GlassBuild Goes Big

The National Glass Association welcomed more than 9,400 registrants to GlassBuild America, Sept. 30 – Oct. 2 in Dallas, the largest edition in 16 years. Attendees experienced a massive show floor at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, where 535 exhibitors showcased their products and services, including 115 first-time exhibitors.

“We anticipated an event in Dallas that put renewed emphasis on the innovation and advancements of the glass, glazing and fenestration industries, as well as provided fresh solutions for the challenges at hand, particularly labor, and this year’s show more than delivered,” says Nicole Harris, NGA president and CEO. “Exhibitors and attendees alike came ready for the business-building and knowledge-gathering they rely on at GlassBuild, and it showed throughout the event.”

Exhibitor and attendee reactions to Dallas

Exhibitors and attendees at GlassBuild expressed satisfaction with the move to a new host city, Dallas.
 

“We were thrilled to have 30% more guests at our booth this year compared to last,” says Jakob Kowalczyk, customer experience director, Viprotron.
 

“Talk about an awesome GlassBuild trip,” says Jose Rodriguez, business development design manager, Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope. “Got the team together to enjoy some in-person gatherings, great learnings, wonderful field trips, and all the fantastic face-to-face time that comes with it all! Thanks NGA and team for getting us all together.” 
 

"We have just opened our new facility in Houston, so this location is very good for glass fabricators," says Humberto Juliao of Interglass.

NGA focuses on helping the industry build a next-gen workforce

NGA has made workforce development a primary initiative, and that commitment was demonstrated in several ways at this year’s GlassBuild.

STEM high-school students learn about glass and fenestration

One of the major labor issues remains a lack of next-generation workers. Glaziers and glass industry workers are retiring, with not enough people to replace them. NGA is working to bridge that gap head on. As part of that initiative, this year’s show welcomed 50 students from local Plano ISD Academy High School to learn about the glass and fenestration industries. 

Students toured the show floor, learning about the industry and supply chain directly from industry professionals, accompanied by Jenni Chase, vice president of workforce development for NGA. “During a conversation with two high-school-age girls, they asked me what curtain wall means,” she says. “I was able to answer their questions and show them examples on the show floor. The opportunity to engage with this age group in a setting that shows them first-hand the career opportunities available made such an impact on us and the students.” 

Main Stage speakers emphasize importance of mentorship, safety and collaboration

Main Stage speakers also provided insights into how to keep next-generation talent, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and training. 

In the Main Stage session “Building the World We Want to See: Building the Next Generation” Emily Pilloton-Lam, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Girls Garage, underlined the importance of tapping into the talents of young people, and helping them develop their skills. She spoke about her experience teaching high school in North Carolina, where she created a one-year program where students built structures to fill community needs, including a farmers market in an agricultural town. Students fully designed and researched the project and presented ideas to the town. "This project came together like a homework assignment," says Pilloton-Lam. "They were out every day, building the project together. It was incredible, everyone wanted to see this come to life."

Nicole Calhoun, a leadership consultant, shared similar insights during the third annual Women in Glass + Fenestration breakfast. The session is designed to offer insights and strategies for encouraging more women to enter, and stay, in the glass and fenestration industries. Calhoun says that mentorship is a key part of that, and is beneficial for both employer and employee. "Mentorship involves more than just giving advice,” says Calhoun. “It requires fostering support and creating a constructive relationship. Connect with different people that can fill the role."

If the industry wants to recruit a diverse range of people and women, then the demographics of mentors also need to reflect that, says Calhoun. "Develop and promote inclusive mentorship programs,” she says. To attract and retain women employees, “focus on specific things that impact women."

She also recommends providing development opportunities for employees. "Companies can offer resources such as training and leadership development programs for women, as well as career coaching." 

Beyond mentorship, it’s also important to ensure that work is a safe place, physically and mentally. Addressing the importance of recognizing how mental health issues and addiction affect employees, Dave Argus of Karas & Karas Glass and Cal Beyer of SAFE Workplaces discussed recovery-safe workplaces at the GlassBuild Main Stage. 

The session was joined by employees of Karas & Karas, Jared and Devon Hesek, who shared their successful experience with the company’s program for helping people recover from addiction.

“These guys gave me a chance to do something with my life. I'm grateful for that every day. Programs like theirs break the stigma that is you make a couple of mistakes in your life, then you're done,” Jared says. “They came to my celebrations, treated me with respect and gave me no special treatment.”

Training is key to retaining your workforce, say experts

Industry leaders agreed that training is also key to retain and develop a labor pool. NGA programming offered several ways to train and develop a workforce.

During GlassBuild, NGA welcomed representatives from Architectural Glass & Metal Technician Glazier Certification to conduct glazier certification testing during the show. Twenty-one experienced glaziers from several states and one from Canada came to test their skills on custom testing rigs to prove their knowledge of and ability to properly perform fundamental glazing procedures.

On the GlassBuild Main Stage, AGMT, director of program development Jeff Dalaba joined Jenni Chase, vice president, workforce development, NGA, to discuss the importance of creating an internal training program. They say that it’s imperative to “train your trainers” and make sure they’re qualified.

“The AGMT program has been industry-built specifically for glaziers and it’s credentialed. It’s knowing that your trainers have the right knowledge, skills and abilities to properly install glazing systems,” says Dalaba. “Then we developed a rigorous testing program from that.”
Training was a major topic of discussion during the Glazing Executives Forum as well.

Stefanie Couch, founder of Grit Blueprint and GlassBuild show ambassador, argued that training is a major strategy for retention. “Ninety four percent of employees stay longer at companies that invest in their learning,” she said. 

On display in the Industry Pavilion, NGA spotlighted its MyGlassClass.com glazier training and MyGlassFAB fabricator training, with demos and personal discussions on course selection. During the show, NGA announced all MyGlassClass.com courses are now free to NGA members, further ensuring a well-trained, safe and committed workforce for the industry. 

NGA brought its popular Blueprint for Collaboration program to GlassBuild for the first time. Architects, engineers, specifiers and consultants joined glaziers, fabricators and manufacturers for AIA-accredited education about the glass technologies available—and on the horizon—to fulfill high-performance building design requirements; specific ways to collaborate early on glass projects to meet expectations; and the codes developments impacting design. 

Forecast says commercial construction is “growing but slowing”

Connor Lokar, senior forecaster, ITR Economics, returned again to the Main Stage at GlassBuild to preview economic trends for the commercial market.

Lokar notes non-residential construction is growing but slowing, and he expects a softening of commercial market outcomes next year. He forecasts that the market is “about to go into the woods on the non-residential side.” Publicly funded projects such as health care and education may not see the pinch as soon or as much as privately funded projects. The market, however, should come back around in 2026-27, he says.

Glazing Executives Forum spotlights risk, forecasts, technology and more

The Glazing Executives Forum, now in its 18th year, drew more than 220 attendees on Sept. 30 for discussion of artificial intelligence, risk forecasting, estimating best practices and more. The event also included a meeting for the NGA’s Installing Committee and the return of economic forecaster, Connor Lokar of ITR Economics.   

Additionally, for the first time, the Glazing Executives Forum offered workshop tracks that allowed attendees to split into smaller groups to meet and converse directly with experts in the field about specific industry topics. Tracks included: AI at Your Glazing Company, Shower Enclosures Solutions Share, and Effective Recruitment Strategies. 

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