Big Hitters

The latest edition of the “From the Fabricator” podcast is out, and we’re big game hunting this time with two industry heavyweights. I start with Devin Bowman of TGP & Allegion. A brilliant guy who’s had a significant impact on our space and continues to push the envelope. Great hearing his insights on protective/health and safety issues and where we fit in. Plus, we do talk a little Seattle Seahawks football. 

Then I was able to get industry legend Paul Daniels of FHC on. Paul has seen and done it all throughout his distinguished career, and it was great to pick his brain and gain some solid insights on industry changes, supply chain management, training, and more. I think you all will enjoy this one. We continue to be on a heck of a run with these shows, and your support keeps growing and blowing me away. Thank you!

Watch on Youtube or listen here.

Elsewhere…

LinkedIn suggestion

Connor Sell of Quality Glass & Design of The Upstate in South Carolina is an excellent follow on LinkedIn. Always good food for thought, and one recent post really caught my eye. He talks about our role in the process and delivers a great line: “The last trade defines the first impression.” Check out the post to see more. Keep up the good work Connor!

NGA Glass Conference

Last week we had the NGA Glass Conference: Ann Arbor, and as always, Urmilla Sowell, Karen Wegert, and team put on a first-class event. I was only able to touch a tiny bit of it before most arrived, but during that time, I was able to get a tour of the Guardian Glass float plant in Carleton, Michigan. It had been many years since I last saw that facility, and it was very cool to revisit. Jon Griggs is a fantastic host and very good person, and I am grateful for him making it happen and for his efforts (along with his team at Guardian Glass) doing not only my little tour but a massive one during the week for many attendees of the conference. Great stuff.

2025 CG Carney Award

Also at the Conference, John Kent of AMS was awarded the prestigious CG Carney Award for his efforts in our industry. This was big-time deserved!  John has been a crucial part of our world, and his efforts on the certification side were gamechangers and will continue to be so. He’s built a tremendous organization that serves us all well. On top of that, he’s an incredibly nice person.  So nice person + major impact in our world = a much-deserved recognition. Congrats John!

Glazier representation in Congress

Ok, so hear me out here. Matt Day of Glazier Nation fame is running for Congress in Georgia. Now, Matt is not everyone’s cup of tea, but he is one of our own, and he’s put himself out there, in a very challenging race, to try and shake things up. (Tough race, at least seven candidates and a few that have a ton of money behind them already.) So I give him kudos for doing it and will be rooting for him to win. After all, can you imagine a long-time glass guy in the House of Representatives? The Glass and Glazing Advocacy Days would surely be different for us! Good luck, Matt.

Finishing Trades Institute spotlight

Last this week… Very cool piece from CBS in the Twin Cities on the Finishing Trades Institute and the opening segment focuses on glazing and features apprentices from Empirehouse and MG McGrath. Great pub for our space, and hopefully, it will catch some eyeballs and bring more candidates in the door, and then out into the field. We need youth, we need people, and things like this can only help. Huge props to everyone at FTI who made this happen!