Hot News
APRIL 2019
HPBExpo 2019 Went Big in Dallas!
HPBExpo 2019 was a great success! We had thousands of attendees visit hundreds of exhibitors to see the newest products available in the hearth and outdoor living industry. Dallas is a great host city with lots to see, perfect weather (aside from a few storms that blew through!) and easy accessibility. We look forward to returning in the future.
Expo kicked off with a keynote address from Mike Holmes, DIY Network star of Holmes on Homes, Holmes Inspection, and All-American Handyman. Thank you to our sponsor, Napoleon Products, who made this possible.
The Tailgate and Big Green Egg Cook-off Competition was a fantastic event with great teams and beautiful weather. The competition was fired up and so were the attendees who sampled savory offerings from participating exhibitors and the competing teams. Congratulations to this year’s winning team, Brian Rush & Dan Ferguson from Premiere Grilling, representing the South Central HPBA Affiliate. During the cook-off the Donna H. Myers Award Barbecue Leadership Award was also presented to Ingrid and Wolfgang Schroeter of Napoleon Products for their contributions to the industry and to HPBA.  
Each product displayed in the New Product Pavilion was eligible to enter the 2019 Attendees’ Choice Awards , in which attendees voted for their choice of most-marketable new product in the Hearth and Outdoor Living categories. We had 30 products participate this year, showing incredible creativity and innovation. Congratulations  to the 2019 Hearth winner: SOLAS, LLC – THIRTY8
and to the Outdoor Living winner: WoodPelletPizzaOven.com – WPPO Lil Luigi Wood/Coal Table Top Oven.
We always look forward to the annual Vesta Awards when Hearth & Home magazine holds their annual event honoring innovation in design and technology at Expo. After a wine reception, hundreds of attendees gathered to honor the winners. The Daniel J. Melcon Award for Best-In-Show in Hearth Products went to Jøtul North America, Inc. for the F 500 V3 product. The Best-In-Show award in Outdoor Room Products went to Solaira Radiant Systems’ Solaira Ziro Disc Radiant Heater.

To view all other Vesta Award winners, click below.

Trying to recall a company or product? The 2019 List of Exhibitors is still available, as is the  2019 Mobile App . Be sure to also check back later for a collection of photos taken at the show.  
HPBA Holds Annual Hearth Section Meetings in Denver
Manufacturing members of the Gas Hearth Appliance Section (GHAS) and the Solid Fuel Hearth Appliance Section will meet in Denver on Wednesday, April 10th and Thursday, April 11th to review issues, set policy on upcoming rulemakings, and discuss section assessments. For more information or to register for the meetings, please contact Damen Jeg .
Promotion Updates

Did you see the Facebook Live streamed at HPBExpo with John Crouch? He reviewed different types of fireplaces that are available and showed some examples. Check it out by clicking below if you missed it. We have another Facebook Live scheduled for later today that will show how to buy a hearth product. This will star Tim Reed of Fireside Home Solutions and be held on April 9 at 12:30 ET on our new dedicated hearth Facebook page . The hearth promotions are targeted to consumers to provide better understanding of hearth options and how they can fit in any lifestyle and most budgets.
#WhyIGrill continues to get attention and gain followers. Our ambassadors are sharing our content with their followers and increasing awareness. Our April ambassador is Boog Powell, retired major league baseball player and current proprietor of Boog’s BBQ, the best barbecue outlet at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The WhyIGrill website is capturing personal statements and stories from barbecue fans that we are sharing over social media. HPBA has also created a toolkit available to all HPBA members that is filled with helpful material for marketing #WhyIGrill . 
Affiliate Spotlight

The HPBA family welcomed two new members in March. With the retirement of long-time NEHPBA and MAHPBA Executive Director Diane Rossi, our Affiliates had big shoes to fill. We’re pleased to announce that the new Executive Director for MAHPBA is Jonathan Williams. Jonathan is the Executive Vice President of Easter Associates, a full-service association management firm in Richmond, VA. He’ll use that association management expertise and the support of his firm to achieve even bigger things for the mid-Atlantic. 

Karen Luther is the new Executive Director for the NEHPBA. She brings 25 years of managing and training employees and helping businesses succeed through more effective marketing and communications. She also has worked with clients in the hearth industry for years and will use her experience and background to help NEHPBA continue to grow and succeed.

Government Affairs
EPA's Announces New Funding for a Woodstove Changeout Program in Maine

EPA announced on March 25, 2019 that the area around Portland, Maine would receive a changeout program funded by a settlement agreement, also known as a supplemental environmental project (SEP). SEPs have been one of the more common funding sources for changeout programs over the years.

As with all other woodstove changeout programs funded by a SEP, the program will be funded by a company that violated the Clean Air Act in the area. It is unknown who the program administrator will be, but the American Lung Association of the Northeast is the most likely candidate given its experience in administering changeout programs. It may take up to two years before this program is launched and funds are made available for hearth retailers and consumers.
CEC to Host Workshop on Gas Hearth Rulemaking

HPBA has been alerted that the California Energy Commission will host a public workshop for all stakeholders on gas hearth efficiency next month, likely the week of May 20th. Manufacturers of gas hearth products will be alerted as soon as a date is fixed. This issue will also be discussed at the April GHAS meeting. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Ryan Carroll .
New Officers and Board Members

At the recent Board of Directors meeting in Dallas, the Board voted in new officers and Board members.

         Joe Burns, Bernard Dalsin MFG                  Chairman
         Dick Hoffman, Firelight Hearth & Patio    Vice Chairman
         Henry Hall Skytech II                               Secretary

The newly elected Board members include Chris Hartley of Blue Rhino for his second term, Tom Krebs of Innovative Hearth Products, Glen Spinelli of Regency Fireplaces, and Mark Calomino of Olympia Chimney Supply for the manufacturer seats, Henry Hall of Skytech II for the at-large seat and Tim Reed of Fireside Home Solutions for the Affiliate seat. Congratulations to our new Board Members and thank you to everyone on the Board for their hard work!
North America's Largest Indoor-Outdoor Event Goes to New Orleans, LA - HPBExpo 2020
HPBExpo 2020
Exhibition: March 12-14
Education: March 11-13
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
Connect with HPBExpo
Exhibit booth sales are off to a good start; if you didn’t have the opportunity to book space at this year’s show for next year, visit our   Apply to Exhibit page for floor plans and contracts. Contact   Anita Derouin   with questions or to discuss booth options. Mark your calendar as housing and registration will open September 3 rd , 2019. 

ADDRESS UPDATE
New from the post office – for mailed payments to HPBA, the post office has changed the format of our address, effective immediately.

The new address is P.O. Box 424014, Washington DC 20042-4014

Any payments sent to our old address will be returned to sender. We apologize for this inconvenience.

All other correspondence can continue to be sent to our physical address below: