Dear Everyone,
Over the last couple days, you've all been able to see the pictures from Reno and have gotten to hear some of the stories. Although I have only touched the tip of the iceburg here, I hope it's obvious how much this all meant to me. For my entire life, I've known this was what I wanted to do. I've always been fascinated with fire, stoves, firewood as well as designing things and fabricating with metal. For many people, it seems very odd that someone at my age not only knows what they want to do for the rest of their life, but also that the hearth industry is that career. I read patents, manufacturers brouchures, installation manuals, instruction manuals and any other possible source for Hearth related information.
I'm mentioning these things to show how important this trip to Reno was for me. Never in my life have I been able to be around so many people with my interests, albeit probably not to the same extent as me. I've never met presidents of companies, stove designers that I look up to, and hundreds of other wonderful people part of the industry that I care about so much. On top of that, I've never been known for anything. At this show, people were coming to me, telling me they had heard my story, heard about the donor program, heard about what all of you had done for me, etc. Some companies even told me they had talked about me numerous times and were fascinated with my interest and dedication to the hearth industry.
None of this could have been possible without every one of you. It doesn't matter if you gave money, I'm here because of all of you. All of you that have read my posts, set me straight when I was wrong or even learned a thing or two. All of you that gave money so that a poor college kid with a poor family could travel to another state and live three days in a dream. I don't mean to dramatize the trip, but really, I have never had three better days in my entire life. Between the stoves, the people, the burning displays, talking with the big wigs of the companies, getting more donor stoves and more donor pipe, the parties, the Vesta Awards, spending time with Craig, Thomas, Trevor, Ryan, Richard, Rod and anyone else who I'm forgetting, these were the three most memorable days of my life.
So, in closing, I just want to extend one more big thank to you everyone. Thanks for donated money so I could go. Thanks for listening to me. Thanks for helping with resumes and business cards. Thanks for sending funds and materials that make the donor program possible.
HUGE special thanks to Craig for setting everything up for me, show me around, telling some great stories, and putting me in touch with almost every important person I know in the industry.
Another HUGE special thanks to Thomas for taking me out to dinner mlutiple times, shuttling me around, and putting up with me over an extended period of time.
I hope that wherever I end up after I graduate from school, I can design products and innovations that will make every one of you proud.
And someday, when I'm up on that Vesta stage receiving that award, I'll be thinking of every one of you.
With the utmost gratitude for all of you,
Corie Podschelne
Over the last couple days, you've all been able to see the pictures from Reno and have gotten to hear some of the stories. Although I have only touched the tip of the iceburg here, I hope it's obvious how much this all meant to me. For my entire life, I've known this was what I wanted to do. I've always been fascinated with fire, stoves, firewood as well as designing things and fabricating with metal. For many people, it seems very odd that someone at my age not only knows what they want to do for the rest of their life, but also that the hearth industry is that career. I read patents, manufacturers brouchures, installation manuals, instruction manuals and any other possible source for Hearth related information.
I'm mentioning these things to show how important this trip to Reno was for me. Never in my life have I been able to be around so many people with my interests, albeit probably not to the same extent as me. I've never met presidents of companies, stove designers that I look up to, and hundreds of other wonderful people part of the industry that I care about so much. On top of that, I've never been known for anything. At this show, people were coming to me, telling me they had heard my story, heard about the donor program, heard about what all of you had done for me, etc. Some companies even told me they had talked about me numerous times and were fascinated with my interest and dedication to the hearth industry.
None of this could have been possible without every one of you. It doesn't matter if you gave money, I'm here because of all of you. All of you that have read my posts, set me straight when I was wrong or even learned a thing or two. All of you that gave money so that a poor college kid with a poor family could travel to another state and live three days in a dream. I don't mean to dramatize the trip, but really, I have never had three better days in my entire life. Between the stoves, the people, the burning displays, talking with the big wigs of the companies, getting more donor stoves and more donor pipe, the parties, the Vesta Awards, spending time with Craig, Thomas, Trevor, Ryan, Richard, Rod and anyone else who I'm forgetting, these were the three most memorable days of my life.
So, in closing, I just want to extend one more big thank to you everyone. Thanks for donated money so I could go. Thanks for listening to me. Thanks for helping with resumes and business cards. Thanks for sending funds and materials that make the donor program possible.
HUGE special thanks to Craig for setting everything up for me, show me around, telling some great stories, and putting me in touch with almost every important person I know in the industry.
Another HUGE special thanks to Thomas for taking me out to dinner mlutiple times, shuttling me around, and putting up with me over an extended period of time.
I hope that wherever I end up after I graduate from school, I can design products and innovations that will make every one of you proud.
And someday, when I'm up on that Vesta stage receiving that award, I'll be thinking of every one of you.
With the utmost gratitude for all of you,
Corie Podschelne
