As a parent, it can be hard to talk to your kids about certain subjects. You don’t want to talk down to them, but you don’t want the language to be too complicated either. We’ve got you covered for at least one tough topic – keeping kids safe around windows. There are several resources available from the Window Safety Task Force (WSTF) to make this easier. Here are the steps I practiced with my own kids (and fellow parents), and I hope you will, too.Color...

As I write this, it is snowing outside my window in the Mid Ohio Valley. It’s March, which means it is still technically winter, but we can see warmer weather on the horizon. As spring arrives, it is an important reminder to keep an eye on young children near open windows, which can be dangerous if they are not properly supervised. Luckily, the Window Safety Task Force shares resources and tips each spring to commemorate Window Safety Week, the first full week of April each...

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...

Top Glass organizers are excited to announce the show will take place live and in person April 20 at the International Centre in Mississauga, Ont., Canada, after two years of online shows in 2020 and 2021. Maybe more exciting than going live again is the incredible lineup of presenters we have – the stars really aligned this year to bring out some big, recognizable names, including Tony Clement, Max Perilstein, David Heska and David Schwieterman. And don’t forget, Top Glass presentations are recognized as qualifying...

This Valentines Day, FGIA is loving all the charitable work its members are doing in their local communities. If it feels strange to brag about your good deeds on social media, reframe that narrative: Consider it your chance to show your company’s commitment to improving the well-being of others and a way to challenge your competitors to step up and do the same. I scoped out social media to see what FGIA members have been up to lately in their efforts to not only meet...

Following the success of October’s first-ever hybrid FGIA event, I am looking forward to seeing our members again at the 2022 FGIA Hybrid Annual Conference in Amelia Island, FL! The conference schedule is available, and I am proud to say it is full of technical content and engaging speakers, thanks to our staff team’s hard work and participant feedback.First of all, I know our keynote speaker will be an engaging one – his story is so interesting, Hollywood chose to adapt it in the popular...

Is your company looking for training opportunities for your team? Because of the importance of having well trained, currently informed personnel throughout the industry, FGIA has committed to updating and overhauling two of its education offerings. Both FGIA’s Fundamentals of Fenestration and Preventing IG Failures education programs will be overhauled in 2022. FGIA Education will ensure the inclusion of up-to-date content, streamlined delivery and improved user experiences, thanks to more interactive images and videos. FGIA will be working in conjunction with applicable task group members...

Last month, I talked about my three New Year’s resolutions for better social media content and planning in 2022. Now, I would like to do a deeper dive into one of them: Planning ahead. Recently, I set aside a couple of hours to do some things that will make my entire next year easier, and I want to share my strategies.I will be honest: The work ahead takes time and can feel a little like data entry, but trust me, it is well worth doing...

With the current challenges in the labor market, it is more important now than ever for companies to retain their current talent. Ensuring employee satisfaction and positive morale at work can be a daunting task during normal times, but the problem is exacerbated now due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and related pressures on personal and professional lives. FGIA prides itself on its high retention rate, with the average employment tenure currently being 7 years. I suspect this is, in part, the result of dedicating...

As 2021 draws to a close, it’s natural to wonder what the New Year may bring. For the fenestration and glazing industry, 2022 could mean new opportunities as a result of a $1.2 trillion Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act signed into law as Public Law 117-58 in the U.S. on November 15.The new law includes a $550 million appropriation in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funding and $500 million in State Energy Program funding for state and local governments to adopt and implement building energy codes....