Blogs

We are now one month away from the BEC Conference in Louisville, and I am getting more and more excited every day as more people register to attend. There’s a lot happening there, and I’ve called out a few things in past posts (Workforce, Forecasts, Codes, etc.). I also have to mention the plans for Tactical Tuesday. We’ve got real actionable AI insights, jobsite tech, legal, including immigration, and pre-con strategies.

2026’s second episode of the From the Fabricator podcast is now live and I’ve got a pair of guests who bring something new to the pod. I lead off with Mike Rapp of PDS IG. Mike and his family have been stalwarts in this industry for a while, so it was nice to get a deeper dive on their background and to learn about the innovations Mike and team are working on now.

By now, I assume you may have heard the incredibly sad news that Carey Mobius of Garibaldi Glass passed away. For a ton of us, it was an absolute gut punch. Carey had a positive effect on so many in our space; he blazed a fresh trail in his operating acumen and pushed us to be better in the Architectural space. He was a mentor to many folks and a sounding board for others as well.

Commercial color trends for 2026 offer a contemporary take on natural neutrals, richly earthy hues, warm wood tones and cozy blues. 

We are off and running in 2026, and that first tough week, where everyone is catching up after the long holiday run, is done.  As is tradition, each year I review my predictions from the year before. I have to say I didn’t fare too badly with my calls in 2025. So here goes…

Time to kick the new year off with a new episode of the From the Fabricator podcast! Since it’s a new year, I started with a couple of people new to me and maybe to all of you.

Recent action by the federal administration has implemented a staggered approach to tariffs on all incoming imports into the United States. This change has created uncertainty and has forced domestic businesses to be nimbler in how they approach forecasting and planning. 

LEED v5 focuses on decarbonization, health and resilience. With its launch, the U.S. Green Building Council achieved its most significant update since LEED 3.0 launched in 1998.

A retirement wave is crashing over the glass industry as 1980s-era founders reach their exit years—but many companies lack succession plans. The risk? Decades of craftsmanship, customer relationships, and institutional knowledge could vanish overnight.

Last post for the year and usually the most read one too… it is where I drop my annual solo podcast with a major player in our world, and I award the 2025 Glass Industry MVP and its runners up. So, without further delay…