Will you be at GlassBuild America, taking place September 30-October 2 in Dallas, TX? If so, stop by the Industry Pavilion in booth 17009 to say hello to FGIA staff, and to hear about our latest education offerings, including the new à la carte NAFS and Insulating Glass courses which will also be offered through the FenestrationMasters v3.0 curriculum targeted for release later this year. Plus, once again, FGIA will be appearing on the Main Stage at GlassBuild during the trade show.

The GlassBuild Main Stage is a can’t-miss venue, which will be hosting three days of learning, networking and industry celebration. There, FGIA will offer educational sessions on residential fenestration trends and leveraging industry resources for professional development. FGIA will also be participating in the Women in Glass + Fenestration event taking place on the last day of the show.

Monday, September 30: Residential Fenestration Trends

On Monday, September 30, speakers Amy Becker, FGIA Glass Products Specialist, and Jason Seals, FGIA Certification Services Manager, Fenestration, will present, “Residential Fenestration Trends | Performance Innovations and Security Screens.”

Amy will cover performance innovations related to insulating glass, including regulations driving sustainability and energy performance, decarbonization and ENERGY STAR. She’ll also address advanced manufacturing practices, such as automation, R&D investment and improved technology. This segment will wrap up with product innovations for efficiency like glazing packages and framing materials.

During this same session, Jason will summarize the North American security screen market, a well-established product segment in Australia which has served as a roadmap for adoption in North America. The FGIA Security Screens Task Group has been diligently developing a North American specification, and Jason will give brief explanations of the security screen testing covered by that document and the development of a certification program for security screen products.

Tuesday, October 1: Professional Development

I will lead a session called, “Leveraging Your Network for Efficient Professional Development” on Tuesday, October 1. Professional development is vital to a company’s success, but a comprehensive and strategic approach can be daunting to tackle.

In this session, I will provide data supporting the critical nature of investing in employee development and will outline resources available within the fenestration and glazing industry, such as connections with suppliers, industry organizations, to manage your investment while achieving your objective. I will touch on some pros and cons of online versus in-person education options and share some examples of how to use resources from within your network to maximize your company’s professional development strategy.

Wednesday, October 2: Women in Glass + Fenestration

The Main Stage is always the place for industry to come together to network and connect, including the third annual Women in Glass + Fenestration Keynote and Networking Breakfast taking place on October 2. Amy, Angela Dickson (FGIA Marketing and Communications Director) and I will also participate in this networking and educational presentation at the show. It’s a wonderful annual celebration of the growing impact of women in our industry and we look forward to supporting this event.