Glazing and Hurricane Season
Hurricane season is upon us
June 1 marks the start of hurricane season, and each year we get predictions from experts about what may happen. Before I get to that, I do need to point out that hurricane protective glazing was a huge win and move for our industry. It is now what school security will eventually be. A must-use product to keep people safe while also allowing them to live a normalized life.
An example is when natural light still can come through versus schools being built like a cave. So, when we take heat from other trades (which we do, constantly), it is nice to point out wins like this. Kudos to folks like Leon Silverstein and many others in South Florida who led the charge on the hurricane side that we can all point to proudly today. So, for the predictions, the main one is 1 to 3 major hurricanes to happen in 2026. The obvious hope is that they are hurricanes out to sea, and the only damage is to all the fish that will get caught up in the mix.
Elsewhere…
Latest pod and upcoming pod
ICYMI, the latest From the Fabricator podcast dropped last week, and I’ve loved the feedback that I have received. I had a feeling people would appreciate the authenticity of Randy Brooks and Jared Ruggieri, and that came true. Those guys also dropped some really solid actionable points, too- for which I and the audience appreciate! So thank you to them!
Watch here or listen here.
And next up, as some of you may have seen the wild AI graphic on LinkedIn, I’ll have the extremely talented Jamie Kernohan of Glass Guru on, along with one of the most important people in our world, Tom Culp. Without him and the other NGA tech Superheroes, we are working in windowless huts. That one will be out June 14th!
50 year anniversary
Fifty years in this industry is a huge accomplishment. There are a few people still in that class in our world, and on June 1st, a new member will be added. The one and only Ralph Aknin of Glass 3 Enterprises hits the half-century mark, and he’s still laser-focused on the business; his love for our industry has not waned a bit. Ralph has always been ahead of the curve product-wise, and I am not sure anyone is better at tracking down a source. Ralph has always been incredibly kind to me, and he’s been a class act through and through. So congrats, Ralph, on hitting 50, and thank you for all you have done to make our industry better!
Top 10 cities people want to retire
List time! Been a while since I had one- and you know I love these. Via my good friend Joe Staffileno… here are the Top 10 cities where people want to retire...
10. Boise, ID – The Idaho talk just continues to grow out there. The hype is real.
9. San Diego, CA- Shouldn’t this be higher?
8. Tampa, FL- Makes sense
7. Asheville, NC – Oh my. The home of Big Bill from Asheville, Billy Britt, makes the list. And who wouldn’t want to live near the awesome folks of Britt-Tilson Glass?
6. Charleston, SC- Home of the best media agency in North America, CBK. Worth a move there just for that.
5. Orlando, FL – There surely is a lot to do when people come to visit. Though if the Space Counts as Orlando, then count me in over there.
4. Nashville, TN – OK, I can see many areas in Tennessee… but Nashville exactly? Great place to visit. Maybe the similarities to Orlando work here.
3. Naples, FL – Stunning, but I think this is out of my pay grade.
2. Scottsdale, AZ – See Naples.
And #1 on the list is Sarasota, FL. Florida dominates the list, and it's interesting that nothing in the southern part of the state, specifically good ole Boca. Sarasota is a great choice for #1.
Surprises to me? Nothing in Texas or Georgia. Also, if Idaho is on the list, no Montana? And for Joe, who sent the list, no Morgantown, WV? Come on!
AMS team visit
Recently, I had the good fortune to visit the team at AMS-Administrative Management Systems, Inc., the group behind the inspection and 3rd-party certification processes for many organizations, including SGCC and IGCC. Now, those who know me know I appreciate and respect the certification process, so seeing how things come together was a thrill for me. And knowing that there’s really no equal to the certification you get from SGCC or IGCC, I could tell why that was the case. Tremendous people and organization. Thanks to John Kent, Terry Schaefer, Kristin Best, and Kelly Jenness, among others, for their time and incredible hospitality. Keep up the great work, folks!
