Here we are… the last scheduled post of 2024. This year did go by quickly, and I am glad about that. I am more than ready for 2025. Bring it on! On this post, I have a new podcast episode, another tease, and then we get into the 2024 MVP race and results. First up, my annual year-ending solo podcast, and this time it features 2019 MVP Bill Sullivan of Brin Glass. Bill announced his retirement this year, so this was a good way to catch up with him and talk about his career, industry advice, and what’s next. Class act as always, and I am glad I got to chop it up with him. Check it out, and thank you so much for the support- the growth of the podcast has been mind-blowing.
AUDIO (And you can search for “From the Fabricator” wherever you get your podcasts.
Thank you to FHC- Frameless Hardware Company for supporting this episode!
Elsewhere…
-- Before we move on- another big retirement went down recently, but I am saving that one for the first post of the new year. What a year for significant folks in our industry moving into that next phase. (Bill, Mike Synon, Terry Hessom, Stanley Yee, Nicole Harris, and probably a few others I missed) Congrats to all!
-- MVP. Here we go… So many people made major impacts this year, and narrowing down the list was tough. But I did it, and I think we have some very deserving people ready for recognition. Remember, this is my annual contest, and I am looking at people who volunteer their time and efforts to support the industry AND/OR lift the industry with innovation and advancements. I have named people and companies to this list in the past 13 years and tried to mix it up amongst styles and personalities. That all said, here goes…
The Runners Up for the 2024 Glass Industry MVP Award were all “dynamic duos.” I have 3 sets of people who brought it day in and day out.
Joey and Matt Aragon- Aragon Construction.
These two for me popped on the radar a few years ago and from that moment they have been truly on fire in our space. Both guys have stepped up at the NGA level to volunteer time and insight. Matt’s interview with the architect Keith Fine earlier in the year at BEC was a showstopper. Joey’s continued focus on helping the installation committee at NGA and building the BEC program has been invaluable. They’ve also supported many other “good for the industry” approaches that aren’t super beneficial to their company- so I love that lack of selfishness. They are also incredibly nice guys, always with a smile and warm greeting, and they cut me slack when my mush brain calls them by the wrong brother's name. (And seriously, I know the difference, but count on me to screw that up here and there) In any case- great young guys kicking tail in their own business and industry!
Cal Beyer-SAFE Project and Dave Argus-Karas & Karas Glass.
You may say whoa Max, Cal is “not” an official industry person, but I’d reply that his care for our space and specifically the people in our space easily makes him a part of us. These two have stepped up educating our industry on the health and wellbeing aspect of things- from positive mental states to drug addiction, etc- showing that there can be a path for folks who’ve run into trouble. The compassion there is enormous and needed. From a personality standpoint, you can’t beat what these two bring. Cal is a wonderful, classy and caring human, and Dave is truly a tremendous one of kind guy. Having them out and active in our industry not only makes our industry better, but our world too.
Carolyn and Michael Spellman- IGE Glass Technologies
Many out there will say- of course Max chose them, he loves them. Yep. I do. They’ve been great to me, so I have my bias. But the facts are that these two changed our industry with how they brought and revolutionized machinery in our world. And they continue to do so. This year, they brought more groundbreaking machinery and material (and don’t sleep on VacuGask with VIG gaining steam) to our world, and all of it is primed to make us better. That is a big key. We need to always be improving efficiencies and offerings because it’s a tough world out there and standing still isn’t a winning play. And obviously, “standing still” is not part of the IGE or Spellman vocabulary.
And now to our winner this year. No duo, but a solo choice and one quite overdue, really. Here goes…
The winner of the 2024 Glass Industry MVP is
Julie Schimmelpenningh of Eastman. Julie is the OG. Flat out what she’s done and CONTINUES to do is amazing. Julie is tireless, and her care and drive for her work in this industry are unmatched. This year, like many before, saw Julie involved in major technical items, all of which are crucial to our industry. The laminated space, where Julie is embedded, has grown dramatically with the needed push for school (and other) security and the influx of bird-friendly, so having someone who is a positive & fair influencer in these areas is huge. As a resource, there is no one better- true brilliance in all things lami and given her volunteering, she’s sharing that knowledge. Also, Julie deserves major props for the fact that once upon a time, she was either the only woman in a meeting or one of a few. Those days could not have been easy, but Julie being so good, so driven, that was not going to stop her. And thankfully, it didn’t because our space is so much better off thanks to her. So there ya go. 2024, your Glass Industry MVP is Julie Schimmelpenningh! CONGRATS!!
That’s it for 2024 on the blog and podcast! So, to close it out, I just wanted to first off THANK all of you who read, listen, and watch my content. I am grateful for that. It never ever gets old when I hear someone say that each Sunday they read the blog or note they’ve checked out the pod. I truly appreciate that. Next, to all of you- a happy and HEALTHY 2025! I know for many, 2024 was a bit rocky, but I am confident in a better year for all ahead!! See you then!
LINKS of the WEEK
Modern-day “Golden Girls” – could this be a new trend?
https://www.businessinsider.com/family-and-friend-built-compound-home-to-grow-old-cost-2024-12
Somehow this read on an EV Owner bringing their car in for a check up was riveting to me. Just between the dealer and costs etc- I couldn’t stop.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2024/12/08/kia-ev9s-first-service-cost/76700999007/
AI being put to use to curb phone scammers. Let’s go!
https://www.npr.org/2024/12/10/nx-s1-5220362/daisy-ai-granny-o2-fraud-spam-prevention
PROJECT of the WEEK
And since I am singing Julie’s praises and noting Eastman, why not put them in the spotlight for Project of the Week? This is Milton Elementary School, featuring a nice range of Eastman Vanceva colors, as fabricated by the folks at Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope. Nice work—it's a great-looking school. Kudos to all involved!!
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