The Pod & Lots of Great People

Good stuff this time out after an excellent industry week.  First, the latest “From the Fabricator” podcast is out and has two really enjoyable conversations.  First up was Jason Epps, CEO of Specialty Fenestration Group (Quikserv & USBP), and it was fabulous to get to know him.  Jason has built a top-notch culture & company, and when you listen to him, you can understand how he did it. Good stuff on that, and also the latest with his company, with new owners and positive items going forward.  Then I connected with JJ Derman of NovaTech Wall Systems.  Loved hearing about JJ’s path and also learning more about his company- that’s new ground for me and very interesting. Plus, he dropped a nickname for one of the industry's most beloved people.  Had me speechless there. All in all, a ton of great insight.  Thank you to both men and thanks in advance to all who listen/watch and support!  Much appreciated!

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Thank you to FHC-Frameless Hardware Company for the sponsorship of this episode!

Elsewhere…

-- So, my magical mystery tour for the month of April (shows, shows, shows) ended at the Glass Symposium in Atlantic City, NJ.  Tremendous event with excellent people involved, either organizing, speaking, attending, or exhibiting.  The venue was a classic, too, which added serious charm.  Kudos to the awesome Pat O’Connor for his intense drive in making this effort so successful.  And of course, there were quite a few people rowing alongside Pat, and for me, it was a great thrill to meet and get to know them. Their hospitality towards me was amazing.   These were incredibly cool and talented folks like Steve Metzger, Lisa Godlewski, Roberto Rios, Mike Laughlin, Matt Traska, Dave Tomczak (who had to be pumped with the Flyers win over the Pens), Tim Crowther, and Dion Frasca.  I know I missed a bunch, and I am sorry- I was meeting so many new people at once, I was taxing what’s left of my brain and memory power to the max. 

I also got to know a bunch of people in our space and also adjacent to it. Chris Puzo of Ventrina was seriously cool, along with Steve Racht and Will Paquette of EDA Contractors, all young, sharp guys who will be big parts of our future. Add Archie Goldsmith to that list, too- excellent case study he presented! Two guys not exactly in our space but attended and “got it” and were super classy were Jason Copely of Cohen Seglias, and Craig Hall of P. Agnes, who had to deal with my 30 questions to him over lunch.  Love any opportunity I can get to spread the glass gospel.

Seeing old friends like the legend Jon Kimberlain of Dow, Barry Wood of Wood’s Pwr Grip, Doug Derusha of FHC, and Joe Silva of Smart Lift was enjoyable.  I also enjoyed meeting people in person that I knew and admired online, like Ron Kudla and Megan Kudla of Advanced Glass & Metal, John Pierce of Glass Enterprises, and Pat McIntyre of Synergy Glass. Now I know them in person!

It would not be a trip to the Philly/Jersey area if I didn’t get to visit with old friend Mark Rabinowitz of Paul Rabinowitz Glass.  He’s incredibly strong out there and is constantly thinking outside the box.  Plus, seeing his son Justin again and meeting Sean Griffin from there was a bonus.  Cool to see Mike Clabbers of National Glass outside of the walls of BEC, and his company was prominent in the absolutely fantastic keynote from Shaun Patchell of LF Driscoll.

For me, a great way to end a busy month, but also see and meet so many people that make our industry go.  Folks who are super resilient and determined to do right by their company and the glass space as a whole.  I look forward to seeing all of them at another show and hopefully at Glass Symposium 3 next year.  (Which keep in mind is open to more than just the Philly/Jersey region, so may be one to add to the list)

-- Last this week… the GFAB momentum is rolling along.  Early Bird ends this week, so get signed up, and if you have folks for the Workshop sessions at Skyline Glass, get them in now before the openings go away. (It’s a 50-person max.)  And on that note, I really enjoyed seeing old friend Michael Spellman of IGE Glass Technologies on the Glass Cast podcast (see HERE) – he always lays it out there, and his passion is really second to none.  More on GFAB is HERE, and I hope to see you there!

LINKS of the WEEK

Amazing story- a baby born on a Delta flight!  Great work by all- and that kid should get Frequent Flyer status now!  https://apnews.com/article/woman-gives-birth-on-flight-portland-6294a432018007308ace0f6cfdac4469

15 years ago, Seal Team 6 got Bin Laden.  Good look back. https://nypost.com/2026/05/02/us-news/us-navy-seal-who-killed-osama-bin-ladens-reflects-on-historic-raid-15-years-later/

Wild one- people in Montreal are trying to fix potholes themselves, and the city does not like that. https://montrealgazette.com/news/montreal-tells-vigilante-pavers-to-stop-patching-city-potholes/

PROJECT of the WEEK

Keeping in the Philly/AC vibe- the project of the week comes from MEG Glass and the Thomas Holme Elementary School in Northeast Philadelphia. Clipped from LinkedIn:

Completed on an accelerated schedule in 2025, the 88,000-square-foot, three-story school now serves approximately 1,300 students. MEG Glass provided and installed storefront systems, curtain wall assemblies, and entrance systems throughout the facility, including an exterior curtain wall featuring 12 distinct glass types and more than 1,400 units.”

OK, I am super curious about the 12 glass types… anyway, this is a fabulous job done by a top-notch company.  Congrats to everyone involved in this one!

TGA Does It Again!

This past week was the Texas Glass Conference at the Woodlands (Houston).  Tremendous event overall.  The Texas Glass Association really delivered a great gathering chock-full of excellent insights and networking opportunities. A few standouts included a really informative AI panel and a fabulous talk from Scott Kimpland of FMI.  Overall, everything really clicked, and I was honored to be involved. My sincere thanks to Brian Risinger and the TGA board for the opportunity.

Of course, I have to mention a handful of folks whom it was wonderful to run into. Super to chat with Kyle Lamb of Universal Glass- I always get a strong takeaway or three.  The awesome Jacque Freeman of Binswanger was there and holding court like always.  It was incredible to see the launch of a new Women in Glass chapter- Syndi Sim, along with Danielle Whatley, Emma McLemore, Kristina Buckett, and Valerie Nagy, are doing something great and needed for our space.  Talented people in so many ways are now giving back even more to our industry.

Cool to see & hear from one of the all-time greats in our industry, Teri Gilmore of A3 Glass.  And I guess while throwing the word “great” out there, it would also pertain to Chris Bayer of Austin Glass and Ted Baumgarder of Guthrie AI.  Ted even overcame a nasty flat tire to make it in for the event.  I was thrilled that Abdeali Karimjee of Precision Glass Industries was there- He needs to do more of these! And speaking of Precision- two of their newest people- Jack Wickstrom and Fulgencio Rey were there- I am thrilled for both of them as they start this new phase in their lives.  I get a charge out of seeing good people joining good organizations.

Another dynamic duo- Hector Vallejo and Wade Arnold of USBP/Quikserv were there, but I could not effectively shoehorn my way into a conversation since both always had crowds around them.  I was honored to have Omar Maalouf of Momentum Glass & Jeff Haber of W+W Glass in the audience for my talk.  Both are so freaking good, and both care deeply about our industry, which I admire and respect.

I did get a short visit with Greg Grothoff of GlassFab.  He is one of the sharpest guys in our world- neat to see him excelling.  And amazing to meet new people- like Larissa and Julio Vasquez of Stratford Glass & Mirror.  As well as Jaime Torres of Trulite.  Really impressive folks! 

Catching up with friends like Todd Schulz of IGE Glass Technologies can’t be underestimated. He was working it all, plus, and unlike the last time I saw him, he did not have to take me to the ER!  As well as Rick Newnom of HOU-TEX Glass.  Always fantastic to catch up & also talk some Houston sports. Plus, it had been a while since I had seen "The Great Joy Lee" (that’s her legal name- or it should be), and her work in and around this conference was huge & appreciated!

I know I missed a bunch- and I am sorry- I didn’t keep notes as well as I usually do!  Wonderful to see everyone and another positive time in the great state of Texas!

Elsewhere….

-- The Glass Magazine Awards public vote is now open.  More details can be found HERE. Check it out and vote.  Some incredible categories and candidates- many I wish I could choose multiple winners. Deadline is May 5th. Go VOTE!

-- Changing of the guard at Winco Window with Woody Miller moving to the top spot, taking over for his dad, Gantt.  I am excited for Woody and happy for Gantt.  Great guys.  I was lucky enough to have them on my podcast way back in October of 2021, and they were super.  So much has changed, and I may have to get Woody back on.  As the podcast has gotten so much better since then, too! If you want to check it out- 

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Last this week… a huge win for our industry at the International Code Council Public Comments Hearings.  Can you believe there are people who want windowless buildings?  Well, they exist, and thankfully, the NGA Advocacy & Tech team went to work and, with some excellent collaboration from across the built environment space, closed loopholes and pushed natural light into the play.  Plus, a huge win with the use of daylight in classrooms, too. Read it all HERE.  Good stuff from the team and massive for our space.

LINKS of the WEEK

Stalking in a “thoughtful” way- yes, it’s a real story/headline. https://gizmodo.com/meta-thinks-its-smart-glasses-could-stalk-people-in-a-thoughtful-way-2000746222

Ruthless scammers.  This one with 3D printed homes. https://capitolnewsillinois.com/news/3d-printed-homes-an-abandoned-590000-deposit-the-fbi-what-really-happened-in-this-small-town/

Oh my- Bunk Beds on a plane? https://apnews.com/article/air-new-zealand-economy-bunk-beds-sleep-c2c434f60116f332c0ce96c69d662c3b

PROJECT of the WEEK

So, always a highlight for me is seeing Sam and Chris Hill of Oak Cliff Mirror & Glass.  So good. So classy.  And they really are key figures in so much of what we do in our industry.  Tremendous people.  So, the project of the week spotlight hits one of their projects.  

This is the North Dallas Bank and Trust at Fields West in Frisco, TX.  In progress and not complete yet, but looking great!  And by the way, Chris Hill, also known as the “Busiest Man in the Glass Industry,” keeps adding on with more and more – and always on the cutting edge.  How he finds the time will always amaze me!  Kudos to the team there and all who collaborated on this one!

Advocacy in Action

The challenge of getting our industry and our needs in front of the right people is an ongoing process.  One of the big things that happens each year is NGA’s Glass & Glazing Advocacy Days, and they're coming up in May. I am grateful for those who attend and hit Washington, D.C. with the passion necessary to get our points across. This time out, key topics are school security, bird-friendly, and workforce development- all big pieces in our space.  Learn more about this effort HERE and your opportunity to be a part of it.  Kudos to my friend Thom Zaremba, who reminded me about this effort earlier in the week- Thom is a crucial figure for us in the code arena, and I’m glad he’s also influential here as well!

Elsewhere…

-- In case you missed the latest From the Fabricator podcast… it was a tremendous triple threat- with three strong segments.  Reaction has been really positive- Thank you. It seems I am not alone in my passion for certification (Scott Kennett and Nicolas Esquivel segment), there’s serious excitement about the Glass Symposium (Pat O’Connor), and Abbie Legara knocked people's socks off!  So please check it out.

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Thank you to the fine folks at FHC- Frameless Hardware Company for their support of this episode!

-- I mentioned above about the symposium, and I am looking forward to seeing everyone and hearing from people like Shaun Patchell from LF Driscoll, talk about enhancing quality with design assist, and from Archie Goldsmith of United General.  Archie’s talk is fascinating to me. His case study won’t be about traditional glazing, but an area that shows some diversity in abilities.  And one that may be in your scope, that you’ve passed on.  I’ve gotten to know Archie a little, and he’s got a strong focus and brings energy to the game. Will be fun to hear and learn more.

-- Did you happen to see the New Tempering Technician training from NGA’s MyGlassFab?  Love this idea and a strong opportunity to get more people in your plant trained and ready to run the furnace, and give current people some more insights that should make your operation more efficient.  Nice work, Jenni Chase and team.  Learn more HERE.

--  Congrats to my friend, the ultra-talented Emily Yukish of Specified Systems, on her company achieving NACC Certification.  This is a great accomplishment, and it's another plus for Specified as they continue to make positive waves in the marketplace.  Emily is a huge industry advocate- and if you know me, you know I live for that sort of thing.  So this is nice to see, and I am glad I could give her some recognition!

-- This is a wild one.  99.  The number 99 in New York City is a key number.  Why? Because the city now has a program that offers new incentives for buildings with fewer than 100 units!  So developers of all kinds are getting super creative with their projects to stay under 100 while still working on ways to reach the number of units they planned.  Great story from the Wall Street Journal HERE.

-- Last this week… This is a great time of year for the sports fan.  Baseball is rolling, the NFL Draft is here, and the NBA and NHL have started their playoffs.  With that in mind, I figured I should make my handy-dandy predictions for who’s going to take the Hoops and Hockey titles!  In basketball, I am so thrilled the Pistons are playing so well, but I don’t think they’re going to get to the finals out of the East.  I’m going Knicks.  And they’ll face the young and hungry San Antonio Spurs in the Finals- with the Spurs winning it all. (And somewhere in San Antonio, my friends at Champion Glass are probably saying “nooo don’t pick us” – Sorry guys)  Hockey-wise- no repeat this year with Florida out. I’ll go with Carolina vs. Dallas in the finals, with the Hurricanes taking the Stanley Cup.  Both the NBA and NHL playoffs don’t end til mid June- so by then you’ll have forgotten how bad these picks probably are!!

LINKS of the WEEK

AI staging in Real Estate- interesting piece on how things may look now and into the future.  And on this one? Buyer beware. https://www.mansionglobal.com/articles/my-client-walked-out-within-minutes-how-ai-is-tanking-home-sales-2cfb9beb

Students building their own classroom?  Nice work! https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/apr/06/sale-creek-middlehigh-opens-new-construction/

Tough story on a dying business and classy owner https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1krp43471wo

 PROJECT of the WEEK

Another winner from the previously noted 2026 Guardian Glass Commercial Project Awards.  The spotlight here is on my friends from Thompson Innovative Glass.  Tom Donovan and company knocked it out of the ballpark with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Newberry Customer Service Center project.  The glass, which was Guardian SunGuard SN 68 with Bird1st™ Etch on clear glass, looked fabulous and worked so perfectly with the design from Lord Aeck Sargent.  The glazing was done by a company I have known forever and was good to see them involved- Calvin & Company, Inc. Everything looked great, and I was thrilled for all participating! Keep up the great work, everyone.