Can't Miss Event

Last week I wrote about GlassBuild and the Main Stage. For this week, I wanted to immediately hit on what is happening at the Glazing Executives Forum. Katy Devlin and team have put together an amazing program that covers everything from using the latest technology to build your team and business to three crucial extended workshops that will bring best practices into play in more than a few spots. Please take a look at the lineup- it’s got something for everyone! Plus, the return of the great economist Connor Lokar to this setting and hearing his hour-long in-depth talk in this private setting is a can’t miss. Hope to see you the on Day 1 of GlassBuild on September 30th!

Elsewhere…

Latest pod

ICYMI- the latest From the Fabricator podcast dropped last week and between Syndi Sim’s energy, Jenni Chase’s resources and Chuck Knickerbocker’s insights, the listening numbers are off the charts! So, if you missed any of this terrific trio, please check out and thank you for doing so!

Watch here, or listen here, as well as by searching “From the Fabricator” on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Econ news

Some may look at the economic news from last week as “meh,” but I took some serious positives out of it. First, the latest Architectural Billings Index popped up to 48.2. Still below break-even at 50, but best number since April and the regions had moments too. The Northeast ticked down to 50, but still positive. Take it as a win folks. Especially given this report could’ve felt some of the effects of the mini drop/crisis we had on the markets a few weeks ago.

Next, the Fed did signal more prominently that a rate is coming in September, so hopefully that happens and it’s one with meat on it. A lot of money sitting on the sidelines now waiting on the fed (and quite frankly waiting for post US election too) so any chance we can get for a jump start would be nice. Even with a rate cut to get things loose, those markets that are softer still have to grin and bear it for a while until things get down to our world which as we all know can take some time…

Community engagement

Another week, another Governor stops by a prominent operation in our space. This time Quaker Windows welcomed in the Governor of Missouri. Very cool. Quaker has been rolling for a while and now this new expansion takes them into a stratosphere. Love it. I was lucky enough to visit them last year and do a podcast onsite and we talked about a bunch of things including the future. If you have not seen or heard that one- please check it out. Good people and happy for them!

Company news

Also, in Missouri this week… Hat tip to the PR Gold Standard Heather West for the cool news that the Missouri Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an agency of the U.S. Department of Defense, honored Johnathan Tallent with a Patriot Award. Tallent is a factory order supervisor for EFCO, a brand of Apogee Enterprises’ Architectural Framing Systems (AFS) segment. Congrats Johnathan on such a great piece of recognition and the honor you bring to your company and our industry. Thank you for your service!

GlassBuild 2024

My weekly GlassBuild note is I am very excited to see more of the JRS Machine that “knocked me out” earlier this year. IGE Glass Technologies has a few crucial footprints on the floor (not sure how Michael Spellman is going to clone himself to be everywhere all at once) and this spot will be right on the aisle at 17027. In case you missed it JRS is the home now for high-quality, technologically advanced glass working machines for drilling, milling, and countersinking flat glass and it’s really taken that effort next level. Make sure you check it out!

A catchy tune

Last this week… Am I the only one who gets the jingle from the drug “Jardiance” stuck in your head after seeing that commercial? It’s brilliant. The marketers behind this catchy tune have now 3 versions out with different lead singers and it’s catchy every time. I have a feeling this is going to start a bigger trend in that space…