Old, New, and All Good!

Hope everyone had a good holiday week!  New podcast for you covering two ends of the spectrum.  I’ve got a company that is almost 100 years old, and another that is just getting going.  It was very cool stuff.  Kicking it off, I had Said Elieh and Peter Stattler of Bendheim.  These two were very entertaining and informative, and I loved gaining insight into the iconic Bendheim brand and process, as well as what they’re seeing out there.  Then I connected with the super sharp Ted Baumgardner of Guthrie Automation/Guthrie AI.  Ted is in the lead position when it comes to integrating AI into our space, and I believe he has the background and drive to deliver.  Neat to get to know him too. He’s just scratching the surface.  Both interviews were a blast, and I continue to be honored to get people like this on the pod, as well as all of you checking it out!  Thank you!!

AUDIO (or search “From the Fabricator” on your favorite podcast app- Apple, Spotify etc.))

VIDEO

Thank you to the fine folks at FHC-Frameless Hardware Company for sponsoring this episode.

Elsewhere….

-- Because of the holidays, there was no Glass Magazine Weekly last week- so those of you who read this over there missed my last post.  You can find it HERE, and it covers a wide range of topics, including the latest indexes, people news, and the summer Q&A with Josh Burg of Glass Enterprises. (Who, as expected, was a tremendous interview).

-- Ok, here’s a question. Since everyone in the industry has a bird-friendly product, I should get some insight.  This story of an eagle crashing through a window (carrying a rock fish) is a visual I can’t fathom.  The question is… would our wide range of Bird Friendly options have stopped this?  Would the eagle see it and veer off?  I'm accustomed to smaller species of birds with the BF material, so I'm curious if it applies to an eagle. Here's the link: https://www.wrangellsentinel.com/story/2025/06/25/news/eagle-crashes-into-petersburg-home-carrying-a-rockfish-they-both-died/14732.html

-- Nice promotion this week- The whip-smart Mike Rubner assumed the role as President of Accura Systems.  Awesome.  Mike has always been a strong industry supporter and talent, and it's nice to see him continuing his success!

-- List time… the fastest growing jobs in the US & Canada.  Some head scratchers and some obvious.

10- Security Guard

9- Sustainability Specialist – Wow, can you have a bigger difference between 9 and 10?

8- Outside Sales Rep

7- Director of Development – I am not sure exactly what this is- Biz Dev maybe? Surprising though.

6- Event Coordinator – I have tons of respect for those folks after years of GlassBuild’s and BEC’s- tough work- good to see it's gaining popularity

5- Travel Advisor- Huh? Seriously?  Where?

4- Workforce Development Manager- Yeah, that should be among the tops- kinda crucial

3- Physical Therapist- I can see it, butI'm surprised

2- AI Consultant

And #1 AI Engineer…. So AI is surely on fire.. Glad I'm friends with AI experts like Ted Baumgardner.

Sadly, “Glazier” did not make the top 10.  We need to make that happen!!

-- Now to the Summer Q&A Series… I caught up with Jeff Dalaba of NACC/AGMT and got updates on the crucial certification side.  We talked BEFORE the news hit about the Oregon law mandating certifications.. so obviously that is huge and what Jeff and team are doing is as well.  A must for our space.

MAX: Okay, Jeff Dalaba, it's been a while since we last spoke. I've had you on the podcast a couple of times, and I wanted to check in with you about a few things you've worked on and launched over the years. Let's start with the NACC. I love the program. I think the program is crucial for our industry. How's it going? What's the process like? People happy with it? How are you feeling about NACC? 

JEFF: Really great. It's certainly been a process. As you know, it started out kind of slowly. We started this back in 2014, building it, but we've had great support from the industry in growing this. I think the biggest thing with NACC that we've seen over time is just general acceptance. In reality, what we're doing here is we're taking and trying to change the way that a lot of companies look at process control and look at quality management systems and the way that they install and the verifications of the way installations occur. Quality checks, in a nutshell. What we've worked with the industry to do is move from a point where the people are the process. In other words, you have good people, they do the right things, you count on them. To, we have qualified people, competent people, but we have defined processes as well. We have quality checks in place that are written.  We have procedures that are written. We have standardized ways of doing things. And really what that does is it creates these consistent outcomes where you know what to expect. It's not just, Hey, everybody had a good day. So the project turned out well.  It's everybody followed the way, the standardized way we do things, and it created consistent outcomes for us. And I think it's exciting to see the growth that the NACC contractors have had as well. And I certainly don't want to take credit for that, but I go and I see contractors that have been with us for a number of years and the way that they've [implemented] defined systems, it's been really rewarding to see how they grow as well, and how NACC is a part of it. 

MAX: One of the things that I love about NACC is when you talk to somebody who's in the program, most of them will say, I thought that our company was in great shape. And then I went through the NACC process, and I learned so much, and we got better, and that blows me away. That's got to make you feel good because this is just not like a rubber stamp. I mean, companies are getting better thanks to this. 

JEFF: Absolutely. I don't want to claim any credit for NACC. I've certainly worked in this aspect of the business for a while, but the reality is this was created by the industry. This was what contractors felt that they needed.  In some cases, that they needed to be doing and weren't doing or already doing. And along with that, everything from fabricators and suppliers and manufacturers and stakeholders, curtain wall consultants, general contractors, architects, everybody in the same room saying, okay, what can we do to have better outcomes on glazing projects? Overall building enclosure. I mean, you're talking about panels, you're talking about a lot of different things beyond just glazing at this point, but what can you do to create better outcomes? And when the industry comes together and does things, there's a lot of bright minds out there. And I guess we've had the benefit of having those bright minds all contribute, and it's a way to benefit the contractors get involved in this. 

MAX: Another good thing is AGMT, which is where NACC is for the company. AGMT is for the individual installer certification, and that seems to really have taken off. You've got to be thrilled with that process. 

JEFF: I think from the very beginning when we had glaziers almost with a tear in their eye with pride of, we've just never been recognized as a professional trade before and having this certification that provides recognition.  As you know, this isn't for new glaziers, this isn't a training program, it's a certification program. So, they generally have about five years under their belt and they're ready to work independently, not as a helper. They have an hours requirement, number of hours already worked and coming into this and testing their knowledge, skills, and ability. And a way that's, again, as I mentioned with NACC, this was designed by the industry as well. All the brightest minds came together and wrote the test and designed the test rigs, and we just carried that out and executed their plans. It is exciting to see how it's grown. We've just passed over 2000 glaziers just really since this rolled out at the very end of 2019.  Then we had the pandemic years, which was a setback. So, to be at 2000 at this point, I think shows the need and the buy-in that overall, the glazing industry and construction industry has taken in this. 

MAX: AGMT testing. It was a success last year at GlassBuild. It took place at TEXpo. You've got another one at Precision Glass in Houston, Texas this summer, as well as at FHC and then back to GlassBuild. So there's plenty of opportunities for people to go through this process.

JEFF: Absolutely. There've been public events, there's been events at training centers, there's been events at, as you mentioned, some of the expos and larger events, and it's been great to be on the test floor. GlassBuild was incredibly rewarding last year because we had people come up and as you know, we basically opened it up and we walked people through as they were testing, we had it cordoned off, so you couldn't get right up against the test or interfere with any of the testing. We wanted to make sure that the candidates had an impartial opportunity to be certified but bringing people through and just talking to them about the fine points of what was designed into that test. I had many times the response was like, geez, I didn't know it did that, or I didn't know it was this covered this broad of an area and it was so detailed and I didn't know you were measuring sealant and I didn't know you were doing this. And just one after the other. I had a couple of contractors that I ran into on the show floor, and I encouraged them to come over and they said, oh, no, no. We already know what that is. We know what that is and we don't need to see it. And then when we convinced them to come over, they walked through and afterwards they're like, I really had no idea. I mean, we need to get more people involved in this. And so, it is rewarding. I think it's been nice that NGA has given us opportunities and Key Media has given us that opportunity to be on show floors and really be out there in the public so that they can see what's really going on. Pull the curtain back, if you will. 

MAX: So, if somebody wants to learn more about NACC or AGMT, the website is GlazingCertification.com

JEFF: We launched that website at the end of last year, and it has really become more robust building these programs. I will say early on that the websites, I shouldn't call them an afterthought, but we kind of cobbled them together to get them operational, and there was a lot of planning that went into this new design for the website to make it more robust. The neat thing is it's designed so that no matter who lands on that page, it quickly gets you to the right place. So, if it's an architect that wants to find out how to spec NACC or AGMT, it gets them to the right place. If they're a glazing contractor that wants to learn more about becoming certified or getting their people certified, it's easy to get to the right place, which we just didn't have before. It's also great because it's a way to publicly show who is certified. And so that's been beneficial.  We want to promote those that are becoming certified and allow the industry to benefit from the work that they're putting in. 

Thank you, Jeff!

LINKS of the WEEK

Between the holiday and the length of this post, no links this week- they’ll return next week!

PROJECT of the WEEK

I have had Erik Kern of Industrial Louvers in this space before, and he’s back again with another banger.  This is the May Civic Center, and it is impressive. The work from Eric’s company was impressive, featuring custom solutions throughout.  Plus, the curtain wall from EFCO is nothing to sneeze at either.  GREAT WORK Erik and company, as well as East Moline Glass, on the installation.  Well done!

A Bit of Positivity...

I have been pretty salty lately regarding the economy, so I guess I need to set aside that negativity to note that the latest indexes did show some signs of life.   The Dodge Momentum Index had a nice May, up 13% from April.  However, we are still 6% behind last year and even the analyst is being smartly cautious:

“Construction starts rebounded across most sectors in May, bouncing back from a sluggish April,” stated Sarah Martin, associate director of forecasting at Dodge Construction Network. “However, year-to-date figures remain below last year’s pace. Ongoing uncertainty around trade policy and the economic outlook is likely to keep construction activity in check in the months ahead.”

Meanwhile, the Architectural Billings Index remains underwater, but it showed a significantly better performance in May than in April.  The index rose from 43.2 to 47.2.  Ugly but not as ugly.  Inquiries and contracts also trended up.  So, while it’s still not rosy, it is “maybe” showing signs of hope?  I say “maybe” because the instability out there has not improved yet, and until it does, I think we’re still on the rocky road. 

Elsewhere…quick hits with the Summer Interview series #3 below.

-- Another old friend and co-worker of mine announced his retirement this past week.  The renowned mirror maestro Jim Ventre of Gardner Glass Products/Dreamwalls is calling it a career.  Jim is a class act and has been a good friend for many years.  One of the great parts about Jim that I will miss is seeing him at an industry event and always being greeted with a big, warm smile.  Jim always stayed on the upbeat, no matter the situation.  We, as an industry, will miss you, my friend.  Enjoy that next phase of life!

-- Congrats to Wade Arnold of USBP/Quikserv, who was named Glass Professional of the Year by the Houston Area Glass Association.  A much-deserved honor.  Wade truly commits a tremendous amount of time and effort to the benefit of our space, and it’s great to see him recognized for it!

-- If you read my Q&A with Mike Willard a few weeks ago, it was noted that Dapper Dan Reinhart would be the new CEO at Salem Fabrication Technologies.  That news officially broke this week.  Congrats Dan!  I know he will do a super job as his care for the good of our industry is significant, and his talents to get things done are very strong. 

-- The NGA has a new poll out that could use your attention.  It is related to the use of PCR and EPDs.  Whether you know them or not, you can still take part!  Click HERE for a one-question survey.  Thank you!

-- Big holidays this week… Canada Day and the 4th of July.  Please, folks, go enjoy and take it easy!  And if you’re doing the fireworks thing, please be safe and also think of the dogs and neighbors when you shoot them off.   Have fun!

-- Last this week…. The Summer Interview series rolls on with Josh Burg of Glass Enterprises.  Josh was on my 3rd podcast, and now he’s the 3rd interview here- so that’s cool. Josh is incredibly talented and one of the best operators in the industry.  I’ve always been impressed with him and his approach; he gives it to you straight, fair, and always with class.  Additionally, I wanted to catch up because he has made some huge moves since we last spoke.

Max: Thank you for doing this, Josh. The last time we spoke in a setting like this was in March 2021. You were my third podcast. I've done 60+ since! A lot has changed. Talk to me about these last four years. You've been a very, very busy guy.

Josh: Max. It's always great to talk to you. Thank you again for inviting me. I appreciate the hospitality. Yes, the last four years have been a little crazy. We emerged from Covid and trucked along and had had some positive things happen after. Once we got through that whole mess and we spoke, I would say the biggest highlight was the acquisition of our Connecticut plant. It just increased our capacity, but more so increased our capabilities into laminating, heat soaking, digital print, jumbo glass. That was just last year. So it was kind of a buildup from COVID to get to that point.

And it's been a journey to say the least. It's always another challenge while still trying to maintain what you do well. And then we get into the back end of 2023, 2024, where our industry really saw a decline in business and the market really shrunk, creates another challenging environment. So that's the challenge of last year and it's bleeding over into 25. I don't think anybody's really setting the world on fire, but with diligence and attention to detail, I think you have to just batten down the hatches and move forward. But to move forward, you have to understand your cost structure and pricing models.  I do not know where our industry went sideways, but, at the fabricator level, all I have seen is decreased pricing without regard to the impact of increased costs, overhead, and raw materials.  Our industry literally cannibalizes itself and I am not sure to what end. I truly believe, as fabricators, we have to make the most complex building material, that is all custom, has to be delivered just in-time, and with a static product that is not modifiable after fabrication.  How does our industry not see the proper value?  I would say, that is the largest challenge facing our industry, our inability to communicate and hold value in our products. 

Max: Back to Connecticut. That was a very bold move. I assume everything is rolling OK there?

Josh: Connecticut's rolling wonderfully. We have a great team up there, a new plant manager started about two months ago who's really transformed that place. It took a good six to eight months to get that thing square from where it was. When we got it, it kind of illustrated non glass people getting into the glass industry, not really having a firm grasp of what we do or how we do it or what's required from our customers. So that retooling took some time and the work that Connecticut does has longer cycles, you’re bidding today and hopefully being awarded and then glass gets released about nine months+ later. But at this point, Connecticut is clipping along really well. I've never seen higher quality equipment at a plant in terms of production monitoring, digital scanners, but it's fun, Connecticut's fun.   

Max: I have a curiosity question for you because you do so much. Glass Enterprises does the whole range of our industry, but two of the areas that I'm really interested in is what is the hotter segment right now? Bird friendly glass or school security glass? 

Josh: For us, it's definitely bird friendly. Bird friendly right now is kind of like the wild wild west. There's a good portion of my weeks or days that are occupied on education, on bird friendly to Architects & Glaziers. There are just so many options and the aesthetic appeal of each one is so different, and then there's a cost factor as well for each different product. So you have to balance all those variables when trying to help design a project with our customers, what their expectations are when it gets on the job, whether it's through sampling or I really recommend full mockups to see what bird friendly you selected and what it's going to look like on a building. But I would say definitely bird friendly, especially in our area with New York City having their building codes DC close by Boston, starting to incorporate it and then with all the colleges and universities. 

Max: How have the supply chain challenges with the various things going on in the universe affected you or has it not affected you at all? Any issues out there? 

Josh: We haven't seen any issues with supply chains. I mean, tariffs are having a slight impact. We've gotten a couple letters with some tariff surcharges that have come across, but for our 40-year history, we've always solely purchased from our domestic manufacturers and supply chains. So even during COVID, that was a huge win for us when the container prices went through the roof and shipping. We support the people in our backyard the way we hope our customers support us and reinvest in our local or regional economies. So supply chain in terms of access to material has been great. The volatility in pricing, which we're going through right now with this new price increase, that's a challenge. And it's more of a challenge on how different companies and different segments read the market, for example. Do I think that there's been an over commoditization of products in our space for just in time custom manufacturing, which would carry a lot of value? I think there has been, and I think the increase in costs is challenging when you have a ceiling on the market of what you can sell for, and that's dictated by supply and demand. It's economics 101, there's a lot of supply out there, and as I said, the demand just hasn't been what it needs to be to support that. So I would say the biggest challenge in supply chain is managing your costs versus revenue price. 

Max: Before I let you go, the biggest question, most important question I have to ask you is will the Eagles repeat this year? 

Josh: That's a loaded question. I think it's hard to repeat. I think so many things have to break their way. You have some of these generational teams across all sports, but you have to stay injury free. Your schedule's another variable in that. For the Eagles, I think they have a challenging schedule this year when you finish first in the division. So I'm going to say yes or else all of my local Philadelphia fans will want to crush me. But we're going to go with, yes, the Eagles are going to repeat. I'm going to go to Vegas, put five bucks on it, and there you go. We'll see what happens. 

LINKS of the WEEK

-- I find this somewhat interesting.  Are there more plastic particles in glass bottles than in plastic ones? https://phys.org/news/2025-06-glass-bottles-microplastics-plastic.html

-- Autofocus glasses on the way?  No more bifocals or trifocals.  Not sure how I feel.  Then again, I can’t see for crud anyway. (Eye doctor makes me crazy- “What is better A or B” and I’m like “dang it Doc they all look the same!!”) https://www.techradar.com/health-fitness/these-autofocus-glasses-could-soon-make-bifocals-obsolete-by-tracking-your-eyes-in-real-time

-- The end of an era- the “Blue Screen of Death” is going away https://www.theverge.com/news/692648/microsoft-bsod-black-screen-of-death-color-change-official

BONUS

Tiny homes available from Amazon and with solar panels too.  Some of these are pretty nice. https://people.com/generic-prefabricated-container-tiny-home-june-2025-11757735

 PROJECT of the WEEK

Cool one for the spotlight this week.  Posted by Chase Brown, Owner of East Coast Architectural Glass.  He noted that this project (Palm Bay City Hall) was Kawneer 1630IR Level E Curtainwall, 4 degree inverted. Since I am more of a glass guy, I have no idea what that means.  LOL.  I kid, I kid.  Great work!!! Aside from Kawneer, the other industry player mentioned was Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope.  Kudos to all involved in this beauty!