Catching Up

I’m still flying high after an amazing GlassBuild but it’s back to the day-to-day grind right?  Some catch up items from the show and elsewhere around our industry below!

 

--  I missed Congratulating Pete deGorter and team on their 100^th Anniversary that they celebrated at GlassBuild.  Obviously, a great run and happy see them rolling along.  Pete is truly one of the good guys in our world and I loved his “hat” promo at the show- all well done.  Congrats DeGorter on the century in business!

 

--  The hotel I stayed at in Vegas probably didn’t do us any favors as an industry because the glass allowed a TON of heat in- especially in the workout facility.  Really bizarre stuff there as I know Vegas is hot, but I have never stayed at a hotel there where I could feel the warmth coming through the window like this.  And I won’t put the fabricator on blast (though it is one I am not friendly with or know much on) because maybe this was a spec issue or a fluke- but still very odd.

 

--  A few years ago after a BEC show in Vegas Steve Cohen of Vitro hung out with Mike Tyson at the airport. (I believe Steve and Iron Mike are still close, that's why I try to stay on Steve's good side)  This year after GlassBuild, Dave Anderson of HHH/Salem may have topped him by running into and getting a picture with Terry Bradshaw.  VERY COOL.  I have not gotten lucky like these guys but I did see the movie star good looks of Cameron Scripture of Viracon so that should count for something right?

 

--  And speaking of Salem/HHH…Lost in the shuffle of the GlassBuild run up was a podcast I did with the gang from Salem/HHH and Vardhan Mehta of Acelab.  Was a good pod and catching up with some very interesting players in our world.  

Check it out

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--  And of course, if you missed the Van Ride podcast- the masses are asking two questions from that one… What call name did Patrick Elmore pick (he was deciding between 3 last I checked)and when will Carl Christ and the Medflys tour again?  Answers to come on both… but if you missed and want context and so much more:

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The next podcast is in the works and will be dropping next week… plus I have some really interesting guests lined up for the next few months including a major major industry player on a solo appearance to end the year.  You can subscribe to my podcast on Apple and Spotify and follow on YouTube too.  Thank you!

 

--  The Architectural Billings Index is wobbling but still positive.  51.7 in the last rating.  Can it stay above water another month?  Remember what we heard at GlassBuild was the downturn for us would start around March of 2024… so every month that the ABI hangs in there could mean delaying a downturn on the other end.  Next week I’ll have some insights from a recent AIA forecast call to share as well. 

 

--  New rules coming to the Florida condo market that I think would have a long-term effect on what we do and who we do it for.  I can see a lot of old buildings coming down because of this- making room for new.  But also I think there’s enough confusion here that the push back may be strong.

 

--  I did see the news on Walker Glass partnering with a PE firm and I’ll go back to my tried-and-true plea that hopefully that does not change the support of the company industry wide.  Walker has been a huge player in the industry universe always attending everything out there and sponsoring etc.  Walkers’ reputation is pristine and features some of the best folks in our world.  Obviously, this is an exciting time for the owners and management at Walker and I congratulate them so hopefully the past track record can continue without issue!

 

--  Last this week… Interesting news that the AIA show is going to be managed by the AIA and not a third party (like it has been for years) So will this mean this show improves and cares about its exhibit floor?  That will be the first thing to see.  They do have their work cut out for them with the next show in San Fran (terrible for shows right now) and getting past the previous missteps.  I guess we will see! 

 

LINKS of the WEEK

No cars are good when flooded- that includes electric too- and the last hurricane took its toll on some Teslas.

 

I sincerely think we are in a combo of inflation and gouging.  Eventually something has to settle right?  First up- Halloween candy (thankfully my lifestyle change avoids this)

 

I love Florida but the animal thunderdome continues to get worse… now Bears just rolling up to houses like no biggie…

 

PROJECT of the WEEK

Grabbed this from the feed of Mario Gutierrez of Hale Glass.  Did not see any of the details (like who manufactured and fabricated the glass and aluminum) but the pictures were very nice and building looks great!  Congrats Mario and Hale Glass team and keep up the great work out there!!

The Giant GlassBuild Recap

What a week in Vegas. A crazy packed and somewhat confusing show floor led to an epic time at GlassBuild. I love this event with the learning and comradery at every single turn.  This year really came through at every level and was pretty memorable.  The overall trend on the show floor was “screens” as more exhibits than I have ever seen put the video screen in play.  It is a great way to get your point across visually and allow you to use your booth space more effectively.  The other part was the vibe.  People are feeling positive about 2023 and while worried about 2024, they used this show to seek out efficiencies and ways to diversify their offering to guard against the downturn that’s coming.  (And according to the amazing Connor Lokar, the economist who spoke at the Glazing Executives Forum, it’s headed our way in the commercial space in early 2024.). And there were plenty of options of efficiency and diversification on that floor!  So with all of that said, time for my annual name dropping and recognition of seen and heard at the show!

 

--  Walker Glass celebrated their 80^th Anniversary with a party so gregarious on the floor, I couldn’t get near it to say congrats or even see Danik Dancause in a legendary suit. The great Casey Anderson and the ICD team were also in celebratory mode after winning one of the Best in Show awards thanks to a brilliant video screen. And I loved seeing the Chris Phillips led Shower Door Professionals group.  I only saw Chris for a moment and visited with a few of the guys, but it is amazing the bonds that Chris and these guys (like the awesome Billy Britt, Bill/Keith Daubmann, Brandon Nicastro, Chance Forman etc.) have forged.  A deep and meaningful set of relationships that is good for our world.

 

--  From the parts I attended, the Glazing Executives Forum was strong- Jodi Martinez of AllStar Glass is a natural as the host. Today she’s hosting this, give her time and she’s hosting the Emmys and Oscars next!  I got to meet Jon Gaines and Leah Kerr-Michaels of Island Glass and they were extremely cool (as most from Hawaii are.) I saw Jeff Haber of W&W for about 10 seconds which was a bummer, but hopefully I’ll see him and crew at BEC in the spring. 

 

--  I love getting to see the fine folks from IGE led by Michael and Carolyn Spellman.  Special shout out to Jeff Spicer there who was moving a thousand miles an hour getting their booth built from the ground up, Nice work!  I also got to see my old pal Lyle Shimazu for the first time in many many years.  What an awesome experience!  And speaking of awesome, Ray Luna of Champion Glass fits that bill to a T.  Thrilled to spend a few minutes catching up and look forward to seeing him at Texpo next spring. And obviously a visit to Texpo means I’ll get to see the incredible Brian Risinger of Country Glass.  Brian hooked me up with some Country Glass gear that of course turned heads- and I was honored to wear it.  And in Texas I’ll get to see the bros Kyle and Clint Sharp from Sharp Glass.  Classy to the core there.

 

--  Chris Cullum and CMS had one of the best booths in the show in my opinion, the blue carpet popped and layout was strong. GGI also had a showstopping exhibit and Spencer Raymond built it in like 30 seconds- what a monster.  LOL.  Was also super to see cousin Scott Cook too there as well as the Kentucky Colonel Brad Thurman.  While visiting there I met Sean McEneaney of Glass Concepts- good guy!   Stanley Yee from Dow is always a favorite of mine and when I needed Febreze for a musty smell, my main man Stanley was clutch! And also hustling was Andrew Kennedy of Naverra- he was a machine on that show floor with meeting after meeting as his company gets closer to launch. 

 

--  Winner of the best-looking clothes by an exhibitor again went to Dapper Dan Reinhart of Salem Fabrication Technologies.  Especially the day 2 blue shirts- they may be the nicest shirts in GlassBuild history. Speaking of history- guys I go way back with that I was able to see included the great reps Jeff Ziesche of Jaz Sales and Tony Kasprzak of Seawall Architectural.  Both were swamped the entire time, Jeff at the bustling and packed FHC booth and Tony somehow walked the show with a phone constantly going- that was serious multi-tasking!  Rich Porayko was everywhere as always and saw a ton of Sand & Soda gear throughout- especially at the Tailgate Party! Also all the Rowe’s from Rowe Fenestration- just freaking fantastic people.

 

--  On the bummer side I only saw the terrific Devin Bowman of TGP/Allegion for a second as I was tied up and he was on the move.  Same with Tom Herron of NFRC- Tom and I usually grab a picture and I never made it to his booth- sucks.  I did not get enough time with James Wright of Virginia Glass because that guy never stops working the room!  And Jim Ventre from Gardner was only a brief handshake and wave-, but I did get to chat with Lucas Brooks from there and that worked out well. 

 

--  Was great to visit with Ray Garries.  He is always on top of every move- as is the legend Heather West.  She is and will always be the gold standard in our industry both as PR pro and person.  Loved meeting Aaron Blom of FGIA.  Was a blast talking the past with him and just a very cool cat.  Got to meet Alex Reed of Reed Rubber Products in person and she has that “it” factor that will be big in our space for years to come. We need youth like her and may as well add in Sam Olson in on that praise too. He’ll be a future pod guest and any old pal of Melanie Dettmer is someone I want to know. Keep an eye on Hari Atkuri of Smart Glass Labs- he has that next gen product with a next gen mindset behind it. And Bruce Murray of TruClad is just a beast.  He is rocking with his new company and has one of the best hat games in the biz.  

 

--  Hats.  Oh the hats.  Specifically, the “NGA Glass Nerd” hat via the OG Andrew Haring.  Everyone wants one.  And I mean EVERYONE.  More than a few times after someone started to talk to me and I am thinking “wow this person is interested in me” to then have the conversation veer to “so do you think you could get Andrew to get me a hat?”  Those babies have to be earned folks…. 

 

--  My Pittsburgh roots were in play, good to see the very talented Emily Yukish and Ryan Seitzinger of Specified Systems.  That is a fantastic company and those two networked all over the place.  Also from the steel city?  The awesome Sue Errera & Renee Ferrari of Global/Isoclima and I also got to meet in person Trent Thiry from there.  He’s new to our side of the world and he’ll do very well. Sharp guy who gets it.  Also new to our world Dennis Higgins of Fenetech, and first impression there was very positive!

 

--  Few more before I wrap up- saw the brilliant Paco Bono for a few seconds as well as one of my all-time favorites the spectacular Shelly Farmer.  She was chatting with Joe Brklacich who I finally met in person! Luc Boileau of Herzog Glass is one of my guys- can’t wait to catch a Kraken game with him some day.  Last but never least the Mayor of Glasstown- Jon Johnson. Always da man. 

 

--  I’m sure I missed a bunch and I am sorry- my brain is pretty mushy right now.  But I’ll finish with kudos to the entire NGA team.  Everyone was in pure hustle mode to put on a great show, deal with issues as they arose, and kept plugging along.  Honored to be a part of that legendary team! So in the books 2022’s edition goes… Next year back to Atlanta and I’m already pumped.  But before that we have a big Glass Conference in Miramar, Florida and then the 25^th Anniversary Edition of BEC.  So massive stuff ahead!

 

NO links or project of the week this post- they both will return next week!

 

VanCast and GlassBuild Week!

What happens when you stuff 6 people and a plastic cut out in a van and head to GlassBuild via the desert? A seriously memorable time and an audio disaster.  First the good, the van trip from LA to Las Vegas was something else- fun people and interesting sights made for a great day.  Major props to Casey Anderson of ICD for being the ring leader and then hanging with Danny Estrada of CRL, Kendal Rowe of Rowe Fenestration, Carl Christ of DFI, a very stiff Patrick Elmore of Infinite Recycled Technologies (he was unable to attend, so his plastic cutout did) and Andrew Haring of NGA was awesome.  If you are on any social media you’ve probably seen the exploits of the trip by now- if not check it out!  The bad was I did a podcast with folks in the van and somehow 2 of the interviews of the 4 had unusable audio.  I have no idea what happened and am seriously bummed because it was great content from Danny and Casey that you missed.  I will make I up to both and in the meantime PLEASE check out their booths at GlassBuild!  I did get an interview with Kendal in the Van, and pre-taped with Carl and Patrick, along with a bonus of Casey interviewing me, so that is still worth a listen- some neat ground covered both professionally and personally.  Thank you for giving it whirl!

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Obviously, this leads into a massive week.  GlassBuild is here.  Finally. I am so excited to visit with people and also learn about all of the new products and services available in our world.  This is going to be great run!  If you are at the show, please stop me to say hi!  I may look harried and rushed but I think I always look that way. LOL. Next week I’ll have my usual breakdown on who and what I saw and we’ll see how many great names I can drop! 

 

Elsewhere…

 

--  Nice news on a couple good industry guys…  first up Brad Boone taking on the role of sales director of advanced glazings and architectural government sales liaison for Vitro.  Brad is a great guy and someone who has a sincere passion for our space that I really respect.  In this position he will truly advance products (like VIG) that are incredibly important for our world. 

And congrats also to Matt Verderamo, who is now the Vice President of Preconstruction & Sales at Alliance Exterior Construction.  I met Matt over a year ago and he’s been nothing short of a dynamo rocking and rolling through our world and gaining knowledge and network along the way.  Genuinely good man too. Happy for both guys and props to both Vitro and Alliance Exterior Construction for making these smart moves.

 

--  There was movement at the top of Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope that I missed mentioning last week with the naming of Bruno Biasiotta as Chief Executive Officer. Obviously, this is a huge position atop the biggest player in that space.  My hope, as I always say in moves like this, is that the new management takes to our industry and looks to be supportive and active in events like GlassBuild and the various conferences.  The support there is always crucial and appreciated.  Welcome to our world Bruno!

 

--  Last this week…That big deal I mentioned a few weeks ago is worse than the movie “The Runaway Bride” – my gosh I keep hearing about being to the altar so many times without the wedding happening, it’s making me crazy.  Almost starting to wonder if I’m getting punked… but If I am the amount of people in on it is pretty impressive.  Anyway I still think a deal is coming down the pike sooner than later…

 

LINKS of the WEEK

File this under- Not good.

 

Timely since we are in Vegas this week- this town really is for adults more and more.  

 

Slowly but surely everything in life is going to get cancelled.  Just easier. Also my attitude is bad while writing this since I just discovered the audio nightmare mentioned above.

 

PROJECT of the WEEK

This one from the great folks at Prelco and their LinkedIn feed.  This is a job in progress at 

McMaster University's Hamilton Campus. The focus is on the health and comfort of users through the addition of fitness and academic spaces. Glass delivers always! Sharp looking project featuring laminated and decorative.  Props to the Architect MJMA Architecture and Design on a great design and the install so far looking stellar from bmg. Glass + Aluminum. Congrats to all involved!  

 

 

Equipment, Architects, Vans, Skunks and more

The latest episode of the From the Fabricator podcast is now out and it’s filled with a bunch of firsts. The main ones were first time with 3 guests in one segment and first architect to be interviewed.  Fun and interesting stuff.  The guys from Salem Fabrication Technologies and HHH Glass Equipment were first up and didn’t disappoint in a wide-ranging conversation from new equipment, to service, to a mixed forecast (good upcoming, scary in a few years) and more.  Then Vardhan Mehta of AceLab (Acelabusa.com) joined to talk about his past, his incredible new platform that will be huge for our space and more.  Thank you for listening/watching and always supporting!

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Elsewhere…

--  I previewed a few weeks ago that the TV Show “Good Bones” would be having a segment that featured our industry and that episode finally aired.  Great content and showed off the team from Isoclima North America (Global Security Glazing and Dlubak Specialty Glass are a part of this group) very well. Here is the segment from Global’s Linkedin page. Nice work all!

 

--  The recent FGIA meeting covered a ton of ground but the continued excitement on VIG really is what gets me going.  Window and Door had nice coverage on this process and feedback from a nice range of stakeholders. 

 

--  I’m still thinking about the folks in Southwest Florida and the Ft Myers area that suffered the wrath of Hurricane Ian.  Tough and great people there fighting through a challenging time.  Leading the way as always is the Daubmann family and they started a Go Fund Me to raise money for those affected by this storm.  Please take a look and consider giving.  

 

--  Not sure if you all know this but GlassBuild is coming up!  I know it’s been really under the radar promotionally and all… LOL.  Very excited for this show!  And I’ll be headed there in style… as in a van on a funky cool road trip organized by Andrew Haring and led by the awesome creativity from Casey Anderson of ICD.  So next Saturday I’ll be flying to LA and then hopping in the van to go to Vegas. Lots of fun scheduled and I am going to do a special edition of my podcast from the road and have it here next week.

 

--  Music item- really good documentary on Don McLean on Paramount+.  The Day the Music Died singer and how that song came about and has grown to be so recognizable and amazing.  Super back story on one of the best songs of all time. 

 

--  Last this week… Skunks. So as some of you know we have 5 dogs and for 21 years of living in this current home in Michigan we have avoided any of our dogs running into a skunk.  Until this past week when two our pups decided that the cute little black and white animal that was sauntering in our driveway would be someone they wanted to meet. Well the skunk “welcomed” them for sure with its special spray.  Needless to say that was an experience and hopefully when you see me at GlassBuild there’s no leftover skunk aroma to me.  Wildest part?  The initial smell when the skunk sprayed the dogs wasn’t that brutal skunky smell.  It was a rotten egg smell.  Not a great smell either but wild to me that it starts off with that smell vs. what I expected.  Anyway, any of you who have had this experience I salute you… not fun!

 

LINKS of the WEEK

This comes up in my podcast with Terry Hessom (linked above) absolutely wild!

 

The headline alone makes it a curious read. “Man charged with smuggling pythons in his pants at US border”

 

49 years old and playing college football.  Good for him I guess.  My body hurts from just waking up in the morning!

 

PROJECT of the WEEK

This one is still being built but I like where it’s headed!  Via the LinkedIn page from 8G Solutions.  Project Spotlight: This is the Building 3 Expansion for Garmin and its looks fabulous.  Metal from Kawneer and glass from Insulite. (props Sterling Guyette & team)  Sometimes projects like this can be very generic, but this one has some sharp attributes and the glazing is strong!  Congrats to everyone on a job well done.  

Catching Up All Over the Globe

So before I get into this week, thoughts are with everyone in Florida and those that were in the path of Hurricane Ian.  The storm hit worse near Ft Myers, FL home of the Daubmann family and their D3/MyArchitecturalGlass business. From what I hear all is OK there with the plant though they did have some damage.  Obviously if anyone can rise above it is that family and company.  And I am sure they’ll be leading the community like always too.  Again thoughts and prayers to all affected!

 

While I was overseas for glasstec (flights home featured long lines, but thankfully no major issues or delays) the latest Architectural Billings Index was released.  It was positive once again and I think at this point that note is even starting to throw the analysts involved in producing it.  The score came in at a nice 53.3 but it was noted that “storm clouds are gathering” as well as the performances are mixed right now with some areas doing markedly better than others.  I have been pessimistic on this index just because of what I see and experience but they are the experts.  However seeing the inquiry number being lower than traditional for 3 straight months and the mess forming on the residential side (hearing forecast of single family to be negative in 2023) of things, really seems to tell me some of my pessimism is right.  The thought continues to be that everyone has to keep doing what is needed to roll past whatever may happen here.  Diversify, communicate etc.  The key approaches to beating back the challenges… and if this index keeps rolling and we don’t get a real dip, then we are all better for it right?

 

Elsewhere…

 

--  It’s October.  And that means GlassBuild month is here.  I know some of you are on the fence on attending because you are busy and shorthanded.  But I can’t stress enough the value of getting with your peers, your suppliers, and your industry, to gain the insight needed to deal with what may come down the path in the next few months.  A few have said to me that they’ll wait til BEC to cover those needs, but do you really want another five months to go by? Come on, you know you need to be there.  GlassBuild.com for info and registration.  Even use my code MAXPOD for free entry.

 

--  Congrats to Steve Green of Tubelite who announced his retirement this past week.  Steve is surely one of the good folks in our industry and did a great job over a very long run there. Big shoes to fill for sure.  Best to you Steve on your next chapter!

 

--  Sad news from our world with the passing of Richard Gianforti Sr. known best as owner of Flower City Glass. Tremendous guy.  I knew him just a bit but he and my brother were very close and both Flower City and the old Perilstein Distributing (PDC) benefitted from that friendship.  My thoughts and condolences go out to the entire Gianforti family and the friends and co-workers of the incredible Mr. Gianforti Sr.

 

--  While away the announcement that IGE Glass Technologies and Schirmer coming together on a distribution agreement was released.  This is a great move for both companies.  Schirmer’s profile processing centers for the commercial window and wall market is top of the line (which is huge for the quality our industry needs to put out) and obviously as I have noted here before Michael Spellman and IGE has a knack of connecting with the market disruptors so this tracks positively.  Congrats to both and looking forward to seeing this progress.

 

--  Last this week… Rolling Stone released its Top 100 TV Shows of all time.  Great “click bait” sort of article and of course I fell right in for it.  As I have listed my top 10 here in the past so it was good to see some of my picks on this more “seasoned” list (since it was some sort of committee that compiled it) but no way is “The Sopranos” better than “Breaking Bad”  Just no way.  Regardless interesting list- some pretty big omissions and odd ranks but if you like TV it’s nice time waster.

 

LINKS of the WEEK

--  Absolutely ridiculous that this game was even scheduled

 

--  Smart brands make the most out of a brutal social post. Good for them!  Don’t care how old you are, knowing Kermit the Frog is a must. 

 

--  A roller coaster of a health/auto insurance battle with urgent care and emergency rooms.  Reading it gave me a headache.  But it is interesting.

 

PROJECT of the WEEK

A favorite town for me is Greenville, SC and that is where the latest Project of the Week resides… this is the Falls Tower at Camperdown.  Awesome looking project featuring Guardian Glass that was fabricated by the great team at Tristar and installed by the excellent folks at Graham Hodge.  Congrats to everyone on this beauty and hat tip the always awesome Alan Kinder for the original LinkedIn post that showcased this!

The Giant glasstec Recap!

This post is dedicated to the just completed glasstec event in Germany that I attended.  Next week we’ll be back to normal and I’ll comment on things like the ABI (still up!).  After 4 years, glasstec was back and it was an interesting experience to say the least. The vibe overall was positive, people hungry for new equipment especially and also new technology/products. While forecasts and worry do hang over our heads it didn’t seem to play into the overall attitude here.  The floor itself was slower than previous shows. I don’t think there is any doubt that travel challenges (and those struggles were real for many who came), the Russia/Ukraine war, inflationary costs, and people being shorthanded and not wanting to get away played into that.  But those that were here were hungry and ready to go.  So good stuff there.  If there were a few overall plays it would be “bird friendly” is now officially everywhere, and that plant efficiencies and sustainability truly matter.  Solutions and options in both of those areas were numerous.  Best part is the commitment to those areas are all real, not just talking points anymore. On the flipside, some folks I talked to were surprised at the lack of solar plays for glazing but I think that is a 2024 glasstec headliner at this point (and will be mainstream before that). As I do with every big show, here’s the rundown of seen, heard, and more!

 

--  I have been to many great receptions over the years at glasstec but I have to say the Vitro event this year may have been the best.  It was the right size and tempo and just a fantastic time. Class event! Thank you to Mark Seeton and Dan Plotnick for having me! It was there where I got to spend quality time with Michael and Carolyn Spellman of IGE/VIG Technologies.  Happy for them on several levels, IGE is rocking (systron was the talk of the show) and the VIG with the Vacu-Max connection is a freight train gaining steam.  Also nice because their daughter Erin is joining the business/industry.  Bring on the new young blood!  She’s going to be great!

Speaking of great folks- was awesome to see Matt Aragon and his dad Joe at the show.  Aragon Construction is a force and it was fun to chop it up with them.  I love seeing Jordan Richards and Rob Botman from Glassopolis.  Smart guys who continue to evolve smartly in our space. Also impressive on the evolution is Shaun Gustafson and ClearShield- great steps he and the team are taking in a very competitive segment.  And since I used the word “great” 90 times in this paragraph, I’ll attach it also to my longtime friend- Jon Johnson- incredible to unexpectedly see him here.

--  Back to the young/fresh blood angle, was nice to meet Michael Kelley of TriStar Glass, Juan Manuel Posada of FENEX, Sebastian Rittig of Glass Lamination of America,  Ahlam Alqudah Qaimari of Griffin Glass & Metal Werks, and Jonathon Linford of Jack’s Glass.  All 5 of these folks come across with the talent and drive that our industry needs to keep moving the ball forward.  Excited to see what is next for them.  Heck Juan Manuel even already won a Glass Magazine award… 

--  The Glass Coatings and Concepts duo of Tim McGee and Matt Hanna were great- especially since Matt figured out the crazy clip art that was placed around our stand.  Nice to visit with Michael and Dave Rapp from PDS IG Equipment, good guys and a tremendous company.  Also two really good guys shockingly making their first appearance at glasstec- Gus Trupiano of GGI and Rich Porayko- the jack of all trades marketing and gear guru (https://www.sandandsoda.com/for your wearable/swag needs) 

--  Some old school catching up including Matt and Lisa Hale- Matt is rolling with his glass supply business and nice to see.  I had not seen Guillermo Seta of DFI in a super long time, wonderful to visit with him.  Dave Anderson of HHH- we go back a looong time and just always super to visit with him. In that same universe I did get a good few minutes with the always dapper Dan Reinhart and Mike Synon who also was looking strong as always.  No Terry Hessom sighting for me, but Terry is very popular in Germany, so he was probably signing autographs.  For sure a celebrity was NGA’s Andrew Haring.  If you ever doubted the power of LinkedIn- don’t! People stopped on a dime when they saw him, noting that they knew the OG Glass Nerd from social media.  Was very cool to experience.

--  Another fun one I got to watch was Burkle’s Kyle Lindersmith working an interactive monitor showing off their stunning laminated line.  Kyle was like John Madden in his prime pointing things out and with the same enthusiasm.  His audience was enthralled.  Awesome stuff.  Also awesome some of the next gen stuff Pilkington NSG had on display. They are thinking beyond the normal every day glass approach and I think they have unlocked a few things- especially on the interior side of the structure.  While in the NSG sand I met the impressive Gloria Cardoso from their Brazil operation and again, young and sharp- we need as many of these folks as we can get!

--  Once again best stand? Turomas.  Sorry I am partial to them and I figured out maybe why.  Obviously, I have always raved about their products, but I noticed this trip, their color scheme of orange and black really stands out because I swear everyone else at this event is either or blue or green.  I will say Glaston’s setup was impressive- I wanted to say hi to my Michigan cohort Jim Hartley but I think he was buried in a flood of people in there.   I believe Lance Cotton of Global/Isoclima was in town but I think he was avoiding me and meanwhile I accidently did the same (missing him) to Deron Patterson, now at Apple and ex of Vitro.  Bummed I couldn’t catch up in person with either excellent guy.

 

--  Last but not least a shout out to the great NGA team I had to honor of working with.  As mentioned above Andrew Haring is a rock star and tremendous friend.  He gets it done every time no matter the adventure (including an interesting truck driver from Poland). Norah Dick was at her first glasstec and 2 hours into the first day she was on fire covering the floor for Glass Magazine with laser precision. And finally, the face/soul of our industries Technical Super Heroes- Urmilla Sowell.  I had the honor of being in the NGA stand as Urmilla held court with the best technical minds from all over the world- it was mind blowing and the way Urmilla works for our industry and our best interests is truly priceless. 

 

--  So there ya go… another big one in the books and now full focus is on GlassBuild.  The word from pretty much everyone here that is also going to Vegas for GlassBuild is that they’re excted to be on home turf and really continue to process of growing and solving the biggest issues in our space right now. I love that approach and its dead on- people come to GlassBuild for solutions- it may be a product, a service, a connection etc.- but the end result is something that always helps.  So if you haven’t registered yet- do it now GlassBuild.com and I’ll see you there and probably write about you here in the post-show blog! 

 

LINKS of the WEEK

I have buddies that would love to clean up the tractor trailer spill of all Coors Light!

 

Another week, another “fox” loose in a neighborhood story… its unreal!

 

Fun one- sharing your unpopular but true food opinions… 

 

PROJECT of the WEEK

To the great state of Texas we go… San Antonio and via Jim Biroscak of Vitro.  This is Ridgewood Plaza II and that glass is beautiful.  Congrats to Vitro and to the fine people at Thad Ziegler Glass and Trulite who worked on it from the install and fab side.  Job well done everyone!!

Germany on Tap and Positive News to Share

Good chance this week to do an international “vibe” check as I’ll be in Germany at glasstec.  Really curious to see how people are feeling about the industry.  If you are going or are there (depending on when you read this) please stop on by the National Glass Association booth in Hall 13, Stand C48.  I’ll be posted up there quite a bit and will also be walking the other 9 halls. This should be an interesting event given its first outing since 2018 and what is happening in the world right now. I really don’t know what to expect attendance wise, but I am looking forward to seeing some of the folks who have already noted to me that they’ll be there.  Next week I’ll have typical show review along with the who’s who of the event. (Please wish me good WiFi while there too!)  Big stretch ahead with this and then the most important event of the year in GlassBuild.  Looking forward to it!

 

Elsewhere…

 

--  Good news in the industry last week with the note of the promotion of Paul Robinson to President of Pioneer Cladding and Glazing Systems.  Paul is an all-time favorite of mine.  Great guy and industry leader.  For years Paul was the big “go to” in the BEC planning committee- always helping and providing tremendous insight.  He is a person that “gets it” and I am happy that he continues to rock in his career.  Congrats to Pioneer and Paul!

 

--  Also big news that on 9/27 an episode of the extremely popular HGTV show “Good Bones” will be showing our industry off.  The episode will have a visit to Isoclima Specialty Glass (formerly known as Dlubak Specialty Glass) and the host and team will see how bent glass is produced along with many other products.  It is awesome when our world can be positively seen in the mainstream, so I am pumped to see what this all looks like.  So set your DVR or schedules now for the show on the 27^th at 9PM EST.  I will try and get more on this on a future post.

 

--  Reminder on my latest podcast (great for listening on a long plane ride to Europe by the way) It features guests Lee Harrison and Ross Christie from Walker Glass and Clark Reed from Reed Rubber Products.  Reaction has been great – thank you.  The Walker story- 80 years and tremendous evolution had people buzzing and Reed’s 100^thalong with their focus on our space gained a ton of feedback for me.  So please check it out!  Thank you.  

VIDEO 

AUDIO or Spotify, Apple, Google etc.

 

--  I am behind on my Glass Magazine reviews.  This one is for the Glass Magazine Award issue and obviously the awards aspect was very cool and once again so many in our space just step up and blow me away.  The issue also features a Q&A with one of the classiest guys in our world Mike Goldfarb of Glassfab.  Good insight there!  Plus Andrew Haring had an awesome article on a fabulous Mother/Daughter team in LA that is a must read, All good stuff as always from the team at Glass Magazine- check it out online if you don’t get the printed version. 

 

--  Ad of the month was a brutal challenge for me.  People are really picking up their creative games that is for sure. The winner this month is Fenetech with a “Smash and grab” ad that absolutely caught my attention.  The look and layout were perfect and the ad did what was intended to do- make the reader stop and check it out.  Props to Ron Crowl and team on this winning effort!

 

--  Last this week… one more milestone/set of congrats!  This to Jeff Dalaba and the team at Architectural Glass & Metal Technician program for certifying their 1000^th glazier Mike Marye of Hoosier Glass Co. in Indianapolis.  This program, along with the NACC one continues to grow and they both bring important and needed measures to our industry.  Keep up the great work Jeff and congrats to Mike and the other 999 folks who have achieved certification status!

 

LINKS of the WEEK

A coyote hiding in your bathroom?  Nope.

 

Mark Zuckerberg not paying his bills eh?   Must be hurting for money. He should’ve started a glass blog instead of Facebook. (LOL Inside joke for anyone who has heard me speak this year)

 

An absolute headscratcher here

 

PROJECT of the WEEK

So this week the spotlight is on LTS Drafting and Engineering.  This is 1701 Platte and LTS did the shop drawings and engineering but on their LinkedIn post there was no other info… so fine folks of the industry chime and let me know if you had a part in this beauty!  Congrats to LTS on this one- that is one sharp building!

Happy 80 and 100 + Forecasts, Firms, and More

It is anniversary time on my latest edition of the From the Fabricator podcast.  This time out we celebrate 80 and 100 years in this crazy business.  First up is the duo of Lee Harrison and Ross Christie from Walker Glass.  If you know anything about their story it really is fascinating the way they evolved over the years and Lee and Ross added items to that story I didn’t even know.  Plus, some great advice and lots of positivity from two tremendous business people and industry supporters.  Then on to the 100^th anniversary of Reed Rubber Products and Clark Reed. That was a great chance for me to chat with someone new and learn about a very successful operation.  Plus, it was interesting to hear about Reed’s 4 pillar approach to the future and their focus on our space.  Good stuff all the way around and overall a thrill for me to once get talk to seriously talented people with great companies.  As always thank you for listening/watching/supporting. It is much appreciated!

VIDEO

AUDIO Or Apple, Spotify, Google etc. 

 

Elsewhere….

 

--  One month until Glassbuild- have you signed up yet?  Keep in mind the two add on events that are a must.  The Glazing Executive Forum this year is absolutely loaded.  Love the schedule and the speakers.  Kudos to Jenni Chase and her team on this one, really a strong agenda that also has a focus on the peer groups (best practices for the win) and from past experience those are a huge benefit to all that participate.  So to see the schedule and learn more- CLICK HERE.  Then on the last day of the show CR Laurence is the lead sponsor on the first ever GlassBuild Tailgate Party.  This will not disappoint- I say that confidently because I know the grill skills that so many in our industry have (John Wheaton, Jon Kimberlain, Sara Neiswanger, Andrew Haring and the list goes on and on and on) and I am confident that a great time will be had by all.  More info on this one is HERE.  I am getting so pumped for this show.  Obviously, I have glasstec (week of 9/18) before it but the energy around GlassBuild has me fired up.

 

--  More good stuff from a former (and hopefully recurring) guest on my podcast.  I’m speaking of Nick St. Denis, the Director of Research from Key Media.  He has his latest quarterly review out for the glass and glazing space and it is a fascinating and quick look at the economic landscape we are all in.  Inflation is playing with some of the numbers but there are some positive takeaways.  To see the report and get on his mail list- CLICK HERE. 

 

--  Another interesting link to check out is the top 110 Architectural firms from Building & Design Construction Magazine.  A lot of the usual suspects, some I thought were bigger than others but what caught my eye was the 2021 revenue.  The big players are really big.  Some eye openers as always.

 

--  This item caught my eye- The move to the subscription model in more things beyond typical services is growing.  Did you see that Toyota evidently has started charging $8 a month to remotely start vehicles using a key fob.  I mean that is a wild add on that used to be free. I rarely use that feature on my Jeep, so I would probably not pay for it if I was prompted to.  In any case we are seeing this creep in our industry with some glazing features being subscription only (like switching glass from clear to a different state) and I am sure that will get people very mad since you don’t have to pay a subscription to open and close your blinds.  Anyway, our world continues to evolve in ways to monetize things… agree or not, it seems like the wave of the future. 

 

--  Last this week… I am horrendously late on some very good family news.  One day before my big brother celebrated his birthday (Happy B Day visionary Stevie P) his son Evan and wife Amanda welcomed a new baby boy to the world.  That alone is great but the significance for me is in the name- Harrison- which is after my dad who passed away back in 2001.  Given that my great grandfather Harris Perilstein started in the glass business (with H Perilstein Glass) in the US in 1898 and spawned a ton of action in our industry including connections to many of the best organizations in our world now, to see another H. Perilstein arrive on the scene is beyond awesome.  Now not putting any pressure on the kid, but if there was ever someone destined for our space it would be that guy! Congrats again to my brother and his wife and of course Evan and Amanda- fantastic news!

 

LINKS of the WEEK

Wild and interesting tech but like a friend of mine said- what happens if and when this gets hacked?

 

The tennis this year at the US Open has been incredible- including stunning shots like this one.

 

The housing issues in Northern California are big and real and looks like some are trying to come up with creative ideas to address it

 

PROJECT of the WEEK

We go to the Learning Resource Center at Ramapo College and the spotlight shines on a good friend of mine (and pretty much everyone in the industry) Tom O’Malley.  His company, Clover Architectural Products is rocking and this project is spectacular.  Vertical tapered sunshades from Clover make that curtain wall really pop.  Nice work from the folks at Pottsgrove Glass and fantastic design from Bohlin Cywinski Jackson.  Congrats Tom and team at Clover and everyone involved in this beauty!

Tours, Trends, Awards, and Football

This past week I had the opportunity to tour some incredible facilities and it really drove home the pure talent and drive we have in our industry.  As you know I love seeing different operations, I always learn something. This time it was a chance to see plants that were truly built from the ground up and in constant evolution mode.  First, I was at FHC- Frameless Hardware Company.  This company is only a few years old but they are absolutely rolling like a group that’s been doing it for years.  The work ethic of all involved there is driving that train.  I was impressed by the layouts of their space, the focus on quality, and the constant push to innovate.  Plus as an old marketing guy, I was jealous of their process there- so impressive and thorough.  It was great to visit with Chris Hanstad and Barry Sutherland during this time- I had them on my podcast last year and to see where they were then to where they are now- was very cool.  Then I stopped in at Glasswerks.  And that for me was a bucket list thing going back years.  Once upon a time I was in the same organization as Glasswerks but never saw their plants.  First thing that caught me was the drive through will-call setup.  That was something I have never seen and it made me think of Chik-fil-A in the way that it was organized and run.  Then seeing all of the operating centers, with an incredible variety of machinery all producing at a very high level.  This was not the typical plant, with everything under one roof- there were several areas broken up by buildings and yet the collaboration and communication going on had everything rolling in perfect rhythm.  It’s funny, our industry takes so much heat from those that don’t know us- but over the last month I have now seen Quaker, FHC, and Glasswerks and those operations would change the mind of any skeptic of what we do.  High quality, great cultures, and strong leaders.  Good stuff all around and thank you to the teams at these companies for inviting me in, I truly appreciate the time and hospitality.

 

Elsewhere…

 

--  I was in Southern California for a college reunion wrapped around a great concert at SoFi Stadium.  Amazing structure and cool to see all the glass and glazing I’ve heard about previously. (Loved that switchable from Privacy Glass Solutions and pal Kevin Roth!) I was also very lucky to get to catch up with Joe Green of GlasPro, Scott and Kendal Rowe of Rowe Fenestration, and the OG #GlassNerd Andrew Haring.  Tremendous time chopping it up with them with some excellent hospitality and fun video recording for GlassBuild. Very memorable for sure.

 

--  In case you missed it, and especially because I was off of the blog last week, my most recent podcast with Tim Widner of Lippert and Dan Shields of Fabricated Products Group is up.  The reaction here has been great and I am thrilled these talented guys took the time with me and also shared what they did.  Tim’s comments attracting people to our world and Dan’s project breakdowns were standouts in the feedback- check it all out!
VIDEO

AUDIO

 

--  On the rumor mill... The smoke is turning to fire… Keep your eyes open, a major deal is getting close to going down in our industry.  This deal could go a few different ways, so we’ll see what happens, but some excitement is coming.  I will say this same deal has been left at the altar a few times, so nothing is a lock. 

 

--  By the way, my travels are garnering A LOT of interest in GlassBuild.  Obviously I am biased and obviously that makes me very happy (GlassBuild gaining buzz, not me being biased).  The new “Main Stage” with many special programs really has people fired up.  The Women in Glass program, hot off an amazing and impromptu gathering at BEC is going to be game changing.  Then the updates, awards, education, and a very important session on mental health is not to be missed. Register today and use MAXPOD as your code for a free floor entry!

 

--  Last week we did have a new Architectural Billings Index release and it’s still above water (at 51.0) but the cracks are now showing.  I have been worrying on this for a while, really questioning how this index could keep performing and maybe I was just ahead the lag.  In any case it was positive this month but down from last and analysis is pointing towards the trend continuing in that direction.  I don’t like negative but I want to be able to prepare properly and I think we have some choppy waters coming.  Between this and that weakening residential sector, the red flags are starting to raise.  You know the drill folks. Communicate, learn, diversify, and work your own business vs. worrying about your competition. 

 

--  Recently Glass Canada announced a list of their top 10 under 40 years old and two of the people caught my eye.  Ryan Spurgeon of Antamex and Laura Little of Goldray.  Ryan is a very smart guy who has an energy level that I wish I had.  He’s an outside the box thinker too- the status quo is not for him and I love he’s done things like throw his group in very early with new trends like modular attachments in Sapphire Balconies and transparent PV from Ubiquitous Energy.  The PV one especially looks brilliant in light of the latest tax incentives and Ryan’s companies push into the US with high performance fabricated glass.

I have talked about Laura and her company quite a bit here (props also to Lisa Maragh who really is a great communications conductor of that train) and Laura’s inclusion is so deserved.  Great passion and enthusiasm for our space and that shows in every presentation or event she is involved in.  Laura will also push for innovation and collaboration which are areas we need to keep improving on. Both Ryan and Laura will be great ambassadors for our world for many years to come!  The others on this list obviously deserve recognition I just don’t know them, but please check them out HERE. 

--  Football is back!  Now I am not thrilled that time is flying but it is what it is… so time to make my absolutely guaranteed picks for winners this year.  In college football… No one is beating Ohio State. (Notre Dame will end up being the closest and they couldn't do it)  I am a Michigan guy and yes I hope this jinxes them, but OSU gives me nightmares.  In the pros… coming off two straight correct Super Bowl picks… I am going with Baltimore over Green Bay for the call this year.  (And simultaneously Matt Verderamo (Ravens) and Jon Johnson (Packers) are mad at me)  No one is paying attention to the Ravens and they are well coached with good D and a tough QB to defend.  Good luck everyone with your favorite teams! 

 

LINKS of the WEEK

The “Costco” door doesn’t seem to be the fix people may think it is.  At least to me.

 

Another Gator story and I know this area well from my daughter attending school there- yikes!

 

The TikTok “Star” making angle is fascinating to me. Amazing how it works and good for these guys

 

PROJECT of the WEEK

Sticking with the So Cal vibe… via GlasPro and their awesome marketing lead Stephanie Aldrete. This is the Martin Luther King Jr. light rail station and its awesome pavilion entryway. GlasPro worked with artist/designer Mara Lonner to help her create distinctive artwork titled Leimert Park Landscape, integrated into the walls of the pavilion. Giroux Glass was the installer and photo comes from their Brian Peregrina.  Great work by all!

Bumpy Forecast, Great Pod, and More

Even in the dog days of summer- like we are in now, news gets made in our industry.  This week a few items led the way and I’ll kick it off with some notes from the Dodge Construction Network quarterly webinar.  The overall vibe was while things are pretty stable right now, the simulations into the future aren’t as positive and we could have some murky times in 2023/2024.  The telling piece was the initial projections when adjusted for inflation.  Those actually have the non-residential space going down next year vs. the up we all expected.   Single family homes are now lagging and in the past that was a red flag for our space to slow up down the line.  So that was eye opening.  Also as we all know, projects are taking much longer to get going and to get to our spot in them, so that makes things nightmarish schedule wise.  Now not all is negative, some individual segments are poised to do well including lodging (hotels are back folks) multi-famly (which I consider non res) and surprisingly retail.  The Southeast rounding into Texas is still smoking hot market wise, so happy for folks there.  In addition, as I have noted previously, renovation and retrofit are big drivers going forward as well.  So we have some challenges ahead but nothing we are not expecting that is for sure…

Also best bet for all of you who are interested- get to the Glazing Executives Forum at GlassBuild to hear Connor Lokar talk on this- his insight will be crucial. 

 

Elsewhere…

 

--  NEW PODCAST Episode is live… yes the latest one is now ready for your consumption.  Guests this time are Tim Widner of Lippert Components and Dan Shields of Fabricated Products Group.  Great people with tons of experience in our world.  Interesting takes on products, training and getting involved along with other subjects covered. Also the need to have bowling outings vs. golf outings (Dan would be a ringer there).  Seriously very good stuff and I think you’ll enjoy.  Thanks for checking it out!

VIDEO

AUDIO or Apple, Spotify etc.

 

--  The world of transparent photovoltaic had a strong week too.  First off the huge news that Andersen Corporation is now taking the next step with Ubiquitous Energy.  They will develop windows and doors with the new technology and this is massive.  Andersen is the biggest player out there and they set a lot of tables, so there is no doubt this just took the Ubiquitous product into a big-time world. 

Meanwhile UbiQD Inc. had big news too with announcements of a contract with the US Air Force and demos at Western Washington University.  Items like this are great for them but also for the entire space and continues to show the way our industry keeps evolving with new technology.  Love it all.  Congrats to everyone on the great news!

 

--  Are you headed to glasstec next month?  If so let me know- would love to connect with you while there.  NGA is once again sponsoring the North American pavilion and that is exciting and I am looking forward to seeing some of the new technologies in person.  Top of my list- possibly joining (if I can get a spot) on a tour of a facility running the ground breaking systron fabrication line with the team from IGE.  Michael Spellman changed the holes/notches/fab space once and he’s doing it again here.  Also on my list seeing the next great tech from Clearshield and their do it all guy there- Shaun Gustafson.  Clearshield had been somewhat quiet for a while but now are primed and ready.  Cool stuff ahead! 

 

--  Just one to always keep in mind after I saw a massive thread on Facebook on this and a good industry friend also pinged in on it.  When it comes to ballistic glazing- the term is “bullet resistant”- never “bullet proof”  Yes for many of us that is obvious, but I think we just have to keep hammering away with the right term.  Too many slip and use the wrong term which really isn’t a good thing for anyone. 

 

--  Last this week… a programming note… NO BLOG next week.  I’ll be back in this space in September with the latest ABI (will it keep rolling? Even now with the worries from the other forecasters?) and a lot more. I figure with us about to hit show season you are going to get your fill of me, so this is a good breather for everyone before everything breaks loose!

 

LINKS of the WEEK

Who knew a story on trash cans could be so interesting?  But in San Francisco and some at 20K a pop- this story is something.

 

High School Heroes… Love it

 

An alligator on the first day of school.  

 

PROJECT of the WEEK

One of the most impressive organizations in our industry is Momentum Glass led by the great Omar Maalouf. (Past podcast guest too- HERE if you want to check it out) This project in Nashville fortifies that point.  Look at how beautiful this one is! The Hyatt Centric stands out. Built in a town like Nashville with so many neat things to see, this one will be a must visit for me next time in the area.  Awesome.  JE Dunn was the GC and glass from what I can tell was by Viracon.  CONGRATS Omar and everyone involved in yet another great project that makes our world look good!