Sweeping Magazine - September 2026

SEPTEMBER 2026

Leading From the Front

SWEEPING THE JOURNAL OF CHIMNEY AND VENTING TECHNOLOGY

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 8

Pennsylvania's Role in National Guild History A 1990 convention recap offers a glimpse at Pennsylvania’s long-standing connection to NCSG.

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Certification Spotlight: Jesse Lockerbie A problem-solving mindset led Jesse Lockerbie from competitive robotics to the chimney industry and NCSG certification.

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Inside NCSG Mentor Connect A casual space for members to ask questions, share experiences, and learn from their peers.

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7 Leading From the Front True leadership starts with accountability, setting the standard, and taking ownership no matter your role.

Leadership Reduces Losses Strong leadership can reduce property damage, workplace injuries, and customer disputes before they become costly claims.

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What Marketing and Leadership Have in Common Consistency, retention, referrals, and strong teams reveal more about a company than likes, followers, or other vanity numbers.

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You Don't Rise to the Occasion Strong leaders build the habits, values, and discipline their teams can rely on when challenges arise.

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Task Force Integrity NCSG is coordinating industry efforts to report fraudulent listings and bring the issue to regulators and enforcement agencies.

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Darwin Award

Have you ever seen some interesting things on the job?

Submit a photo with your name and location to marketing@ncsg.org.

SWEEPING THE JOURNAL OF CHIMNEY AND VENTING TECHNOLOGY

NATIONAL CHIMNEY SWEEP GUILD 1255 SW Prairie Trail Parkway Ankeny, Iowa 50023-7068 (317) 837-1500

September 2026, Volume 50 #8

Staff Kailah Schmitz, CAE, Executive Director director@ncsg.org

Policy ACTION CENTER Let us know what’s going on!

Submit industry concerns to NCSG’s Policy Action Center. We post live on the website and look into how we can take action. While you’re there, you can also check out the blog for past issues we’ve addressed. Check your email and Facebook to stay up to date!

Jessica Thornton, Associate Director and Certifications Coordinator jessica@ncsg.org Jonathan Erdman, Director of Education education@ncsg.org Sydney Kaizer, Director of Marketing and Communications; Sweeping Editor marketing@ncsg.org Brittney Burton, Membership and Events Coordinator bburton@ncsg.org Libby Almendarez, Membership, Certifications, and Digital Coordinator office@ncsg.org

DISCLAIMER The views expressed in Sweeping do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG) or its staff.

ADVERTISING To advertise, email Malisa Minetree at sweepingads@me.com or call (317) 603-7854.

On the Cover: A Felgemacher Masonry and Chimney technician guides a chimney liner into place during a rooftop installation in Cheektowaga, New York.

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NCSG further reserves the right to reject at any time any advertising determined not to be in keeping with the publication’s standards. Acceptance of advertising by Sweeping does not necessarily constitute endorsement of products or services advertised. NCSG does not make any effort to review or substantiate claims made by advertisers.

PHOTOGRAPHY Stock images by iStock, Adobe.

ARTICLE SUBMISSION NCSG encourages industry partners to submit press releases and articles to the editor at marketing@ncsg.org. Submissions should contain items of interest or importance to the chimney and venting industry. Submissions should not contain direct solicitations, prices, or other forms of advertising verbiage. Submissions may contain images or artwork attached in a JPG format.

In all cases, NCSG reserves the right to edit submissions for space limitations, keep the release and publish at a later date, or refuse to publish the release for any reason.

Neither publishing, nor refusing to publish the submission should be considered a statement of NCSG’s opinion regarding the release. © 2026 National Chimney Sweep Guild

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

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“A warrior lives by challenge. The average man sees everything in his life as either a blessing or a curse; the warrior sees everything as a challenge.”

—Théun Mares, Return of the Warriors: The Toltec Teachings, Volume I

Leadership requires us to confront challenges and use them as opportunities to strengthen our teams, improve customer service, and build better companies. Your National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG) is equally accountable to its members, addressing challenges in ways that benefit both our members and the chimney service industry.

By Debbie Wiedwald, President, National Chimney Sweep Guild

In recent months, NCSG has provided resources that Guild members can use to educate homeowners about companies whose business listings do not comply with Google’s guidelines, as well as potentially misleading inspection practices, services, and advertising.

Private equity’s growing interest in chimney service companies will continue to reshape the industry. Business leaders have added motivation to establish improvement goals, review financial performance more closely, and develop exit strategies that may or may not involve private equity investment. Vendors must also adapt to differences in how equity groups purchase compared with independently owned companies. As owners and investors evaluate businesses, the Guild will continue to educate its members about sound business practices and industry trends.

Government regulations, codes, and standards also have a significant effect on our businesses. Your Guild actively advocates for the chimney service industry and the homeowners we serve.

NCSG representatives contribute their expertise, communicate best practices, and ensure that our industry has a voice. As committee members prepare to complete their terms, additional volunteers are needed to maintain this important exchange of knowledge.

Mark your calendars for the 2027 NCSG Convention & Trade Show on April 6-10 in Hershey, Pennsylvania, where the Guild will celebrate its 50th anniversary. You will have many opportunities to expand your knowledge and network during convention.

I encourage you to read the articles in this issue and continue expanding your leadership skills. If you are interested in helping the Guild address the challenges facing our industry, please consider serving on a committee. Your experience, ideas, and leadership can make a meaningful difference. ■

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Leading From the Front: Leadership at Every Level

By Trent Simmons, Owner, Top Hat Chimney Sweeps

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t’s easy to view leadership as a title—a position reserved for business owners sitting back, managing logistics, and pointing people where to go. But true leadership doesn't happen from behind a desk, and it certainly isn't restricted to the owner's chair. I’ve always been a firm believer in leading from the front, and that is a mindset every single team member in every position can—and should— embrace.

Whether you are an owner, a master technician, an apprentice, or the voice answering the phones in the office, leadership isn't about authority over others.

It’s about accountability to yourself, your trade, and your team.

As an owner, you realize quickly that you don't get the luxury of privacy—everyone sees how you handle stress, treat people, and run your life. But the truth is, we all live in that glass house. Your crew members watch how you handle a tough flue repair; your fellow sweeps notice whether you cut corners when nobody’s looking; customers feel the energy you bring into their homes.

Leadership isn't something you turn on at 8:00 am and turn off when you pack up the truck. It’s holistic, showing up in six key areas: • Spiritual and Mental: Grounding yourself in strong core values so you handle high-pressure calls with composure, humility, and clarity • Physical: Respecting your health and bringing genuine energy and pride to the physical work we do every day • Personal and Financial: Living with discipline and stewardship and setting goals that lift your life outside of work • Professional: Owning your craft, pursuing education, and never asking a teammate to uphold a standard you wouldn't hold yourself to When we eliminate the myth that "only owners lead," the entire culture of a chimney business shifts. An apprentice who takes full ownership of keeping the truck safe and organized is leading. An office manager who turns a frustrated customer into a lifelong advocate is leading. A lead tech who takes extra time to mentor a rookie is leading.

Our industry doesn't need managers pointing from behind a desk. It needs leaders in every seat on the bus—people willing to step out front, set the standard in all aspects of life, and show everyone around them what’s truly possible. ■

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From the Archives

Pennsylvania's role in national guild history

By Bill Thornton, Owner, Wissahickon Chimney and Fireplace

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few months ago, I was at the Pennsylvania Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps’ Camp 93 for a rope class. I was serving as the chef for the event, which gave me a little time to rummage through boxes of old "PA Guild" publications.

Before websites, email, and social media, guild newsletters were how much of our industry stayed connected. Many guilds published them quarterly, documenting conventions, training events, industry changes, and the people who helped shape the profession.

One issue that caught my attention was the Summer 1990 edition, which included a recap by Susanne Dombrowski of the 1990 National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG) Convention & Trade Show, held in Philadelphia that May. Pennsylvania was proud to host sweeps from across the country at the Adams Mark Hotel for what Susanne described as the Guild’s most successful national convention to date. Attendees spent three days in technical and marketing seminars, and the sold-out trade show featured 52 exhibitors. The convention also included a “Midnight Madness” auction benefiting the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), social events, and the Recognition Banquet and Dance.

Reading through the recap, what struck me most was how familiar it all sounded. The names, locations, and technology have changed, but the reason people came together has not.

Susanne wrote that attendees left with a stronger commitment to the success and growth of both the industry and their individual businesses. More than 35 years later, that remains a big part of what brings us to an NCSG convention.

Susanne and her husband, Frank, were tremendous supporters of both the PA Guild and NCSG. Susanne served as president of CSIA and was also a recipient of the NCSG President’s Award. I hope you’ll have a chance to see the Dombrowskis in Hershey next April 6-10, 2027.

Pennsylvania has a long history of hosting chimney professionals, including PA Guild conventions, Northeast regional events, and national gatherings.

That makes Hershey a fitting location as NCSG celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2027.

As I continue digging through these old newsletters, I hope to share more stories about the people and events that helped build our national Guild, including quite a few with Pennsylvania connections.

There is a lot of history in those old boxes. With NCSG’s 50th anniversary approaching, this seems like a good time to bring some of it back to life. ■

Have an NCSG memory to share? Help us celebrate 50 years by sharing your stories, photos, and memories. Scan the QR code to share, or visit ncsg.org/ncsg-50th-anniversary-memory-collection

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A reprint of the 1990 Pennsylvania Guild of Professional Chimney Sweeps newsletter

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Certification Spotlight

Jesse Lockerbie A problem-solver strengthens his place in the chimney industry through NCSG certification

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Jesse Lockerbie began working in the chimney industry straight out of high school, but the path was not always part of his plan.

Jesse, now the owner of Clean Sweep 317 in Indianapolis, received scholarships to study mechanical engineering after spending much of middle school and high school involved in competitive robotics. Ultimately, he decided he did not want to spend another four to six years in school and turned to the trades instead.

He recognized that while robotics and software would continue to evolve, they would never eliminate the need for skilled tradespeople.

Jesse recently earned the National Chimney Sweep Guild’s (NCSG) Certified Chimney Professional (CCP) certification to strengthen his knowledge, understanding, and skills within the chimney and venting industry. He also sees certification as a way to reassure property owners that he is qualified to diagnose problems, educate customers, and recommend repair options for their chimney and hearth systems.

For those considering certification, Jesse points to the variety and opportunities available within the industry.

“You solve problems all day long, you see lots of new things, you meet really good people, and the industry itself is very niche which can provide wonderful opportunities,” he said.

He added, “The NCSG certification provides you confidence in your ability to perform accurate and professional inspections.”

Jesse's problem-solving background started long before his chimney career. Homeschooled from kindergarten through 12th grade, he competed with robotics team 323Z Aftershock, which won multiple state championships. He also coached and mentored his younger brothers’ team when it won the VEX World Championship in 2015. ■

Jesse Lockerbie, owner of Clean Sweep 317 in Indianapolis, recently earned his CCP certification through the NCSG.

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Inside Ncsg mentor connect

By Sydney Kaizer, Director of Marketing and Communications, National Chimney Sweep Guild

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he next Mentor Connect is set for Thursday, October 1 at 6:00 pm Eastern time, giving National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG) members another opportunity to talk through business challenges, compare experiences, and learn directly from others in the industry.

The virtual program, which is free for all NCSG member companies and their employees, is designed to be more conversation than presentation.

Rather than sitting through a formal class or lengthy slide deck, participants can bring questions, hear how other chimney professionals have handled similar situations, and share their own experiences with the group.

Each session includes featured mentors who help guide the discussion, along with moderator Katie Poole, but Mentor Connect is meant to be interactive. A newer business owner might come with a question about hiring, pricing, or managing growth. A more experienced owner may be thinking about succession planning or another major transition.

Managers and employees can also join to listen, ask questions, or offer a perspective from their own companies.

“There isn’t one format that fits every need,” said Kailah Schmitz, NCSG executive director. “Sometimes the industry needs technical training. Other times, people need a casual conversation with someone who has faced the same

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challenge. NCSG is focused on helping fill those gaps in ways that strengthen the industry as a whole.”

That approach is part of what sets Mentor Connect apart. The chimney industry offers plenty of opportunities for formal education, from technical training to convention sessions, but not every question needs a classroom. Sometimes the most useful answer comes from talking with another sweep who has already worked through it.

Those conversations can also play an important role in leadership.

Strong leaders keep asking questions, seek perspectives outside their own companies, and share what they have learned when it can help someone else.

Mentor Connect gives NCSG members a place to do all three.

The program is free and open to employees of NCSG member companies.

Sessions are held virtually via Zoom, making it easy to participate without travel. Advance registration is required to receive the Zoom link, and participants agree to confidentiality and antitrust statements. It's easy to register through our website at www.ncsg.org/mentorconnect-october-1.

Whether you arrive with a specific question, experience to share, or simply want to hear what other professionals are working through, the next conversation starts October 1. ■

"THERE ISN’T ONE FORMAT THAT FITS EVERY NEED. SOMETIMES THE INDUSTRY NEEDS TECHNICAL TRAINING. OTHER TIMES, PEOPLE NEED A CASUAL CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS FACED THE SAME CHALLENGE. NCSG IS FOCUSED ON HELPING FILL THOSE GAPS IN WAYS THAT STRENGTHEN THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE.” Kailah Schmitz

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INSURED & INFORMED Leadership Reduces Losses

By Gordon Sheucraft, Risk Advisor, SouthPoint Risk

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In any chimney or furnace business, leadership is not just about managing people. It directly shapes the kind of losses a company experiences, from property damage and bodily injury to customer disputes that can turn into expensive claims. The owner sets the tone for how work is performed, how risks are handled, and whether employees treat safety and documentation as part of every job or as an afterthought.

The connection between leadership and loss prevention starts with daily habits. When owners stress thorough inspections, clear work orders, and careful site protection, they reduce the chance of accidental damage to floors, walls, roofs, and mechanical systems. When those same owners cut corners, rush crews, or reward speed over accuracy, the business usually sees more mistakes and more complaints. In property and casualty insurance, that difference matters because small operational habits often become large claim problems later.

Bodily injury losses are also influenced by leadership behavior. A strong owner emphasizes training, personal protective equipment, ladder safety, fall protection, and hazard recognition. An owner may assume employees will “figure it out” or rely on experience alone. In a trade that involves heights, heat, dust, soot, tools, and confined spaces, that mindset can lead to serious injuries. Good leadership creates a workplace where workers stop and speak up when something looks unsafe, rather than pushing through to finish the job.

explained. Owners who train crews to communicate clearly, document findings, and set realistic expectations reduce the risk of misunderstandings.

When the customer knows what was inspected, what was cleaned, what was excluded, and what conditions already existed, the business is in a much better position if a disagreement arises.

Leadership also affects accountability after the job is done. Businesses with strong leadership review incidents, near misses, and complaints instead of ignoring them. That creates a learning culture.

Over time, the company gets better at spotting repeat problems, correcting weak procedures, and protecting its bottom line. Insurers tend to view that kind of operation more favorably because it shows a commitment to risk control, not just reaction after a loss.

For owners, the lesson is simple: leadership is a loss control tool. The way you train, supervise, communicate, and respond to mistakes will influence how often your business sees property damage, injury claims, and customer disputes. In a risky field, good leadership is one of the most effective ways to protect both people and profit. ■

Customer disputes are another area where leadership makes a measurable difference. Many claims do not begin with a dramatic accident; they begin with a disappointed customer who believes the work was incomplete, misrepresented, or poorly

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MARKETING UPDATE What Leadership and Marketing Have in Common

By Taylor Hill and Carter Harkins, FutureNow Marketing

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When a homeowner calls a chimney company, they're about to let a stranger enter their home and walk through their house where the kids and pets roam. That's a lot to ask of a first-time customer, and it points to something about the trade that's easy to overlook: a wrapped truck, a badge, and 20 years of experience don't automatically earn that trust.

The homeowner grants it, or doesn't, based on what they see, read, and hear.

The same holds true for the crew. An owner can hand out instructions on how a job gets done, how the truck gets loaded, and how techs should talk to customers. Whether those instructions get followed when the owner isn't on the jobsite is a separate matter, and it comes down to whether the crew believes in company leadership.

Giving an order and earning a crew that follows it without supervision are two totally different things.

That's the common thread between leading a chimney business and marketing one: trust can't be ordered, and it can't be bought. A title doesn't produce it, and neither does ad spend. An owner can require a tech to show up and can put the company name in front of a homeowner, but neither one produces belief.

The tech decides the company is worth working hard for, and the homeowner decides the work is worth the money. They decide to, or not to, choose you.

Leading a crew and winning customers turn out to be the same task underneath: earning something nobody is obligated to give.

Don’t Let the Numbers Fool You The hard part isn't earning trust so much as knowing whether you actually have it. This is where a lot of owners fool themselves, with the crew and with customers alike.

There's a convincing counterfeit. In marketing, it shows up as Facebook likes, follower counts, post views, and website hits. Figures that climb and feel like progress. On the crew side, it's the appearance of being busy: a big roster, trucks constantly rolling, long hours, and a shop that always looks slammed.

The problem is that all of it resembles trust closely enough to be mistaken for it. A thousand likes reads like a thousand customers; a packed schedule reads like a well-led company.

These numbers mislead in a specific way: they're comfortable. They give an owner something to point to, which makes it easy to skip the harder question of whether the work is actually paying off or whether anyone genuinely believes in the company.

A post with wide reach that books no jobs and a payroll full of technicians while the company loses money are two versions of the same misread: a visible number standing in for the thing that actually matters.

The Numbers That Matter The more useful figures are the ones tied to money and repeat behavior. On the marketing side: booked jobs, revenue, how many customers call back the next season (retention), how many refer a neighbor, and what a job is worth against the cost of landing it.

These move more slowly, are more difficult to get, and are less flattering, which is what makes them

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reliable. Likes indicate how many people saw a name; revenue indicates that someone trusted the company enough to pay.

Consistency compounds. The flashy number tends to disappear, and it can take the company's name down with it if you can’t support the claim.

Real trust tends to cost the other person something, be it a paid invoice, return call, or referral. It’s the purchase that makes it a dependable signal.

What Industry Leaders Have in Common

Leading a company has its own version of the same measure. Does the work get done right the first time or come back as a callback? Do good technicians stay, or does the company churn through people every season? Does the work hold up when the owner isn’t on site?

These are slow and hard to fake, and they tend to show up in the day-to-day rather than on a dashboard. A callback and a good tech quitting are both signs that someone stopped following the leader.

In both cases, if the number is easy to inflate, it is rarely the one that matters. The one that matters only moves when trust is real.

Consistency Wins If trust can't be ordered, bought, or faked with a good-looking number, what builds it is consistency over time. A solid reputation in a town is essentially years of steady, predictable work adding up.

Customers call because the company has been the same, job after job, long enough that they know what to expect before the truck pulls in. Showing up on time, leaving the house clean, charging what was quoted, and doing the work right adds a little bit to the “trust” account, until, over time, the name alone starts bringing in work.

That isn't something that can be purchased; it accumulates one job at a time. It also travels; a homeowner who trusts the company mentions it to a neighbor, and that word carries more weight than any ad because it's coming from someone who has nothing to sell.

Put simply, trust is earned, faked, or lost. What separates those outcomes is whether a company has the patience for consistency or the pull toward the bragable number of the day is needed to satisfy the ego.

If looked at closely, the companies leading the industry tend to share a pattern. Their reputation wasn't handed to them; it was earned over the years, either through the discipline to avoid shortcuts or the experience of getting burned early enough to learn why shortcuts don't pay.

That discipline runs through the whole company and stays consistent. The same standard that applies to the owner applies to the newest hire. And they track the numbers that reflect money and trust rather than the feel-good ones.

Despite what you may think, none of it is by accident, and it doesn’t happen fast. "Overnight success" takes a lot of years.

The great leaders also understand that bringing in customers runs the same road. No marketing tactic outperforms a company that people trust, no ad outruns a bad job, and no number of likes makes payroll.

A customer's trust is earned the same way crew trust is: by being honest, dependable, consistent, and worth believing in, job after job, day after day.

Trust is never handed over blindly. It is earned, or not. ■

Consistency is what turns a single satisfied customer into a stream of them.

Crew trust works the same way. It comes from being predictable in the ways that count. The leader adheres to the same standards on a slow Tuesday as a busy Friday, decisions the crew can see coming because they understand what the leader values.

It isn't flashy, and it's mostly boring and repetitive, but it can be taken to the bank every time. It's also the opposite of the shortcut in every practical way: slow instead of quick, invisible on any given day instead of immediately satisfying, and durable instead of hollow.

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COACH'S CORNER You Don't Rise to the Occasion

By Darin Bibeau, CEO/Owner, National Chimney

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One lesson I've carried with me throughout my life is this: you don't rise to the occasion; you fall back on your preparation. It's a lesson I learned long before I entered the chimney industry, and it's one that's proven true time and time again.

Whether you're responding to a challenge, leading a team through change, or making a tough business decision, success rarely comes from a moment of inspiration. More often, it's the result of the habits, discipline, and preparation you've built long before the opportunity—or challenge—arrives. That's why I believe leadership starts long before anyone is watching.

It's easy to lead when business is booming, the phones are ringing, and everything is going according to plan. The true test of leadership comes when things get difficult. That's when your team looks to you for confidence, direction, and consistency. In those moments, people don't need someone who has all the answers. They need someone who's prepared.

Preparation isn't just about planning. It's about creating a culture that values learning, improvement, and accountability every single day. One way I've tried to build that culture is through clearly defined core values. I was introduced to that concept during my military service, where values weren't just words on a wall—they were expectations that guided every decision. That lesson stayed with me throughout my career. Whether your company has five employees or 50, your core values should serve as the standard for how your team treats customers, works together, and makes decisions when no one is watching.

Skills can be taught. Character has to be modeled.

The best companies I know never assume they've arrived. They stay curious. They ask questions. They

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listen to customers. They look for ways to improve, even when things are going well. That's not because something is broken; it's because good leaders know that standing still is rarely an option.

One of the biggest mistakes leaders make is believing they have to be the smartest person in the room. I've found the opposite to be true.

Some of the best ideas I've ever heard came from technicians in the field, conversations at industry events, or employees willing to share an honest opinion. Leadership is about creating an environment where people feel comfortable sharing them. If your team knows you'll listen, they'll bring you ideas. If your customers know you'll listen, they'll tell you how to become better. Those conversations are invaluable.

Another principle I've learned is that discipline will always outlast motivation. Motivation comes and goes. We all have good days and bad days.

Discipline is what keeps you moving forward when the excitement wears off.

The businesses that continue to grow aren't always the ones with the biggest budgets or the flashiest ideas. More often, they're the ones that consistently do the little things well. They invest in training. They prepare their people. They refine their processes.

They keep learning, day after day and year after year.

Eventually, people look at those companies and call them "overnight successes." But anyone who's been around long enough knows there are no overnight successes. There are only years of preparation that finally become visible.

I also believe one of the greatest responsibilities we have as leaders is developing other leaders.

Products evolve. Technology changes. Markets shift. People are what make a business successful.

One of the most rewarding parts of leadership is watching someone on your team grow in confidence, take on new responsibilities, and become someone others can depend on. That's how strong companies are built.

The chimney industry has been built by hardworking professionals who take pride in their craft. If we continue to combine that work ethic with curiosity, innovation, and a commitment to developing others, our industry's best days are still ahead.

Leadership isn't about protecting what you've already built. It's about preparing yourself—and your team—for what's next. Because when the next opportunity comes, you won't rise to the occasion.

You'll fall back on your preparation. ■

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UPCOMING EVENTS Mentor Connect October 1, 2026 at 6:00 pm ET | Virtual (Google Meet) Mentor Connect is a free virtual program where NCSG members and their employees can ask questions, share experiences and learn from other chimney professionals.

Visit ncsg.org/training-and-events/event-calendar to find more Guild and industry events

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REGIONAL UPDATE Task Force Integrity

By Brett Conklin, At-Large Director, National Chimney Sweep Guld

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In May, the National Chimney Sweep Guild (NCSG) Board of Directors voted to form Task Force Integrity, a coalition effort to address a plague spreading across the industry: companies with no real connection to our trade using fake Google Business listings and misleading practices to book jobs they’re not qualified to do.

AT-LARGE

Task Force Integrity’s mission is to help coordinate efforts across the industry and give us a solid vehicle to get through to the various powers that can actually do something about it: state regulators, enforcement agencies, and consumer protection offices. All of it centers on the same target: these fraudulent Google listings and the networks behind most of them, since that’s where much of the harm to consumers starts.

Since May, that’s meant building a solid foundation for the work: putting together a coalition brief outlining the issue, compiling a consumer fraud reporting guide covering all 50 states and D.C., filing complaints with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center and the Federal Trade Commission, and sending individualized letters to attorneys general in the states where we’ve identified the highest concentration of fraudulent listings so far. Each letter lays out the situation and asks the appropriate enforcement team to take a closer look.

Members have also continued reporting these listings to Google directly. While that effort has had some mild success, it takes real time and effort on top of running a business, and it doesn’t fix the root of the problem.

There’s more to come. We’ll keep expanding this outreach and looking for ways to make it easier for both members and homeowners to recognize the difference between a legitimate sweep and a scam operation. ■

S E P T E M B E R 2026

25

NEW CERTIFICATIONS

26

NCSG SWEEPING MAGAZINE

from July 2026

Austin Luczak Northeastern Masonry & Chimney

Francisco Cruz Northeastern Masonry & Chimney

Brenda Peck Northeastern Masonry & Chimney

George Odom Northeastern Masonry & Chimney

Craig Dragon Northeastern Masonry & Chimney

Joshua Shear Northeastern Masonry & Chimney

David Dragon Northeastern Masonry & Chimney

Dylan Yates Environmental Chimney Service, Inc.

2026-2027 Board of Directors President; Region 4 Director

Region 6 Director

Blackburn’s Chimney Sweeps debbie@blackburnschimney.com

Professional Chimney Sweep prochimneymichaele@gmail.com

Debbie Wiedwald

Michaele Dempsey

Vice President; At-Large Director

At-Large Director

Smalling Masonry gary.smalling@smallingmasonry.com

Done Right Chimney cory@donerightchimney.com

Gary Smalling

Cory McGill

Treasurer; Region 1 Director

At-Large Director

Hudson Valley Chimney Service rmurphy@hudsonvalleychimney.com

Chimney Monkey brett@chimneymonkey.com

Robby Murphy

Brett Conklin

Secretary; Region 3 Director

At-Large Director

Chimspector drew@chimspector.com

Lords Chimney leeroff@lordschimney.com

Drew Stein

Lee Roff

Region 2 Director

At-Large Supplier Representative

D.J. Cross/Cross Break Sheet Metal jon@djcrossinc.com

KW DRAFT brianb@rmmanifold.com

Jonathan Cross

Brian Barclay

Region 5 Director

Roland Perez

AAA Home Services and Aaron's Chimney Services roland@myaaahomeservices.com

2026-2027 Committee Chairs Advocacy

Ethics

Membership

Blackburn’s Chimney Sweeps

AAA Home Services

Professional Chimney Sweep

Debbie Wiedwald

Roland Perez

Michaele Dempsey

Bylaws

Events

NFPA 211; NFPA 54

Chimney Monkey

KW DRAFT

SureFire Training Academy

Brett Conklin

Brian Barclay

Jim Brewer

Certification

Governance

NFPA 31; Tech. Advisory Council

Total Chimney Care

Chimspector

Fireside Sweeps

Steve Sobczak

Drew Stein

Steve Scally

Education

Marketing

UL 1390; UL 1391

Smalling Masonry

Lords Chimney

Freeman Fire

Gary Smalling Cory McGill

Done Right Chimney

Lee Roff

Brett Conklin

Dan Freeman

Chimney Monkey

S E P T E M B E R 2026

27

National Chimney Sweep Guild 1255 SW Prairie Trail Parkway Ankeny, Iowa 50023-7068