Contributor Spotlight: Jeff Harper

Jeff Harper has been the Co-Owner of Hot Stuff Hearth & Home for the last eight years. His journey began when he and his wife discovered that a hearth store was for sale in Steamboat Springs, Colorado—a place they loved to vacation. With a sense of adventure and a bit of money in their pockets, they decided to purchase the business, finding the opportunity both promising and fun.

Before venturing into the hearth industry, Jeff built an extensive career in various fields. He worked at Henna Chevrolet in Austin, Texas from 1997 to 2003, then moved on to Lone Star Forestry in Conroe, Texas from 2004 to 2010. He later joined Jet Oil Producers in Coldspring, Texas from 2010 to 2015. His diverse professional background laid a solid foundation for his success in the hearth industry.

When asked what advice he would offer to others in the industry, Jeff emphasized the importance of personal investment: “Invest in yourself! Spend several years in the field installing and doing service work. Shake hands and meet people that are in the industry as well. Be willing to do as much as you can in the beginning to make a name for yourself. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes in front of others. I’ve spent a lot of money fixing things I messed up, and I learned something from each dollar spent.” He also highlighted the value of having a business coach, sharing that his own coach has been a friend and mentor—and sometimes a tough critic—for the past six years.

Outside of work, Jeff enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Jennifer, who he describes as his best friend. They both love camping and riding dirt bikes, pedal bikes, and Jennifer’s RZR. On fall weekends, they like to tailgate at University of Wyoming football games. Jeff has been part of the sober community since March 5, 2017, and he’s also a men’s group leader at his church, Steamboat Christian Center. Jennifer is very active in the sober community and local church as well, and she works part-time at a local faith-based pregnancy crisis center as a sonographer. Jeff and Jennifer have two children, Grace (20) and Philip (15), whose birthdays are five years and one day apart. Grace is a junior at the University of Wyoming, and Philip is a sophomore at Steamboat Springs High School.

In short, Jeff’s dedication to the hearth industry, his willingness to learn from every experience, and his commitment to his family and community make him an outstanding contributor. Thanks for sharing your wisdom and insight with us, Jeff. The entire Fire Time team is glad you joined our industry!