Elevate Your Chief Architect & Design Business Skills

Your 2025 "Total Immersion Summit" Hosts

We are all set to take great care of you before, during, and after your stay at the Black Stallion. Our commitment to you includes help planning your travels, top-notch training, excellent food, relaxing and stress-free accommodations, networking with other Chief Architect users, and continued involvement after the event.

Dan Baumann

President, Chief Experts

With more than 30 years of experience using and teaching Chief Architect, Dan is highly qualified to guide you to the best practices needed to complete your building plans and models using this software. His 20 years of experience as a remodeling contractor also give him insights into what it takes to run a successful design-build construction company.

Dan's passion for maximizing the compensation you receive for your design services helps ensure that your design sales become the profit center of your business that you desire.

John Schrader

Owner, Imagine Drafting & Design

John has been involved in the residential remodeling and building industry for 35 years and has used Chief Architect in his business for over 17 years.

He loves to teach, and his expertise in the building industry equips him to help others use Chief Architect effectively.

John will assist and share his passion and insights into how Chief works for him and how you can use it to improve your business.

Robin Rigby Fisher

CMKBD/CAPS/CLIPS

Robin R. Fisher is a Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer (CMKBD) and Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS).

She is a speaker and educator with the National Kitchen and Bath Association, and her award-winning designs have been featured in multiple local, national trade, and consumer magazines. She is also an instructor and program manager at the Portland Community College and teaches Chief Architect and Kitchen and Bath Design courses.

Rene Rabbitt

President Rabbitt Design

As a 3rd generation General Contractor with two decades of design experience in the digital and architectural arts, Rene is a well-known Architectural Technician in the 3D software and training community.

Rene loves digging deep into Chief Architect, getting it to work in ways no one ever imagined. His methods of workflow improvements, automated tasks, design approach, and much more help his clients create better plans with less effort.

Kevin Transue

The Art Of Design

Kevin is one of the most outstanding designers ever to grace our presence, who mystifies his associates, delights his clients, and frustrates his competitors with his brilliance. He has graciously accepted our invitation to share his vast wisdom at the Summit in one-on-one sessions and as part of our group mastermind gatherings. Kevin will show you how he dazzles his clients with hand sketches and, as a master of Chief Architect, masterfully completes full working drawings. Get ready for some WOW!

Judy Transue

Small Business Expert

Meet Judy, your "All About Business" expert with extensive small business experience. She provides practical advice for streamlined Production and Project Management, excelling in Construction Management software like CoConstruct and JobTread.

In the Design/Build industry for over two decades, Judy managed a residential design-build company. She chaired NARI-Kansas City and holds certifications in Project Management and Universal Design. As one of few women with NARI's Certified Remodeler designation, her insights on "How to Succeed as a Woman in Construction" are invaluable.

Linda, Patti, Mary, Doug, and Avis

"Come For The Food; Stay For The Training"

Linda, Mary, and Doug are Dan's siblings, Avis is Doug's wife, and Patti is John's wife. Together they are committed to making sure every minute of your stay has a smile attached to it. 

Come prepared to eat well, play some card games and laugh.

All you have to do is show up, and we'll take care of the rest!

What is "Immersion" training?
Sounds like a dip in a pool. Rest assured, you won't get wet unless you decide to hop into the whirlpool. The bottom line is you'll be immersed in learning about Chief Architect and how to make more money in your design business from when you arrive to when you leave.

Where is this training event located?
We'll meet at the fabulous Black Stallion, 599 Laughing Gull Ct, Corolla, NC 27927 (Google Maps). This 24-bedroom, luxurious event center is where you'll be immersed in a grand lifestyle for the week. We'll also have additional accommodations at the Sea Glass, a six-bedroom house 300 feet from the Black Stallion. 

What's up with rooms #30 and Sea Salt #1 and #2, which have multiple beds and a shared bath?
These rooms are shared, meaning you will be sharing the room with someone you may not know. Who registers for this room first will determine if the room will be available for only guys or gals. Unless you're part of the same family, we won't offer this as a co-ed option. $4,250 Each. (Call Dan at 952-451-9911 with questions)

What Happens After I Register For This Event?
We will direct you to a members area at ChiefExperts.com, where we'll post information and content for the event. In January/February 2025, we'll contact everyone about joining Dan for a  30-minute discovery meeting to discuss this event and get answers to any questions you may have. These calls will take place in January and February 2024. If you have any questions before that, feel free to call Dan at 952-451-9911

What about Travel Arrangements and Car Rental?
You handle your transportation. There will be plenty of parking at the house. The nearest international airport is Norfolk International Airport. About a 2-hour drive. Note: We will do our best to coordinate ride-sharing for those who would rather not rent a car. Ridesharing worked great in 2023 & 2024.

Another option that some have taken is to fly into Raleigh-Durham International Airport, rent a car, and drive the four-hour drive to the Black Stallion. In many cases, it's possible to get a nonstop flight into Raleigh-Durham International Airport, and it ends up taking less travel time than if flight layovers were involved.

Can I (we) attend the classes and stay somewhere else?
Yes. If you are staying elsewhere near the Black Stallion, you can join us for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. You'll get 9+-days of F&B plus five+ full days of training. Plus, you'll have a chance to stay and network and dive deep into ways to use Chief Architect you never thought possible. (Note: Only four seats are available for those not staying at the house). Go here to Register for only $3,750

Can I attend and stay at the house for only part of the week?
The rates are for an entire week, and there are no price breaks for staying less than a week.

Do I need to be a member of ChiefExperts.com to attend any of these events?
No. Membership is not required.

Should I wait to Register?
Registrations get accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. When the rooms are gone, they are gone! To get added to a waiting list or be informed of our next event, please email [email protected] or phone at 952-451-9911

Can I stay at the house but not attend the training classes?
Pricing for this event is per room and person. A second person not attending classes may stay in a room with a full-paying guest for an additional F&B fee of $950.  A second person attending all classes may stay in a room with a full-paying guest for an additional F&B and Training fee of $2,500, as reflected in the "Total for 2 People Sharing The Same Room" option. Contact Dan for special pricing if you have more than two people attending.

Do I have to bring my computer?
Bring your laptop or desktop, monitors, and any other equipment you want to show off! There will be plenty of power, cords, and internet.

Does the house have internet?
Yes, the house has high-speed fiber-optic internet.

Do I need to be on the latest version of Chief Architect?
To avoid confusion, we insist you have the latest version of Chief Architect Premier on your computer. We will be using X16; if X17 is released before this Summit, we'll use it if we can.

What topics will be discussed in the training classes?
We have provided general information for this event above. Based on Dan's interview process with those attending, some curricula will be changed, expanded, and developed. Rest assured, many things will be discussed, and you will come away knowing how to use Chief Architect to its full potential.

What are the "Business Hot Seats"
During this event, everyone will be allowed to discuss their goals and any issues they have in their business. We'll offer suggestions, advice, and strategies to help advance goals and solve issues as a group. The hot seats are an optional evening event, and topics like Sales, Marketing, Employees, Customer Issues, and more are all open for discussion with those who elect to participate.

Does staying together really make that much difference?
Attendees have said that they were able to cement the ideas they learned while sitting around their computers after class, reviewing things with someone else staying there. Staying together is a fantastic way to learn and make life-long friends. Just imagine what you'll discover from others while sipping tea or adult beverages, enjoying a refreshing whirlpool, or playing a game of left-right-center! Priceless!

Are Food and Beverages Included?
We'll provide you a full breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Linda, Doug, Avis, Mary, and Patti will ensure that you are well-fed and taken care of and that all your needs are met. We'll supply juice, soda, water, milk, wine, and beer, but you're on your own for hard liquor. Please let us know if you are on a special diet, and we will do our best to accommodate you. The crew may even have a few surprises for you!

What about Noise Levels?
Even though the Black Stallion is a large house and is spread out, it is a wide-open building. The noise does carry, and we will encourage a 10 PM quiet time. Those who want to have a spirited discussion will be asked to do so in the training room, where the doors can be closed, and the noise can be confined to that space. An event like this does come with a lot of laughter, but a respectful calm will be encouraged. 

What is the Cancellation Policy?
If you need to cancel, you'll receive a full refund within 30 days of the event. We'll refund you after 30 days, "IF" we can sell your space to someone else. There will be no refunds for cancellations after February 17, 2025, although you can use the non-refundable amount on future online or live training products for up to one year.

Will we be doing anything outside of this event?
We will stay on the outer banks during the off-season and have no formal plans for excursions outside the Black Stallion. If you want to venture out, you are welcome to explore independently. The crew is planning on organizing some outings. More on that later.

What about Illness?
Chief Experts will follow the CDC's latest pandemic travel and events guidelines. If you feel like you may have the flu, it would be appreciated (but not required) that you wear a mask.

Why not just rent a conference room and do a training class?
We've discovered that when we are together for an extended period, we learn and retain more, share ideas, and become friends. The ROI on these events is tremendous. Plus, you will get the best possible hosts at this event, including Linda, Doug, Patti, and Cutter. The saying "Come for the food and stay for the training" continues to be true.

Will there be any games?
One of Linda's requirements at these events is that we play some simple yet entertaining games. You can bet there will be some "Left-Right-Center" and other games. While participating in the games is not required, you'll enjoy them once you try them. It's always a hoot!

Will the pool be available?
We're sad that this is the off-season, and the temperatures do not allow us to heat the pool. However, the jacuzzi will be hot and ready to go!

What's up with the Zoom meetings?
We'll have a Zoom meeting before the event to cover any questions. We'll also have three meetings after the event to clarify anything you missed during the Summit.

Other Questions?
Give Dan a call at 952-451-9911 or email [email protected].