Approximately 100 industry professionals gathered May 4 at the Mid-Atlantic HPBA Annual Conference in Hershey, Pennsylvania, to exchange ideas, strengthen industry connections, and gain practical business insights through a full day of education and discussion.
The conference began with a Welcome Reception, giving attendees an opportunity to connect with peers, exhibitors, and industry partners before a full day of programming. This year’s event featured a keynote presentation by Dan Antonelli of KickCharge Creative, along with interactive training sessions, workshops, and roundtable discussions designed to provide practical business insights and encourage peer-to-peer learning. Attendees also gathered for a membership lunch, where awards were presented in recognition of standout contributions to the association.
“We had great turnout at our new location in Hershey, and attendees got to learn from some amazing speakers,” said Jonathan Williams, Executive Director of MAHPBA. “For me, the highlight of the day was our retailer roundtable, where members were able to share best practices and discuss issues impacting their daily business.”
Organizers intentionally shifted the educational format this year, offering fewer sessions with longer blocks of time to encourage deeper discussion and greater interaction between attendees and presenters. This approach enabled participants to engage more fully with the material and leave with practical strategies they could apply in their businesses.
Educational sessions covered branding and marketing, government affairs, technical training, workplace safety, digital marketing, and legislative and regulatory issues affecting the hearth industry. Technical presentations explored SIT and Dexen systems, while retailer roundtable discussions gave attendees an opportunity to exchange ideas and share solutions with peers.
