2024 Most Influential People continued from page 36 comments, I’m excited about inspiring the next two gen-erations and beyond. I believe there will be a renewed in-terest in trades, with skilled trades being seen not only as viable but also as exciting career paths. I want the industry’s next generation to be better than we were at treating one another. so close to creating a low carbon, enhanced performance sustainable façade. To me that’s very exciting. I want the industry’s next generation to be better than we were at being talent management ambassadors of our associates and innovation connoisseurs of our facades by adopting sustainable, energy efficient technologies faster than we did. Garret Henson VP of Sales and Marketing, Viracon Inc. Years in the glazing industry: 30 What’s the most im-portant lesson you’ve learned from the glass industry? The cyclicality of our construction envi-ronment, how change in the economic climate is inevita-ble, and how we must be looking forward at least a year to prepare our businesses for what’s next. We all get busy being busy, use your time wisely to work on your business and not always in your business. Don’t let the chase dis-tract from longer-term strategies. We need to maintain our focus on getting ahead of competitors with new products, capabilities and markets that will help us prosper through-out cycles. We don’t want to face a downturn not having done the things we need to do for our future because we were too busy chasing the growth in the up cycle. What’s the biggest obstacle or challenge the glass in-dustry is facing? Available labor throughout all parts of an organization and business succession planning. We’re in construction and the trade hasn’t recovered since the great recession. We’ve been hit hard with labor shortages throughout North America. Couple this with the current average stage of the business owners in our industry and I foresee a large change coming in our glazing subcontrac-tor community in the next five years. What are you most excited about for the industry’s fu-ture? Advanced glazing technologies entering our space. To me, this has been a long time coming. I have witnessed the transition from monolithic glass to an insulating glass unit, an insulating glass unit to a highly valued and com-plex insulating glass unit and now look forward to the next innovation in insulating glass units having a superior solar heat gain coefficient, a step function change in U Values and capabilities to be energy generating. The same evo-lution can be said for the glazing systems, from stick-built to unitized and now to advanced manufacturing. We’re 38 USGlass Metal & Glazing August 2024 Urmilla Jokhu-Sowell Vice President, Advocacy and Technical Services, National Glass Association Years in the glazing industry: 24 What’s the most im-portant lesson you’ve learned from the glass in-dustry? Relationships are vital and friendships are crucial. Collaboration is key to advocate for glass to stay in buildings and grow our industry. What’s the biggest obstacle or challenge the glass in-dustry is facing? Glass as an envelope material is being asked to do more in a building. It’s not just a barrier to the outside elements, glass represents views, daylighting, life safety, fire and security, longevity, comfort, health and wellness for occupants, energy efficiency and more. Build-ing designs are becoming more complex as we incorpo-rate sustainability. We know glass is energy intensive in its creation, however, as an industry, we need to emphasize and show how it’s part of a sustainable solution to net zero goals. We need to tout the value of glass instead of value engineering some of our best products and applications out of building design. What are you most excited about for the industry’s fu-ture? I’m excited to see emerging technologies incorporat-ed into building designs. In the past 20 years, we have seen so much creativity and new technologies. Our industry is constantly evolving and creating new and innovative prod-ucts. Can’t wait to see what’s next. I want the industry’s next generation to be better than we were at being at the table from the start of the building design phase. Engage with building owners as they engage the architects in the design phase; understanding that ris-ing tides lifts all ships.
USGlass August 2024: Page 38
