Executive and Membership
Directs the overall vision, mission, beliefs and strategic goals of the association as well as oversees all operational departments. Oversees all aspects of the association's member programs including processing of all membership applications, recruitment, renewal and retention activities, and member record maintenance.
Janice Yglesias
Executive Director
Janice began her career with the association in 1999 serving in an administrative support role. Over the years she has directed or consulted on all operations activities. In 2008, she was included as one of the 50 most influential people in the glass industry by USGlass magazine. Since 2018, she oversees the full organization with specific focus on strategic planning, financial management, operational efficiency, systems capabilities, program development and customer needs assessment.
Samantha Leeke
Senior Business Development Coordinator
Samantha's primary focus is recruitment, on-boarding and retention of corporate members and product certification program customers. She will also participate in the annual renewal process for these services and will help coordinate some of the executive-level projects.
Victoria Leal
Database Coordinator
Beginning in 2010, Victoria had various student service roles in higher education. She earned her BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from Governors State University, graduating with honors. Over the years one thing remained constant, a passion for helping others achieve their personal goals and non-profit work. At FGIA, she continues this by serving as the Database Coordinator. This role includes data maintenance, member renewals, record maintenance, and membership billing.
Accounting
Responsible for all financial and accounting practices.
Melissa McCord
Accounting Manager
Melissa began her career with the association in 2009. She manages the development of the annual budget process, oversees the annual audit of the association and approves cash flow and general ledgers. She also prepares financial reports for each department and those submitted to the Finance Committee and the Board of Directors. She is responsible for processing payroll, the monthly financial close and cash forecasting.
Daniel Hernandez
Staff Accountant
Daniel began his career with the Association in 2022. He is responsible for month end close, cutting checks and ACH/EFT payments. Daniel also reconciles department and expense schedules. He has worked in the accounting field since August 2017 in the printing, energy and water system management industries. Daniel has a BS and MS in Accounting. He also plans to pursue his CPA. Daniel served in the U.S. Navy and is CPR certified. His interests include dancing, laughing and sewing.
Amber Orce
Accounting Assistant
Amber is responsible for reviewing and posting cash receipts, creating bank entries and publication orders, monitoring accounts receivables and sending collection notices. She also enters accounts payable invoices, assists with month end bank reconciliations and the annual audit, and responds to customer service emails. Amber has worked in an accounting compacity since 2016 and she has previous experience in purchasing and customer service.
Human Resources
Responsible for personnel administration, employee recruitment functions and operations.
Cassandra Ortiz
Human Resources and Office Manager
Cassandra's primary responsibilities include personnel and benefits management, office operations and IT management. She previously served as a People Experience Team Leader and Office Manager. Cassandra has a strong passion for people operations and organizational development. She has extensive experience in the social services nonprofit industry. Cassandra holds an MS in Management & Organizational Behavior from Benedictine University (2018) and is SHRM-CP Certified.
Marketing
Oversees the association's communications activities, website development and maintenance and all other marketing opportunities for our members and certification licensees.
Angela Dickson
Marketing and Communications Director
Angela began her career with the association in 2004 and has worked in varying roles within the Marketing Department. Currently, she serves as the Marketing and Communications Director, developing and recommending marketing objectives, strategies and tactics. These responsibilities include oversight of digital communications, promotional efforts, market research, website development and industry events. Follow her on Twitter @AngelaDDickson.
Lori Benshoof
Web and Online Technology Specialist
Lori's primary functions include website development and maintenance, managing online services, and serving as the lead in managing the development of the association's membership database. She also works on council marketing-related projects and provides creative support using Photoshop and other image and video editing tools. Lori joined the organization in 2005 and in 2007 she moved into the Marketing Department. Previously, she worked for a magazine publisher as the Marketing Promotions Manager developing in-house ad copy. Lori has extensive experience working in a marketing and promotional development capacity.
Meryl Williams Clark
Senior Communications Coordinator
Meryl produces national and regional newsletters, writes editorial content and helps lead the association’s social media outreach, including the Socially Speaking blog. She has extensive professional communications experience in both journalism and public relations.
Education
Oversees all of the association's webinars, online education courses related to fenestration and glass, and initiatives related to professional certification programs, including FenestrationMasters® and InstallationMasters®.
Kaydeen Laird
Education Manager
Kaydeen has worked for the association since 2003. She oversees all education initiatives. Kaydeen is responsible for the execution of all webinars and professional certification programs, including FenestrationMasters® and InstallationMasters®.
Aaron Blom
Technical Training Specialist
Aaron joined the association in 2021 and is responsible for conducting and developing FGIA’s professional education programs. He began his career in 2007 as a technical representative for an aluminum framing systems manufacturer and represented a major fenestration producer, where he was focused on the specification and sale of fenestration systems for monumental commercial construction projects. He has also worked for a multi-divisional specialty sub-contractor.
Bobby Hoffman
Education Coordinator
Starting his career with the organization in 2022, Bobby main focus is the FenestrationMasters® and Fundamentals of Fenestration programs where he assists with enrollment, test coordination, and certificate distribution while also supporting all other aspects of the education department.
Maria Getner
InstallationMasters® Program Assistant
Maria began her career with the association in 2022. Her main responsibilities consist of assisting in the coordinating and processing of the InstallationMasters® Program classes. This includes the Combined, Replacement and New Construction programs.
Shanice Smith
Education & Marketing Assistant
Shanice began her career with the organization in 2022. She provides administrative support to the Education and Marketing departments including staff liaison support. Additionally, Shanice provides support for logo licensing and trade show arrangements.
Events
Responsible for all aspects of the planning and on-site administration for the association's conferences and regional meetings.
Florica Vlad
Events Manager
Florica is a Certified Event Planner (CEP). Since 2006, she has worked together with the Events team to achieve successful events for the association. Florica loves to bring people together and tackles challenges with positive energy. Her experience and creativity allow her to design, produce, execute and mindfully develop the framework for optimal event success. She treats members like her own family and loves bringing the national and regional events to life.
Kate Cobanova
Events Coordinator
Kate's current responsibilities include preparing and coordinating content for FGIA event announcements, monitoring and assessing feedback and effectiveness of events to enhance future events, providing on-site coordination and support at all events for the association. She also coordinates on-site registration and a/v set up. Prior to FGIA, Kate began her career with IGMA in 2014 as IGMA Administrative & Certification Coordinator. She earned a BA in Psychology from Carleton University in Ottawa, ON.
Christina Brondi
Events Assistant
Christina began her career with the association in 2023. She assists in the preparation for FGIA conferences and regional meetings. Her responsibilities include processing registrations, broadcasting announcements and reminders of upcoming events, and attending conferences to provide on-site support.
Technical Services
Oversees the association's technical operation including standards, other industry organization involvement, product certification, and codes and regulatory affairs.
Kathy Krafka Harkema, APR
U.S. Technical Operations Director
Kathy leads FGIA’s U.S. technical operations team, responsible for development of FGIA’s regulatory and legislative advocacy, building codes positions, fenestration certification programs, standards and publication creation and more on behalf of FGIA members. She designed her own home to ENERGY STAR® guidelines, and led renovation of her family’s farm after it was struck twice by severe storms. A longtime window safety and energy efficiency educator, she’s a versatile leader, negotiator and communicator. Connect with her on Twitter @KathyKrafka and LinkedIn.
Ali VanHouten
Technical Services Coordinator
Ali joined the association in 2023 as part of the Technical team. Her background in administration since 2008 helps her fulfill her position. In her role, she coordinates technical content development for FGIA conferences, maintains committee and task group data in the association management database, and provides liaison support and administrative support for the U.S. Technical Operations Director.
Technical Services | Fenestration
Oversees all aspects of fenestration document and standards development and representation at other U.S. industry organizations.
Rich Rinka
Technical Manager, Fenestration Standards and U.S. Industry Affairs
Rich began his career with the association in 2012. He oversees the development of fenestration standards and provides representation at other industry organizations' meetings to help keep our members informed.
Glenn Ferris
Fenestration Standards Specialist
Glenn began his career with the association in 2018. He has extensive experience in the fenestration industry dating back to 1992. Glenn is a liaison for many councils, committees and study/work/task groups guiding them in the completion of the scope of each group.
Julia Reeder
Technical Standards Coordinator
Julia has worked for the association since 2015. She assists with document development, administering ballots and publishing documents. She also manages documents in the FGIA online store and the Fenestration and Glazing Virtual Library (FGVL).
Technical Services | Fenestration Certification
The Certification Department oversees all aspects of the Air-Water-Structural and Thermal Certification Programs, as well as the Verified Components, Certified Profiles and Laboratory Accreditation Programs.
Jason Seals
Certification Services Manager, Fenestration
Jason began his career in testing fenestration products both in the laboratory and in the field. He then continued this work by running the testing and certification program for a major window and door manufacturer as well as managing their in-house testing facilities. In his current role at FGIA, Jason manages the AAMA product certification, component verification and laboratory accreditation programs used by FGIA members and licensees to bring quality fenestration products to market.
Tamara Baskin, MBA
Certification Services Coordinator
Tamara has been an invaluable member of the associate since 2012, contributing to the company's success through her dedicated work. Currently, she serves as an overseer of all billings and record maintenance, ensuring accuracy and efficiency in financial processes. In addition, Tamara provides essential administrative and liaison support to the Certification Department, maintaining effective communication with manufacturers and suppliers regarding certification policies, procedures, and program status. Her responsibilities also include preparing and sending correspondence to certification program participants, as well as addressing inquiries from members and fenestration certification program operations.
Technical Services | Glass
Oversees the association's glass-related and Canadian activities, including standards, industry engagement, product certification and Canadian regulatory arenas.
Amy Roberts
Director of Canadian and Technical Glass Operations
Amy oversees the FGIA Canadian standards and regulatory building and energy codes, as well as the IGMAC Certification Program for Insulating Glass Units. She has more than 20 years of industry experience in glass and IG manufacturing, and in both residential and commercial window manufacturing.
Amy Becker
Glass Products Specialist
Amy oversees the operation of the IGCC/IGMA and IGMAC insulating glass certification programs and serves as the internal auditor for FGIA fenestration certification programs. With over 20 years of industry experience, she is also a staff liaison for glass-focused committees and task groups and represents FGIA and its members at meetings of other industry organizations.
Florence Nicolici
Canadian and Glass Products Assistant
Florence began her career with the organization more than 38 years ago. After retiring from her role as Meetings Manager in 2021, she worked for FGIA in several capacities on a contract basis. In 2024, Florence returned part time providing administrative and staff liaison support for the Canadian and Glass Products Council committees and task groups.