The 2024 FGIA Annual Conference was held Feb. 19-22, at the Omni Amelia Island Resort in Florida. The conference covered topics ranging from innovation, demography, codes, sustainability and more.
The conference kicked off with an opening general session and general membership meeting. This opening session included membership tenure awards and a video tribute to Rich Walker, former President and CEO of AAMA, with friends and colleagues sharing their memories with Walker and his “legacy of leadership and laughter.”
Innovation
Innovation is a topic many companies are currently discussing as they try to adapt to an ever-changing world. A panel moderated by Ray Garries from Global Fenestration Advisors included Dean Ruark of PGT Innovations, Morgan Donohue of Erdman Automation and Mike Turner of YKK AP.
Turner said key challenges of digital transformation in the workplace that need to be addressed include evolving the business, resistance to change and digital skill gaps. Turner said successful businesses will need to figure out how to do these things in real time as artificial intelligence and other technologies continue to develop.
Donohue, who discussed innovations in automation specifically, added that becoming a "product expert is paramount" to being able to innovate a product further. Donohue also added that it's helpful to be self-aware and conscious of being innovative.
“I never thought about 'how do you innovate,' you just do, right? It was a nice exercise to put these thoughts and ideas down into writing,” Donohue said.
Ruark discussed PGT’s new iLab, which, according to PGT's website, is "an innovative extension of PGT Innovations that serves as a product incubator and micro-factory." Ruark said innovating products to customers needs, like making stronger windows in the wake of Hurricane Andrew in 1992, can literally save lives. Companies should be consistently innovating products to meet these evolving needs.
Demography
The conference’s keynote speaker was demographer Ken Gronbach. Gronbach discussed how the difference is population sizes between generations, specifically how small Gen X is, impacts the economy greatly. Young people and older people are both dependent, so the group in the middle provides, he said. If there’s significantly fewer providers than dependents, that can become a bad thing.
However, in regards to generations, Gronbach added that as Boomers and Xers age, "the largest housing and construction market is headed for the industry" as Generations Y and Z become of home buying age. Companies will need to adapt their cultures and strategies in order to attract this population as customers; as their home buying needs include affordability and sustainability. Gronbach also discussed how diversity, equity and inclusion will continue to be pillars of doing business and attracting a workforce; specifically as the younger generations, for whom these are a need, not a want, continue to enter the workforce.
Gronbach ended his keynote by discussing AI. Gronbach advised company leaders to not shy away or fear AI. He said as AI continues to develop, businesses should invest in it widely, embrace it and hire an AI expert for the organization.
NGA update
NGA Director of Technical Services Karen Wegert gave an update on the NGA during the IG Tech Services Committee. Wegert discussed the success of the most recent NGA Glass Conference: Isle of Palms | Charleston, as well as the development of MyGlassFab education courses.
Wegert also gave an overview of upcoming events, including BEC Conference and Glass Processing Automation Days events in Nashville in March, Glass & Glazing Advocacy Days in May and GlassBuild America in September.
Codes and standards
FGIA Codes Consultant Jen Hatfield gave a codes and standards update during the conference where she discussed the International Code Council (ICC) I-Codes and Florida Building Codes. This year, I-Codes will have substantial formatting changes.
FGIA Director of Canadian and Technical Glass Operations Amy Roberts also gave an update on Canadian codes. The updates included that all residential buildings built after 2025 will need to have the capacity to accommodate EV charging stations, Canada is aiming to harmonize all federal and provincial codes and the potential that overheating in buildings may now be included in the national building code.
You can keep up to date with the latest on codes and standards, including Energy Star, by visiting glass.org and WindowandDoor.com.
