push for higher efficiencies. It gives us new things to talk about. In gas units, most of our suppliers have begun to offer standing pilot units as a slightly simpler and slightly lower cost alternative to intermittent pilot units.

“The trend toward more contemporary stoves and fireplaces seems to be continuing. It will be interesting to see, if fuel prices stay as low as they have been, whether there will be much innovation in pellet units. Electric logs seem to get more and more realistic.”

Key Trends in the Patio Industry Today: “I’m still mourning the loss of shades of green, so I’m probably not the one to say.”

Forecast for Your Overall Business in 2018: “I think that we’ll see a modest increase in wood and gas units. Our outdoor and awning businesses depend a lot on the weather.”

Years Reading Hearth & Home: “From the beginning. Mostly cover to cover, although lately I probably spend more time on the Hearth & Home eNewsletter.”

Reasons for Reading Hearth & Home: “It’s a great way to keep up on what’s new, to get a look at other peoples’ showrooms, and to keep tabs on new regs. Plus, it’s just plain interesting for us stove nerds.”