National Glass Association

The afternoon at GFAB's executive track kept the momentum going! Here's what went down: 👇

🤖 AI in Business — Elton Boocock of thinkivity AI broke down how to start using AI strategically: pick one painful process, run a 30/60/90 day pilot, and don't skip the security basics. Vague prompts = vague results.

🏭 Automation on the Floor — A fabrication panel featuring leaders from Guidewheel, Lattuada North America, Bovone North America, and Salem Fabrication Technologies got real about what smart factory adoption actually looks like in practice.

💼 M&A Insights — Scott Mashuda of REAG shared what executives thinking about a future exit need to know: sustainable cash flow is what buyers care about most.

👥 Leading Across Generations — Researcher Kim Lear of Inlay Insights wrapped the day with a session on what it actually means to lead Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z — practical, eye-opening, and relevant for any leadership team.

A full day & a lot of takeaways.

Read more from the Day 1 recap on Glass Magazine: https://www.glassmagazine.com/news/2026/day-one-gfab-kicks-talks-ai-design-and-economic-outlook

Happy International Women in Engineering Day! 🚀

Today, the National Glass Association celebrates the incredible women engineering the future of glass and glazing.

This year’s theme, , is on full display through the leadership of our own trailblazers: Urmilla Jokhu Sowell, Karen Wegert, and Georgia Oehler

While we celebrate their expertise, women remain underrepresented in the engineering sector. At , we know that diversity drives better problem-solving, stronger innovation, and safer built environments.

We are committed to building supportive, inclusive pathways into our industry.

Get Involved:

Want to collaborate with our engineering leaders and shape industry standards?

Join an NGA Technical Committee

https://www.glass.org/advocacy/get-involved/committees

Attend our events

https://www.glass.org/events/calendar

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Read more on the challenge, solution & your options: https://www.windowanddoor.com/article/product-solution-diamon-fusion-international

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🔦 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT 🔦

PRO Glass Solutions - Frameless Custom Showers and Frameless Concepts.

PRO Glass Solutions LLC has three locations in Florida and Virginia and specializes in frameless shower enclosures, mirrors, wine cellars, office glass partitions, and more for both commercial and residential projects.

PRO Glass Solutions prioritizes precision craftsmanship, consistent quality control, and a strong customer experience through clear communication and reliable scheduling.

Read more in this Q&A from Diogo “Joe” de Freitas Pereira, Founder & CEO, PRO Glass Solutions LLC: https://www.glass.org/member-spotlight/pro-glass-solutions-llc

Day one of GFAB opened with a full morning of conversations our industry needs to be having.

As Jason Pugh of Gensler, our executive track emcee, put it to open the day: "When an architect understands what a fabricator is truly capable of, that knowledge changes how we design. It changes what we specify. It changes who we call first."

NGA President & CEO Lakisha A. Woods, sat down with Cheryl Durst, CEO of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), to dig into the untapped potential of glass in commercial interiors. Durst made the case beautifully:

"Light is life. Beyond its most ancient properties, glass is essential...to the building industry, to the built environment, and to human beings." ✨

She also challenged fabricators to bridge the gap with designers by demystifying industry vocabulary and offering to speak at design schools where glass is rarely taught.

Chief Economist Richard Branch mapped the current construction landscape — a K-shaped market he described as "surviving, not thriving." Data centers are growing fast, and renovation and rehab projects are a bright spot as aging building stock drives real opportunity.

The morning closed with a candid one-on-one between fabricator Mark Toth of Skyline Architectural Glass (Skyline Design) and architect Kimberly Dowdell of Amrize on sustainability, safety, and what successful collaboration actually looks like in practice.

"Glass is really a gift. Imagine what our built environment would be if we didn't have glass...that's what make buildings work. glass is so important to shape how we experience space, and to keep us warm and safe." - Kimberly Dowdell, Amrize

What a way to kick off the executive track. More recaps to come from . 🏙️

The Greg Carney Award doesn't get handed out lightly.

Last night at the NGA Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, we recognized the technical volunteers who give their time, expertise, and dedication to making NGA's work stronger — and honored this year's C.G. Carney Award recipient, Steve Marino.

Named after C. Gregory Carney, who served as NGA's Technical Director for more than two decades, this is the highest honor the association has to offer — given to an individual dedicated to advancing glass and embodying NGA's mission within the industry.

We also celebrated the 2026 Volunteer of the year award, Vaughn Schauss, who attends every NGA event & never stops committing his time to industry causes.

Proud to celebrate these volunteers & their accomplishments at GFAB 2026! 🥂

All work and no play? Not at ™. 🚢✨

Day 1 wrapped in the most beautiful way possible. A stunning architectural boat tour through the heart of Chicago with the people who make this industry great. 🌆

The skyline. The open water. The laughs. The conversations that flow a little differently when you trade the conference room for the Chicago River, reminding us exactly why what we build matters.

This is what community looks like. 🤍

A huge thank you to Vitro Glass US/CA for sponsoring tonight and making this possible!

📍 Chicago River | Chicago, IL
📅 June 15, 2026

What was your favorite moment from tonight? Drop it below.