A Dynamic Duo is GlassBuild Ready!

Fun new episode of the “From the Fabricator” podcast for you.  It’s a dive into the upcoming GlassBuild show in Vegas with two guys who have done it all at this event.  I chop it up with two Kings in our space- Andrew Haring of FHC-Frameless Hardware Company and Kevin Hardman of Hardman Glazing Management and Hardman Glazing Systems.  The pod became a fun round-robin about first shows, cities it could go to, tips and tricks for getting around the show, and tons and tons of name drops. If you’re going to the show or still thinking about it, give it a listen/watch.  If you don’t have plans to go, it’s still an easy listen that drops more than a few nuggets along the way.

VIDEO

AUDIO (or Apple/Spotify- Just search "From the Fabricator"

This time out, the episode is brought to you by Hardman Glazing Systems. Exciting new venture from Kevin and team.  Thank you for the support!

Elsewhere…

--  An important yearly tradition is coming up.  The 17th Annual Hale Glass Blood Drive.  If you are in or around Southern California on September 11th, stop by Hale Glass and donate.  Blood is in short supply this year, so every bit helps.  The event runs 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. with lunch provided for donors 11am - 1pm.  Thank you to Gloria and Brian Hale- always classy, always caring.

-- A must-watch, very funny clip on LinkedIn- if people ordered fast food as they talked to contractors.  Perfect.

-- Promotion news- the extremely talented Wade Arnold is now Vice President of Sales at Quikserv. Wade is a true-blue industry guy, and it’s awesome to see him get a new position and continue the good he’s done before.  Congrats Wade!

-- You may have seen a blurb on the dialogue in Washington, DC, about their glazier certification/licensing effort.  This plan is getting pushback, and all I can say is that the detractors are off on this one.  Way off.  Certification is crucial.  And we, as an industry, should support it with all we have.  It can lift our entire space and improve what we do and how we do it.  And from what I am seeing, efforts to get certified everywhere are growing, so it’s kind of a “get on board now” sort of thing.  If you have questions/comments about this, hit me up.  Would love to chat through it.

Links and the Project of the Week from North of the Border are below the next section.

-- The final installment of the Summer Catch Up Series is here… this time out I touch base with Jill Read of Diamon-Fusion International (DFI).  Jill has always been the dynamo of brilliance, and she’s hit the ground running at DFI. But what about the time since we talked on the podcast?  We catch up on that and more.

MAX: Okay. The last time I had you on the podcast was 2021, so it's been five years. I think a few things have happened in your world in that time. Do you want to take me back and how the journey's been from then till now? 

JILL: Sure. Gosh, five years goes by so quickly. Yeah, so I've just been living the dream, Max. 

MAX: Love it. 

JILL: My family is good, with one teenager left in our nest. So, looking back over the last five years, the glass industry has helped me transition to where I am now. I was with Binswanger for over seven years and then Impact Security for two and half years. Just this March, I joined the team at Diamon-Fusion International, well known by most as DFI. So that's a snapshot of what I've been doing for the last five years.

MAX: Some cool roles though. So that has prepared you for this one. 

JILL: “Oh, most definitely, Max. I’ve had the opportunity to work in some vastly different areas of the glass industry. I started with a focus on retail and contract glazing at Binswanger, where I worked with large national customers. From there, I moved into the security side working with ballistic and film products, which I absolutely loved. And now I’ve transitioned into something completely different, but still very much connected to glass - making sure the glass is protected, stays looking its best and doesn’t leave the fabricator ‘naked,’ so to speak.”

MAX: The naked glass thing. Somewhere Guillermo Seta has a huge smile on his face. One of these days we'll explain that in more detail, but I have to ask, how's it going at DFI? You've been there for a few months, settling in okay; you still got that excitement in your bones for it?

JILL: “Absolutely. A few months in, and the excitement hasn’t worn off. If anything, I’m finding more reasons to be excited, Max. So, quick story, having been in the industry, I’d heard of DFI, and had a certain idea of what the products were all about. But at my first trade show of the year in New York, while sporting the DFI logo on my jacket, I quickly got introduced to DFI’s reputation. What really stood out to me was that as I walked the show and talked with people, they were telling me great stories about my team members and sharing their view of the DFI brand. I remember thinking, how great is it that I’m meeting people who already have such a positive impression of the company and the team that I’m now a part of. It was a really nice feeling.”

MAX: That is awesome. Congratulations again on that. You got a lot of things going on because I know Adam is always inventing something new. And so I have to ask from a similar level: I've always thought of you as kind of an old school person. You've come up through different worlds in our industry from the marketing side and so on. What's your take on AI, artificial intelligence? Do you like it, hate it, use it, avoid it? What's AI for Jill Read? 

JILL: I love it. In fact, I have a good friend; she came over a couple of days ago for a quick visit, and she said, "I know a lot of folks are not really excited about this AI." She said, "But I love it." And I confess, "Me too." From a business standpoint, Max, I had a spreadsheet, which I wanted to create multiple tabs for, run calculations and incorporate filters. Old school Jill would've probably taken a good four hours to develop that and then still not been real pleased with the exact outcome. New AI Jill put that into ChatGPT, and it came out beautiful within 10 minutes. And AI made some suggestions that I hadn't even really considered. Bam, I have a project completed in my hands in ten minutes. Our industry as a whole, needs to embrace parts of AI. Reviewing drawings, completing takeoffs, building the estimate, I don't think it's going to replace our industry estimators. I think what it's going to do is help our industry become more productive. If you can have AI look at 200 pages of an architectural drawing and tell you the areas you need to bid, the glass type, the approved manufacturers in a matter of a minute – I mean, that’s awesome.

MAX: It really is something else, and I've enjoyed working with it. And the last thing I have for you is GlassBuild. You'll be there, I assume. DFI always has a place in the middle of the action. The industry front man, Carl Christ, is always there front and center. What's on tap for you at GlassBuild? 

JILL: I'm not supposed to talk too much about our big secret reveal, but I will tell you there is a lot of R&D going on. Adam, along with our engineers, have been extremely busy to the point where he's canceled team meetings, and Adam doesn't cancel meetings—it’s because we're ramping up for GlassBuild. We want to unveil what he's been working very hard on. And I think our friends in the industry are going to be excited right along with us. So yeah, GlassBuild, our booth is #2759. And if Carl gets his way, he's going to have a large banner over our booth. He says no matter where you're standing, you'll be able to see DFI's banner from various parts of the building. 

MAX: Awesome. Can't wait to see you in Las Vegas. Thanks for doing this. 

JILL: No problem. Always enjoy talking with you, Max.

Thank you to everyone who connected back up with me.  An audio version of these takes will be coming soon.  And thanks to all reading this for going back in time with me!

LINKS of the WEEK

A ban on glass or metal water bottles in a school… why? https://www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/new-jersey-school-district-water-bottle-ban/

A wildfire in Belgium leads to a scary scenario… https://www.wbaltv.com/article/wildfires-expose-detonate-buried-bombs-mines-wwi-wwii/73501078

I love rollercoasters- but some are going to far… and now being shuttered because of it! https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/six-flags-x2-coaster-closed-brain-injuries-1236683165/

PROJECT of the WEEK

We go inside and up to Canada for the spotlight this week. The always-wonderful Ryan Shoemaker and Champagne Glass caught my eye with this wild interior job and its use of dichroic options.  As the caption says:

This installation features 12 mm clear glass partitions with both swing and sliding doors, finished with 3M Dichroic decorative film. As the viewing angle and lighting change, the glass shifts through a spectrum of colours—creating a bold, dynamic look while keeping the workspace bright and open.

This will really stand out to the folks who will work in this office and anyone who visits.  Everything is looking fabulous here and the workmanship is on point.  Kudos to Ryan and team for the great work, as well as their suppliers.   Keep it up!

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!