Team
Hugh J. Lofting
Founder and President | hugh@hltf.net
Hugh founded his namesake company in 1974. After stints as a Montana cowboy and an agricultural student, Hugh returned to his Pennsylvania roots and combined his love of building with his passion for old barns and houses. Hugh’s commitments to sustainability and community run deep. He can talk with personality and expertise about farming (he raises pasture-fed poultry), bee keeping (he holds a patent for a bee feeder), community involvement (he’s a West Marlborough Township Supervisor and Road Master), the Passive House movement (he’s a PHIUS certified builder), and of course, timber framing.
Never one to stop learning, Hugh traveled to Switzerland to learn CAD, to France to understand glue-lam construction, and throughout New England visiting historic and new timber-framed structures. He encourages the Hugh Lofting Timber Framing & High Performance Building team to do their best work every day, with a sense of humor and respect for everyone’s contributions.
Click to read an interview with Hugh about the company’s history.
Favorite project: Baltimore Museum of Industry
Steve Hessler
Designer and Project Manager | steve@hltf.net
Steve is a heavy timber structural designer, project manager, and PHIUS+ certified passive house consultant with over 20 years of experience designing, building, and managing fabrication and construction projects. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Penn State, Steve completed a five-year restoration carpentry apprenticeship where he developed an eye for detail, broad knowledge of material properties and fabrication methods, and a mastery of architectural 3D modeling. Steve continued his career with a timber company, where he oversaw design and fabrication, and became the first operator/programmer of a five-axis timber CNC machine in the U.S. He then provided design and production prep services to builders in greater Philadelphia and panelized construction companies on the west coast and ran his own sustainable furniture studio.
He joined the design team at Hugh Lofting in 2008 where his emphasis on quality, efficiency, and constructability were a natural fit. Guided by his 3D modeling expertise, attention to building science principles, and formal training in Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) methods, Steve has designed and managed off-the-grid, LEED certified, and passive houses. He combines his design and construction experience with BIM and IPD processes to bridge gaps between owners, design teams, and trade professionals. Steve is adept at marrying superb quality with cost effectiveness and delivering comfort, resilience, and energy conservation to clients.
Favorite project: Gladwyne Pavilion
Dale Kretzing
Designer and Project Manager | dalek@hltf.net
Dale returned to Hugh Lofting Timber Framing in 2003 after working with Hugh in the 1980s. With 25+ years of expertise in timber frame design and project management, Dale brings a balance of creativity and common sense to his role. His agreeable nature and penchant for solving problems means he can make any creative idea possible.
Dale holds degrees in psychology, math, and physics from the University of Delaware. Passionate about framing, he encourages the team to continually hone the craft. Dale spends his free time coaching and playing sports with his five kids.
Favorite project: Lenfest Center at ChesLen Preserve
Myles Gibbons
Field Manager | myles@hltf.net
Myles joined the Hugh Lofting team in 2017 to lead construction of the Roberts Passive House. As Field Manager, he oversees everything from scheduling and material ordering to site supervision and hands-on labor. He also lends his expertise to mechanical calculations, costing, and scheduling for other projects.
Myles has built over 300 houses in his 20+ years of construction experience. He is a Certified Lead Carpenter (CLC) by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), Lead Safe Certified, OSHA 30 Certified, and site safety credentialed. Extremely detail-oriented, Myles emphasizes craftsmanship, quality, and accountability. His watchful eyes are always on the lookout for improvement opportunities; no corners are ever cut on the jobs he oversees. Myles especially enjoys the service aspect of helping customers build homes that they will enjoy for a long time.
Myles is a married father of a daughter and son. He enjoys spending time with family, movies, mechanics, and science. When he’s not on a construction site, you might find him studying physics or assembling a Tinker Crate science kit with his kids.
Favorite project: Roberts Passive House
Elsworth Kirk Groff
Shop Foreman | purchasing@hltf.net
Kirk manages the Hugh Lofting Timber Framing shop where he can be found laying out or cutting project components, coordinating job schedules, or encouraging a team approach with his easygoing style. Despite early plans for a career in underwater welding, Kirk has spent nearly 20 years in timber framing, with HLTF since 2009. He likes the challenge of designing joinery and has the keen observation skills to catch even the smallest mistake. Kirk lives in Lancaster County where he enjoys hunting and the occasional round of golf.
Favorite project: West Chester Barn
Amanda Thomforde Kent
Project Administrator and Office Manager | amanda@hltf.net
Amanda maintains the budgets, account management, and project administration for Hugh Lofting Timber Framing & High Performance Building. She’s the all-purpose business mind on the team, equally adept at reading contracts or handling accounting. A Florida resident, Amanda works remotely but regularly returns to Kennett Square where her family has century-long roots. She holds a B.S. in Business Management from Guilford College and has worked with HLTF since 2009, shortly after her graduation. Amanda is QuickBooks and Green Advantage certified. She’s also an award-winning home brewer and certified beer judge. When she isn’t handing administration or brewing beer, Amanda has a newborn baby to keep her busy.
Favorite project: Tree House
Elliott Lofting
Marketing Manager and Bid Coordinator | elliott@hltf.net
Elliott has spent her life around Hugh Lofting Timber Framing & High Performance Building, climbing on her father’s timber frames as a kid and watching the business evolve. She brought her marketing and social media savvy to HLTF full-time in 2006, and maintains responsibility for everything from web maintenance and blogging to FSC® administration. Elliott’s warmth and honesty make her appreciated in the shop and within the industry, where she often helms the company trade show booth. She attended Franklin and Marshall College, is a LEED Green Associate Accredited Professional, and likes sports, cooking, and travel.
Favorite project: Kennett Square LEED House
Jared Reich
Lead Joiner
Jared started with Hugh Lofting Timber Framing in 2008 as a recent design graduate of Thaddeus Stephens College of Technology. He discovered carpentry was a bigger draw than CAD and now works in the shop as the lead joiner. Jared’s quiet consistency and ability to visualize a project from design through construction make him a valuable teammate. He holds an architecture associate degree and is Green Advantage certified. Recently married with a new baby at home, Jared manages to find time to hunt and watch Penn State football.
Favorite project: Boat House
