Strategic planning is a critical organizational management practice that allows leadership to set goals and priorities and allocate time and resources to meeting those benchmarks. It provides a clear roadmap that keeps teams focused on the most impactful and important initiatives. In this time of workforce challenges and lean resources, few things are more important than working efficiently on targeted objectives to advance your business.Once you have a strategic plan, it is important to then update all stakeholders and constituents about progress, delivering metrics to...

I can’t stress enough how much I am looking forward to being in Denver, CO for the FGIA Fall Conference September 18-21. September is beautiful in the Centennial State, with ideal weather and scenery. Don’t miss this gorgeous location – register now for the Fall Conference and enjoy event attractions like the annual FGIA Product Showcase, an array of networking opportunities, dozens of working meetings and a slate of industry-focused speakers.FGIA Product ShowcaseThe FGIA Product Showcase Tuesday night, September 19 provides conference participants with the...

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...

After a long summer, I am looking forward to getting back into the swing of things at in-person industry events this fall, including GlassBuild America in Las Vegas, NV and FGIA’s own 2022 Fall Conference this September in Chicago, IL. While we have managed to make the most of getting work done over conference calls and online meetings, I know nothing beats getting to see FGIA members in person. Both GlassBuild and the Fall Conference will offer a ton of much needed networking opportunities, adding...

Those affiliated with the FGIA Southeast Region are invited to attend the upcoming FGIA Virtual Southeast Region Meeting on August 23! Led by FGIA Southeast Region President Lynn Miller (PGT Custom Windows + Doors), this regional online meeting covers regional code adoption updates, what’s in the works for the updated the North American Fenestration Standard (NAFS), an update on the wind-driven rain research that can help future inform building design and product development and testing in Florida and more. Registration is now open.FGIA has created...

FGIA has exciting news to share about the activities of the Association moving forward, which include a commitment to high-value in-person events, expanding FGIA’s network of partnerships, broadening the use of FGIA’s education programs and funding crucial industry research projects.The FGIA Board has been doing some strategic planning work throughout the first half of this year, including the completion of a two-day retreat which took place May 12-13 as a hybrid event, with the majority of Board members participating in person. During the retreat, the...

In October, FGIA learned a lot from hosting the 2021 FGIA Hybrid Fall Conference in Phoenix, AZ – our first ever hybrid event. Offering in-person and virtual formats concurrently was a challenge, but we were proud to be able to offer an array of content options for two different audiences based on both their comfort levels and their companies’ willingness to allow travel. We will be reprising these roles next week at the 2022 FGIA Hybrid Annual Conference in Amelia Island, FL. In preparation for...

The 2021 FGIA Hybrid Fall Conference was a great success last week, merging an in-person audience with an online one for a widely attended event full of excellent speakers and presentations. From Janine Driver’s insight into body language and workplace culture to a live demonstration of InstallationMasters®, there was plenty to learn. We held several networking events, including online and in-person costume contests with prizes. See below for some photos from Phoenix and our online crowd.Before the conference officially kicked off, I went horseback riding...

It’s that time of year again, when FGIA corporate members will be preparing to re-up their membership with the Association. The corporate renewal process will begin in early November this year, with all renewals due by January 1, 2022. Let’s get into how the process works, and why it is such an important part of maintaining your membership.In a few weeks, member company main contacts will receive renewal notices via email from me at dpeters@FGIAonline.org. From there, simply click the link provided to complete the...

In anticipation of next month’s 2021 FGIA Hybrid Fall Conference in Phoenix, AZ, we sent out information to our members about the safety protocols and what to expect at the event, for those attending in-person. The health and safety of our participants and staff is of paramount importance, and I wanted to also share that information here on the Member Edge blog. The Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass, our event venue, will accommodate CDC-recommended spacing for our group under current operating capacity. At this...

I first became aware of hashtags circa 2009 when I was taking a social media course about using Twitter for organizations. They appealed to me for a lot of reasons, but primarily, I saw them as a way to get your message out to a wider audience, even if you yourself didn’t have a ton of followers. But while Twitter may have brought hashtags into the mainstream, today they apply to social media platforms across the board. Facebook, Instagram and even LinkedIn now recognize them...

Now that the holiday season has arrived, things are winding down for 2020. But what is not taking a break is FGIA’s commitment to our industry, more important now than ever with the unexpected changes brought by COVID-19. Last month, FGIA sent a survey to members to ask how companies have fared this year, and what FGIA can do to continue to ease their burdens. Three things were frequently requested by membership: education opportunities; a return to in-person conferences; and ways to combat the labor...