8:00am - 12:30pm

PFI Annual Golf Tournament
Elevate your golf game at the Stowe Mountain Resort! Stowe is New England's Premiere 36 Hole Golf Destination. The blending of elevation changes and risk-reward shot making makes Stowe Mountain Course an experience that will demand your best effort.  

See the difference at Stowe Mountain Resort Golf

12:30pm - 2:00pm

Break

2:00pm - 5:30pm

PFI Board of Directors Meeting

6:00pm - 8:00pm

Come visit and network with our exhibitors and enjoy some light hor d'oeuvres.

7:30am - 8:30am

Networking Breakfast

8:30am - 9:00am

Conference Opening & Introductions
Chris Amey, Rentech & Chairman of PFI

9:00am - 9:30am

Update on PFI Standards Program
Chris Wiberg, Lab Director at Timber Products Inspection/Biomass Energy Lab
This presentation will provide an update as to the current status as well as anticipated up and coming changes to the PFI Standards Program. 

9:30am - 10:30am

David Crow, DCLRS
Come listen to David's informed (and funny) take on what’s happening on the beltway representing one of the top full-service government relations practices in DC.

10:30am - 11:00am

Networking Break

11:00am - 12:00pm

Regional Report -  Consequences and Opportunities
Stan Elliot, Pacific Coast Pellets
Stephen Faehner,  American Wood Fibers
Mark Wilson, New England Wood Pellets

US pellet producers have witnessed wild swings in retail sales over the past 2-3 years. In this panel, regional pellet producers will address the consequences and opportunities they are currently facing. 

• Who are the key retailers in your region, and how are they promoting wood pellets?
• Are some retailers growing their sales, while others are losing business market share? What type retailers, and why?
• How are regional pellet producers dealing with the wild production swings created by unusual weather patterns?
• Are pellet producers trying any new marketing or merchandising ideas to create additional sales?
• Are pellet producers introducing new products to keep their plants operating?
• How do key retailers in your region react to oversupply or shortages during a heating season?

12:00pm - 1:30pm

Lunch

1:30pm - 2:30pm

Legislative Report 
Pat Rita, Principle at Orion Advocates

2:30pm - 3:30pm

Retailers/Appliance Panel
Bruce Lisle, CEO,  Energex Wood Pellets                                                           
Dean Michanczyk, Owner,  Dean’s Stove and Spa, Plantsville, CT
John Shimek, Hearth and Home Technologies

The only thing predictable about a pellet heating season is that they are unpredictable! From the extremely high level of demands in 2013/2014 to the extreme slow-down of 2015/2016, the pellet market has been through big changes in the market landscape over the past few years. This panel will be looking at how this major shift has effected each level of the supply chain from stove manufacturers and pellet manufacturers, to the hearth retailer themselves. We will be discussing not only the effect on the domestic residential market for pellets, but how companies have had to shift into other markets as well as diversify their business models to Ride The Wave of demand!

3:30pm - 4:00pm

Networking Break

4:00pm - 5:00pm

John Arsenault, Pellet Group Director Quebec Wood Export at WPAC
Dr. Bill Strauss, President at FutureMetrics, LLC 
Seth Walker, Sr. Economist and Director of Business Development at FutureMetrics, LLC

5:00pm - 5:30pm

Free Time

5:30pm - 6:30pm

Cocktail Reception

6:30pm - 9:30pm

PFI Dinner Event

7:30am - 8:30am

Networking Breakfast

8:30am - 9:00am

PFI  Annual Membership Meeting and Announcement of Officers 

9:00am - 10:30am

Harry "Dutch" Dresser, Maine Energy Systems

10:30am - 11:00am

Conference Closing Remarks & Door Prizes