It Continues

The latest Architectural Billings Index is out, and, as has been the case, it was well below break-even.  We are firmly in the middle of the longest slump this index has ever seen.  The good news? Despite that, we truck on through the soft spots and some frustratingly disappointing business tactics and are making the most of it.  But it would be nice to see that number perk up.  The inquiries are strong, and I know quoting activity has picked up quite a bit in our space in the last few weeks.  That’s helpful for the attitude that is for sure. But in any case, the bumpy road continues…

Elsewhere…

-- So pumped for my friend, the great Joe Kaiser at Herzog Glass.  As you may know, Joe and his team were a major part of the Seattle Space Needle’s renovation with some awesome glass and glazing work.  Well, now that effort is going WORLDWIDE with a feature on it in the show “How Did They Build That?” Joe is interviewed on the show, and he breaks down the effort that went into it and shares pictures as well.  The Herzog team crushed this crucial and very sophisticated, pressure-packed job; kudos to them, and I am thrilled that they AND OUR INDUSTRY are getting some mainstream pub.  It’s Season 5, Episode 5 that premieres on August 24th at 8 PM ET on the Smithsonian Channel. It airs again on August 26th at 8 PM ET and will be “on demand” on your cable system, or you can find it on Amazon Prime.  Obviously, a little less reach than a worldwide TV show, but Joe did talk a bit about this project, along with a lot more, on my podcast last November.  It was a fun interview too.  Watch it HERE or search for From the Fabricator on Apple or Spotify and look for the November 2025 episode (S5 E16) to listen to it.

-- And speaking of my podcast… as it grows, I get hit up more from PR groups pitching their people.  99% of the time it’s someone with no fit.  But recently I got hit up by a PR Group for "Indeed Flex," pitching their guy.  Indeed Flex is an extension of the employment outlet Indeed but focuses on temp labor.  The prospectus I was sent looked good.  Given labor is such a pain, I figured this would be great.  So many avenues to go down.  So earlier this week I sent the questions to the PR firm, with the interview fast approaching.  I got a reply back that “sorry the guest can’t do it- Indeed Flex doesn’t do any work in the glass and glazing industry- so he’s canceling.” Absolutely comical- did this firm take like 5 seconds to see what my podcast was about?  Obviously no.  And as for Indeed Flex- I wrote the guy I was set to interview on LinkedIn, expressed my disappointment, told him to find a new PR firm, and got no reply.  “Great” company there- our industry is better off without them.

-- Big acquisition news: Aldora is in agreement to purchase Lenoir Mirror.  The family business model is not dead, and it was nice to see a quality company continue and grow.   I’m excited for all involved here… and potentially, get ready, I may have someone who was key in this deal on a future podcast…

-- This week on the Summer Catch Up Series, I touch base with Kendal Rowe of Rowe AF.  Kendal brings infectious enthusiasm to everything.  Since we last talked, there's been quite a bit of change in her life, but the constant is she continues to be awesome and an absolute force in the marketplace. 

MAX: Ok. 2021 was the last time that you were on my podcast. I think you were on my third overall show, which is awesome. And it's funny, of all the people I'm interviewing, I think that you have the most momentous change in your life in the last five years. Let's talk about that journey and the blessing that came in the span of 2021 to 2026. 

KENDAL: Oh my gosh, the last five years have absolutely flown by. I feel like when we spoke, I still felt very new in the industry, and I was soaking up everything like a sponge. I was trying to get out, meet, and learn as much as possible. And of course, you're always learning, right? I'm always learning, but a lot has changed since then, and I had a kid and she has changed my whole world and perspective on everything. So it's been exciting and exhausting, and it's really kind of opened my eyes and redirected my motivations and energy. It’s been quite the momentous five years. 

MAX: And when you have a kid, it does change your focus on what you're doing and what you're working for. And for you, you have been on your own in business, so then it's a hustle for sure. You’ve got to do it for her. 

KENDAL: Well, for sure there's the providing aspect of it, but it's also setting an example, being a leader and showing her how to be a strong woman in this world. How to be a strong business leader in this world.  She is watching. I know she's little, but she's soaking it all up. I work from home a lot of the time when I'm not customer-facing, she hears my conversations, and she's going to know. She's getting into this industry far before she even knows what it is. 

MAX: Well, I've seen pictures of her at events, so you're already bringing her to stuff.

KENDAL: Oh yes, she loves a good glass conference!

MAX: I love it. Well, two more questions… what has you most excited right now for business-wise in your world?

KENDAL: Well, I launched my own business, and I'm incredibly excited about the opportunity to build this with intention and focus on relationships. The industry is ever-evolving and performance expectations are increasing, sustainability is constantly affecting design intent and collaborating on those levels is what’s important. Working with our industry leaders that are more like technology companies rather than construction-material companies, it's really exciting and I'm excited to be a part of it as it evolves and grows.  I’m excited to build my business along with it. 

MAX: Perfect. Now, speaking of building businesses, this kind of all comes back together. Women in Glass, when you got into the business several years ago, you were definitely more in the minority than ever, and it's growing; it's getting better, but we still have ways to go. I assume you've got to have some encouragement when you see some of these women in glass efforts starting to really take place and you're seeing more activity. How are you feeling about the process? Are we headed in the right direction, I hope? 

KENDAL: I definitely think we are headed in the right direction. I feel like women are coming together and celebrating each other, and it's not about competition; it's about lifting each other up. While that can be so cheesy, the community that we're building has energy. I'm really excited about it, and there are lots of us. We’ve just got to keep communicating, keep reaching out to each other, and keep helping women learn about it.  There are plenty of powerhouse women in this industry who are doing awesome, awesome stuff for us, and connecting with them and feeding off each other is really powerful. 

MAX: No doubt. And now you have a young lady in your life, your daughter, who will be the next great woman in this business, right? 

KENDAL: If that's what she wants, I support it. 

MAX: I love it. Thank you for doing this. Thanks for catching up with me, and I'll see you at GlassBuild, right? 

KENDAL: Yes, absolutely. We'll be there. 

LINKS of the WEEK

People of a certain age will know this story well- Columbia House and the famous get XX amount of CDs (or cassettes- yikes- I did both) for a penny. That’s finally gone now.  Who knew it was still a thing? https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/nation-world/columbia-house-shutting-down-after-71-years/507-277a00f5-1439-486e-a886-feb25532ef57

Crazy week in High School sports with a fan in the stands rushing the football field and an ugly soccer fight.  Cool down, folks! https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/shocking-moment-16-year-old-girl-storms-field-and-tackles-middle-school-football-player/ar-AA2avkx9

If this happened to me, my house would be for sale… yikes https://www.ktnv.com/neighborhoods/henderson/henderson-homeowners-overrun-by-hundreds-of-cockroaches-linked-to-nearby-wetlands-construction

PROJECT of the WEEK

Time for the spotlight to shine on Clover Architectural Products, and my guy Tom O’Malley, also known as the nicest guy in the industry.  This is a jaw-dropper of a project.  The Princeton Plasma Physics Lab was designed by some seriously skilled folks at SmithGroup.  Incredible effort and kudos to Clover and to the folks they worked with, including Spectrum Metal Finishing (look at Jared Ruggieri go), Bonnell Aluminum, and, of course, the installers at RA Kennedy.  Congrats to all, and keep up the great work!

Good Reading

The latest issue of Glass Magazine is out, and it features the Glass Magazine Awards (which I mentioned last week on the blog). Aside from that, though, it is a strong issue. Once again, some of my favorites include important pieces by Norah Dick, Rachel Vitello, Pete deGorter, and Amy Becker that cover safety, workforce, AI, and more.  So check it out HERE.

Ad of the Month goes to Billco for the creative “machinery inside a contest vending machine” look.  Eye-catching and different, and of course the Billco green always works.  Not sure who is responsible, but kudos to whomever it is!

Elsewhere….

-- ICYMI, the latest From the Fabricator podcast dropped last week and has garnered tons of input thanks to the awesome Kristina Buckett and the inspirational Joe Silva.  Great people and stories- worth checking out.  And as always, the goal is to continue to bring a range of people to the podcast, and I love every bit of this process and hope you do as well.

VIDEO

AUDIO (Or search “From the Fabricator” on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts)

A huge thank you to my friends at FHC-Frameless Hardware Company for their support of this episode!

Interested in Joe’s book- click HERE to learn more and purchase. 

-- Shannon McKinney of DT Glass (and the world-famous Shower Door Co Op) was featured this past week on the TV show “Make Room with Kevin Twitty,” and she, of course, repped our space beautifully.  The best part for me is she led with the “glass = wellness” approach, and that really resonates.  We’ve got an awesome product that can do so much, but the mental health side is sometimes lost.  Shannon made sure that in this show it was not.  Great pub for our industry, and nice job, Shannon!  Want to watch it?  CLICK HERE- DT Glass comes in at the 7:14 mark.

NOTE: LINKS and the PROJECT of the Week are below this interview.

This week on the Summer Catch Up Series, I touch base with the incredibly talented Shelly Farmer of Glasshape. (All of these interviews will be coming out in an audio-only edition soon).  Shelly brings so much to the game, and just being able to chop it up with her and get updated was a blast.  Plus “18-year-old Shelly” would be amazed at the current version!

MAX: All right, so it's been five years, amazingly, since you were on my podcast. A lot has changed. What's that journey been like, and where are you now? I think people who follow my blog know where you are, but where are you now? 

SHELLY: Well, before we dive in, I'd like to say thank you, Max, for having me on your podcast again. It's always good to see you and spend time with my most trusted mentor and, frankly, the pillar of our industry. And yes, a few things have definitely changed. And has it really been five years? Yeah. That's crazy to think about when it seems like yesterday, but if we have to go back in time, let's see. Five years ago, I was leading the national sales team for Sightline Commercial Solutions. I was focused on architectural railing systems. Since then, I had the opportunity to join a startup company, Pellucere Technologies, as a senior vice president, which was a completely different experience. I'm very grateful for that opportunity. Instead of selling finished systems, I was commercializing advanced coating technologies, working with research and development, manufacturing, and customers globally, which was a significant change.  It really broadened my knowledge base surrounding that niche part of our industry, also exposed me to the solar glass side of things, and that was a completely foreign glass segment to my previous roles. And let's see, catching up to now, last year I joined Glasshape as Director of Sales for the Southeast USA, and it honestly feels like everything has come full circle. I'm back in the architectural glass industry working on some incredibly complex and exciting projects. And in May, I was promoted to Vice President of Sales for the United States. 

MAX: Awesome. 

SHELLY: Awesome. Yes, so the interesting part of this role is that I still carry my own sales territory, the Southeast, while leading our national sales team. So I love that dynamic because it keeps me close to our customers, and it also gives me the opportunity to help grow the business and develop the people around me. It's definitely the busiest part of my career, but it's also one of the most rewarding. 

MAX: It's exciting. And so those who don't know what Glasshape does, maybe a quick little rundown on that. And then what's got you most excited about being at Glasshape? 

SHELLY: Well, it's an incredible company, first of all, based out of New Zealand. And yes, put it on your bucket list. You have to go there. You have to go see New Zealand. It is absolutely beautiful. But let's see. To answer your question, what excites me the most about my role at Glasshape? Without question, it's the opportunity to solve problems that most companies shy away from. At Glasshape, we're not trying to be everything to everybody. We specialize in complex curved glass, custom architectural applications, and projects that require extensive engineering, creativity, and collaboration, and that's where I really thrive. That's where Glasshape shines. I also love that we're in a relationship-driven company. Our customers aren't just buying glass; they're trusting us to help bring some incredible architectural visions to life. And being part of those types of projects from concept to completion, it's really rewarding. And after working decades in this industry, I still get excited when I see a completed job site and know that we helped make that happen from concept to completion; that excitement never really gets old. 

MAX: It's a great company. Congratulations again. And so, the last question I have for you, because it's just a little catch-up, but I was very curious, what advice would modern-day Shelly give to 18-year-old Shelly about the future? If you could go back and tell your 18-year-old self something, what would that be? 

SHELLY: I love that question, Max. And I think it's really important when you get to be in what I would consider my last third act to reflect upon the lessons that we learned and tell her not to spend so much time worrying about whether she belonged in the room. Construction was, and in many ways still is, a male-dominated industry. And I think early on, I felt like I had to prove myself over and over again. I put really big, unrealistic expectations around thinking I had to know everything when the truth was I was always surrounded by an incredible support system in engineering and manufacturing. I didn't have to know the answer to every single question, but young Shelly thought that she had to know that, and that was not realistic. So looking back, I wish I'd understood sooner what I know now, and that preparation, integrity, and treating people well matter far more than trying to be the loudest voice in the room.  I’d tell her that relationships are your greatest investments because we all know products change, companies change, technology changes, but your reputation follows you everywhere. And I think the opportunities I've been given throughout my career didn't come because I had a perfect resume or knew the answer to every single engineering question. They came because people trusted me to find the answers, even if I didn't have them.  I think finally I'd really tell her to enjoy the journey a little bit more. I definitely have worked very hard in my career, and when you're young, you're always chasing that next title or that next milestone. And what I've learned is that the real reward is the people you meet, like our relationship, for example, and the chance to leave the industry a little better than the way you found it. 

MAX: Yes, you have, and I think young Shelly would've been extremely pumped to see what you are current day. Probably blown away, I would assume. Oh my gosh, look at you. You're a VP at a major organization, traveling the world and doing just stunning things. Congrats to you. Keep it going.

SHELLY: Thank you. Thank you, Max. I couldn't have done it without the help of a lot of really talented, great people. And again, you're one of them, so grateful for our friendship that's lasted decades, literally. And for all that you do for our industry, it's been a pleasure working alongside you and all the great people in our business. They're incredible. Absolutely incredible people. 

MAX: Feeling is mutual. Thank you!

LINKS of the WEEK

A 162-year-old bottle of beer is found… https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/162-year-old-guinness-bottle-found-in-shipwreck-that-could-reveal-original-recipe-3395804/

Robbing a store that you work at. Then returning to work your shift.  Yeah. Not the best call. https://www.abc15.com/news/crime/shake-shack-worker-allegedly-robbed-his-own-store-returned-to-work-days-later

Is the Italian Cheese industry in trouble?  Surely none of you were expecting this story. LOL https://fortune.com/2026/08/10/italy-5-billion-cheese-economy-heat-wave-climate-change/

PROJECT of the WEEK

I love and promote the great state of Texas so much, the joke is I should apply for residency there, and who knows, maybe one day I will.  But until then, I’ll keep supporting the fine folks there and showcasing their projects along the way.  This week, a return to the spotlight for the class acts at Texstar Glazing. This is Crutchfield Elementary in the Sherman ISD. Clean and sharp install, and everything looks good.  I root hard for Danielle Whatley and the team there because they truly grind and take absolutely nothing for granted.  Nice work, team, and to all others who collaborated on this one!