IT Systems Coordinator | Office Assitant | Photographer
10 Years with HearthMasters
CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep | CSIA Certified Dryer-Vent Technician
President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) | Technical Trainer | Estimator
Certified Chimney Sweep by the Chimney Safety Institute of America since 1990. Requires 42 hours of training every three years to maintain certification. Approved proctor by the CSIA.
EX-Certified Wood-burning Specialist by the National Fireplace Institute 1993-2019
Requires knowledge of wood-burning appliances, chimneys, installation, and maintenance. Requires re-testing or 42 CEU credits every three years. National Fireplace Institute Approved Instructor and teaches the certification class in the Midwest region. www.nficertified.org
Licensed Private Investigator in Missouri
Industry writer, Speaker
Publisher and editor of Wood-Fired Magazine
Editor of the Midwest Chimney Safety Council News Magazine 1996-2019
Author of the Chimney and Hearth Pro's Resource Book
Author of Wood-Fired Heating and Cooking
Author of the Home Inspector's Guide to Chimney and Hearth Inspections
Kansas City Alternative Energy Examiner for www.Examiner.com for six years. See her informative articles with lots of tips at the Examiner and Chimneys.com websites.
Marge has written over 250 articles about chimneys, fireplaces, vents, appliances, inspections, and more
Non-Profit Associations
Past President and Educational Director of the Midwest Chimney Safety Council
Past Region 4 Director, National Chimney Sweep Guild
Past board member of the Midwest Hearth, Patio, and Barbecue Association
Past board member of the Masonry Heater Association of North America
Past Bake Oven Committee Chair for the MHA
Served on UL 127 and 103 Technical Committees for five years
Served on the PR Committees for the MHA and NCSG
Helped update the CSIA Sweeping Manual
36 years in the industry
Copy-Editor | Executive Assistant
3 Years with HearthMasters
RYAN SKAHAN
Maria McKenzie
8 Years with HearthMasters
Design Editor | Office Assistant, Accounting
7 Years with HearthMasters
PHILLIP THOMAS
Lead mason. Wood-burning, relining, and ventilation specialist. Works with brick, stone, tile, steel, custom-made liners and poured-liner systems, as well as FireGuard sealant. Specializes in fireplace construction and restoration. OSHA Certified 10-Hour Construction.
ANTHONY GROSS
Missouri Professional Private Investigators Association
Lead Mason | CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep | CSIA Certified Dryer Vent Technician
Laborer
23 Years with HearthMasters
OUR CREDENTIALS
Professional memberships
National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG)
Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association (HPBA)
National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI)
Midwest Chimney Safety Council (Marge Padgitt is President and Educational Director)
MO Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators
The Masonry Heater Association of North America
GENE PADGITT, V.P./COO
State Certified Fire Investigator | Licensed Mechanical Contractor | Outside Sales/Estimates
Missouri State Certified Fire Investigator/Licensed Private FIre Investigator
Requires 40 hours of training and annual CEU credits testing by the State of Missouri Department of Public Safety in addition to other requirements. Gene serves as an expert witness for cases involving structural fires related to chimneys and heating applianaces.
Class DM Master Mechanical License in all cities and counties in the greater KC area. Requires passing the BLOCK test and knowledge of gas, oil, and wood-burning heating equipment, chimneys, vents, ducts, plumbing, electrical and codes applying to these applications. Requires 8 hours of CEU course training annually at Johnson County Contractor Licensing. This license is required by law in the greater Kansas City area. See a list of licensed contractors at http://www.jocogov.org/dept/planning-and-codes/cls/home
Certified Chimney Sweep by the Chimney Safety Institute of America since 1990
The Certification requires knowledge of codes, clearances, construction, inspection, and maintenance of chimneys and fireplaces, the International Residential Code and the NFPA 211 Standard for Fireplaces. Testing or 42 CEU credits required every three years. www.csia.org
NFI Certified Gas Specialist by the National Fireplace institute. Qualified to inspect, service, and install gas appliances. www.nficertfied.org
Certified Heater Mason by the Masonry Heater Association of North America. Qualified to build masonry heaters and brick ovens and any type of masonry. Commercial and Residential
Degree in Heating, Ventilation, Cooling, and Refrigeration 1985 from Vatterott & Sullivan Technical College
OSHA Certified 10-Hour Construction
Award-winning master mason with 15 national and regional awards
40 years in the industry
MARGE PADGITT
Assistant technician | Ventilation CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep
With HearthMasters since 2019
Chimney and fireplace ventilation services. Inspector and crew leader. OSHA Certified 10-Hour Construction.
RONALD SCHMIDT
AUDREY ELDER
Chimney and fireplace ventilation services. Inspector. OSHA Certified 10-Hour Construction.
Finance, Accounting & Human Resources
28 Years with HearthMasters
CYNTHIA THOMAS
Jaden Mammen
Since 1982
CHIMNEY & FIREPLACE MAINTENANCE AND RESTORATION | VENTILATION | INVESTIGATIONS