My week in Phoenix...

I was in Phoenix this week for the NFRC's fall meeting. While the group has hosted some heated debates in years past, this most recent meeting was relatively tame. Where was the hot and heavy controversy? I asked a couple of attendees. They seemed to agree, most folks are just so tired of CMA (component modeling approach) discussions, they just want to get it done. There are still a number of re-ballots on the issue going out again for the spring meeting in March and maybe the group is closer to getting something finalized ... maybe. Be sure and check out http://www.usgnn.com/ for daily updates from the meeting, as well as the December issue of USGlass. which will also provide a meeting re-cap.

Yes, the NFRC meeting was the main reason I headed to Phoenix this past week, but I also took a moment to check out some glazing applications around the area. First off, there was lost of commercial construction on the rise and lots of reflective glazing ... appropriate, I'd say, for Phoenix temperatures (highs were in the 90s this week!).

I also paid a visit to Meltdown Glass (http://www.meltdownglass.com/), a manufacturer of decorative glass. This company makes some amazing works of art from glass for the architectural market. Check out these pictures: the top picture shows a few snazzy samples; the other picture shows dichroic glazing, though it's hard to tell as the project is not yet completed. Look closely, though, and you can see the iridescence. I am awe struck when I see glass like that. What do you think of decorative glass as a trend in architectural design and construction?

As always, we welcome your comments and feedback.

Question: How important (and answer to yourself truthfully) are your employees--all those people who do so much to keep businesses viable? They are all very important, right? Without good employees, many people have told me, their companies would be next to nothing. It's tough, no matter how much you want to do yourself, to do it all alone.

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about meeting with Bill Cobb from Coastal Industries. After running Coastal for 35 years, Cobb says without the employees--some who have even been there since the beginning, the company would not be as strong as it is today.

This week I talked with Jack Deyo from Mid-Ohio Tempering (read the interview from Oct. 31 online at www.usgnn.com.) Jack has announced he will be retiring this year and he, too, emphasized how important all of his employees are.

Over my almost eight years working for USGlass I have talked with a lot business owners and managers, and many agree: people are their companies' greatest assets.

So here's what I'd like: I want to hear about some of those great people in your companies. Tell me about some of the employees who take their jobs one step further; who do more than they have to without complaining. Maybe you've got a receptionist who is always pleasant to people calling in, a customer service rep who is helpful and polite to everyone (even the angry customers) or maybe it's someone who puts extra care and attention to detail into every single project. These people are just as important to the whole glass industry as they are to you, because we can all learn something from them in one way or another.

Creative Building

Last weekend I visited a nearby health and fitness center. It was the sleekest, most modern gym I’d ever seen. It had three levels and each level featured snazzy glass and metal railings and balustrades (if only I had my camera! I had thought to myself). But there was more to it than just the railings … there were glass stairs! If you’ve yet to walk on glass stairs or flooring, it may seem somewhat intimidating … after all it is glass … but they are manufactured in such a way that it’s completely safe.

Seeing all of this got me thinking about decorative glass—a hot, hot item right now. GANA’s youngest division, the decorative division, now just more than 1 year old, is off to a strong start and growing rapidly. While not the largest division, the decorative group is actually growing faster than of the others. And that’s no big surprise considering how much architects are craving anything and everything that’s new, different, colorful, textured and the list goes on.

But I really wanted to get the inside scoop from some companies that offer decorative products. With that said, I went straight to the source and here’s what a few folks shared as to why they think decorative glass is becoming more and more popular.

“I think decorative glass is gaining because designers love the ability to use different things. It has so many varieties it really lets the architects put into play what they truly visualize in their spaces. Plus its more mainstream now, years ago it was strictly export, but now you find it all throughout North America,” said fellow blogger and USGlass columnist Max Perilstein from Arch Aluminum & Glass.

“So much in our built environments use manufactured materials and the same materials appear everywhere. Decorative glass sparks the imagination and can give a handmade feel to a built environment. People value a unique, creative environment, and decorative glass offers a vast array of ways to achieve a wow factor,” said BJ Katz, founder and art director of Meltdown Glass & Art Design.

To me it’s so interesting. Think about it, some of those amazing designs and sculptures of glass, it all started out as sand. I don’t know of too many other building products that can do the same.

What do you think about decorative glass? We’d love to hear what you think, so send me an email and let me know.

Anyone who's spent more than an hour in North Carolina (my home state) knows one sure thing: ACC basketball is big. There are people there who devote their lives to following and supporting their favorite ACC team--face and body painting, dying their hair the team's school colors, planning/scheduling events around their team's playing schedule; I have seen friends become foes because one guy's team beat the other's ... it's never ending.

So yes, I'm a big fan of ACC basketball (Go Tarheels!) and I enjoy talking to others who share a similar passion for the sport, like Bill Cobb, president of Coastal Industries in Jacksonville, S.C. While he's not a Tarheel fan, he is a die-hard fan of the Clemson Tigers. So much, in fact, that Mr. Cobb and his wife travel around in their RV tailgating at Clemson games. But not just any RV--it's an orange, black and white Clemson RV! He's been profiled in several RV and tailgating publications and even featured on ESPN's Ultimate Tailgating.

It was such an interesting experience getting to know Mr. Cobb, it got me thinking about how I'm sure there are many, many others in this industry who are also intriguing. We get to know people from a business perspective, but how well do we know them? What do they like to do that is truly unique? I'd like to learn more about the people in the glass industry and what makes them unique. Tell me about someone you know or about yourself. Post a comment here or send me an email.

Being Aware ...

I was watching the news this morning and heard that Al Gore had won the Nobel Peace Prize--a timely recognition as October is Energy Awareness Month. Gore has been speaking out for years against global warming and whether you like him or not, it doesn't hurt anyone to be a little more environmentally conscious and aware.

As part of Energy Awareness Month, the Federal Energy Management Program is providing materials to federal employees that can help remind them of making smart choices for saving energy, money and resources (items such as room temperature cards).

Glass products have been proven to be a great way to reduce energy costs. But still, it takes a lot of energy to produce some of those products. What if every company in the glass industry found just one or two ways to reduce energy usage? According to the EPA, recycling paper (and we all use paper), for example, can reduce water usage by 60 percent, energy by 70 percent and cut pollution in half. Do you have ideas that glass companies could employ to help save energy? Email me and let me know what you think.

On my mind ...

I called this blog "Off the Press, On my Mind" for a couple of reasons. First, it fit really well with what we at USGlass and all of our publications do--the magazines come off the press, you read the issue, and think about the news, features and other articles each month.

Here, I wanted to tell you about some of the things that go through my mind, the things I learn about, experiences from traveling to different events ... the things on my mind as they pertain to the glass industry.

One thing I can tell you, is that after having worked for USGlass for almost eight years I can't walk into a store, airport, house, place of business without noticing the glass. Not only that, I can't watch a movie or TV show without noticing the glass. Just last night we watched Alfred Hitchcock's 1963 classic, "The Birds." Aside from noticing that Tippi Hedren's character Melanie wore the same outfit all week long, I also noticed how the glass broke when the birds attacked...long shards of glass. Is it odd that I think that way?

But I like glass and I like the industry. I enjoy learning about it. People often ask me about my job, where I work and what we do. They usually end up saying something like "Glass? You write about glass? Is there really that much to have a whole magazine?" I just tell them, "You have no idea."

Hot Topics

If you ever need a conversation starter, especially with someone who does not live in the same region as you, the weather is often a safe bet. Extreme periods of snow, rain, drought, unusually high and/or low temperatures can also help the conversation going.

Lately, though, instead of the weather I've found myself starting conversations with another hot topic--gas prices. "So, what's the price of gas around where you are?" I'll say. Right now I'm excited over our area's $2.65 a gallon price. $2.65! It wasn't that long ago the prices were $1.50!

High gas prices have affected everyone, everywhere, and have lead some to try and find ways to be a little more energy-efficient, whether through carpooling, walking/biking or trying hybrid vehicles

Glass shops are affected, too. They have deliveries/installations to me and are often driving for long periods of time. I've heard from several that one way they are trying offset these high costs is by having one installer/truck handle jobs in the same area rather than driving all over town for different jobs. They say global positioning systems (GPS) has really helped them with consolidating work--and also helps avoid going the wrong way (which can also be costly in terms of gas and time).

I have not talked to any shops that have taken to hybrid vehicles as of yet, but I suspect as they become more and more mainstream that will change.

I know that I, personally, have taken steps to become more energy efficient--when I can walk somewhere instead of drive, I do for example. I'm curious of some things other glass companies/shops have done to save on gas, too, send me an email or post a comment and let me know.