The Future of Our Industry is Human

Fireplaces have shifted from optional feature to buyer expectation - creating measurable value for contractors and builders who plan for them strategically. In this episode, Mike Swanson, Director of Segment Marketing at Hearth & Home Technologies, shares insights into how rising consumer demand across price points presents an opportunity to use fireplace solutions as tools for differentiation, margin protection, and emotional impact.

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This nuanced conversation explores the evolving meaning of luxury through multiple industry perspectives, featuring Devoree Axelrod, General Manager at AJ Madison, alongside industry expert Jill Cohen, Editor-in-Chief, Luxe Interiors + Design.

Luxury can be expensive, but it can also be subtle, practical, or deeply personal. Sometimes it’s about choice, sometimes restraint, sometimes the way a space or product simply works better for you. Through thoughtful discussion, the episode examines how luxury shows up in appliances and design—through performance, comfort, longevity, and everyday ease—and why it resonates differently for everyone over time.
 

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AI is moving fast, and our industry is trying to keep pace. Most designers, builders, and architects already know they need to bring AI into their workflow—but the big question is how to adopt it without losing the craft, the communication, and the connection that make projects successful. In this session, Jodi Peterman and Jenna Gaidusek open an honest conversation about where AI truly supports the work: organizing information, reducing repetitive tasks, and freeing teams to focus on human insight and decision-making. It’s a practical look at finding the balance - not choosing sides - as our tools evolve.