GANA Building Envelope Conference Recap in Vegas
By Rebecca Kaspari, Executive Director
Colorado Glazing Contractors Association (CGCA)

The Glass Association of North America hosts one of the crown jewels of our industry’s events, it is called the Building Envelope Conference. GANA was gracious enough to invite the Colorado Glazing Contractors Association to attend back in 2006 and again this year, two CGCA representatives, Josie Smith our Association Treasurer and myself, Rebecca Kaspari, Executive Director.

I enjoy a well organized tradeshow as much as the next person. A ballroom full of suppliers with new products, fancy displays and informative handouts. Moments to reconnect face to face with old friends and business acquaintances from across the country. However, it seems to me that a distinct problem is arising. There are too many regional shows to attend or the alternative, National Glass tradeshow, is simply too overrun with suppliers and “looky-loos” snagging free promotional items.

The suppliers don’t always get their quality attendee and are faced with exorbitant fees regardless which option they choose (many regional or large presence at one national). The qualified attendee struggles to weed through an overwhelming number of people at national shows to find information, networking opportunities, or even other peer group attendees. An often daunting challenge for even the most outgoing of personalities. The GANA conference cuts right to the quick. It is the best, most efficient way, to read the pulse of our industry nation-wide.

The presenters range from entertaining to classroom style and ALL relay valuable knowledge and their own personal expertise.

The days feature appropriately spaced communication breaks that allow for time to check in with business and family back home or make contact with a customer between sessions.

The evening hours typically host a cocktail reception that resembles a “who’s who list” for the glass and glazing community nationwide.

Most importantly, and I do not know how exactly they achieve this, but it has been true both years I have attended BEC… There is a sense of sincerity about the event and the attendees. Don’t get me wrong, there is still plenty of hand shaking and “working the room” so to speak. However, the majority are actually engaged in legitimate industry topics, cutting edge technology, innovative business practices and opinions, theories and discussions sparked by presenters earlier in the day. It was so REFRESHING!

Here are a few of the presenters and corresponding topics covered at this year’s conference.

Shep Hyken - Creating Moments of Magic
Joseph Solinksi, Stone & Glazing Consulting - Structural Glazing Survey and Repair
Raj Goyal, Graham Architectural Products Corp. - Designing for Blast and the New DOD Criteria
Mike Burk, Edgetech IG - Protecting Exterior Fenestration and Glazing Surfaces
Richard Kalson, Thorp Reed & Armstrong, LLC - Construction Law Development in 2007
Panel - Development of New Glass Technology for 300,000 Sq. Ft. Point-Supported Glass Wall
Ted Derby, Pohl Inc. of America - Rainscreen Panel Systems 101
Jim Fairley, Colonial Glass Solutions - Systems and Glass: Which System Works for You?
Patrick Muessig, Azon USA - LBNL Therm Software
Bruce Werner, Curtainwall Design & Consulting, Inc. - Fundamentals of Structural Silicone Glazing
Peter Poirier, Tremco Incorporated - Proglaze II Shear Stress Test Comparison

I am also pleased to report that our CGCA members turned out in record number! Familiar faces from A-1 Glass, Trainor Glass, Metropolitan Glass, Cooperform Architectural, Skyline Sky-Lites, LTS Drafting & Engineering and Stanley Technologies were found throughout the room. I highly recommend this event to all of you. Especially if you need to choose between one industry event or another, make the GANA BEC of 2009 a priority.

Article submitted by: Rebecca Kaspari, Executive Director, CGCA. Her career in the glass industry began in 1993 with USGlass Magazine. She has owned and operated her association management firm, The Time 2 Organize, Inc., since 1996. The firm offers business consulting through tailored seminars, time management strategies and motivational team building.

 

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