CSIA InstructorsCSIA takes pride in being America's number one provider of education in the chimney and venting industry. Our instructors are the backbone of that reputation, providing world-class education to our students.
These are individuals dedicated to the betterment of the industry, as they take time away from their own chimney and venting companies to give back to the industry. |
MATT ELLIS
MATT ELLIS, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
Matt Ellis has been with CSIA for two years. Prior to that he served as the Technical Manager for Copperfield Chimney Supply where he worked with professionals on installations, codes, and products. He has extensive experience in manufacturing and helped with product development in the hearth and chimney industry. Matt has also served on the UL1777 Technical Panel and is a Master Chimney Sweep through CSIA and holds NFI credentials as well. JOHN CEASER
JOHN CEASER - CEASER CHIMNEY SERVICE
(Manchester, NH) 5+ Years Certified John Ceaser is the owner of Ceaser Chimney Service in Manchester, NH. He has been a chimney sweep since 2009, and has owned his own company since 2014. He is on the Board of Directors for the CSIA, Vice President of the NEACHP, and is also a CSIA Instructor. He is married to his wife, Holly, and has three amazing children, one of which is also a CSIA Certified Sweep. JOHN Bently
JOHN BENTLY - DUCT DOCTOR, LTD
(NEW RICHLAND, MN) 30+ YEARS CERTIFIED John Bently owns and operates Duct Doctor, LTD, a service company in Minnesota. His services include air duct and chimney cleaning, dryer vent cleaning, attic insulation removal, dust down, filtration replacement, etc. John currently serves as one of CSIA’s C-DET instructors. Jim Brewer
JIM BREWER - MAGIC SWEEP (CHESAPEAKE, VA) 35+ YEARS CERTIFIED
Jim Brewer has nearly 40 years of experience owning and operating a chimney service business and has helped develop lasting training programs for industry organizations as well as new franchisees and their employees. John Pilger
JOHN PILGER - CHIEF CHIMNEY SERVICES
(Smithtown, NY) 30+ Years Certified John Pilger has been in the sweep industry since 1983 and is the owner and operator of Chief Chimney Services, since 1986. He is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA). He is their past president. John also is a Past President of the NYS Chimney Sweep Guild. He is a member (Past Director) of, and the representative for the National Chimney Sweep Guild to the National Fire Protection Association 31 committee (Standards for the Installation of Oil Burning Equipment). He serves on the NCSG Technical committee and is chair of the International Relations committee of the National Chimney Sweep Guild and the CSIA. He also serves on the CEU committee. He is an instructor for the CSIA and the National Fireplace Institute (NFI). He is CSIA Certified Master Chimney Sweep, CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician, NFI Certified Wood and Gas Technician, FIRE Certified Fireplace Inspector and holds an Applied Science Degree in Fire Protection Technology. He is also a former Fire Marshal and Past-Fire Chief. John has been the Chimney expert for Dateline NBC, CNN, American Journal, Associated Press and News 12 Long Island. John is a past recipient of the NY Chimney Sweep Guild Schukal award and the Polish Corp. of Chimney Sweeps Saint Florian award. In 2007 John won the Chimney Safety Institute of America highest award, “The Don Leavitt Education Award”, for outstanding contributions to the Chimney Sweep industry through education. |
Chris Prior
CHRIS PRIOR - ADIRONDACK CHIMNEY COMPANY, INC
(Middle Grove, NY) Chris Prior studied mechanical engineering at Northeastern University in the early 1970’s. For the last 35 years has been a designer and builder of innovative masonry fireplaces, masonry heaters and bake ovens, including the masonry and pizza oven at the CSIA Technology Center He has conducted countless classes and seminars on a vast variety of topics throughout the US and Canada. Currently partnered with John Meredith (SaverSystems) building and testing at the Wardenclyffe Hearth Lab. Tim ReIHER
TIM REIHER - CLEAN AND GREEN DRYER VENT EXPERTS, LLC
(Redford, MI) 10+ Years Certified Tim owns and operates Clean and Green Dryer Vent Experts in Redford, MI. Previously, Tim was the corporate trainer and technical support manager for a national dryer vent franchise company. Tim has a passion for all thing dryer exhaust and is an instructor of our 2-day Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician® workshop each year. Scott Stein
SCOTT STEIN - SAFE DRYER VENT SOLUTIONS, LLC
(Plainfield, IN) 4+ Years Certified Scott Stein is a veteran of the US Army. He has over 15 years’ experience in fire service, has worked as a journeyman electrician, and served the community of Plainfield, IN as a 911 dispatcher. Scott was then employed as a dryer vent technician, and eventually decided to start his own dryer vent business. He became certified as a dryer vent technician because he recognized the importance of certification within his chosen field, to be as knowledgeable and proficient as possible in his profession. He went into business with the intent of providing affordable, quality service to his community. Scott is led by his strong faith in Christ to conduct his business with the utmost integrity and Christian principles and humbly recognizes that all of this personal and professional successes are godly blessings. Scott subsequently chose to pursue being an instructor for CSIA to assist others in pursuing their dreams of providing the highest quality, most knowledgeable, level of dryer vent service to their customers. TOMMY NELMS
Tommy Nelms, Sweeps & Ladders Chimney Service (Franklin, TN)
Tommy is a former career firefighter, current President of the CSIA, owner of Sweeps & Ladders Chimney Service in Franklin, TN, and one of the founders of Sweep Away Cancer. Tommy has a passion for fire safety and believes that chimney and venting technicians can keep homeowners and firefighters safer by providing expert preventive maintenance and repairs. His experience as a firefighter, business owner, and chimney sweep gives him a unique perspective and makes him a great instructor that our students love. Tommy and his wife, Beka, live in Williamson County with their two darling sons, Boone and Wyatt. Mike Van Buren
Mike Van Buren - Blazing Design (Williston, VT)
Mike Van Buren, PE, founder and President, has been creating unique hearth products for nearly two decades. In 2000 he started Blazing Design, Inc. to bring custom fireplaces and fire features to homes and businesses. Blazing Design has grown since the early days. To better serve clients, Mike and his partner (and spouse) Sueann have opened a new showroom at 446 Shunpike Road in Williston, Vermont, offering complete sales, maintenance and repair services for all your hearth product needs. A graduate of the University of Vermont, Mike takes pride in a reputation for great quality and unsurpassed customer satisfaction. In addition to owning and operating Blazing Design, Mike, and his wife Sueann, are parents to three bright young women, Allison, Katie and Rose and Violet the pup! They reside, with their youngest daughter Rose and dog, Violet, in Essex Junction. |