Home Office Team
Byron Schramm – Founder, Chairman
Midtown Chimney Sweeps Franchising exists today largely because of the vision and perseverance of Byron Schramm. His family, which has lived in Antelope Valley, CA for five generations, boasts aptitude for construction and farming. Byron has earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Mathematics from The Master’s University in Santa Clarita, CA. An entrepreneur at heart, he started three businesses before age 18 and filed for a provisional US Patent on an invention at age 21. He holds a provisional utility patent on a smart phone app for the hearth industry, a license for sailplane aircraft, and two classifications of California and Colorado contractor licenses. A world traveler since his youth, Schramm has spent time in Alaska, Syria, Denmark, Sweden, Australia, and New Zealand. Not to mention, he has visited Switzerland twice… with just a backpack and a low budget.
Byron has proven adept at dealing with failures. For example, he refused to be overwhelmed during the 2007 downturn in the US economy. In April of that year, Byron shifted his attention from the real estate and construction market to the hearth industry and adopted the name Midtown Chimney Sweeps from a hearth business before his. The new enterprise sprang to life with the integration of technology, systems, uniforms, and other best practices. Byron recognizes that the hearth industry must deliver quality customer service. Now that the Midtown Sweeps Dealer Service Network is a successful reality, coupled with the fact that local dealers often suffer unpleasant turnover rates, Midtown’s president may assert that he has uncovered a “blue-ocean strategy” in the chimney sweeping market.
Brandon Hewitt – Vice President
Brandon has been with Midtown since 2020 and is currently our Franchise Business Coach. He draws on his experience as a business owner, as well as his recent knowledge of our industry, to help owners solve problems and set/reach their goals. In his free time you’ll find him in the Denver area, almost certainly with his velcro dog Lemon.
Christina Smith – Franchise Development/Marketing Manager
Christina joins the Midtown team from over a decade of customer service, marketing, and sales and has been a part of the franchising community for 10 plus years. She has worked side by side and learned from worldwide brands and collaborated at countless roundtables, seminars, and networks. Working to build Midtown Chimney outreach and to support the franchise system with digital marketing and growth, Christina brings innovation, transparency and a ready smile. A lifelong lover of the outdoors, Christina spends her free time with her son, camping, hiking, and traveling as much as possible.
Sue Ronnenkamp – Operations Support
Sue has had a rich, accomplished, and results-oriented career in aging services and health care, with earned expertise in developing new niche services, products, resources, and marketing approaches. Today she’s no longer on the career fast track, but is greatly enjoying this part time job and this opportunity to support Midtown operations in any and all ways needed!
Sue came on board with Midtown in December of 2021. Her responsibilities include running all the weekly and monthly management and franchise reports, handling the Royalties payment processing, and ensuring things like franchise insurance coverage and certifications are up to date. She loves the challenge of making systems improvements and has already streamlined many of the tasks she’s responsible for – along with developing a brand new Operations Support Procedures Manual, so all steps are down on paper for anyone to understand and follow. Sue also helps and supports other Home Office Team members as needed, assisting with special projects and other operations improvements.
Sue has a B.S. degree in Business Administration and a Master’s Degree in Hospital and Health Care Administration. Outside of Midtown, she continues to expand her own AgeTHRIVE work (teaching, coaching, writing) and offer her expertise, experience and wisdom around aging and retiring well – and making the most of the later chapters of life. She also loves getting out in nature in her new and beautiful home state of Colorado, gym workouts, jigsaw puzzles, movies, and spending time with friends.
Mikaela Talbot – Scheduling Center Manager
Mikaela has a B.S in Psychology and has an extensive background working in customer service and sales. Outside of work, Mikaela loves to stay active by going to the gym and hiking with her two dogs.
Kristen Myers – Scheduling Center Representative
Kristen graduated from State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. She moved around the country for a while working forestry field jobs before starting her career with Midtown!
Brianna Gomes – Scheduling Center Representative
Brianna brings 10 years of customer service and scheduling experience to our team! She enjoys hiking, kayaking, and finding unique restaurants with her husband. When she isn’t with her family, she can be found antique shopping or starting a new art project.
3rd Party Vendors/Advisors
Kyle Taggart – Creative Talent and Webmaster
Kyle is a creative artist and entrepreneur in the design industry, with more than 9 years of experience as a marketing specialist and web developer, and over 12 years of graphic design experience. Owner and founder of Tag Team Design, Kyle is a consultant for Midtown Chimney Sweeps. In his free-time, he enjoys a good series on Netflix, sometimes binge watching an entire season in one sitting! To add some more excitement to his life, he is an avid snowboarder, golfer, and tennis player who sometimes gets too competitive. Most days, you can find him working at his computer for too many hours at a time!
Teresa Lindberg, CPA – Accountant
Teresa has over 15 years of accounting and business experience. She graduated from Colorado State University, and spent time as an auditor at Deloitte & Touche, gaining her CPA certification in Colorado before moving into the private industry. She spent a number of years leading the financial analysis and forecasting function for a Fortune 500 company. Over the past several years, she has led accounting and finance roles at several small companies ranging in size from start-up to 200 employees. Her focus is on developing financial literacy, discipline, and support in each company she is part of. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two boys, and volunteers at her son’s elementary school. We are grateful for all the amazing money perspectives she brings to the company. She treats her work like an artist treats her paintings. And every P&L and Balance Sheet is a Monet.