Good News, Events, Products, Big Fish and More

Let’s kick off this week with some good things happening with some awesome people in our space.  First up, long time good friend Shelly Farmer has moved to an incredible new position and rising company.  Shelly is now Senior Vice President at Pellucere Technologies.  You may not know much about them now, but you’ll be seeing and hearing a ton and with Shelly’s approach they will be a positive disruptor in our space. Can’t wait.  I am so pumped for Shelly- extraordinary talent and person and nice to see her rise up!  Next on the props, was cool to see the news on Salient Engineered Products continuing its growth with the addition of the premier stadium/arena window system Suite View.  Chris Hill and team are on to something there especially leaning into potentials with VIG.  Smart!  Last on the props, Herzog Glass became the first glazier in the state of Washington to achieve NACC Certification.  Joe Kaiser and the gang there (including my guy Luc Boileau who I drive crazy with 1970’s Penguin talks) are a force in the Pacific Northwest and this just solidifies that even more. Fantastic company leading the way!  And NACC keeps chugging along- kudos to Jeff Dalaba, Ben Beeler, Scott Kennett and team for continuing to bring this crucial program along! 

 

Elsewhere…

 

--  Handful of upcoming events to note.  First April 10^th for those of you in North Texas- the TGA North Texas Division is having a lunch gathering and I am thrilled to attend and get to speak and visit with the fine folks there.  Then end of April the annual Top Glass Conference in Toronto is back with a new 2-day setup, day 1 with fabricator tours and day 2 trade show and education sessions. Good stuff as always from Patrick Flannery and Glass Canada. Last mid-May- on the 16^th and 17^th to be exact, the Texas Glass Conference is back.  Traditionally odd numbered years has TEXPO, and even numbered is the Texas Glass Conference. That conference continues to grow and extend its reach and is a great outlet for learning and networking.  Looking forward to it all!

 

--  I am still processing all that went down in Nashville a few weeks ago and one of the most memorable and most important sessions was from Cal Beyer (SAFE Project) and Dave Argus (Karas & Karas Glass) talking about addiction, recovery and support-with a focus on how we can work with and handle it in our professional and personal lives.  It was REAL.  A truly intense and helpful session overall and got me going so much that I connected with these guys to set up a podcast for this summer.  Too important of subject to not continue the dialogue and these guys brought so much insight, compassion, and class that I can’t wait to spend more time with them on the pod so we can reach more people in the industry.

 

--  With so much going on I missed the Vitro announcement on the launch of Sungate ThermL™- a new Low E that is formulated for the 4^th surface of an IGU.  Looks good and smart move by Vitro to develop this.  More and more focus is on having multiple coatings on IGU surfaces so this plays right into it. 

 

--  You know I love when we get out in the community and so I was fired up when I saw the smooth Dan Shields of Fabricated Products Group taking part in a career day at Alan B. Shepard High School. (I’m a space geek so love the HS name too)  Dan spent time with the sophomores there and gave them the rundown on why being in our industry is worth considering!  So many great opportunities for the youth.  Thank you, Dan, for taking the time to spread the gospel. The battle for interest in our world will never end, so the more we can get out and about- the better!

 

--  There are quite a few accomplished fishermen/women in our industry (Terry Hessom, my favorite in  this category, could’ve gone pro, yet stayed in the glass biz) and this past week our world made the news thanks to an absolutely amazing haul from Chad Williams of Insulite Glass.  Chad caught the world’s largest Paddlefish! At over 164 pounds this thing is a monster! See the pictures and more HERE and congrats to Chad for an epic pull!  Thanks to Sterling Guyette there for the heads up! 

 

--  Last this week… So I have Jury Duty scheduled for Tuesday.  This is the first time I have been called since 2010 when I desperately wanted to be chosen (long story) and despite being the only person there who WANTED to be chosen, was not, and was released by 11AM that day.  So what happens this time around?  Will let you know…

 

LINKS of the WEEK

--  The best College basketball player going right now is Caitlin Clark of Iowa.  She’s captivated a ton of people including me.  Long profile of her here. It’s a long shot for her team to win it all this year but I’d surely love to see it.

 

--  Deep dive into GE being broken up to save it

 

--  Cockpit seat caused an in-air plunge?  Unreal. 

 

PROJECT of the WEEK

It’s March.  It’s Madness.  So, to pay honor to this month which is dominated by college basketball I had to get a project that had some sort of connection to the sport, and that’s why this one from United Architectural Metals at UCONN makes the cut.  UCONN is the defending champ and as of this writing, they’re favorite to win it all again.  Meanwhile this project from Tom Nesbitt and team at UAM is the University of Connecticut New Engineering and Science Building in Storrs, CT and it’s a real beauty.  Custom UAM unitized curtain wall installed by Massey’s Plate Glass. This was a real winner all the way around.  Kudos to everyone who took part in this one!