PGC International Spring Meeting Generates
Committee Excitement
The agenda for the PGC International Spring Meeting in Orlando, Florida
focused on laying the groundwork for the four committees in the
organization. Three of the committees, Liaison, Resources and Technical,
were created in late 2007 to organize efforts by PGC International to
expand its offering to the industry as a whole. Each of the four
committees (including Marketing) with agenda items at the Spring Meeting
had held conference calls in the past three months to prepare for the
work at the meeting.
The event began Wednesday, March 12th with a meeting of the Board
of Directors. Bill Yanek, PGC International’s new Executive Director
introduced himself to the Board and outlined his commitment to
strengthening the organization. “PGC International has the challenge to
represent an entire industry whose importance is unequalled in the world
today,” said Yanek. “We will meet that challenge with great energy and
enthusiasm.”
The Board meeting, which is open to the membership, included several
members who voiced opinions and ideas about the future of the
organization. The tone was positive and open, and the meeting concluded
with a renewed feeling of purpose by attendees. “We had great
attendance,” said Sara Neiswanger, Account Executive for PGC
International. “The organization’s greatest asset is its members, and
the infusion of new Board members and ideas, opinions and perspectives
helped establish a standard of communication that this Board will value
and maintain.”
The Board meeting was followed by a General Membership meeting in
which all Committees reported their progress in the past six months, as
well as reports from PGC International staff about the organizations
activities. The day concluded with a reception in which members were
able to network and share their viewpoints of the industry.
The PGC International Technical Committee met first on March 13th,
with Joe Smith of Applied Research Associates sitting in as chair for
Jim Brokaw. The Committee reviewed the three current Quad Chart
proposals, which included:
- The development of an explanation of ISO 16933 - Glass in
Building Explosion Resistant Security Glazing, including a
summary, comparison of terminology and definitions, as well as a
comparison of blast loads outlined in the document in different
units (United States/Imperial, etc.).
- The development of a presentation explaining the points
within the United Facilities Criteria (UFC) that explains in
clear, uncomplicated language the UFC requirements for
protective glazing in new, retrofit and leased facilities.
- A letter to the United States General Services
Administration (GSA) outlining user suggested updates to the
Window Glazing Analysis Response and Design (WINGARD) software.
The Committee established timelines for each of the projects and
forwarded the requests for action to the PGC International Board of
Directors for fiscal approval. They also discussed the development of a
PGC International-authored blast standard.
The Committee concluded with the request for additional proposals
from the PGC International membership. To make a proposal to the
Technical Committee, login to the organization’s members only website
and download the Quad Proposal form from the Committee’s page there.
The Resources Committee met next to discuss their current projects.
Chair Ryan Russell of Hope’s Windows led discussion on the first
project, a “Speakers Bureau” for the industry. The document, which
includes an online version in addition to a print version for
distribution, will be a list of industry speakers, their bios, and a
synopsis of industry-related presentations that each speaker can give.
The goal is to establish PGC International as “the” resource for
speakers, either for individual speaking slots, or an entire slate of
speakers.
“The project has generated great enthusiasm,” said Neiswanger. “Our
member companies are encouraged to submit their experts to the Committee
to be included in the Speakers Bureau. It is a great way to enhance a
company’s profile by getting their best minds out there in the
industry.”
The Committee also reviewed submissions from its recent Call for
Papers to be placed on the PGC International website. Two papers on
fire-rated glazing were submitted and discussed by the Committee.
Members of the organization are encouraged to submit papers, documents
and video resources to the Committee for inclusion on the website.
The Marketing Committee followed, and was chaired by Michael
Hassenauer of 3M. The Committee discussed potential dates and locations
for the PGC International Annual Symposium, which will be held in
Washington, D.C. in November of this year. In addition to dates, the
Committee brainstormed potential topics of discussion, including a theme
for the event, as well as potential speakers.
“Some of the themes under consideration for the Symposium are really
exciting,” said Brian Pitman, Director of Marketing and Communications
for PGC International. “They certainly expand the scope of the event and
embrace the international side of the market and the membership.”
The Committee concluded by establishing the next three Spring
Meetings for the Organization to take place at the Hyatt Orlando
International Airport, which hosted this event, as well as the session
last year. Furthermore, the Spring Meeting will be held in late April or
early May to allow more time for progress between the Annual Symposium,
typically held in November of each year.
The PGC International Spring Meeting concluded with the Liaison
Committee, chaired by Bob Ford of Solutia Inc. The Committee discussed
the development of a “Who Is PGC International” presentation to be
published on business card-sized CD-Roms. The presentation will be
distributed to the Committee for a final review and then submitted to
the Board of Directors for fiscal approval. The CD-Roms will be
distributed to members and at industry trade shows.
A trade show booth design for the organization was also viewed and
edited by the Committee, which also determined potential trade shows for
the organization’s attendance. “We plan to actively market the
organization to the industry as fully as possible,” explained Pitman.
“This includes strategic relationships with other organizations, such as
AAMA, GANA, IWFA, TISP and others.”
Many of the Committees established future conference calls for
further action. All PGC International members are encouraged to get
involved with a Committee of their choice. To join a Committee, contact
Sara Neiswanger, either via email at
sara@protectiveglazing.org,
or via phone at (785) 271-0208. Dates for upcoming conference calls are
listed on the PGC International members only website, as well as under
the Calendar section of this e-newsletter.
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