The Challenges Continue

Last month when the Architectural Billings Index (ABI) came in with a stunning “positive” number, there were two thoughts.  Is this the start of the comeback, or is it a fluke? Welp.  We got our answer this week, and it came with authority.  The ABI checked in at a horrendous 43.6. Or, as the main analyst from the AIA called it, “A fairly major disappointment.”  This is the lowest rating since December of 2020.  The analysis of this low score pointed to interest rate growth fear and, thus, the cost of money.  A month ago, things seemed like they were stabilizing on that front.  It’s changed.  Overall, we know that for many regions conditions have been soft, so this rating is not helping the psyche too much, especially since we started to feel like the worst was passing.

While some other metrics continue to point to the positive, this is a big one that a lot of people follow and subscribe to. We knew we’d encounter some bumps, and they continue to be thrown our way. We just have to keep working through them all!

Elsewhere…

-- As noted last week here, I’ll be presenting on a webinar, “Engaging Architects- Trends and Forecasts in Building Envelope Products,” on Monday at 1 PM EST.  The key to this will be the other presenters led by the team from Acelab about how the connection to Architects happens and how fabricators can get in deeper with them.  Here’s a link to sign up. It will be recorded, and I’ll post on my podcast channel when done, too (in case you miss it) 

-- Speaking of podcasts- the From the Fabricator podcast returns next week!  Scheduling was a mess this month, but two great people lined up (one in the books, a super SHARP guy!), and I think you all will enjoy these perspectives. The audio version of the pod continues to blow me away, so I appreciate that.  (The video one continues to be something I may drop, but we’ll keep that rolling for now!) Also, big summer plans for the podcast, including episodes 50 and 51, will be a special two-parter on a crucial subject, and I’m going outside the box (and my comfort zone) on some guests, too… so stay tuned!

-- Two nice personnel moves this week… Randy Reynolds took on a new role at Glass Coatings and Concepts as Sales Manager.  Randy is a good guy and huge industry supporter and GCC always backs a ton of what we do in this space- so very cool on that!  Also, an awesome move from IGE Glass Technologies, adding Todd Schulz as Vice President of Sales- Midwest.  Todd is a guy I have always admired and respected, and now he’s joining a juggernaut in IGE.  Love it!  Congrats to all on this!!

-- I’ve mentioned a few times both the growth of modular and the work that is being done at the Atlanta airport that will feature it.  This past week I got THIS LINK from the great Scott Goodman of CRL with a report on the latest.  Interesting to see!!

-- Heads up on your websites… As if you don’t have enough to worry about with business! Two items... First please make sure that if you have not updated your website for a while, you may not have a choice soon.  A lot of sites use “PHP” in their platform language.  Web developers and designers use this in the dynamic design.  What is happening now is PHP that was built in 2016 or so are starting to age out and sites won’t load.  So, if your site is on the older side- even if you keep it updated but it was initially built 8 or more years ago- it’s probably time for an upgrade.  Also, Google is in the process of a major SEO upgrade that will run through May 5th.  There is an expectation that after this update is complete some SEO tactics may not work the same and website with poor quality will be pushed down the rankings. We’ll keep an eye on all…

-- Last this week…From the branding side… PNC Bank has come out with its new “Brilliantly Boring” tag and campaign.  Very interesting for a bank to take this approach.  Curious about what everyone thinks.  Part of me likes it.  I like the fact that they recognize what they have and what they do, and they’re not wanting to be something they’re not.  The other part of me thinks it is an odd slant and probably not great for the culture of the folks at PNC. If anything, it gets people talking, and that is usually the goal of any campaign, so on that note, it’s a win. Just an interesting approach!

LINKS of the WEEK

Ducklings and doors.  Challenging combo!

https://www.wvva.com/2024/04/23/racc-rescues-ducklings-stuck-behind-automated-glass-doors/

Poor pup!  These owners did him wrong!

https://www.newsweek.com/dog-confused-home-renovation-door-1893243

Glad I do not live by Cicadas!  I’ll take the snow instead. (I say that now since it is finally warming up!)

https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/cicadas-noisy-south-carolina-residents-call-police-rcna149132

PROJECT of the WEEK

Out west we go and a very good guy who has seen it all in our world and continues to crush it. I am speaking of Joe Marx, and I have always been a fan.   Anyway, Joe had this stunner posted.  It is 1075 Terra Bella San Jose, and it’s a showstopper. Nice work by Joe and the team at Global Architectural Systems as well as the excellent install from Silicon Valley Glass.  Congrats to everyone involved in this one! Well done!

Moving On, Moving Forward

(Because this platform was not available at original time of posting, it is also up on LinkedIn.  Search for me- and connect too- to keep getting these each week!) 

Not sure if you heard the news last week that the one and only Andrew Haring was leaving the NGA and returning to the for-profit world in an undisclosed position.  There’s an “LOL” needed because you had to have heard… the news hit, and it spread pretty much like nothing I have seen.  And for good reason.  Andrew made a significant and incredible mark on our industry in a relatively short time. He threw himself into his role at NGA and went full speed at educating about the greatness of glass and glazing and all along the way built lifelong friendships. And from that I can easily say many, many, people would do anything for him.  Me included. It was an absolute honor to work with Andrew, learn from him, watch him, and experience the awesome results. I love him and love what he has done for our space overall.  I have many favorite memories of the Andrew NGA years but the main one for me was in 2022, Germany, glasstec show.  Where a gaggle of people walked up to our NGA booth.  They saw Andrew there wearing the OG Glass Nerd hat and they had a meltdown of epic proportion.  It was like watching video of kids excited to see the Beatles way back in the day- or Taylor Swift now.  They were almost in full convulsions repeating over and over “glass nerd.  LinkedIn.  Glass nerd.” Because as we came to find out, they spoke little to no English.  But from his LinkedIn profile and the brand, he was known, and it was like meeting the ultimate superstar in the space. That was awesome.

Bottom lines…. He’ll be missed for sure at this level, and wherever he goes, he’ll bring the same fire and approach and that company will be incredibly fortunate.  And NGA?  It’s been here for 75+ years and the Haring effect absolutely helped it, and it will continue to roll on as the leading glass and fenestration trade group in North America.  Plus shows like GlassBuild and BEC will always be the staples where the industry with gather, grow, and learn.  Good things ahead there and for all for sure.  Thank you, Andrew, for all- you are a tremendous human and talent and I can’t wait to see what’s next!

 

Elsewhere…

 

--  I am honored to be taking part in an upcoming webinar (April 29^th) from the team at Acelab.  I have talked about them previously and have had their founder Vardhan Mehta on my podcast.  Vardhan and his wildly talented team have built the ultimate Architectural connection platform.  A setup created by Architects (Vardhan and many others on staff are registered Architects) for Architects.  This platform is making a huge difference in being able to connect with designers and firms get your product details successfully in their hands and in their projects.  So this webinar will have me doing a piece on our space including forecasts, product trends, education, and innovation and Vardhan and others will be talking about the art of getting in front of the decision makers and the overall specification process.  More details on sign up coming soon!

 

--  And one area I’ll be talking about are things like backlogs and indexes.  We had good news in the latest backlog report from the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). The backlog report is 8.2 months (decent) and the bigger news was their Construction Confidence Index came in with a score of 61.9! (50 is the threshold) That number even seemingly surprised the experts involved in calculating it- see this quote:

“Given headwinds such as high borrowing costs, emerging supply chain issues, project financing challenges and labor shortages, the persistent optimism among nonresidential construction contractors is astonishing,” said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “Last month, contractors reported rising backlog and greater conviction regarding likely growth in sales, employment and profit margins.

So there ya go folks… kinda cool to see.  Now will it continue?  Next index report is the Architectural Billings Index this coming Wednesday.  Last month it was ticking upwards.  Do the gains stay?  From the data I am seeing, I think it may retract some.  But given what the ABC report just showed- anything is possible.  We’ll keep on it….

 

--  Good news for a good guy/family.  Thomas Lee IV has been elevated to President of Lee & Cates Glass.  Tom Lee III will continue to be active in the company but in a more strategic advisory fashion as Chairman of the Board. Thomas will now take on decision-making and strategic direction for the company. Tom and Thomas have been unabashed supporters of our industry for a long time, and this is a great move to keep their momentum rolling.  Congrats to Thomas and Tom on the move and best to them and every at L&C going forward!!

 

--  An impressive feat from one our own this past week.  Erin Spellman of IGE Glass Technologies ran the Boston Marathon and absolutely crushed it out there in some wicked hot conditions.  Way to Go Erin!   I run a ton but 26.2 miles at a time? Nope.  No way.  That is awesome stuff and the best part?  Erin ran to raise money for charity.  The cause she repped was the Pediatric Oncology Research and Treatment group at the world-renowned Massachusetts General Hospital.  Erin’s efforts brought in almost 13k!  Love it. Very very cool!  

 

--  The Wall Street Journal recently had an article on skilled trades and the impact that “Gen Z” is making on it.  I know I have been banging the drum a ton lately on workforce development, but it is a big need and top priority.  Good read HERE on it. 

 

--  Last this week… the experts are predicting an above average hurricane season ahead. The obvious hope is whatever major hurricanes develop that they stay out into the ocean and just mix the fish and don’t hit land.  Our industry has been a major leader in the hurricane resistance space and it’s something to be proud of, but I’d still prefer to see a very quiet season ahead. 

 

LINKS of the WEEK

Happy Passover this week!  We did some creative things with Matzoh growing up but never this intense!

 

Flukey rain and floods in the UAE

 

This is a “special” way to try and break in… wow.

 

PROJECT of the WEEK

To Nashville this week and the terrific team at Alexander Metals.  This is the Jack Massey Center at Belmont University.  Classic job and all looks great.  Nice collaboration partners here with Alexander including Tubelite, Tristar Glass, and Stanley Access.  Congrats to all on a job well done!! 

 

Catch Up Time

No traditional lead story this week- just a lot of catching up with tidbits of information and happenings around the glass world.  Plus, if I write about the adventure with interest rates and dire predictions from this past week, I may get too depressed to continue, so I’ll save that for another time.   So let’s jump into some lighter industry related fare!

 

--  My trip to Texas was fabulous.  The hospitality extended by the TGA-NTD was awesome and appreciated.  Great group there and giving serious energy into the Texas Glass Conference IV (in Austin) next month and GlassBuild (in Dallas) this fall.   I have to thank Valerie Nagy of Hartung Glass- she extended the initial invite and dealt with my schedule snafus, Michelle Ordonez of QPC who dealt with my diva like issues at the hotel level (lol) and of course the great President of the North Texas Division Kristina Buckett of Dallas Flat Glass Distributors who made it all go.  Plus, it was amazing to visit with the legend Sam Hill of Oak Cliff and the juggernaut that is Chris Hill who is rocking with a lot of good things going with the his Salient Engineered Product company.  Was neat to visit for a few minutes with Austin Jones and Amber Jones of PGP.  Those folks are crushing it out there and both so impressive. My first extended convo with either of them.  Enjoyed chatting and meeting for the first time Rachel Tilbrook of Southern Stretch Forming, Valerie Jones of Granbury Door + Window, and BC Putnam of DFGD- I expect to see them all at GlassBuild and glad I can add them to my network! Cool people!  And last but not least loved seeing Brian Risinger and Joe Lamberston of Country Glass and I am not the only one who recognizes their great swag- as soon as Joe walked in to the lunch someone commented that the Country Glass folks always bring the A game clothing wise.  All in all that chapter is a good one and I enjoyed my time in town with everyone. 

 

--  I have noted a few times on here the roll that Josh Burg of Glass Enterprises has been on and that continued recently with the acquisition and re-launch of a massive operation in Connecticut that at one time looked like it was doomed.  Josh and team were able to take over a truly state of the art glass facility and now are rolling out some of the best quality possible.  Perfect match of a plant that had it all but just needed the right people to come along and that has happened.   Congrats Josh and best going forward and I have a feeling that there’s a slew of moves coming from Josh and GEI that will keep that positive momentum rolling. 

 

--  And while we’re congratulating people, Bill Daubmann of My Shower Door and D3 Glass has done it again.  Bill was recently inducted into the Southwest Florida Business Hall of Fame.  A worthy person getting a truly deserved honor.  Happy for Bill there- and he’s not resting on any laurels.  He’s still grinding... opening new shops and locations with the same energy as before all the while promoting the industry as whole- which you know I love.  Congrats Bill and keep it going!

 

--  Saw that Paragon Tempering, with locations in both Ohio and Michigan (one on each side of the border) was out and about appearing at a high school recruitment fair and promoting the good about our industry.  I love it. Keep doing this stuff folks.  WE NEED TO KEEP SHOWING UP out there to promote what we do.  Not a surprise that Paragon is ahead of the game- the leader there is the great Dan Wright and he’s always top notch.  Plus Dan is a good man and friend of mine for many years. (Which in having to deal with me 20+ years ago, Dan deserved a medal!) 

 

--  Also out promoting our world these days is one of the smartest in our space- Dr. Charlie Boyer.  Charlie is presenting at the University of Virginia this coming week.  I think he may be the busiest “retired” guy around.  Great that he’ll get the kids at UVa thinking Glass and Glazing!  

 

--  Charlie is also involved with Vacugask with the trailblazer Michael Spellman and the sales GOAT Art Huard. Vacugask is the gasket that is making this heavy push into VIG happen more efficiently and smoothly.  Brilliant invention and I am starting to see it everywhere.  Happy for those guys for developing a groundbreaking product that will allow an easier implementation of VIG throughout the space-no matter who the manufacturer is!

 

--  And last this week… Happy Birthday wishes out to two guys that do a ton for our world in different ways- so best wishes for awesome B-days go to Andrew Haring and Joey Aragon- hope you both have great ones and many many more!!

 

LINKS of the WEEK

I love Florida- but the Gators now entering people’s homes surely do freak me out…. This one chilling in the kitchen!

 

Wow- dealing with traffic to just step out the front door!!

 

In Florida its gators that enter… in Australia it’s these guys

 

PROJECT of the WEEK

This beauty in Utah ended up in my LinkedIn feed and I immediately marked it for a Project of the Week play.  This is Onset Financial and was designed by Axis Architects.  The post I saw was from Pierre Langue from Axis.  Perfect design and the glass (which I believe is Viracon) looks tremendous.  Congrats to Pierre and everyone else that had a hand in this one! 

Headed to the Big D

Thrilled to be headed to the great state of Texas this week to visit with the North Texas Division of the Texas Glass Association.  I love the opportunity to meet and network as well as share some of the latest insights in our space.  And there’s quite a bit of news to cover too, so that will be fun.  I continue to have the utmost of respect and appreciation for all of these regional and local chapters and their mission to help their members stay ahead of everything in their path.  This by the way is the first part of the Texas two-step for me, with another visit in May for the epic Texas Glass Conference IV.  I’ve been honored to speak at the first 3, and now am trying to figure out what to bring for number 4.  In any case if you’re in North Texas- get signed up for the TGA-NTD Lunch on 4/10 and I’ll see you there!

 

Elsewhere…

 

--  In case you missed my latest podcast, links are below. It was a great learning experience for me on paints and coatings and expectations in the field with Neil Chrisman III and Chris Incorvaia, then a deep dive into fabrication, products, training and more with the force Tom Donovan of Thompson IG.  Thank you for checking it out!

VIDEO 

AUDIO.  And as always audio can be not only be found on iTunes, but Spotify or wherever you download your podcasts.

 

--  The latest Architectural Billings Index came out recently with a slight glimmer of hope that things may be turning around.  The score of 49.5 (50 is break-even) is the highest total the ABI has seen since July of 2023.  The projection was always a slow period for 8 months or so and this is somewhat tracking. We’ll see what the next few months bring. Design contracts were also up and inquiries with its 2^nd best month in the last 12.  Now this all could be an aberration, but I am trying to stay positive and regardless we still have to navigate some bumpiness for a while. 

 

--  Hey great news for a tremendous team.  Big time congrats to the gang at Clover Architectural Products on their 10^th Anniversary!   So happy for Tom O’Malley, Ed Kearney, and Jim Stremplewski on this awesome achievement and best wishes for many more years of success.  Fantastic company, people and products that always makes our space look good!

 

--  Who’s back of the week?  Two guys.  First up Lance Cotton is back in the industry as President of Isoclima’s NAFTA Region.  This includes the Global Security brand and what used to be Dlubak Specialty Glass and is now under the Isoclima Specialty Glass heading.  Lance is an incredible talent- especially when it comes to these products.  Heck many of them he had a massive part in developing/executing.  So good to have him in our world full time again and working with a very talented team.  Then news that Steven Acker has rejoined Wicona / Hydro Building Systems as the Commercial Director- North America. Wicona continues its unparalleled success in North America and is really rocking and getting Steven back in the saddle is a heck of a move. Congrats Steven and Wicona on a nice move!

 

--  News this past week broke that View Glass filed for bankruptcy and will effort a move to emerge as a private company.  Never great when an operation in our industry makes the news like this and it has been truly a case study/interesting journey for this company.  This whole thing really has book/Netflix doc potential.  Anyway, a lot of stories can be found online- one with some specifics to this latest move is HERE. 

 

--  So, I had mentioned in the latest Glass Magazine the excellent resources available for recruitment and workforce.  I should’ve also pointed to the National Glass Association “Workforce Toolkit” that has an absolute treasure trove of content for everyone trying to build and retain labor.  If you haven’t checked it out recently- go HERE now for more. 

 

--  The great Bill Sullivan of Brin was first to send me the story of the All-Glass Entry breakage leading to a 35-million-dollar award.  If you haven’t seen the video or read the details- check it out HERE.  From what I understand the temperer and glazier were off the case earlier in the process. 

 

--  Last this week… gotta make my annual baseball picks… season is already underway but a long enough one where I am fine with making a prediction at this early state.  I think the Braves finally get through the National League playoffs and win the pennant there.  Meanwhile I’m going with the Seattle Mariners in the American League.  At the end, the champs will reside in the ATL.  Should be an interesting season overall.  Will the Yankees make a run?  Dodgers with all that payroll and starpower?  Can the Detroit Tigers shock the world?  We’ll see….

 

LINKS of the WEEK

The days of the “Mall” continue to wane- especially when landlords stop paying the electric bill.

 

THIS IS UNREAL- saw blade from jobsite almost does serious damage- caught on tape.  Safety folks- safety! 

 

Curious on how my friends in the KC area feel about this.  Me personally?  Billionaires should be paying for the own stadiums… good for the voters there. 

 

PROJECT of the WEEK

Complete coincidence that the project of the week features Thompson IG when I have the reminder up on the podcast featuring their Tom Donovan.  This project came to light because it was an award winner from Guardian Glass and was recognized during Guardian’s BEC reception and award event. 

This was the winner in the Early Adopter category, and it is the Godfrey Hotel in Detroit.  Outstanding project and all stakeholders crushed it.  From beautiful primary glass via Guardian, to Thompson fabbing it and the fine folks from Edwards Glass installing it- this deserved to be a winner.  Congrats to all involved!!