It’s that time of the year again: it is time to schedule your travel for the popular FGIA IG Fabricators Workshop, held in-person each November at the Intertek facility in Plano, TX! This year’s workshop will be November 7-9 and registration for this three-day, hands-on training opens in August. There is always a waitlist, so be sure to claim your spot early.The IG Fabricators Workshop addresses best practices for the most important aspects of fabricating and testing IG units. Since its launch in 2016, the...

As you may already know, FGIA offers access to information and events specific to three regions: the FGIA FENBC Region covering British Columbia; the FGIA Southeast Region in the U.S.; and the FGIA Western Region also in the U.S. Adding a region to your FGIA membership provides access to an exclusive regionally focused annual newsletter. But this also gains you entry into regional events, where you can meet, network and get updates on the most important information to that region. Let’s get into the specifics...

If you are a marketer, you have probably been asked about the real value of social media. Maybe your company or management team has had some preconceived notions about online platforms or maybe you simply want to show the value of what your role is in the company’s broader objectives. Either way, it’s important to understand how to convey the role social media plays in your brand’s place in the industry. To do this, you need to know how to talk about social media’s return...

Thanks to a recent webinar, FGIA members had the opportunity to have their specific questions answered about the market study research FGIA commissions each year, offering historic and current market information as well as forecasts into the coming years. The most recent report, the FGIA 2022/2023 U.S. Industry Review and Forecast, was released in May. It is a compilation of statistical data from government and industry sources useful in forecasting industry outlook. This report, coming in at 18 pages, contains unit or square footage data...

Everyone in the industry knows that a product is only as good as its installation. That is why FGIA is committed to training installers on the proper techniques and skills required for a weathertight install. InstallationMasters® (IM) is a nationwide training and certification program for installers of new construction and replacement windows and exterior doors in residential and light commercial applications.Completion of the IM training program and successfully passing the exam allows qualified participants to earn either the Certified Installer or Certified Professional credential. Since...

A version of this blog post ran in June 2021. This has been updated with new information.FGIA has several tutorials for members, detailing processes for things like how to join an FGIA committee or task group, how to access and use the FGVL or how to access meeting and conference call information. We have also started doing some short, instructional videos about how to best make use of our social media channels, including our relatively new Facebook page and our other social media accounts -...

What an amazing experience it was to attend Top Glass in Mississauga, Ontario last month! Along with Amy Roberts, FGIA Director of Canadian and Technical Glass Operations, we had the opportunity to connect with literally hundreds of professionals in the Canadian fenestration and glass industry in the FGIA booth. We met so many people that day and I look forward to going back to Top Glass! Thanks to Patrick Flannery and his team at Annex Media, the organizer of the event, for putting on such...

It is almost time for the FGIA Summer Conference in Vancouver, BC! We will be there June 12-15 and there is a jam-packed conference schedule available here. We are so excited to share what we have in store. As you can see, the schedule includes a variety of presentations, panel discussions, and hands-on demonstrations. Numerous committees, councils, and task groups will also have an opportunity to meet.Plus, there are also several opportunities for networking in the Vancouver area. Register now for three different optional events...

A common question I get about social media is a complicated one: how can my company use it to make money? There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but there are common themes to what those social media companies want from you in order to give you a cut of their revenue. They want you to have a lot of followers and subscribers, and they want you to have lots of eyes on your content. Here is a brief guide to what YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter...

Our first in-person conference in Canada since AAMA and IGMA unified to form FGIA is almost here. In June, FGIA members will be traveling to Vancouver, BC to get a new take on several facets of the fenestration and glazing industries and to meet many of our FGIA FENBC Region members where they live and work. This conference has a jam-packed schedule that ranges from big topics like bird-friendly glass and safety culture in the workplace to off-site activities like whale watching, a tour of...