From the Fabricator

Catch Up Time

No traditional lead story this week, just a lot of catching up with tidbits of information and happenings around the glass world. Plus, if I write about the adventure with interest rates and dire predictions from this past week, I may get too depressed to continue, so I’ll save that for another…

Headed to the Big D

Thrilled to be headed to the great state of Texas this week to visit with the North Texas Division of the Texas Glass Association. I love the opportunity to meet and network, as well as share some of the latest insights in our space. There’s quite a bit of news to cover too, so that will be fun.

New Pod: Paints, Innovations & More

The latest “From the Fabricator” podcast is now live for your listening and/or watching pleasure. Kicking it off with 2 guys who are incredibly detailed and strong on the paint and finishing sides. Neil Chrisman III and Chris Incorvaia were great in running down the various issues on that area of…

Good News, Events, Products, Big Fish and More

I'm excited for several personnel shifts in our industry, including Shelly Farmer's great new position a senior vice president at rising company Pellucere Technologies. Plus, upcoming events to put on your calendar.

Amazing Project and People

I had noted last week that I was afforded a great opportunity while at BEC in Nashville. Troy Johnson, President of Apogee Architectural Services (Harmon) asked if I wanted to visit a jobsite that they had rolling in town. For me, timing was a nightmare with my responsibilities to BEC, but Troy and…

Tremendous Week in Nashville!

What a run in the music city for our industry with an amazing BEC and GPAD. Truly a top notch and memorable experience all the way around. So, settle in, this is my traditional extra-long recap that features thoughts and lots of name drops too!  

New Pod and It's a huge week!

A great new podcast ep, plus BEC/GPAD! We're in Nashville, with the best of the best in our space, and I can’t wait to learn and listen and catch up with old friends and make some new ones as well.

Almost There!

Next week! Yes, next week brings on the month of March and it finally brings on BEC and GPAD in Nashville. Obviously, I am very excited on both. The chance to connect with so many has me jumping out of my skin.

Bonus pod, tough loss, 'Shrinkflation,' and more

I spoke with Matt Kamper of Woodbridge Glass and Kyle Lindersmith of Burkle for my bonus pod. Plus, my thoughts on the the Superbowl (commercials). 

Conferences, Sales, Boards & More

The latest edition of the NGA Glass Conference wrapped up this past week in South Carolina and I am always amazed at how much gets done at those things. Not being close to a technical stalwart, I tend to review these events from afar, leaving the technical superstars from our industry to do their…

Forecast and Other Insights

The newest episode of the From the Fabricator podcast is now up! This time out we’ve got two making their return to the airwaves with great insight and info. Kicking it off for the third year in a row, a forecast session with Nick St. Denis of KMR.  

2024 Predictions- Take 2

It's funny I have been writing this blog since 2005 and for the first time ever, I wrote it all and then deleted it, and cleared the trash too, hurriedly because I am a putz, by accident. So hopefully this version will work, but as I sit down to rewrite, I swear my mind is blank. Yikes. Ok, so here…

New Pod, Predictions Reviewed and More

The newest podcast in the From the Fabricator series is up and it’s a fun one that has some younger stars in our space. I kick it off with Sterling Guyette and Luke Jacques of Insulite Glass. They have done some amazing things with that fabricator, took excellent approaches and are really sharp and…

2024 is Here... Let's Go!

Happy New Year! Back at it here on the blog as we head towards the 19th anniversary of this effort. As I always joke, I started the blog at and around the same time as Facebook and Twitter launched. Man, did those folks miss the boat with their ideas vs. mine!  Anyway, it’s another adventurous year…

Year End Pod and 2023 MVP!

The last scheduled post of the year is here! Lots to cover. First up, my annual one on one year end interview is with John Dwyer of Syracuse Glass; now a part of the Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope family.

Who's Next?

And down the stretch we come…This is the next to last scheduled post of the year!  A few items to cover this week. We’ll kick it off with a look back at my past Industry MVP’s and Runners Up as the 2023 edition will be unveiled next week. I created this program in 2013 to recognize folks and…

"Taylor" Made

The latest From the Fabricator podcast is out and it is truly “Taylor” made for the industry. Yes, I know the term is “tailor” made, but this episode features two awesome Taylors; Trey Taylor of BEES Inc. and Henry Taylor of Kawneer.  

Get Automated

I could start this post with a look at the ABI, but we’re all coming off the high of the holiday in the US, so I won’t get to that stomach churning news just yet. Let’s talk something that is never an issue out there and always easy to find. Labor. LOL. I know this continues to be the challenge but…

New Pod, Tough Econ News & Best Holiday of the Year

The latest From the Fabricator podcast is up with insight and info from all parts of our world. Kicking it off is long time manufacturers reps, Dan and Nico Pompeo of Architectural Glazing Solutions.

The Big GlassBuild 2023 Wrap Up

Wow. What a show. I think those of you that know me know I love every time we all get together but this one really went above and beyond. Truly a tremendous time and three show days absolutely flew by. Overall vibe I took away was resilience, preparation, and cautious optimism. Those emotions had…

BIG WEEK!

We’ve got a special edition of the From the Fabricator podcast for you out now. Kicking it off with the outgoing Chair of the NGA, Brian Hale of Hale Glass. Fun and wide-ranging conversation with a guy who has had an amazing 45+ year run in the business.  

ABI, HOF, CGA and More

Tough week both professionally and personally, but resilience is always the word around here so we plug on.  First, on the professional side. The Architectural Billings Index absolutely cratered, coming in with a brutal score of 44.8. That is the worst score since the teeth of the pandemic, and I…

All About the Prep

Obviously everything in the industry right now is GlassBuild focused, so of course the latest Glass Magazine leads with it and goes in heavy on the event. If you are attending, being prepared by checking out that issue now will really help you get ready for the show. If you are not attending, you…

Hear the Trends and then More

I get asked a ton on “trends” and what I see coming down the path, so I am pretty stoked that I’ll soon have the ability to moderate a panel all about trends and what is next! At GlassBuild on day one; the very first session on the Main Stage at 10:30 a.m., the panel will be focused on trends and…

New Pod- Catch Up and Grow

The newest episode of the From the Fabricator Podcast is now out and we go to coast to coast with great guests yet again. I am so fortunate to be able to talk to this sort of talent! Kicking it off by catching up with Chris Hanstad and Barry Sutherland of FHC (Frameless Hardware Company). They were…

Review, Awards, Indexes and More

Kicking it off this week a review of the latest Glass Magazine. Really strong edition led by the ultra-prestigious Glass Magazine Awards. Congrats to all the winners there and note at GlassBuild they’ll honored in person. Very cool!  

Be on Guard & Stay Informed

One of the most talked about parts of my post from last week was the video I posted from CNBC talking about banks being winners/losers during the growing volatility out there. So this week when I saw this blurb on the excellent newsletter “The Scroll” I knew I had to share.

Podcast Trio of Justice

The latest edition of the From the Fabricator podcast is now up and we’ve got three folks coming from three different directions. Good stuff on all.

The Thrill of the Pod

Next week there will be a new episode of the From the Fabricator podcast. It looks to be a good one. It got me thinking on how many people I’ve interviewed so far. The three guests that will appear will be numbers 114, 115, and 116. When I tallied that up, I was somewhat stunned. I did not think I…

Thoughts Out West

I never thought I’d be leading off a blog talking about a hurricane hitting southern California and the southwest, but here we are. Obviously sending positive thoughts to all, especially with regards to the rains and floods. Stay safe out there my friends.  Note: We’re also watching the updated…

The Best... and Staying That Way

“Glass can do everything…” that was the headline for the annual Glass Magazine Awards. When you look at the winners you realize that, indeed, it really can do everything! I loved going through the projects especially. Congrats to everyone who participated in this process as it makes our industry…

News and Nuggets

We may be square in the “dog days” of summer but various news and happenings are always popping in our industry. This week a handful of things to rundown, but leading off with a long overdue Glass Magazine review.

Podcast on Both Coasts

My new podcast is up, and I speak with Ashley Klein of AK Glazing as well as Evan Afenir of Double Play Glass, two glass industry up-and-comers that are the future of our space. We talked about how they're navigating this current market and more.

Forecast Focus

It's a big week in the forecasting side of things with the latest Architectural Billings Index (ABI) and the release of the mid-year AIA Consensus Forecast. First on the ABI, things held in the positive territory, barely, but still, we’ll take it versus it being negative. Good news also in that…

The Office Part 2

Last week I talked about the glimmering hope on the return to office area and the positivity there and I noted I’d have more on that this week. For that it was an article in Wall Street Journal that talked about the effect that the lack of return to office is having on so many people, including our…

Are We Getting Back to the Office?

Back at it after the holiday and what else also may be back? People coming into the office! Yes, you have heard it before, more than a few false starts in the last 18 months, but recently Kastle Systems, a major player in the swipe card area and they track the office data closely, reported that…

Pod, Birds, Deals, and Great ABI too!

The latest From the Fabricator podcast is now live and I’m thrilled about how it turned out. Three unique and cool people joined me, and we covered a ton of items. Leading off was Sophia Panova of SO-ZHA Architects. Very talented person who “gets it” and I enjoyed her perspective throughout. She is…

In the Movies

In the new movie Elemental, architectural glass gets to play the hero in an exciting way. Plus, new podcasts from me and the NGA, and product news from industry leaders.

Trouble Ahead?

Reporting in the Wall Street Journal says that building in the commercial space may be coming to a bumpy landing. Landlords have been dealing in "interest only" loans, and the dollar amount of commercial mortgages is almost $1.5 trillion. 

Houston Rocks

The great state of Texas never disappoints and that was the case again this past week when I had the honor of speaking at the Houston Area Glass Association (HAGA) luncheon. Just a tremendous group of people that are so engaged in our space and future. Among the highlights for me was HAGA awarding…

Latest Podcast Episode and More

The latest From the Fabricator podcast is out and I have to say it is a very powerful episode. The insights shared this month are top notch, especially from a technical side of things and there were lots of lessons learned. Leading off is Anas Al Kassas of INOVUES. Interesting guy with a company…

What's Next?

Kawneer is one of those legacy brands in our space, so when their parent company was sold recently it did send some waves through the industry. There had been a ton of talk of Kawneer itself being sold last year, but that got pulled back. What happens next?   

2023 Glass TEXpo Review

Another strong showing from the folks in Texas for this years edition of Glass TEXpo. The hospitality is always top notch and it’s a tremendous opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new ones. Before I get into the “seen at the show” section, I did want to follow up on my note from last…

Texas Week

This week I get to go to one of my favorite states and will see a ton of my favorite people when I visit Glass TEXpo in San Antonio. I always enjoy attending this one because the folks in the great state of Texas always lay out the best welcome mat possible. Probably one of the main things I’ll be…

New Pod + Mix of News

The latest From the Fabricator podcast is now out and it’s a good mix of people and subject matter. Leading it off is Jeff Dalaba and Ben Beeler from NACC & AGMT.  As many know, I am a huge supporter of the certification processes that these guys are heading up so having them on to talk about…

Good News / Bad News

A very interesting Architectural Billings Index was released this week. On one hand the news was good, but on the other, not so much. In my last post I predicted a bad overall score. The worries on interest rates and the banking mess (still on going, though the world moves on to other issues) would…

Under the Radar Sites and More

So late in 2021 I went in search of some of the best “under the radar” websites in our industry and came up with a bunch led by a great one from the team at Minneapolis Glass. This year I once again went on the deep dive through the web to recognize more deserving folks in our space. My simple…

Schools and National Overwatch

The school shooting issue is still top of mind for me. When the possibility of interviewing a person who is out there trying to help schools do the right thing came up, I jumped at it. So I did a special one off podcast with Victor “Sal” Salazar of National Overwatch. Sal’s group is a non-profit…

Schools and What We Offer

By now I assume everyone reading this has heard that the school shooting in Nashville began when the shooter shot through the glass and walked right in. The doors looked like they had typical tempered in it, making it a very easy pass. Obviously this is gutting on so many levels, but from an…

Pod, Forecast, Advocacy and More

The latest edition of the From the Fabricator podcast is up and it’s got three dynamic and strong players on it. This month I kick it off with Susan Stone from Ubiquitous Energy. Susan was supposed to be on the opening session at BEC but had to cancel because of the insane weather her region was…

A Needed Innovation

The big news for this blog dropped late in the week and I think it was hinted upon during my podcast with Garret Henson of Viracon. The announcement that Viracon would be adding a code to each IGU that will identify the exact make-up of the unit is big, big news in my opinion.

The Big BEC Recap

Another BEC is in the books and what an event it was! Once again so great to see so many wonderful leaders in our space and continue to learn and advance. As is tradition, this will be a very long post recapping BEC, but mostly noting the who’s who of the show for me. 

BEC Begins

It’s here! BEC week is upon us, and I am onsite in Las Vegas with hundreds of industry leaders. Next week I’ll have my usual “who’s who” recap of this event, but the overall vibe once again is one of positivity and hope.  

Pod, People, and More!

The latest From the Fabricator podcast is now online and live. The mix of guests this month is very exciting. I kick it off with the one and only Garret Henson of Viracon and we covered a ton of ground, both in historical and also products and important issues going forward.  

Industry News and Notes

First up, great to see the new Board of Directors installed at the Texas Glass Association. Tremendous organization and top-notch people leading the way. Congrats to Kyle Sharp of Sharp Glass, President, Jody Hilton of Floyds Glass Company, Vice President, Brian Risinger of Country Glass &…

Be There!

We are a few weeks away from BEC and the excitement is really ramping up. The registration for the event has been amazing and the agenda has come together nicely. Last week I hit on a few sessions and this week I want to do the same.  

Good Resources

It’s been a while since I was able to give a review of the latest Glass Magazine, but I have finally caught up and time to take a look at an absolutely powerful January/February edition. This is “Future” issue, and I loved the cover project from Vitro that just popped right off the page. Inside the…

Pod, BEC, Bubba and More

The latest From the Fabricator podcast is now up! This month we kick it off with the awesome Katy Devlin of Glass Magazine and NGA. Katy is so smart and so cool, and her insights are spot on. Was fun to chop it up. Then on to three people really working hard to help their region. Kristie Rehberger…

Predictions for 2023

Last week was easy. Reviewing predictions is a walk in the park compared to making them. But here we are, and this is what you expect from me, so the crystal ball is shined up and ready to go. My money back guaranteed predictions for our space in the year ahead.

Reviewing 2022

Predictions can be tough, but each year I do them and each year I follow up to see how I fared. So, before we dig into 2023, time to take a look back at my thoughts on 2022. Here are last year's calls and whether I won, lost, or tied.

New Year, New Pod and Lots of News

Happy New Year! We are off and running into 2023! Kicking it off in style with a great new podcast featuring three very interesting people all doing good things in our space. 

2022 MVP and Year-End One on One Special Podcast

2022. Get ready to enter this one into the finished column. But before we do that, there’s quite a bit to cover on my last scheduled blog post of the year. First off, my year ending traditional “one-on-one” podcast with an industry influencer. This year it's Steve Weidner of NSG Pilkington. Next up…

Dynamic Duo and an Amazing System

We’ve reached the final month of the year and time has just flown right on by. Lots to cover this week, but kicking off with the latest From the Fabricator podcast. Really fun one, first featuring the awesome duo of Michael Saroka and Laura Little from Goldray Glass. This sibling team, along with…

Index Down

Hope everyone in the US had a good Thanksgiving holiday. The one area that did not was the Architectural Billings Index. After months of waiting for the “other shoe to drop” and the index to be underwater, its latest reading limped in with an ugly 47.7 rating. Remember 50 is the break-even mark and…

Winding Down 2022

Down the stretch of 2022 we come. These next 7 weeks will fly on by, so buckle in. While usually some people start to coast to finish out the year, many others are grinding trying to get their plans for next year in line.

New Pod and the Deal Gets Done

A new podcast this week, acquisition news, retirement news, and looking ahead at some industry trends and data.

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. 

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…

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…

Catching Up All Over the Globe

Before I get into this week, my thoughts are with everyone in Florida and those that were in the path of Hurricane Ian, including the home of the Daubmann family and their D3/MyArchitecturalGlass business. From what I hear, all is okay there with the plant, though they did have some damage.…

The Giant glasstec Recap

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. 

Germany On Tap and Exciting News to Share

Good chance this week to do an international “vibe” check as I’ll be in Germany at glasstec. I'm really curious to see how people are feeling about the industry.  We also take a look at some industry milestones and an exciting opportunity for the glass industry that will be highlighted on HGTV this…

Happy 80 and 100-plus Forecasts, Firms and More

It is anniversary time on my latest edition of the From the Fabricator podcast. First up is the duo of Lee Harrison and Ross Christie from Walker Glass, celebrating 80 years in business. Then on to the 100th anniversary of Reed Rubber Products and Clark Reed. That was a great chance for me to chat…

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…

Bumpy Forecast, Great Pod, And More

According to the latest Dodge Construction Network webinar, things are looking stable, but some possible murky times lay ahead. A great, new podcast episode is also available to listen or watch. Also, looking ahead to glasstec next month and more upcoming shows.

Beat Up Backlog

Each time an index comes out, I run through it and give you all some quick thoughts. Well now comes the latest Construction Backlog Report and that one, unfortunately, is connecting to my pessimism pretty well. This report has fallen three months in a row and is under water.

Latest Pod, On Location

A fun new podcast is now live. I went on location in Missouri and spent time at the amazing Quaker Windows facilities.

Big Notes From The Road

I have been on the road now for two solid weeks and it’s been great to see people in their natural habitats again and really get out and learn. The feedback was pretty interesting overall and I wanted to share some quick takeaways.

Absorbing An Adventurous Week

I feel like this blog is like the old episodes of Sesame Street that were brought to you by a letter, so this week, it’s brought to you by the letter A, as a bunch of subjects I have started with that letter so may as well be creative.

Questions Abound

The latest Dodge Momentum Index was up again. It is now at its highest point in 14 years. While that is exciting, it is also a bit of a mirage. There are still some dry pockets out there now, and in various backlogs, so it once again has me questioning these indexes. I’ll take the positivity, you…

Power Players

A new podcast is now posted with two tremendous guys from fantastic companies.  

Moving Forward

Here we are two weeks into our latest adventure, so I checked in with glaziers and fabricators from all over North America. Overall, it was pretty uniform that people sat down and worked through it. Battled. Yes, jobs were lost to overseas players. As was predicted. Yes, jobs were put on hold until…

The Friday Stunner

Wow. Well on a day that it was announced U.S. Inflation was at its highest rate in 40 years, another bombshell was dropped by a major float glass company.

Great People, Resources, Cities and More

The latest “From the Fabricator” podcast is now live. Once again, I feel like the luckiest person around with getting to know new and ultra-cool people in our industry and then sharing their knowledge with all of you. Thank you for checking it out! 

Something Special

Pride in our industry is something I totally enjoy. In the past few years, this feeling of our value as a trade has really grown and the more we go that way the better. We have something special here, different and better than any other trade; let’s keep pushing that narrative as far as it can go.

Preparing for...what?

This blog has been written and re-written four times already. I am struggling on how to lay it all out. The one thing I don’t like being is negative or worrisome, but unfortunately the following is what it is. So here goes…

The Great State of Texas

The Texas Glass Association Glass Conference really delivered this past week, once again showing that people want and need these onsite events to help to grow themselves and their businesses. This year the content really was top notch. Great breakout sessions and a couple of truly memorable and…

Lots of People Who 'Get It'

Well, that was a good "blog week" off and now back at it. The new podcast is ready, and there's plenty to recap, including solar glass news and how subcontractors get paid.

Top Glass Recap

Top Glass happened this past week, and it really was a tremendous event and opportunity to once again bring everyone back together in person. It was also good to get to Canada for the first time since 2019 and see and catch up with so many.

Life and Business Lessons

Exciting new podcast for this month is now live! Went from coast to coast in a few different sides of our business and really walked away with a lot of insight. 

Catch-Up Time

It has been so hectic lately that it’s probably time for a quick hit blog covering a wide range of subjects, including upcoming events, and a recap of GPAD and Glass and Glazing Advocacy Day.

The Massive BEC Recap

Wow. What a week in Nashville. Unreal in so many ways. Get ready, for a happening this big, and two-plus years in the making, it takes an extra-long blog with plenty of name drops is coming your way.

Back at the BEC

It’s big week in our industry with BEC and GPAD finally here. By the time some of you read this, most of the events will be done. I am just so happy it is here, it’s been a long time since the last time we held this event live in March of 2020. Great to get everyone back together!

Exciting Stretch Ahead

We are about to enter a cool little stretch of industry events, and I am excited because this may be the first real “normal” stretch we’ve had in two years.

The Pains of Labor

In all of the scary things happening right now, the one that brings the most worry but probably gets the least overall attention is our shortage on the workforce. We are battling so many things, but if we don’t have folks to make and install the material, nothing else matters.

Well that was a Big week

That was a busy week, eh? Not every day the week starts with a $3.4 billion-dollar-deal and it will be very interesting to see how things progress there.

One More Month

One month. That is it. One month away until we meet in Nashville for BEC and GPAD. These two tremendous conferences will get 2022 kicked into full gear and I am seriously stoked. Take a look at BEC  and GPAD and if you have any questions or curiosities on the events, hit me up!

Topping Off

I teased it on the post last week that this time out, I would talk about something I got to do for the very first time while on a tour of Florida with NGA’s iconic #glassnerd Andrew Haring. We were invited to a “topping off” or “topping out” celebration by the great Ashley Klein of AK Glazing. I…

Podcast, Travel and Super Jobs

I had the great fortune of traveling through Florida this week with the ultimate #GlassNerd and legend Andrew Haring of the National Glass Association. A few quick hits here, and then a special rundown about a first experience ever for me on next week’s blog.

Quick Takes

Everyone staying warm? What a run over the last few weeks, that even folks in Florida saw some crazy temps. Anyway, things will be heating up soon with a lot going on in our industry on tap. This week’s post is a quick hitter style with some catch up items leading the way.

Plan It Now

Have you registered for BEC and GPAD yet? Those of you who have attended these conferences know the value and I assume you’ll be signing on soon. But let’s say you have not attended, and have no idea what the fuss is about; let me take you through it.

2022 Prediction Time

After a one-week delay, my fearless predictions for 2022 are here. They range from forecasts about glass dominance as a building material, trends in IG units, and some ideas about our economic landscape. Let's go!

Pod, Rumors, Projects, Dogs and More

One of the big items people are talking about … the buzz surrounding a potential deal for Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope. And that buzz is growing big time.

2021 Prediction Review: How did I do?

My tradition is always on the second post of the year to review my predictions from the previous year and grade how they turned out. I am never always right or always wrong and looks like 2021 stayed in track with that.

Happy 2022: Now Let’s Go!

2022. We made it. Time to start another year and maybe, just maybe, we’ll see more “normal” versus what we have experienced since early in 2020.

One-on-One to End 2021

Well unless something crazy happens, this is my final blog for 2021 and I am thrilled I can end it with the dropping of my final podcast of season 1―a one on one with the ultimate leader in our industry, Don Friese.

2021 MVP and OBE

Big week, and unusually long post here. Obviously the news that Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope may be sold rocked our world this week. Also, I'm announcing MVP 2021. 

Projects, Culture, Shower Doors, Gear and More

I’m happy to announce the latest edition of the From the Fabricator podcast is now live! Kicking it off with Tom Jackson of Steel Encounters. The person that he is and work that he and his team does is simply amazing and a nice dive into a culture there that works very well too.

Confidence Builder into 2022

Despite the challenges we are all facing on the business settings, the economic indexes continue to do very well. The last Architectural Billings Index was released while this blog was on holiday, and it is still thriving in positive territory.

New Company, New Battles, and Lots of Kudos

The biggest news last week was the acquisition of Global Security Glazing and Dlubak Specialty Glass by Isoclima. This is massive news because it brings one of the best glass players in the world in Isoclima into the United States. Having their expertise matched with the talented and hungry folks…

Deals, Awards, Entrepreneurs and More

This is another week where there’s no lead story, but a bunch of smaller ones to comment on or catch up with. Including two stories I completely missed along with a bunch of other relevant items, including FeneTech's acquisition.

Future Still Looking Positive

Through all of the crazy and frustrating challenges we are facing, the one good index that has been on a roll, continued that this week with the latest Architectural Billings Index. The latest ABI came in at a stunning score of 56.6 which is up from 55.6 last month (remember over 50 is positive)…

Finally Getting It

I chuckle sometimes on how far ahead all of us are in this industry versus most of the world. Case in point: the supply chain. We all have been intimately involved in the massive supply challenges as it pertains to our industry for many months now, also while noticing the rest of the world is a…

New Pod, Jobsites, Careers, and the "Deathstar"

You are seeing it quite a bit online, and in the trades, but this month is Careers in Construction Month. I think all of us pushing this is more crucial than ever. We have all seen that it’s gotten even harder to attract folks to our awesome world, so time for those of us in it to step up and help…

Yes, Glass is Great

Last week Glass Magazine published a story that took off like a rocket ship and was shared a ton on social media. Honestly, this was a story that should be shared in every office in our industry and with as many people outside of our bubble as possible.

Boards, Indexes, Talking Shop and More

First, we’ll start with sad news, the passing of Thad Max Ziegler. Thad Max was great man who I had to honor of meeting back in the 90’s when our respective companies almost became partners. He was an amazing person and leader who worked an astounding 73 years in this business. My sincerest…

The Official GlassBuild Who's Who Recap

Well, that was a heck of a week…what a show we had in Atlanta. The opportunity to be back in front of people face to face really was energizing for all that attended, and my expectation of a motivated audience came true.

GlassBuild Kicks Off

This week writing this mostly from the floor at GlassBuild as we’ve finally made it, we’ve finally gotten to the show! It’s been a heck of a run since the last GlassBuild in person in 2019, and so far, so good in getting to see people and build back those great personal connections that we all…

Trailblazers and Disruptive Forces

I know in some pockets of our industry there’s stunningly no sight of a glass shortage, and all is well. In others, it’s a struggle. Well, folks, the bad news is I think things on the glass side are going to get even worse. So those of you not having issues, get ready, and those of you who are…

Articles, Ads, Reports, Pods, & More

The latest Architectural Billings Index was strong yet again but did show some slippage from last month. Possibly some of the uneven aspects of our economy is starting to catch up? The score of 54.6, down from 57.1, is still excellent but does show there’s some leveling off and the new inquiries…

It's On!

In about three weeks the industry will gather once again in Atlanta for GlassBuild. Yes. The show is on, everything is still set and hundreds of awesome exhibitors will be there ready to show off the latest and greatest.

New Pod and Stunning Closure

The Apogee news on closing the Statesboro, Georgia, facility and Velocity still has me stunned, especially the Velocity portion. Just did not see that coming at all.

Bernard and Dick Sr.

This isn’t going to be a normal post for me. This past week was a rough one in our industry. Two tremendous and important men passed away. One was very well known nationally, one was not. Both, though, had immeasurable effects on our business and I am dedicating this post to each of them.…

Focused Forward

It’s August. This year is just flying by. We are now just six weeks away from GlassBuild and I am trying to stay focused on that and not on the absolute circus in the U.S. with regards to the virus, mandates, and so on.

Big and Important Deals

What a week in our world. Two massive partnerships were announced that could really push emerging technology to new levels. Very exciting stuff for our industry for sure. 

Podcast Deep Dives

I noted last week that we’d have a mid-year forecast coming out, and it was an interesting one. We are in a slow stretch (some feel this more than others) and the outlook for the future is positive, but concern on the virus and the lack of vaccinations in the construction trade are a worry as is…

Mid-Year Check In

It is now mid-year forecast time, and this coming week we’ll have a big release on what some of the main analysts are seeing for the rest of 2021 and into 2022. My approach is still the same, we knew 2021 was a “donut” and for a lot of the industry, but not all, we are in the hole right now. …

10 Years!

This week is a milestone week for me as my little company will turn 10 years old on Friday. I simply can’t believe it’s been a decade on my own, but here we are. Obviously, a major thank you to all of you who have trusted me to work with you on your communication strategy, and gratitude also to all…

June Bloom

June brings the annual start to Hurricane Season. For the next few months, we’ll be on high alert with regards to storms moving into the east coast or up through the Gulf. The glass and glazing industry has truly made a major impact, no pun intended, on this space.

Yes on the Future, Meh on the Current

The ABI's immediate analysis pointed to pent up demand and to retrofit. I have been hammering the retrofit side for a while as a huge growth area, and it’s great to see the experts agree. The only bad news here is this is future-based, so we’ll get to enjoy this run later this year and into next,…

The Road Back Begins

The road to being “back” took a major step forward this past week in San Antonio, Texas, at the TEXpo event there. The organizers and the incredible Texas Glass Association did a wonderful job with the setup and layout, and it was great to be back on a show floor again!

New Pod, Great People and Products

The news came down this week that 2022 will be the International Year of Glass! That is tremendous stuff, and should only be good for all of us going forward. I expect a lot more details to come, but as the great leader of this effort, Alicia Duran, noted in her announcement of this happening, “…

Supply Chain Scaries

Every few months a complete supply chain update for the building product world is published by Gilbane. It is an excellent resource and for the longest time glass was always listed as “stable” in the three main categories of price, inventories, and deliveries. That is no longer the case as in the…

The Vax

Since the pandemic started, I have pretty much made it a mission not to talk specifically about anything directly connected to it. This post however I am going to break that approach. Reason being is I am curious on what companies are doing with regards to the vaccination process. 

Forecasts, Podcasts, and More

The next release of the Architectural Billings Index comes out Wednesday. There is a ton of anticipation for this one given how great the last report was. I’m going in with the attitude of hope for the best but expect the worst. I don’t think there’s any way the March results will beat February,…

Labor Pains

The challenge of finding labor is now the biggest it has ever been, and is not getting easier. As the economy starts to come back and companies of all types are returning to “normal” business, there is a shortage of willing people to work.

Big Company Moves

We heard the news of the assets from Columbia Commercial Building Products being divvyed up between two companies, with the window system going to Arcadia and the architectural aluminum to FHC. Nice moves for both of those companies, especially with regards to expanding their products lines. Again…

Positive Report

The ABI came in at a stunning 53.3! The score of 50 is the break even and so this score not only shot past that but did so for the first time since this pandemic began. New project inquiries also went through the roof, posting a 61.2 and new contracts posted a nice 51.6. All in all, a super report.

The Tightening of Supply

It has been on the radar for a while, and now it’s time to say it again. Everything is getting tighter. What I mean by that is there’s not many areas in the supply chain that are chock full of inventory.

Impressive Industry Minds on Display

The March edition of the From the Fabricator podcast is now live. This release is a bit earlier than normal because I didn’t want to conflict with the episode drops from BEC Presents coming next week, so I hope you’ll still make room in your listening/viewing schedule for all!

The Man, the Myth, the Legend

In the next issue of Glass Magazine there is a story I am very proud to be associated with. It is a “Take 5 with Randy Steinberg” of Glasswerks, and it really was a fun one to dig into. Getting this chance and digging into what makes Randy tick really was special.

On the Bumpy Road

As always, a couple keys for our world continue to be a push to make sure you are as diverse as possible and communicating at the most effective level with your supply chain. We knew the bumpy road was out there and we’re looking at it straight ahead right now.

Interesting Innovations and More

I sat in on the latest construction forecast for 2021 this past week and so far, the initial predictions for the year are panning out. Slowdowns expected to the middle half of the year with pick-ups at the end.

From the Fabricator: Huge Benefits

There was a lot of news that came out of the NGA Glass Conference last week, but the biggest to me was the announcement of a huge members benefit: the members-only Codes & Standards Help Center. That is something we’ve needed in this industry for a long time. It is finally here and it’s…

What Happens Next?

The big news of the week was all surrounding what is going on with JE Berkowitz and the CGH brand. JEB has suspended operations and Columbia in Texas is closing, and that was tough news to take. Good companies that had some super people.

Down But Not Out

Recently AIA released their “Consensus” forecast update that takes eight different indexes and averages them out. The prediction for 2021, when all is said and done, is a 5.7 percent decrease in nonresidential spending in the new year.

The New Addition: A Podcast!

I am excited to announce a new addition to the “From the Fabricator” family. I have launched a new monthly podcast! Yes, as if once a week my writing was not enough, now once a month you can see/hear me talking up the industry.

Predictions for 2021

Hot off the presses, it’s time to dive into my predictions for our industry in 2021. This should be a very interesting year (understatement alert) as we continue to hopefully move further and further away from the 2020 virus.

And so we begin!

Has there ever been a new year where there is an absolute unanimous agreement that it is great to move on to the next? I think obviously this is the one with all of us now looking forward with hope and positivity to 2021.

Get Ready for The Glass Age

Will 2022 be the year of Glass? I have mentioned this a few times, but there is an excellent international move afoot to make 2022 officially the year of glass and would begin the “The Glass Age” in our world. Obviously, I love it.

Rough Week

We start this week some tough news. A few days ago, word came that Cliff Monroe passed away. Cliff was a leading technical mind in our industry for many years, and held important roles at Arch Aluminum, Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope and eventually his own consulting company. Cliff was also a main…

Forecast Season Begins

The first of two major construction forecasts were released this previous week, and leading off was the annual Dodge Data & Analytics Conference. This forecast says the commercial sector for starts will finish down 23 percent this year and only gain back 5 percent of that in 2021.

The Battle Continues

It may have been forgotten, or at least minimized, in light of all else going on in our world, but our industry is still “battling” for the wall. There continues to be movements out there for less glass and it is one that the NGA and its dream team of leaders and advocates are fighting at every…

BOD, PR, and Q&A

I have written a few times on the book "Designing a World-Class Architecture Firm" by Patrick MacLeamy former CEO of HOK. I was lucky enough to get an email interview with Patrick and here is Part 1. You’ll see how his passion comes through here and the book was the same way.  

Better News

The latest Architectural Billings Index was released this week and it was an absolute stunner. The scoring was way beyond what I expected or what conventional wisdom was pointing to. After a few months being stuck at 40―remember a score of 50 is break-even―the index shot up to 47 this month.…

A Book, an Index, a Reminder, and More...

This whole Architectural Billings Index, as well as all of the forecasts, have been defying some conventional wisdom in when and where they are dropping. Obviously, I don’t want negative, but it is coming. Work on the books is dropping in real life, so eventually it’s going to play out here. 

Continuing the Comeback

FGIA's economic forecast featured a prediction that the airline and hotel industries will come back. I hope this call on the return to success by airlines and hotels happens and happens soon.  

15 Years!

It was in October of 2005 that I started this blog. Never in my wildest dreams did I think 15 years later I’d still be plugging away, week after week posting, but here I am. Fifteen years this month. Allow me to please take a quick look backwards, especially for those of you new folks who found me…

Finishing Strong

Well here we are, another month down as we steam toward the end (thankfully) of 2020. And, also, with the end of the month comes the end of the awesome GlassBuild Connect event. It has been a heck of a run, and this week it finishes strong with some amazing panels. 

Huge Retirement

The big news from the industry this week was the announced planned retirement of Apogee CEO Joe Puishys. I have been a huge fan of Joe’s from the first time I heard him speak at BEC and believe he is an excellent leader and representative of our industry. 

Time to Act

This past week at GlassBuild Connect, Connor Lokar from ITR Economics delivered an incredible performance―more than 75 minutes of detailed intel and dives in the economic landscape. For all of us though I think the thing to focus on is “how are we going to deal with it?” How are we going to pivot…

Big Week Ahead

There are two major, can’t-miss presentations coming this week. On Tuesday, the most comprehensive and independent economic forecast focused on our industry happens. Connor Lokar is a tremendous speaker with impressive credentials on the economic side of things. Then Wednesday, Jorma Vitkala makes…

It Is Time! 

It is finally here. GlassBuild Connect kicks off this week, and for the next month we’ll be focused on the best that our industry has to offer. Obviously, this year is like no other and GlassBuild being an online experience is like nothing else out there. I am honored to work on the team there to…

Trends Up, Down, and All Around

The latest Architectural Billings Index results were released this past week and they came in pretty much like I expected. Still not great, and not what we had been used to, but they were better than what they were and what they could be. 

Happy Trails

The next release of the Architectural Billings Index will be released this week and this one will be more interesting than normal. As you may remember, last month was a “good” report (relative to the time we are in) and had some momentum.  

Blip on the Radar?

An interesting and unfavorable trend appeared this week in my normal communications around the industry. For the first time since the virus started locking us down, I am getting reactions that business has slowed down for many. This week, though, I heard from more than a few people in different…

Clearing Off The Desk

FTI’s month of tremendous content leading into GlassBuild Connect for a month is flat out awesome for the industry. So much learning at so many different levels. Two events back to back that are difference-makers. 

2020 Mid-Year Forecast Notes

Starting off this week with some forecasting news. There was a good economic mid-year update presented this week and some interesting nuggets came from it. The analysts see us being past the bottom now and rising. The metrics are all pointing at least in an upward direction.  

Hanging Tough

Resilience. If there is a word that accurately describes the glass and glazing industry right now, it’s that one. While I hear about other industries having companies fall by the wayside or have several actively looking to sell, for the most part our world has followed a dogged determination path…

The Mental Game

One of my best friends is a professional coach. He works with business people and athletes and helps them on the mental game. He’s given me tips and directions along the way that have made a huge difference in how I am able to operate. 

The Massive Importance of GlassBuild

I think for all of us in the industry we may take GlassBuild for granted. It’s always been there, but it’s actually more than a show―it’s the lifeblood of the industry and the NGA. It’s what is needed to be able to have the technical chops, guidelines, bulletins and conferences.  

From the Fabricator: Surprising Code Watch

We had a double blast of code dives this week with webinars from the National Glass Association and from Glass Canada. Both webinars did sound at least a minor alarm about the next area of concern for the commercial glass world when it comes to codes; that would be the spandrel area. This is…

Back at It

More details came through on the July Glass Conference that will be all online. I mentioned the Conference on my last post but the extra particulars on the schedule got me going. The agenda is loaded and the value for three days of education―$150 for members and $200 for non-members―is off the…

The Glass Conference

I’ve noted this previously but here goes again; there’s a ton of content out there right now and it’s a challenge to determine what is worthy and what is not. One event that is absolutely worth it―even more than ever this year―is the Glass Conference coming in July.

Being Ready

So many times, I hear “Well as soon as things change we’ll push more, we’ll go then,” and that attitude is chasing the wave, instead of being on top of it. The play should be: Ready. Stay Ready.

Quick Hits

The Dodge Momentum Index was only slightly down in its latest reading for May. But before we get too positive, this report is a 3-month moving average, and so expectations are that this index will see some serious drops in the next month or two. It bears watching for sure.

Forecast Updates

I sat in on the ConstructConnect webinar this week that was an update to bring folks up to speed on the current construction forecast landscape. Bottom line? We all have to keep being strategic, diverse―design and code changes will help glass―and active in fighting and marketing for our businesses…

What the Recent Index Means

If the ABI continues to scuffle, and we expect it will, the angle of strategy and diversification takes a much bigger role. If you are not looking hard at what you can do to be ahead of the game right now, you are missing out.

The Work Doesn't Stop

The latest Architectural Billings Index was released, and I think we all expected bad. And dreadfully bad is what we got. The index came in with a 33.3, which is way below the break- even index of 50. 

Get Updated

One thing is for sure right now and it’s there is a lot of information out there on loans and assistance but how do you know what is right or wrong? I was thrilled that the National Glass Association was able to setup a must-attend webinar with financial expert Marco Terry to talk about things like…

Strategic Planning

We all have to be mindful of what is going on now, but if we are not constantly in motion with plans for the future we are missing out. Eventually things are going to break here―do you want to be chasing that curve or on top of it? 

Remembering the Positivity

BEC was a little over a month ago and I never in my wildest dreams would’ve thought we’d be where we are at right now. The reason I bring up BEC is because the positivity and the focus there is something we can’t lose sight of. We have brilliant people and companies in our industry and we have an…

The Meaning of Essential

Obviously, we all have felt what we do is essential and that we provide an incredible and very important building product. However, for years we had always been beaten down either in the codes or by random glass bashing articles. Now during this time of crisis we get our answer and in a majority of…

Watching Other Items

On March 18, the latest Architectural Billings Index was released.The latest report is for February and it was compiled before things turned upside-down. The index came in with an excellent score of 53.4. 

From the Fabricator: Education and Content Review

From the Fabricator: BEC Recap

BEC was a massive success. The largest attendance since 2008, and the new location, brought an amazing amount of energy. For years, those of us who were BEC originals could never fathom moving it from Las Vegas. Now, it’s pretty clear that rotating this event around gives it a new and fresh flavor. 

From the Fabricator: BEC 2020 is Here

It is BEC week! Each year, there are two events for me that are above all others. The Building Envelope Contractors Conference in the spring, and GlassBuild America in the Fall. I live for these events because of the ability to grow business, and myself. 

The Virus

It is time to talk about the Coronavirus and what could be next for all of us. This obviously is very frightening situation on many levels and one that many of us in North America have not felt yet but probably will…soon. 

American Factory

Several months ago, the documentary “American Factory” was released. I immediately watched this documentary and when it was over, I said to myself, there is no way I will ever blog about this.

Looking at 2040

Lots of think pieces out there asking where the world will be and what it will look like in 2040, so I decided to do the same thing briefly with our industry in mind. I think we are headed into an incredible run because glass is about to grow dramatically on the interior of a building, while still…

The Consensus Forecast Says...

We begin this week with another economic focus, with the release of the American Institute of Architects Consensus Forecast. AIA’s consensus for 2020 is showing the nonresidential world slightly up for the year.

Get Ready for the Year of Glass

How cool would it be if our industry, our little world, had the honor of having a year named for it? Well, if we all can come together and push, maybe 2022 will be known as the International Year of Glass by the U.N. 

From the Fabricator: The 2020 Predictions

We’ve reviewed past predictions and now it’s time to break out the trusty crystal ball and look at what I see ahead in the next 11 1/2 months of 2020. I am pretty confident about this grouping, and ready to go five for five when I review at the start of next year.

2019 Prediction Review

Before we can look forward into 2020, time for one more look back at 2019 and specifically at my predictions for the industry posted one year ago. Let’s see how I did!

From the Fabricator: 2020 - First Look

Happy New Year! We are off and running in 2020, and I am excited about all to come this year. Each year on this blog I start off with reviewing my predictions from the previous year, and then I go to my predictions for the year ahead. Next week is when I’ll look back, and the week after is when I’…

And the Industry MVP is....

And here we are ... the end of the year and my final scheduled post for 2019. As is my tradition, it’s in this post that I reveal the runners up and MVP of our fine industry during the past year.

My list of Best Buildings of 2019

The year’s end always brings “best of” lists and in our world, there are usually best building and project lists usually put out by architectural trade magazines. I went in search of those articles, found a few, and have to say I’m pretty bummed on the selections that some of the pubs made for “…

BEC Registration Opens, Job Moves, Cool Website and More

Registration is now open for BEC 2020. This year the event is in Nashville, and the early schedule is incredible. Topics that are crucial for the glazing contracting community are on tap. This year the schedule is different than past years. DO NOT skip the second day, as it’s loaded with content.…

Glass Getting a Positive Push

At the end of last month Microsoft founder Bill Gates wrote a pretty fascinating blog post. The post was headlined “Buildings are Bad for the Climate,” and he went deep into the issues he sees the traditional building causing our world going forward.