The 2009 NAHI National Education Conference will feature the industry's best speakers.  Below you'll find a brief biography for each of our presenters.

Tom Feiza, Tom Feiza - Mr. Fix-It Inc., New Berlin, WI
Session: Write It Up -- Describe That Defect

Tom is a registered professional engineer (PE, BSME) with over 35 years of construction, home inspection and engineering management experience. He is known as "Mr. Fix-It" to loyal readers, callers to his weekly radio show, viewers for his TV appearances and audiences at home shows and conventions.  But during the week, Tom Feiza is a home inspector with over 17 years and 6,000 inspections under his belt.  He has published books on home repair and operation: How To Operate Your Home, Home Journal, Home Systems Guide, Basic Home Systems, Home Systems Illustrated, My Home, My Home Mi Casa, and Just Fix It.  His radio call-in show on AM620 WTMJ draws in over 45,000 listeners each hour.  Tom has made numerous technical presentations for home inspectors at national conventions and for local groups.  He works as an expert witness with construction issues and water problems.

John Pratten, Fluke Corporation, Plymouth, MN
Session:  Finding Energy & Weatherization issues of Residential and Industrial facilities with Thermal Imagers

John Pratten is an ANST compliant, Level II trained thermographer with Fluke Corporation. He conducts training for customers, including a number of fortune 500 companies, in the fundamentals of IR and how to set up quality Predictive Maintenance programs to maximize their program investments.  He also performs thermography work and training in building science including working closely with and training various State Agencies involved with projects to improve the quality of Low Income Housing. John has applied for a patent in the area of IR.  Prior to Fluke, John worked for Motorola Semiconductor for 19 years in a variety of sales and management positions.  He has been a 25 year member of the Technical Advisory Board for his local Technical College. John has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration, specifically Airport Management.

Steve Preins, Quality Education Group, Inc., Lombard, IL
Sessions: Plumbing Inspection Tune Up and The Inspection Process From A to Z

With a no-nonsense "tell it like it is" presentation style, Steve has attracted a following of home inspectors throughout the Midwest and across the nation. As Director of Education and Training for Quality Education Group, Inc. as well as ProStar Academy, Steve provides home inspection primary training and continuing education at many seminars, chapter meetings and conferences each year, as well as technical support and consulting services for home inspection companies. Quality Education Group provides state licensed online continuing education for home inspectors in 15 states. Steve has personally performed thousands of residential and commercial inspections and radon measurements, and has helped hundreds of individuals to successfully begin their home inspection careers. Steve has a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management, with over 30 years experience in residential and commercial inspection and construction. Steve built and sold a very successful multi-inspector firm in the Chicago area and was Managing Partner of Inspection Training Associates -- Chicago. He has been extensively involved in home inspection professional association leadership and received the 2002 American Society of Home Inspectors President's award. 

Drew Finn, P.E., Finn & Associates Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Session: The Body Language of a House Structure

Drew's background includes a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University and ME in Mechanical Engineering from RPI.  In addition, he has completed over 700 hours of AHSI approved continuing education credits.  Drew is President of Finn & Associates Consulting Engineers, Inc.  He is also a professional home inspector with 25 years of experience having completed over 12,000 home inspections.  Drew is a member of the following organizations: NAHI, ASHI, InterNACHI, IAEI (International Association of Electrical Inspectors ) and ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers). 
 

John Pilger, Chief Chimney Services, Smithtown, NY
Session: Chimney Evaluations -- Common Code Violations

John 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).  John 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 CSIA Certification committee (Co- Chairman), Re- Certification committee (Vice-Chairman), Affiliated Trades committee and also serves on the Technical committee of the National Chimney Sweep Guild and the New York State Chimney Sweep Guild. He is an instructor for the CSIA and the National Fireplace Institute (NFI).  He is CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep, CSIA Certified Dryer Exhaust Technician, NFI Certified Wood 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. 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.