Triple Threat Pod

The latest From the Fabricator podcast is out and it’s a super-sized edition with three amazing guests covering a wide range of topics once again. I kick it off with Syndi Sim of q-Railing and of course the energy is there and flowing, but also lots of perspective plays and insights that I found very refreshing and helpful. Then I connect with Jenni Chase of the National Glass Association and her role within the Workforce Development realm is massive and crucial and it was good to hear about all of the work happening there and resources both in play now and forthcoming. I wrap it up with a longtime friend in Chuck Knickerbocker of TGP. We go way back, and Chuck is so well schooled on all we have going on and I really enjoyed the tutorial on steel curtain walls too. All in all, once again a huge honor to get to talk to the best of the industry each month. Thank you to my guests and to all of you who will listen and watch!

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

Also thanks to Nathan Seaman of Architectural Grilles and Sunshades who noted on LinkedIn this week he was listening to my podcast and that spurred a bunch of traffic to my last few episodes- very cool!

Elsewhere…

GlassBuild 2024

GlassBuild. Have you registered yet? It’s in Dallas and note the days this year, September 30-October 2 are a Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday. Big thing for me to point out here is that the content and education continue to expand. On the Main Stage this year the schedule is packed. From the day 1 kickoff with a High-Performance Trends panel through training and workforce on day 2 and ending with the Women in Glass & Fenestration Networking Breakfast on Day 3, it’s going to be unreal. Can’t wait. And bummed because of my schedule I won’t get to take it all in but thrilled it’s all there for the industry to grab. So register today at GlassBuild.com and us the code MAXPOD for few show floor admission. 

Also at GlassBuild, I am excited to see what the fine folks at Haffner bring this year. Got some e-mail teasers that I have my interest perked up some. Love all that Stephen Kucer and team do there and the way they have developed groundbreaking products, especially in the fenestration screen side. Good stuff ahead I am sure.

Glass and the community

I always note here when our industry hits the bigger time, especially in governmental space. This past week Luxwall in Michigan welcomed in Governor Gretchen Whitmer for a visit. This was cool given Luxwall is in the VIG space, and that area of things is booming and obviously people are taking notice. Good to see some positive around the advanced tech side of things after the past few weeks of dismal news on the dynamic end. 

Also making their community proud is Glazing Concepts in California as they picked up an award from their state assemblyman- officially getting the California Assembly Resolution Award. Wonderful to see and I am a fan of Tim Lietaert and his company- they have always supported the industry (MyGlassClass, GlassBuild etc.) and know they’ve also been strong in their own backyard too.  Congrats Glazing Concepts on the honor!

Market volatility

Funny how two weeks ago the market blipped and things looked ugly. As quick as that came, it left, and now we’re looking like that rate cut which many think will spur more building is a sure thing. Hopeful, but we’ll see. Then you get the latest Dodge Momentum Index with strong numbers on the commercial side to even add more positivity to the play. Yes, data centers keep rolling along but the push on the institutional side- which is massive for glass and glazing- had a nice score too. Volatility doesn’t always mean it’s bad… but my gosh what a roller coaster some of these indexes and markets are on.  Keep holding on folks… (but also keep doing the fundamentals that I’ve harped upon…)

Inc. 5000 list 

Last this week… Congrats to the great teams at My Shower Door and D3 Glass for once again being on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list. The Daubmann family owns both organizations and it’s becoming old hat for them with My Shower Door listed for the 8th time in the last 10 years and D3 now for the 2nd straight year. The Daubmann’s have really built a heck of a model and they represent our industry well. They are active in the community and more importantly have developed a remarkable culture at their places. Super impressive.  Congrats to Bill, Donna, Keith, Doug and everyone there (Jay, Bryce etc.) for this amazing accomplishment!