Glazing executives learn, network and tackle industry challenges
The 2025 Glazing Executives Forum in Orlando drew more than 185 attendees on Nov. 4 for discussion of supply chain challenges, legal advice on contract clauses and immigration law, and opportunities for cracking the Division 10 (interior partitions) market, and more. The event also included a meeting for the NGA’s Installing Committee and the return of economic forecaster, Connor Lokar of ITR Economics. The Forum also once again offered workshop tracks that allowed attendees to split into smaller groups to meet and converse directly with experts in the field about specific industry topics. Tracks included: “Profit First” strategies for glazing contractors, exit planning and succession for businesses, and maximizing the use of Bluebeam software.
Pictured: The NGA Installing Committee meets before the start of presentations for the Glazing Executives Forum.
Cracking the Division 10 Market
In their presentation, Taking Back the Interior Partition Market, Travis Nevins with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades and Jeff Phillips with Wilson Partitions, highlighted the challenges and opportunities for glaziers in the interior partitions (Division 10) segment. They also outlined a strategic approach for glaziers to reclaim market share in the interior partition sector, particularly within Division 10, emphasizing the importance of understanding market dynamics, leveraging value engineering and executing long-term strategic planning.
Killer Contract Clauses and Navigating the New Immigration Landscape
Top construction lawyers Chip Bachara with Bachara Construction Law Group and Michelle Bedoya Barnett with Alexander DeGance Barnett provided guidance on negotiating “killer contract clauses” and understanding the current landscape of immigration enforcement during their presentations, “Negotiating Difficult Contract Terms” and “Immigration This Very Minute.”
Navigating the Supply Chain: Industry Leaders on Today’s Realities
A panel of industry leaders—Paul Bilyeu with Allegion, Seth Madole with Viracon and Mike Turner with YKK AP America—discussed the current realities of supply chain challenges and offered best practices for project collaboration and execution in light of ongoing supply chain issues.
From Uncertainty to Strategy: Brighter Construction Market Ahead
As economic uncertainty begins to fade, Connor Lokar of ITR Economics offered a data-driven perspective on what lies ahead. In his annual economic forecast, “Gearing Up for 2026,” Lokar cut through the noise to reveal a clearer economic outlook of the next business cycle through mid-2025 and into 2026—one shaped by rising industrial production, stabilizing construction backlogs, and strategic opportunities amid inflationary pressures. With rates-of-change analysis and global trends pointing toward a cautiously optimistic outlook, the data tells a compelling story: while challenges remain, the foundation for growth is already forming.