LEADING WITH VISION:
A Leader’s Journey in the Hearth Industry
“In the heart of the fireplace and chimney industry, I am a third-generation fireplace enthusiast, a founder deeply rooted in the tradition of sweeping chimneys, and a leader committed to building our team and the industry at large.”
Byron Schramm, Founder and CEO in the Fireplace Industry
My History
With two decades of hands-on experience and a family legacy dating back over three generations, I stand at the helm of the largest chimney sweep franchise system in the United States, a venture that has become synonymous with excellence and innovation in our field. Our presence spans over 10 states, supported by a robust lead generation system and a customer support scheduling center that not only receives and handles requests but elevates the entire customer experience nationwide.
What fuels my passion is not just the business itself but the transformative moments it brings. Witnessing a new fireplace being installed, overseeing the removal and upgrade of an old woodstove, and implementing thoughtful changes that enhance our services bring immeasurable satisfaction. The joy is not just in sweeping chimneys but in doing it right, from marketing strategies to the final inspection report.
“What fuels my passion is not just the business itself but the transformative moments it brings.”
Today
Beyond the daily operations, my commitment extends to nurturing new small business owners who join our franchise. Working alongside a team of executives who share the same zeal for the industry, I take pride in fostering an environment where innovation and dedication thrive. Training new chimney sweeps with my Chimney 101 presentation on their first day is not just a duty but a passion to pass on the expertise and values that define our success.
Investing in the growth of our team is a cornerstone of my leadership philosophy. I consistently sponsor courses, both online and in person, for our executives, ensuring they stay ahead in their field. Thousands of dollars are allocated annually to train and develop the talents within our organization, keeping them competitive and aligned with our vision.
Our commitment goes beyond business to societal impact. Providing opportunities to individuals unfamiliar with certain tasks or roles has resulted in several franchise owners now overseeing multi-truck operations, proving that with the right support, anyone can rise to leadership.
Supporting mothers working from home has been a longstanding practice in our scheduling center. Accommodating and empowering women with children to contribute to our business from the comfort of their homes is not just a policy; it’s a commitment to babies and mothers and fathers, a commitment to the family.
A Lack of Umph with US Chimney and Fireplace installation Certifications
Looking around the World… the US Chimney Certifications Lack.. well.. Umph.
Neither US Chimney sweep nor US Fireplace installation certifications require what other first world countries require:
- Physical training on the tools or the fireplaces
- Classroom training on the materials
- An exam of the individual’s physical work in the field
- Good online reviews from customers
- A customer complaint handling process
- Proper minimum insurance being met
More regulation for chimney sweeps?
In the USA you can hang out your shingle as a chimney sweep with no license- because there is no licesnse. Those of us who have been in the industry a long time have seen wood insert slammers causing fires, improper work by new comers to the industry, out-right fraud in the chimney sweeping business, and unpermitted work that should have been permitted. We have a conflict within ourselves- our personal views are typically for SMALL GOVERNMENT, however our professional experience tells us we need BETTER TRAINING AND REGULATION.
I am seeking to initiate having even a single state adopt a rigorous examination process of the fireplace and mechanical systems of a home during the grant deed transaction, and by requiring a single uniform Accord Document style report, all chimney and mechanical system inspectors will then be held to the same US standard literally on the same sheet of paper. If a customer is selling a home, he or she will be required to hire a competent individual to complete the federal standard for chimney inspection. If the appliance is out of compliance with May 2020 EPA Phase III standard, then it triggers replacement requirement- just like a county requirement to perform a Septic Certification during the home transaction, without which the escrow and sales process will halt until the septic passes the inspection or is completely replaced. It is the job of government to step in and correct erratic and irrational market behavior.
I believe that a government allowing people to transact the largest most expensive item in their life- a half million or million dollar home that takes 30 years to pay off- without ensuring that all the basic safety elements are examined according to a straightforward 30 point inspection list and corrected if out of compliance- is an irrational behaviour. This is the time for government involvement. This is the exact instance when it actually makes sense to involve an external force to correct irrational market behavior- irrational behavior that literally burns down houses, and kills people with carbon monoxide slowly over years because venting systems are not working properly because they are not being inspected.
Okay, there is an alterantive approach, perhaps more effective but more onerous possible- the government could correct the irrational behavior of the market not at the time of a home transaction, but every year if they own a fireplace or chimney of any kind. An annual inspection must be completed, and if not, the insurance company will not cover the home any longer. This puts it on the the insurance companies to monitor compliance, and the burden of documentation will rest on the shoulders of the ones who must pay the claims. This method ties personal responsibility to the outcome of ones actions. The government would force insurance companies to be more profitable, in a sense, by requiring insurance companies to in turn require annual federally recognized 30 point chimney inspections by competent individuals.
It is my belief that the topics, above, and the subsequent training and deployment and certification of competent individuals to perform this work, are the heart and sole of what should be discussed by our national chimney sweep guild and the Chimney Safety Institute of America.
It is my estimation that the reason these topics are not being discussed is because we have chosen chimney sweeps to run the guild rather than excellent leaders who have received education and training, having a braod international experience. We have fallen prey to the most common error- we have taken the farmer from the field and elevated him to the presidential role, for which he has no leadership preparation or training. It is not the fault of the farmer, as much as it is the fault of those of us who know better and who have let it happen. In the words of Arkad in the Richest Man in Babylon, “We have incorrectly trusted the bricklayer with the investment of our money, instead of trusting the money lender with the investment of our money.” We have done the right thing with the wrong people. I hope that my words will land well, stirring the US chimney sweeps to action to vote for a true leader and fix the US chimney sweeping guild and certification process.
Where have all the Trainers gone?
I recommend the consideration of insourcing on-shore training from our very best and most mature chimney tradespeople: they set up a training center and offer monthly training which approved by the certifying body. Approved trainers in approved training centers delivering approved materials to new students around the nation on a routine basis will make access to quality training fast (I didn’t say cheap). This will be a long term solution using people, not technology, to solve a people problem.
Digital training, computer based and virtual reality training is all good- but it also has its limitations and challenges like any other method of delivering training. What I propose is in conjunction with the virtual reality, a method to harness the old guard and couple it to the new guys, making it easy to find the training online, and easy to purchase and attend close to their home and fast with trusted trainers. This is the HETAS model from England and it works very well.
Elect me to the Board of the US National Chimney Sweep Guild
Only in the USA can you buy a chimney sweeping book online, study at home, and pass a Certification exam without ever meeting another human and without ever being physically reviewed by the Certifying body. Doesn’t this sound like it is time to reform?
Where would this person go if he wanted to be trained? He would have to go to the CSIA training event, the roving Copperfield clinics, and these are both expensive, and erratic. I will promote a metered sustainable training program, which is both expensive (we already have that) and predicatable, using our own talent which we already have within our industry, providing jobs to the aging players in our industry.
If I am elected to the US Board of the National Chimney Sweep Guild I will share the findings from my 7 month trip across central Europe, studying the chimney sweep industry. I will suggest that we plan for the long view. I will suppress shortsighted personality conflicts and recommend that such members leave their leadership positions. The US is far behind its first world siblings in Europe and it is time to look to the future. We have a bright sunrise ahead if we will get the right folks into leadership, looking down the long road of regulation and training, toward our children’s children, instead of fussing over a local grievance in our native village.
Looking to the Future
For fireplace sales and installation, the future shines bright with a eight-year runway on a US Biomass Tax Credit, encouraging customers nationwide to invest in high-efficiency wood-burning and pellet-burning appliances. This translates to increased installations, chimney system replacements, and sweeping services—areas where our company excels.
For the National Chimney Sweep Guild and Chimney Safety Institute, we should push ourselves further forward, UNITE and promote the industry. Or we should let a new THIRD player enter the market of certification and provide the missing ingredients if these two organizations will not work together.
My vision is clear: to lead the labor side of the hearth industry by creating cutting-edge training systems, promoting technician advancement, and recognizing accomplishments. I aspire for our company to be a symbol of the hardworking men and women who install and sweep America’s chimneys. In doing so, we don’t just maintain fireplaces; we ignite a passion for excellence and innovation in our industry.
