GANA 2017 BEC Conference in Review

The State of the Industry presentation is always a must-see and a great opener for the Conference. Julia Schimmelpenningh of Eastman Chemical Company did not disappoint and even added just the right amount of interaction and engagement to liven the crowd early on the first morning.

Elements of her presentation touched on the products in high demand among fabricators, as well as the historical distribution and quantities of glass lamination plants across North America.



Celebrity sports figures always carry a certain buzz with them at the BEC Conference, and this year was no different in anticipation of welcoming 7’4” NBA All-Star Mark Eaton among the group.

He shared his thoughts on the Four Commitments of a Winning Team, which were sprinkled throughout the story that began with Eaton expressing he didn’t want to be a basketball player.

Mr. Eaton’s account of his reluctant exposure to the game that grew into a desire to help his team just as he had been encouraged by his mentors was refreshingly simple but impactful.

His Four Commitments became easy takeaways that had attendees wishing to remind their colleagues during the next week’s staff meeting.

After all, successful competition in the marketplace cannot be well achieved if a company’s culture is stifled by its own internal competition amongst employees.



Day two of the Conference featured two panels that allowed for a “deep dive” into contract glazier interests and issues.

Complex Glass Fabrication & Installation was intended to pick-up where the session on Oversized Glass left off in 2016, and expanded to include more information from fabricators, detailed information about planning and processes from contract glaziers, and an overview of equipment capabilities from three different machinery manufacturers.

This panel was followed by an informal panel of glaziers representative of different regions of the country. The simplicity of the conversation and focus on true issues of importance made this panel an engaging activity for the panelist and attendees alike.



Finally, we’d be remiss in discussing the BEC Conference and not pay heed to the value of networking and connection-making this venue allows. From members to first-time attendees, excitement abounded regarding the relationships that were built that will benefit people’s businesses.