This week, the industry focus will be in Southern California with a massive California Glass Association (CGA) meeting at the new campus of FHC. A ton is on the docket for this meeting, with some of my favorite presenters taking center stage. NGA Chair Rick Locke is kicking things off, and then three speakers I am a huge fan of take center stage. Nathan Seaman, Nick St. Denis, and Kevin Carrasco will cover info from their specialties. Kevin’s piece on HR and Immigration is especially pertinent these days.
Division 10, known as “specialties” by building professionals, bridges the gap between finishes and furnishings, addressing smaller, but critical, building components.
Personal branding is largely important for architects, and authentic storytelling and relationship-building can differentiate them in a competitive industry, drawing potential clients by showcasing not only their work but also their unique journeys and inspirations.
A new episode of the From the Fabricator podcast is out, and as always, more insights to share from very cool and talented people. I lead off with Pat O’Connor of the Glass & Metal Alliance. He and his group have a big show in Atlantic City at the end of the month, the Glass Symposium.
Massive industry news to start the post. Steve Weidner, President and Head of Architectural Glass at Pilkington NSG here in the US, announced his retirement. Steve has been at this for more than 45 years and, quite frankly, still brings the same energy and zest now as he was when I first met him 30 years ago.
This week, I'm preparing to head down to Dallas for the Texas Glass Association luncheon (a trip that was postponed last month). I'm looking forward to catching up with the great folks there.
A new episode of the From the Fabricator podcast has dropped and it’s got guests that may not be on people’s radar right now, but should be or will be soon. I started with Nick Davy and Adrian Winoto, the Smart Material company, Andluca. They are two fascinating guys who have studied the past and are creating that true next-generation product line. Very excited about their potential and it was an enjoyable conversation, despite me ripping on a certain glass segment, which I admit is a blind spot for good reason, lol.
The North American flat glass industry is navigating a complex landscape shaped by multiple challenges. One challenge that cannot be ignored is the increasing demand for improved energy efficiency and cost-effective production.
Well, that was a heck of an experience. BEC 2025 was genuinely fabulous from start to finish. So, on this post, I will offer a little flavor of my own and link to others who have the space to go deeper. Then I’ll drop into my annual run of who’s who from the room. Buckle in, this is going to be a long one.