US Glass - April 2008 - USGlass Magazine

Having It All,
All in One Place
A Preview of the Americas Glass Showcase
For many retailers, diversification
is key, and the Americas
Glass Showcase® (AGS), to be
held May 2-3 at the Cashman
Center in Las Vegas, offers opportunities
for retailers and glazing contractors
alike to expand their knowledge as well
as their product selection.
The trade show, sponsored by the
Americas Glass Association, is co-located
with the Independent Glass Association’s
(IGA) Independents’ Day
Conference and the International Window
Film Expo, Conference and Tint-
Off (IWFE). The two-day event will
host companies providing an array of
products, from glass to equipment to
window film to software. The event is
large enough to attract some of the industry’s
biggest names, but show organizers
say it remains personal enough to
spend quality time with the exhibitors.
The event also provides an opportunity
to meet new contacts, whether on the
show floor or in the seminars.
A Sampling of Seminars
Whether you’re looking to improve
your business practices, or just need
some insight into a few technical questions,
AGS offers a variety of seminars
certain to meet your needs.
On Friday, May 2, Tom Grandy of
Grandy & Associates—a company that
provides business training exclusively
to contractors—will present the
keynote address on “15 Things All Successful
Companies Have in Common.”
Grandy will share a checklist to show
his audience how they are doing compared
to other successful companies,
and offer ideas to improve profitability.
Later that day, Grandy will present on
“Labor Pricing for a Profit.” As he notes,
improper labor pricing is the top killer
of small businesses today, so this session
will cover all the basics of profitable
labor pricing using a sample
company and ten filled in worksheets.
Donn Harter, AGA president and technical
director, will fill attendees in on the
AGS offers seminars on architectural glass issues as well as general business
practices.
latest in codes. On January 1, 2008, California
officially adopted the 2006 International
Building Code, bringing more
than 50 percent of the country under the
2006 code. Harter will update his listeners
on the many changes that have been
brought to safety glazing. For more code
information, Mike Grossman of ACI Distribution
will focus on the latest 2006 IBC
code requirements specifically for hand
rails, as well as other new developments
in glass railings.
Sherilyn Hobkins of Momentive Performance
Products and Bryce
Roughton of Sunshine Supply will join
together to bring attendees “the good,
the bad and the ugly” facts about
sealant installation. The seminar will
consist of tips on how to use the correct
sealant and proper application to fulfill
the manufacturers’ requirements.
For specifics on fire-rated glazing, a
panel of experts will outline the difference
between protective and resistive
glazing, what the adoption of the
Urban-Wildlands Fire Code really
means, alternatives to wired glass in
hazardous locations and the inclusion
of safety and energy glazing as required
and the proper composition.
Several general business-oriented
sessions also are being offered. Mattie
Carrillo, former owner of JC Glass and
a present AGA board member, will offer
insight into “Creating a Legacy” with
your glass business. Bill Braun of Braun
& Melucci LLP will present practical
business strategies and plans intended
50 USGlass, Metal & Glazing | April 2008 www.usglassmag.com