Fresh Perspectives

For the holiday weekend, a new episode of the “From the Fabricator” podcast is ready for you.  Guest numbers 219 and 220. I kick it off with Randy Brooks, President & CEO of Gardner Glass/Walker Glass.  Randy is the genuine article, and it was fun to catch up with a guy I first ran into in this industry 30+ years ago.  We hit on a ton of subjects, including bringing two great companies together, expansions, products, and more.  Then I had a great time with Jared Ruggieri, National Sales Manager at Spectrum Metal Finishing.  Cool career he’s had and now doing great things on the coating side.  Great perspectives on several items (real backlog vs paper backlog, among others), and he shares my appreciation for powder coating!  I continue to enjoy bringing different voices to the forefront, and these two deliver.  Plus, with the growth in the audio audience, I think this model is working!  Thank you to all who continue to support this effort!  I appreciate it!

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AUDIO

Thank you to FHC Frameless Hardware Company for their ongoing support of the From the Fabricator podcast! 

Elsewhere….

--  Market-wise, this past week, we received the latest Architectural Billings Index and an update from the team at Dodge. The ABI slipped a bit this time, BUT the inquiries which were best since 2022 last month went up AGAIN. That continues to be a good sign for things to eventually break loose.  Just wish I knew when that time is!  Dodge was in a good place, too- and not just with data center growth.  Starts saw gains in pretty much every area.  Challenges abound out there, but it’s nice to see the metrics looking good.

-- Time for the review of the latest edition of Glass Magazine.  This is the annual Sourcebook that, from front to back, has suppliers for pretty much everything. This is the issue I see most on people’s desks.  A quick, easy reference right at your fingertips! The ad of the month- a big one, considering people are using this issue to learn about additional supply chain options- was a challenge!  Again, the marketing teams in the industry keep stepping up their game!  The winner, though, for this month was Glenny Glass.  First, I’ve always admired their President, Braxton Smith, and what he’s continued there at Glenny.  Second, the ad was cool. I liked seeing the whole team, and the blue color really pops off the page.  So, congrats to Glenny and whoever designed this one!  

-- Road Warriors… have you seen the news on a new TSA Program called TSA Gold+? This is a move to bring private contractors into TSA's security operations.  Very interesting since we’ve had TSA since 2001, but the consecutive shutdowns that unnecessarily affected the TSA workforce may have been what moved this forward.  More HERE, and this is just starting off, so it’s too soon to get any feel, but moving away from the current model will be an adjustment for sure!

-- Last this week with a new Fed Chair coming in- a note from the “Bow Tie” Economist Elliot Eisenberg. 

“Kevin Warsh is the 17th Fed Chairperson. Since the start of the 5th Chairperson, Eugene Meyer on 9/16/30, the average return of the S&P 500 during the first three months of the new Chair’s term has been -12%. The worst was Alan Greenspan, whose term commenced on 8/11/87. He saw the market decline 33%; Eugene Mayer follows closely at -32%. The best performer, Ben Bernacke at 2%. Hold on tight.”  

Sorry to have that positive news at the top, with sobering news at the bottom!  By the way, Elliot sends short daily e-mails that can cover a wide range of items.  It’s a good one.  Check it out HERE to subscribe.  One day, I’m hopeful to get him on the pod! 

LINKS of the WEEK

There’s a record for everything.  Including most t-shirts, put on in a minute. https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2026/05/22/Guinness-World-Records-David-Rush-T-shirts/4211779463880/

Bizarre- getting tossed from a Disney restaurant! (I’ve dined at this one with the Disney legend Zach Perilstein, and it was good) https://nypost.com/2026/05/22/us-news/crazed-disney-world-guest-arrested-after-going-ballistic-on-staffers-over-a-tiny-diagreement/

Busted in the carpool lane! https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/california-cops-bust-driver-carpool-180409954.html

PROJECT of the WEEK

What happens when a bunch of true heavyweights get together?  You get a spectacular project! This is Wolf Point East in Chicago. Your architects were Pelli Clarke & Partners and Pappageorge Haymes Partners. The glazier was Harmon.  Glass was fabricated by Viracon.  And to really make this project kick it up a notch?  Clover Architectural Products with the wood-grain powder-coated sunshades! Tom O'Malley is always clutch! Tremendous building, thanks to fantastic work.  Congrats to all involved!

Getting Out of the Box

One thing I often talk about is moving away from the “that’s the way we’ve always done it” mentality in our industry.  Yes, I’ll admit, I actually fall into that trap from time to time too- especially as the years go by, so I know it’s not easy.  But in challenging times like the ones we’re facing now, thinking outside the box is more crucial than ever.  So, when I saw this article on Ford Motor Company and their effort to create a new vehicle in a totally new way- it resonated with me.  It’s a great look at a legacy company having to change things and fight through old habits, and sometimes the people standing in its way.  Check it out HERE.  Not everything in every industry applies to us, but it is nice to see sometimes that others have the same adventures! (Note- if for some reason you can’t access it- just message me and I’ll get you a copy)

Elsewhere…

--  Cool event coming to Texas in June.  CDC – Curtainwall Design & Consulting is hosting an event headlined by a deep dive case study.  This is part of an educational “happy hour” that will explore quality assurance and educate on certification.  Yes, I am pounding the certification drum again.  Anyway, if you are in Texas, I highly recommend checking this one out.  Folks from CDC are always fascinating, and you can always learn something helpful from them, so given that they’re opening their doors up, I’d think it’s worth walking in.  More info can be found HERE!

-- Two big moves by two legendary figures in our space.  First off, my good friend Shelly Farmer was just promoted to Vice President of Sales, USA, at Glasshape.  Shelly makes things happen- and with a stunning and quality product line, the sky is the limit.   Also, this week, the news that Gus Trupiano is leaving his current post with GGI and starting a business with his son. All Things Glass is the name, and I am thrilled for the Trupianos!  Gus will still represent GGI in the Southeast, so that’s good, and now he gets to do something with the next gen.  I love it and know it will go great!  Congrats to all!

-- Jennifer Lang of Minneapolis Glass is one of the most talented people in our space, so it was extremely cool to see her recognized by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal as a 2026 Women in Business honoree. People in our industry don’t get a ton of mainstream love, so I am excited to see it when it happens. In this case, knowing and admiring Jennifer, her team, and their work makes it all the more special.  Congrats!!

-- In case you missed it- last week a simply fabulous blog was posted by Dave Vermeulen of Technical Glass Products (TGP) at Glass Magazine on the progress of certain styles of glass and their connections to Stadiums. Dave rightfully points out how our products are so key to that segment, and I loved the rundown he provided and the look back he mentioned, too.  Dave’s blogs always deliver!

-- Last this week… May 20th will be the day a new Jack Ryan movie drops on Amazon Prime.  Now, the Amazon version of Jack Ryan has always been a TV series, but this time out, they went with a feature-length film.  I’ve loved what they’ve done in the past, so I can’t wait to watch this one.  HOWEVER- I am also very excited because in the trailers that have been posted, I’ve seen some cool BR glass and a scene where people fall through a glass floor.  Woo-boy- that’s going to be fun to examine.  I know I am not alone in thinking that when glass-related products appear in a show or movie, it becomes a complete study.  So if any of you watch it and see these scenes, feel free to leave a review!  I hope to have mine up within a couple of weeks, if not sooner, depending on when I can watch and take the time to pause and rewind 1000 times.

LINKS of the WEEK

Have you ever seen a Speed Limit of 17.3?  Amazingly, it exists! (And any time I think speed limit- I think Sammy Hagar- I can’t drive 55) https://nypost.com/2026/04/30/lifestyle/bizarre-speed-limit-baffles-drivers-but-officials-claim-it-will-make-you-slow-down/

Too comical. A suit involving the absolutely awful movie “The Rip” – saying it was “too real”- well, I can tell you the acting surely wasn’t.  Anyway, a comical one nonetheless. https://apnews.com/article/rip-lawsuit-ben-affleck-matt-damon-98647a282521fe01ce73d8a7afeb4400

UNREAL- A man has 3 heart attacks in 4 days.  That is not a misprint!  And the guy is still alive now and kicking.  What a wild one. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/advent-health-deland-heart-attack-blood-clot-cardiac-health/

PROJECT of the WEEK

Lonnie Hernandez is a solid one to follow on LinkedIn- always posting some in-progress project that he’s on as a Glazier Superintendent.  This one was a cool rotunda that was being built in California at a Kaiser facility.  Looking good, Lonnie!  Keep on posting and doing great things out there!

Big News on the School Security Front

So the industry picked up a huge win last week- one that you’ll hear more about this week and for sure weeks going forward.  Behind a herculean effort by NGA’s Urmilla Sowell and her incredible team of technical & advocacy stars, a new bill was introduced in Congress that could be massive to the glass and glazing industry.  I’m speaking of House Resolution 8506.  Sponsored by Rep. Charles "Chuck” Fleischmann [R-TN-3], it will establish a grant program to improve school security, with an emphasis on glass & glazing, by providing funding avenues that enable districts to adopt more effective, layered protection strategies for both students and educators. Yes. You are reading the right- and the wording in the resolution was glorious:

 (C) securing glass in the building’s exterior through the installation of forced entry or bullet resistant glass;

(D) glass in the building’s exterior through the installation of forced entry or bullet resistant glass;

We need more and more of this out there, and this is an example of the stellar work Urmilla does, along with incredible and caring talents like Karen Wegert, Georgia Oehler, Thom Zaremba, Tom Culp, Nick Resetar, among others. They are doing the work in representing us and advancing causes that are good for us! Kudos to them! As noted above, more on this is coming, especially with NGA holding its Glass and Glazing Advocacy Days this week in DC. Let’s keep this momentum rolling, folks. 

Elsewhere…

-- ICYMI! The most recent episode of the “From the Fabricator” podcast is making waves- very positive waves at that.  Jason Epps, CEO of Specialty Fenestration Group (USBP, Quikserv) blew people away with his story and approach.  JJ Derman of NovaTech got people thinking about diversifying their offerings and how service and support can be very valuable to the glazing community.  Really enjoyable pod.  Thanks to those guys and thanks to everyone who’s checked it out already!

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AUDIO

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

-- Dodge Construction had a quarterly update this past week, and the word “uncertainty” is once again in the spotlight.  I swear, if I had a nickel for every time that word has been uttered in the last 10 months, I could finally retire and take the greeter job at a Publix in some small Florida town.  But that word and that fact are real.  With the constant changes in government decision-making and now the war, the construction space has basically been paralyzed. So, needless to say, we’re still in that resilience and patience mode.  As I’ve noted before, the hunger is there, the work is being planned, but the volatility out there is delaying progress. 

-- One of the hardest working people I have ever known and also a tremendous human got a promotion recently.  Scott Goodman was named Technical Field Sales Specialist- Southeast Region for CRL.  I love it when the people who grind get that recognition, and Scott absolutely deserves the props.  Congrats, my friend, on this new spot, and props to CRL for recognizing it!

-- Also, congratulations to my friends at TSI Corporations for their field teams being honored by the Washington Building Congress with the Craftsmanship Award for both the Reston JW Marriott Hotel & Condo and the OB5 project in Reston, VA.  So cool to see and not a surprise knowing Thomas Cornellier and the team there.  Great company and culture! 

-- Last this week… the new Michael Jackson movie- “Michael” is out and I went to see it, curious about how they’d handle his life story.  Well, that whole life story is going to come in future parts.  This movie covers Michael from the mid-80s, and I enjoyed it. Well done and the acting, especially by the actor who played Michael as a kid, was incredible.  I’m a sucker for music biopics, and so this one was a winner for me. If you grew up in the 80’s and had any liking of Michael Jackson, this one is for you.

LINKS of the WEEK

Bonkers… being delayed 50 years to build a dream home on their property https://www.ksby.com/los-osos/los-osos-couple-gets-closer-to-building-their-dream-home-after-50-year-wait

This story completely misses the point- it’s trying to be cute about a pink colored cat- but it completely blows off a major item. And that note they missed bums me out. https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/pets-animals/shelter-staff-scratch-their-heads-when-a-pink-cat-shows-up-at-their-door/ar-AA22De3Y

Could the “Milk Door” make a comeback?  Doubtful. Still cool to see some old ones out there though! https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/milk-doors-history-2-37550297

PROJECT of the WEEK

We go to Virginia for the Project of the Week and a great job by the gang at SPS Corporation. This is the Kinsale North office building in Richmond, VA.  This one had a little of everything and in the end turned out beautifully!  Congrats to SPS and all involved in this excellent effort!