2026’s 2nd episode of the From the Fabricator podcast is now live, and I’ve got a pair of guests who bring something new to the pod. I lead off with Mike Rapp of PDS IG. Mike and his family have been stalwarts in this industry for a while- so it was nice to get a deeper dive on their background and to learn about the innovations Mike & team are working on now. Then I connect with Cam Reynolds of 3 Form. In my efforts to bring some new faces to the forefront, Cam fits that bill. Whip smart and very engaging- Cam provided a ton of insight on the decorative state and a big nugget on office rebuild tastes. Hopefully, we see more of Cam active in our space. Overall, two fun interviews. Thank you very much for checking it out!!
AUDIO (Or search "From the Fabricator" on your favorite podcast platform)
Thank you to FHC Frameless Hardware Company for the continued sponsorship of this effort!
Elsewhere…
-- I have my pod stats for 2025, and that will come next- but I wanted to call out another podcast from this week. I was honored to be asked by Katy Devlin to appear on Glass Cast to discuss BEC. There’s been a lot of talk about what the agenda at BEC looks like, and Katy and I went through it in a lot of detail. Take a look HERE. (or search Glass Cast on Apple/Spotify) Also, the agenda online is continually being updated- so click HERE to see it and register. Key components are Workforce, Forecasts, Code changes (including stretch) A.I., Legal, including immigration issues, Precon Success, and Jobsite advancements + much more! I look forward to seeing you in Louisville, March 1-3.
-- Ok, on to my stats for 2025. Always fun to share! It was a record year on the podcast- and it was pacing ahead of 2024, and then Troy Johnson of Apogee Architectural Metals happened, and things went bonkers. Incredible year. Thank you! So here goes:
· 1065 minutes in 2025 with 17 episodes
· Always fun- Locations checking it out. 50 countries listened along the way up from 29 in 2024
· In North America, 726 cities were represented in the listening stats – (no idea on past- first time they listed this)
Top Cities by Listens/Downloads:
· Minneapolis was #1 – Minnesota Nice for the win!! (in 2024 #3 but #1 in 2023)
· Chicago #2 (First time in Top 5)
· Dallas #3 (In 2024 #5) Love my Texas folks! Will be speaking at the NTGA on 2/18!
· LA #4 (In 2024 #3, 2023 #2 Consistent!)
· Orlando #5 (In top 5 for first time since 2022)
Episode Ranks by listens & downloads
#1-- Troy Johnson (Solo Episode)
#2-- Bendheim (Peter Stattler & Said Elieh) & Ted Baumgardner
#3-- Karolina Styk & Corey Thompson
But note- there was not much daylight between the #2 through #17 - so I really am blown away and grateful! THANK YOU for the support!!
-- Last week, I had my handy predictions for 2026, and I had 2 comments that I wanted to bring out and show here. It was regarding my take on D10 and our industry growing within it.
First, Travis Nevins at IUPAT dropped in with this: “I love the momentum around demountable partitions! I see that momentum carrying into ‘26 and beyond as well. In regard to that, I think folks need to look carefully at their market and not attempt a one size fits all solution. Not to be a negative Nelly, but we, the contract glazier community, are coming from behind on this. It’s going to take intentionality and continuous effort. Nothing this community can’t do though”
Very strong advice there. The worst we can do is get in and not do the job we know we can do.
Then old pal Jay Phillips, now at DIRTT (VP of Sales) jumped in:
“As you know I transitioned from the industry to DIRTT. I’m always happy to discuss opportunities with those interested in developing a DIV10 business.”
Obviously, this is very meaningful given DIRRT’s standing in the space there- AND- Jay gets what we do thanks to his past.
Thank you, Travis & Jay, for adding to the conversation!
-- Big industry news last week as well, when Merritt Gaunt was named President and CEO of Guardian Industries. In this role, he will assume leadership of Guardian Glass. Any change of leadership can be nerve-wracking, but from what I hear, this was seamless, and the focus and support of our industry will continue full speed ahead. Love it. Congrats, Merritt, on the new position.
-- Last this week… the great Dr. Kayla Natividad of Pilkington/NSG sent me this article on the bathroom trend of being “all glass” and, in some cases, in the middle of the room. Read the whole thing- it’s quite a hoot. Now I travel a ton, and I have seen things like a hot tub in the middle of the room (Vegas), but never a glass-enclosed bathroom. Anyway, for glass geeks like us, it’s a fun read. Thank you, Kayla, for the share!
LINKS of the WEEK
Hey, when it comes to defending your home &kid, you use anything- including a frying pan! https://www.wtvm.com/2026/01/18/father-uses-frying-pan-fight-off-armed-intruder-while-daughter-texts-911/
Don’t see this every day- a stray cat rescued with a Dorito’s bag on its head. https://www.kcra.com/article/cat-saved-with-doritos-bag-on-head/70038297
PROJECT of the WEEK
To Western Canada for this stunner. This via Jon Fearn of the Flynn Group of Companies. This is the TELUS Ocean project outside of Vancouver, and I think you can say just by looking at it- that’s a beauty. Jon noted some interesting aspects too:
“This project marks our first-ever Unitized / Speedwall Hybrid façade system, and our team rose to the challenge by designing and modeling a fully prefabricated envelope that meets the demanding requirements of Step Code 4 and TEDI 19. The façade seamlessly integrates alternating opaque and full-vision panels with expressed 'sawtooth' units (including the finished floor!).”
Congrats to Jon and the entire Flynn team on this one. Once again, we have systems and people that can do what is needed- and then some- for every situation out there!
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