Clear Impact Podcast: Recent Episodes
PGTI University
As the manufacturing leader in the fenestration industry, we are bringing our expertise to you. Listen to learn more about windows and doors, the components, running a successful business, and other related topics.
Today we meet Chris Triana, who oversees the Glass Plant operations here at our Venice campus. With four different segments of glass operations, he and his team process the major component of our products. The recent expansion adds more to the space, making room for new equipment and a mezzanine, which is a great enhancement to our customer tour experience.
It’s time for a deep dive as we begin a new series! Today’s conversation is with Lisa Wilson, Logan Yoder, and Alonso Morlesin, as they share their knowledge with us about Energy. They share why it’s important, explain the differences between Energy Code & Energy Star, and how this impacts our industry and our customers.
Let's be honest, most folks do not want to hear that OSHA is coming, or worse, has arrived on site. Not so with MITER! In fact, we partner with OSHA in a program that goes above and beyond the minimal safety standards. In today's episode, we learn all about OSHA's Voluntary Protection Program, which of our sites have earned this rare designation, and why having 100% of our sites certified is our goal. Mike Troutman and Chris Koperna share the details, and why safety matters to our leadership and our teams.
If there has ever been an attorney to break the stereotype, it would be Robert Reed, Jr., our Senior VP and Corporate Counsel. Robert shares a bit about his family and work history, and what it's like living in two states. He also shares his excitement about connecting to the shared culture and the legacy PGT team members.
Today we meet our Chief Human Resource Officer, Eric Rothermel, who oversees the HR function as well as the Environmental Health and Safety teams, covering over 10,000 team members! It's not a big transition when the existing cultures are so closely aligned regarding: team member well being, shared commitments to excellence and safety, and giving back to our communities. This conversation verifies that our focus really is on the people.
From loading trucks as a teen, to the role of COO, today we meet Mike DeSoto. He and his team of incredible leaders across the enterprise keep the gears turning, literally. We discuss carrying on the legacy of our founders, Pete DeSoto, Jim Milgard, and Rod Hershberger by doing things right, every day, everywhere.
When your marketing career begins with a team of two, it’s fun to hear what things look like ten years later. In today’s episode, we meet Tony Matter, SVP of Marketing. He and his team oversee forward facing communications, product portfolio, digital channels, and more. He shares about his family, his career path, and some of his favorite words of advice.
Making things better is something we are all craving, right? A solid IT structure serves a critical business role as well as provides solutions to its users. Today we meet Vinod Nair, the Chief Information Officer, and he sheds some light on what his teams are working on. We appreciate his effort to fly in from Tacoma, and his attitude in regards to "doubling the fun". You will enjoy meeting Vinod.
We have been delighted to connect with a kindred spirit in our enlarged organization. Today we introduce Shawn Martin, CX Manager for MITER, who oversees the sales training and events. We've been working together to align our strategies and resources to provide an improved experience for all of our learners, enterprise wide. Learning is a fun endeavor - and so is this episode - enjoy!
Our team had the great privilege of spending time with the students from The Haven Academy, a local school for students with disabilities. PGT was included in their Manufacturing Summer Camp, and they spent two weeks with us! They learned so much about windows, doors, manufacturing, as well as job skills. There are two episodes rolled into one - we hope you enjoy hearing from these incredible students and their instructors.
On today's episode we meet Mike, Senior Vice President of Supply Chain. He splits his time between Harrisburg and Venice, and oversees a huge segment of our business. After twenty-two years with MITER, he shares the most important factor in success: relationships. You'll enjoy meeting Mike!
It was an honor to spend some time and to learn more about Matt. You'll hear about his beginnings, his family (lots of middle school energy!), and his attitude around leadership. Matt shares how the MITER acquisition of PGTI is a dream come true. As our CEO, his "tone from the top" is one of humility, sincerity, and confidence as we progress forward together.
It's really amazing to meet folks whose responsibilities just doubled, and to learn they are cool, calm and excited to meet the tasks head-on. Today we meet our CFO, and yes, it's his real name, and no, he doesn't work for the CIA. The great energy from our conversation really comes through - enjoy!
Today we begin a new series, and really, a new era. New leadership calls for new music. And with the new, we remain focused on providing education on the products and services to our ever-growing customer groups. In this episode, we meet Brock Snyder, Chief Commercial Officer of MITER Brands. You'll find that he is smart, gracious, and full of excitement as we integrate our teams together.
As a native to the Fresno/Clovis area, JoAnn serves in a critical role at Anlin as the Master Scheduler. Keeping things moving and on schedule, and according to the "promise date" is no small task. After 18 years, she's got it down pat, and thoroughly enjoys helping the production lines stay on track.
Otherwise known as Leo, this lady has a true servant's heart. This trait makes her a valuable part of the Human Resources team at Anlin for nearly 23 years now. She serves with a smile and loves helping people. She is a true rockstar!
Another Anlin All Star who believes in the foundation of family. Mark serves as the Vice President of Marketing for the Western Division, overseeing five brands. He shares a bit of his journey into the manufacturing space, and the wild ride he has had over the past few years at Anlin.
Some folks have been around a short time, and others are considered pillars. Mike as one of the first five employees and was hired before Anlin even began! He has an amazing sense of humility and pride in the history of his career. Serving as the Vice President of Operations, these traits make him a well respected and admired leader.
Not many people are composed and confident to just jump into a podcast recording! JT is a Production Manager overseeing the Window Glazing area, and was "voluntold" to come and chat with us. After 21 years, he's seen a lot, done even more, and continues to grow and learn and grow in his career.
Lizeth Zaragoza is a bright cheery inside sales rep at Anlin, and she enjoys taking good care of customers. We speak with her on the front half of this episode, and Jazmin Gutierrez (Sergio's daughter) joins in for the second half. Her role is to help solve pain points with customers, and she thoroughly enjoys working at Anlin.
Sergio began in production temporarily, and has made a career path for himself, now serving as the Director of Services and Inside Sales. He has such passion for his teams and their 5-star reputation! There's always something to learn, including me learning how to pronounce names that are not so familiar.
Technically, these two rock stars don't work at Anlin. When we happened to be there together, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to record with Jeff Aviles, Area Leader for Field Services at Western Window Systems, and our own Patrick Jameson, Customer Education Manager for PGT Innovations. If you're into training, this episode is for you.
What happens when the Chief Engineer is the one providing the plant tour? You get a thoroughly detailed tour, that's what. Brannon is another driving force behind the success at Anlin, and it's likely that you will appreciate getting to meet him.
Understanding the family culture at Anlin is easy after meeting Bryce. His experience on the production floor, along with the exposure to the needs of the sales team contribute to his success, and that of the entire Anlin team.
Outside success depends on strong support from the inside. Bert Mota has been with Anlin for 28 years and served in a number of roles in his time. All of this experience leads to success for his team and the Anlin customers.
It's so much fun to meet new people who lead well. Jimmy Petros is a dynamic leader who has great visions while keeping folks on solid footing. You'll enjoy this brief conversation with Jimmy.
It takes solid leadership when you've got a growing team in a growing territory. You'll get to know a bit about Daniel Bailey who oversees a dozen people in six states. They've got great momentum in winning over their customers with the Anlin products.
Larry is a seasoned veteran in the fenestration industry, and he brings great value to Anlin and to his customer base. And though he spends time on the road, the views of the California coast are pretty phenomenal.
What a fantastic conversation we had with Brett Berridge. He's part of the fantastic sales team at Anlin, and he shares the best parts of his job - the customers!
We loved getting to know the amazing team at Anlin. Meet Tammy Reilly and hear about her long standing career and why she loves what she does at Anlin. You'll enjoy this conversation.
We are so excited about this year's show! With an enormous booth (50' x 85') and 28 full size products across several of our brands, there will be plenty to see. Mark Maloney, VP of Marketing for our Western Business Unit spends some time sharing a few details about what folks can expect. Don't worry, we don't give it all away!) Quality custom home builders - the IBS show - and this podcast is for you.
We are so excited about what the year ahead will bring for our team - and for you - our learners. In this episode, we introduce Francisco Feliz Sanatana, our team's newest instructor. Patrick Jameson and I also share some impressive stats from last year - thanks to all of listeners and learners out there!
In the final episode in this series based on books from the Arbinger Institute, we discuss The Anatomy of Peace. Our leadership teams understand the importance of peace in any successful group, whether it's a family, a small business, or a major enterprise.
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Leadership and Self-Deception is the second book in the Arbinger Institute series that our teams have been studying. Today's episode talks more about the details of this leadership training, and it's so powerful!
https://arbinger.com/store/
Today we dive into book one of this series from The Arbinger Institute, The Outward Mindset. Our leadership team has been implementing these concepts across the enterprise. Listen in to learn more about this first book.
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We have an incredible leadership team here at PGT Innovations, and these folks never stop improving. Bryan Lingle, our Corporate Chaplain and Executive Coach and I discuss some of the content he's been sharing with our teams. Our first episode introduces this topic and paves the way for the next three episodes.
https://arbinger.com/
During our Orlando training event, we had the opportunity to chat with Joshua Spivak and Keith Gallo of Ikon Windows and Doors. These two brought a lot of fun energy to the podcast table, and discussed the major reasons they love learning about and working with our products.
Our training event in Orlando was well attended, including several members of our sales team. Today you get to meet Tom Adams, Regional Sales Manager, and Ryan DiPaulo, Territory Sales Representative, as they joined me at the podcast table. They each share how these events help them, and better equip our customers to be successful.
We hosted a training event as Hurricane Idalia was making her way up the Gulf of Mexico. This did not stop our learners from coming to Orlando for a couple of days. Rodney O'Quinn and Mike Smale, both from Sunset View Windows and Doors sat down with me (separately) to chat about their business, and why they still attend training events, even with many years of experience.
Having a thorough understanding of the business makes people successful, and today's guest is a prime example of this. Meet Kristy Meadows, Vice President of Sales Operations, who works to improve pain points, and help improve processes. This quick episode will help you learn a bit more about the ways we serve our customers.
Today we meet Chad Tennant, who oversees our Florida National Accounts and Corporate Builder teams. Chad and I discuss the trends he is seeing across the northern and central parts of Florida, where more people are choosing impact products. And we talk about why that is such an easy decision.
Sam has been making our customers happy for many years, which has allowed him to rise from a Territory Rep, then Regional Sales Manager, to his recently acquired position of Sales Director. Sam, a Florida native, shares about the things that make him such a fabulous part of our team.
PGT Innovations has such an extensive pool of folks to meet, with some being more visible than others. Today's guest is mostly on the road, managing a vast territory of the US. Howard brings so much experience as he shares more about his team and the work they do.
Our team has experts in various areas, including energy! Kevin Vilhauer, VP of Engineering at Western, returns to discuss the newest requirements for Energy Star 7.0 which takes place this fall. We talk about the different zones, and how we manufacture products that meet the demand throughout the US and beyond.
Every three years, the Florida Building Code is updated, with the newest version coming into effect on January 1, 2024. Jim Heise and Lynn Miller share about the revision process, and what changes and revisions we can expect to see in the near future.
Our organization was built on solid relationships, and our architect community is a huge part of our success. Listen as Ty Cranford, Director of Architectural Sales, and Jim Heise, PGTI University Instructor discuss the importance of working with trusted partners. We also discuss the complexities of California's Title 24 Energy Requirements, and what it took to develop this course.
On today's episode, we hear from Lynn Miller, our Code Compliance Manager. He shares about the collaboration between FGIA and the FWC to better understand glass, light pollution, and sea turtle hatchlings. This effort helps everyone wanting to stay compliant with their windows and doors, while also making sure sea turtles are protected.
Why do we care about Sea Turtles? Because they are endangered. Also because there are regulations for visible light transmittance for your windows and doors when you live on the beach. We sometimes refer to this as Turtle Glass, and its purpose is to minimize light pollution.
Melissa Macksey, Senior Biologist and Conservation Manager of Mote Marine Laboratories in Sarasota joined me to talk about the work of protecting our sea turtles in our intersecting environments.
From concept, to pilot phase, to full blown production, Dean shares about the latest products graduating from iLab to WinDoor. We also discuss the incredible benefits of Diamond Glass, a new glass technology in partnership with Corning, which allows us to use this glass in select WinDoor products launching soon.
Today we hear from Mark Yeandle, President of Operations for our Western Division. He shares the importance of looking ahead and improving our safety, quality, and overall operations, for the benefit of our customers. As our enterprise grows, it's important to stay connected with the folks that make it happen!
Covid taught us many things, including how to think about our supply chain differently. Jeff Schellinger, our VP of Strategic Supply Chain, shares the lessons learned, and how resiliency and agility have become key in our business operations. We also discuss the importance of vendor relationships, as well as our new RFID system. This session is eye-opening and helps us appreciate on-time and in-full deliveries.
Our team has some updates of our own! This week we hear from Rob Moulds, Vice President of Strategic Learning and Development, and Jim Shank, Senior Manager of Sales Education and Innovation. We chat about the value of equipping people to grow and develop through education. Along with exploring new avenues and technologies, our certification program also gets some airtime.
What's worse than a cyber attack on a Saturday morning? Not much! Steven Colopy, our Vice President of IT, shares about this challenge he and his team faced, how they responded, and most importantly, what we all learned from this experience. We also talk about best practices for all of us to stay safe in our online environments.
What's worse than a cyber attack on a Saturday morning? Not much! Steven Colopy, our Vice President of IT, shares about this challenge he and his team faced, how they responded, and most importantly, what we all learned from this experience. We also talk about best practices for all of us to stay safe in our online environments.
New glass technology is around the corner - Diamond Glass and a Thin Triple Insulated Glass - both resulting from an exclusive partnership with Corning Incorporated. Bob Keller, SVP of Research, Development, and Technology, shares more about these industry-changing glass products. Diamond Glass reduces the weight of impact glass by up to 45%. Thin Triple Insulated Glass meets the upcoming Energy Star 7 requirements without using a deeper frame. This is an episode you don't want to miss!
Today we are sharing some exciting news for our dealer audience as well as homeowners. Debbie LaPinska, SVP of Sales and Marketing and Chuck Upshur, SVP and Director of Business Development with Service Finance, share all the details of this amazing partnership. They discuss how it works for the dealers and consumers, and why financing helps everyone continue to thrive in our current environment.
Meet Eric, our President of our Florida Operations, who brings a wealth of experience to our manufacturing operations. Eric shares how we are getting back to basics - delivering quality products on time and in full. He also brings us up to speed with all the improvements being made as we reinvest heavily into our Florida operations.
Who better to make an appearance for the 100th episode than our President and CEO, Jeff Jackson? We reflect back on the impacts of Hurricane Ian on our team last year, especially as Hurricane Season kicks off for 2023. We also discuss what makes a good acquisition, and his vision for the future of PGT Innovations.
Marketing is such a dynamic space, and Christy Sackett has a handle on the latest happenings for PGTI (which is a lot!). We discuss the International Builder's Show, the new showroom in Venice, PGT's new logo launch, LeadMatch, website and media assets, as well as a peek ahead at things to come.
What's new here at PGTI? Today we chat with Debbie LaPinska, our Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, who shares a bit of her vision for the united team across all of our business units. We discuss how to help homeowners mitigate their risks for the upcoming hurricane season, as well as returning to our foundations of providing the best value and service in the industry.
We continue sharing information around the My Safe Florida grant program for Florida homeowners as we chat with Glenn Stephens. As a Licensed Home Inspector, Glenn walks us through the process of receiving a home inspection, and why this is a critical piece of hardening your home against hurricane damage. Click here to learn more about working with Glenn Stephens.
Who doesn't like free money? Our Florida homeowners need to know about this amazing grant program which helps people harden their homes against hurricane damage. Tim O'Neil is with the Florida Department of Financial Services and shares how simple it can be to have your windows and doors upgraded. Impact products provide for effortless storm protection, but also provide added security, lower your energy bill and reduce your insurance premiums. Act now to be qualified for up to $10,000 reimbursement. Click here to begin the application process and to learn more about My Safe FL Home program.
As we wrap up this series, we chat with Craig Henderson, our interim CFO, as we discuss best practices around the budgeting process. Who needs to be involved? How often do you review and adjust? These questions and others are answered in today's episode.
Today we chat with Brad West, SVP of Corporate Development and Rick Tyson, Senior Director of Finance as we discuss cash flow. Accounts receivable, payables, and inventories play a part in this equation. Cash conversion, financing programs, and other helpful topics are packed into this episode.
Returning to the studio, this episode features Jeff Jackson, our CEO and Brad West, SVP, as we discuss how to stay nimble in the short term, and forward thinking in the long term. Tactical moves, watching the market, and cash flow all play a part of financial wellness strategies.
Brad West, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development and music aficionado, helps launch this series centered around Financial Wellness. We will be discussing best practices which lead to the freedom of operating your business the way YOU want to. And as a bonus, Brad shares his playlist collection now available on Spotify under Bfreshwest.
Sometimes our conversations are spontaneous, as in today's episode, which features the talented architects from California Modernist Design. Vitus Matare, Frank Tapia, and James Lucia all jumped into today's episode without script or warning. Even off the cuff, this was an informative chat about the design process and the value of partnering with Western Window Systems.
What do you get when you mix education, customer service, and marketing all together? You get a fantastic conversation, but also an understanding of how these functions work together. Velvet Wahl and Veronica Hernandez, our guests for today, are among many who provide excellent care and service for their customers at Western Window Systems.
It's no surprise that the crew at Western Window Systems has an amazing leader of their Human Resources team! In today's episode, we meet Melissa Miner, VP of HR for our Western Division. This woman is bright, bubbly and her enthusiasm for people shines through our conversation.
This week we feature Todd Hayhurst, who is a pillar of knowledge at Western Window Systems. He is a huge advocate of training and why we had an instant connection. Todd's students (and coworkers) value his experience, knowledge, and attitude of helping others.
How does someone go from an entry level employee to Vice President? Ambition, confidence, and caring about your team. Mark shares his journey as well as some great advice as we continue meeting the leadership of our Western Division.
Meet Kevin Vilhauer, the Vice President of Engineering for Western Window Systems. Kevin shares his extensive background in our industry, as well as his view in keeping a holistic approach of the design work he and his team provide.
Time zone confusion can't derail a great conversation. Today we connected with Jeremy Flynn who is the VP of Sales for the Western division of PGT Innovations. He shares his background and excitement around growing and improving through education.
Jason Seeley has the right attitude and background to provide the excellent customer experience that permeates Western Window Systems. We enjoyed his hospitality and his true servant's heart as we connected with the Western team last fall.
When the right people are in place, success is bound to follow. This week we introduce Brian Leizerowicz, and you'll agree that his knowledge and experience bring incredible value to the Western Team.
As we continue introducing the good folks from Western, we meet Abbas Ali. This episode was a great reminder that we are all "OneTeamPGTI", regardless of the miles that separate us.
Our team really enjoyed meeting the President of the Western Division, Mike Wothe. Listen to this short episode and meet Mike for yourself; you'll understand why he is such a successful leader.
Today we are chatting with Patrick Jameson, one of our instructors, from Western Window Systems in Phoenix. He shares his experience in creating installation videos for the products in the Western family.
In our final episode of the Community Matters series, we met up with McKenna Tanski, who helps oversee our philanthropic efforts here at PGTI. As an intern, McKenna pitched the idea of our organization getting involved with the fight against human trafficking. Not only did the Leadership agree, but they also hired her to help make this a concerted effort across our enterprise. Listen to learn more about how you can join in this effort as well.
Jamie Browning came in to chat with us about the YMCA of Southwest Florida. She serves as the Vice President of Philanthropy and with that, works with partners like PGT Innovations. They serve 7 counties in SW Florida, operating 8 wellness facilities, 2 charter schools, 4 early learning academies, and additional summer and after school programs. Jamie shares how they’ve come together to serve those in need in providing some “normalcy” after Hurricane Ian. It’s wonderful to know that our partnership helps them to help others.
Girls, Inc. is a national organization that serves girls nation-wide, and their branch in Sarasota County is impressive! Angie Stringer, their President and CEO, came in to share about the work they do in helping girls, teens, and now young adults become strong, smart and bold. Partnering with PGT Innovations allows them to offset the cost of their programs as many of their girls face socio-economic challenges. This non-profit lines up beautifully with our Leading Ladies program, encouraging women to rise to their fullest potential.
This week’s guest is Alyssa Simons of Children First, serving as their Associate Director of Donor Relations. As the exclusive Head Start Provider in Sarasota County, they serve at-risk children and families in 15 locations, with 89% of their clients at or below the poverty line. PGT Innovations has a strong alignment in helping women and children, so it’s easy to support this amazing organization. Children First is in the top 1% of head start programs nationwide as they serve the most vulnerable populations in our community.
On today’s Clear Impact podcast, we speak with Patrick Guerrin, President and CEO, with the Loveland Center located in Venice, Florida. Patrick shares how this organization serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They offer an adult day training program that helps them become as independent as possible and live life fully. Our partnership helped them with products needed when they added a residential facility. Our continued support allows them to continue this work of making a difference in our community.
We are shifting gears today as we continue in the Series, Community Matters. In this week’s episode we chat with McKenna Tanski, our Marketing Specialist, who helps with the philanthropy efforts at PGTI. We talk about how to determine which non-profits are a good fit for your company. Did you know there are massive benefits to YOUR organization when you do this? Listen to this short episode to learn more.
We are launching a new series today called Community Matters. It’s a play on words of course! PGT Innovations believes in Serving, Leading, and Thriving, and these drive our behaviors whether we serve our own team members, or folks in our larger community. In today’s episode, we chat with our Corporate Chaplain and Coach, Bryan Lingle, as he shares about our Crisis Connection Fund and other ways in which we care for our team members who facing challenges.
“When is my order getting delivered?”, or “Can I change my ship date?” You may have asked one of these very questions at some time or another. In our final episode of our Customer Success series, we address these and more. Jeff Schellinger and Kristy Meadows share best practices around supply chain, and how our efforts have made major improvements in our delivery process for you.
“When is my order getting delivered?”, or “Can I change my ship date?” You may have asked one of these very questions at some time or another. In our final episode of our Customer Success series, we address these and more. Jeff Schellinger and Kristy Meadows share best practices around supply chain, and how our efforts have made major improvements in our delivery process for you.
Here’s your chance to peek behind the curtain at how the Customer Success Teams work with our Field Service Teams. Returning to the studio we have Manny DeLaRosa and Nina Smith, who help oversee these functions. With great communication, teamwork, and technology, they take care of any warranty related issues that arise after our products are installed.
Here’s your chance to peek behind the curtain at how the Customer Success Teams work with our Field Service Teams. Returning to the studio we have Manny DeLaRosa and Nina Smith, who help oversee these functions. With great communication, teamwork, and technology, they take care of any warranty related issues that arise after our products are installed.
We stand behind our products, and today we learn more about the team that literally does this. Manny DeLaRosa, our Field Services Team Director, take a few minutes to chat with us today. We discuss how this team brings value to our dealer partners, and ultimately, to the homeowners that trust our PGTI brands.
Wouldn’t it be great to have fewer emails? We thought so too! As we continue in our Customer Success series, Eliana Acevedo, our Customer Care Manager, shares the details about ProConnect. This system is your one stop shop for all things relating to Service and Customer Care.
You may call them wizards, or geniuses, but we call them Product Specialists. This team are highly trained and extremely knowledgeable about our products. In today’s episode, Raymond Jones and Shari Roe share how these folks are a vital key to Customer Success.
We have a very special team to feature in today’s episode of the Clear Impact Podcast – it’s our Consumer Affairs Team. Nina Smith, our Customer Care Manager shares that this team takes calls every day from homeowners and rely on years of expertise to answer the myriad of questions.
Customer Success extends far beyond the initial sales process. This new series kicks off today as we highlight the extensive resources that PGTI provides to our dealer audience. Today we meet those at the helm of our Customer Success Teams, Benji Hershberger and Kristy Meadows. They share the depth and expanse of their teams who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure customer satisfaction.
There are a few different labels on our products – and these are very necessary. Lisa Wilson and Lynn Miller wrap up our final episode of Windows and Doors 201 series today. We discuss all the labels, why they are there, and why the information on them is worth keeping.
Testing is a major part of making sure our products meet the appropriate Building Codes. We asked Charlie McCaffrey to join Lynn Miller in today’s episode of Windows & Doors 201. Charlie oversees our very own test lab, and how our windows and doors are put to the test every day - literally. We also discuss the various levels of testing and why this process is important to our success – and yours.
In today’s episode of Windows and Doors 201, we are discussing design pressure and water infiltration as it relates to fenestration products. Lynn Miller shares some helpful tools in locating the requirements for your area, and why this is critical to ordering products correctly. We also talk about water holding tanks, sill riser adapters, and weep holes, and all in 20 minutes – enjoy!
Understand energy requirements in less than 15 minutes? Sure you can, because our code compliance team is here to break it all down. We’re discussing NFRC, SHGC, U factor, Energy Star, prescriptive and performance formulas. Energy is an important factor in our industry, and that’s what today’s episode in Windows and Doors 201 is all about.
Getting in and getting out are a big deal in the Fenestration Industry. Egress, WOCD’s, and safety glazing are all tied together in this episode of the Clear Impact podcast. That’s right, we are talking about Safety! Our Code Compliance team knows all the details around the safety requirements and shares it with us today. This will help clarify any confusion you may have around these life-saving features of windows and doors.
As a dealer, it’s likely you have dealt with your local permitting office. Maybe this experience has been a challenge, and that’s where our Code Compliance Team really shines! Pulling a permit requires knowing design pressures of the openings, understanding the safety glazing requirements, thermal values, and LOTS of other details. This episode of Windows & Doors 201 will help you know where to find what you need, and how to avoid some serious headaches in the permitting and ordering process.
In the Windows & Doors 201 Series, we tap into the incredible knowledge of our Code Compliance Team here at PGT Innovations. We meet Lisa Wilson, our Code Compliance Specialist, and Lynn Miller, our Code Compliance Manager. These two have 38 years of combined tenure here at PGT Innovations. You’ll learn a bit about what this team provides to help you be more successful in your business.
Today we are sharing some exciting news with our Florida dealers and homeowners! As of July 1, 2022, there is a NEW two-year sales tax holiday for Florida homeowners who purchase impact windows, doors, and garage doors. This includes products from PGT, CGI, Eco Window Systems and WinDoor. Our VP of Accounting, Kevin Huber, shares some details around this incentive to "harden our homes" against hurricanes.
Today’s episode is a short, sweet, and puts the cherry on top of our Innovations Series. Dean Ruark is joined by our CEO, Jeff Jackson, and we discuss how and why we continue to pursue Innovation. Not just in our products, but as a foundation for everything we do here at PGT Innovations.
We’re going back to the future as we continue in our Innovation Series with Dean Ruark and Kenny Vander Bent. On today’s episode, we chat about some trendy new looks that are truly innovative. Zero site lines, smart lock technologies, and how we truly stay ahead of the competition. We hope you enjoy this conversation!
Wouldn’t it be great to have a crystal ball so you can see into the future? Well, we don’t have one, but we did get a peek into what the future of glass looks like. With glass being a huge component in our products, we’re grateful for our innovators here. Today’s episode brings back Dean Ruark and Kenny Vander Bent as they share – as much as they can - around Innovations with glass.
Our podcast studio is situated in the center of our Innovations Lab, or the iLab. Today’s episode brings in Dean Ruark, our VP of Engineering, and Kenny Vander Bent, our Senior Manager of Product Design. These two share the story of how the iLab got started, and why the work they do here makes an impact on our company, our dealers, and the homeowners we serve.
Our Innovation series continues today as we continue last week’s conversation with Mike Nau and Kenny Vander Bent. They share a little known fact about Ultimately Vinyl, some history around energy codes and Aluminum, as well as how they continue to find ways to stay creative and keep innovating for us all.
Ah, the good ol’ days. It’s always fun to recount stories of how products got their start. Today’s episode in our Innovation Series brings in Mike Nau, our Lead Design Engineer, and Kenny Vander Bent, our Senior Manager of Product Design. These two have worked together for 20 years! Today we learn about the history and success of WinGuard Aluminum.
We couldn’t cram 40 years of history into one episode, so today we will hear the rest of the story as told by Rod Hershberger. Understanding where we’ve come from is foundational to our success today. Listen in as Rod shares why relationships are so critical to innovation, and his hopes for the future as well.
Drum roll please…. We are so excited to launch our new series, Innovations. I mean, it’s in our name, and we’re going to explore the past, present and future of PGT Innovations. In our first episode, we brought in someone who could tell the story first hand, Rod Hershberger, our Co-Founder and Chairman of our Board. Rod shares a few “redneck” stories of the early days of our company.
We thought it would be fun to chat about additional updates on today’s Clear Impact podcast, so we invited Josh Soto to chat with us. Josh and his team oversee LeadMatch, our lead generation management program. This software, and this conversation, is super helpful for those ready to make the most of their opportunities.
It’s easy to keep up with changes, right? Sometimes, and that’s what this mini-series is all about. Jim Shank and I sat down to share about the newest improvements our team has been working on. This includes a new training platform and our ground-breaking certification program. Listen in as Jim turns the tables on me for this fun and informative conversation.
As we wrap up this series on Workforce of Tomorrow, we talked with Rachel Evans, our Vice President of Human Resources. We talk about today’s current hiring climate, and how to be strategic in planning for your staffing needs. From internship to mentorship, our conversation covers a range of helpful topics around guiding the next generation in their career path. We also hear from our summer interns Andrew Mirau and Mitchell Tosi, about having fresh eyes, and why bringing donuts to work is a good idea!
Collaboration around a shared goal is always a good idea! We venture outside the enterprise today as we sat down with the good folks from Suncoast Technical College in Sarasota County. Speaking with us is Margie DeMauro, Outreach Specialist and Shauna Donahue, Program Manager, both in the Industrial Programs. They shared their approach to filling the labor gaps for Trades in our local area, as well as where similar programs can be found wherever you are.
Creativity is the mother of invention, so when a labor shortage forces us to get creative, we do exactly that. Joining us today is Arianne Spencer, Training Specialist for PGT, and Arianne helps oversee a partnership called Pathways to PGTI. This program is a collaborative effort with a local high school that allows students to explore what working for a manufacturer looks like. For our dealers, this could spark a similar partnership with your high school as well. We also hear from 2 of our interns who were right out of high school and participated in our summer 2021 internship program, Ben Byrd and Andrew Mierau.
On today’s episode, we continue in the Workforce of Tomorrow series with more interns who continue to do great work here as employees now. In the first half, we hear from Christian Freeman, the very talented Graphic Designer, who happened to create the logo for this podcast. In the second half, we chat with McKenna Tanski, who turned her final project as an intern, into a full-time role here at PGTI. McKenna’s passion for stopping Human Trafficking led to all our drivers and sales teams becoming trained through Truckers Against Trafficking.
Trying to corner the market on fresh talent? There’s something really great about helping someone else, like an intern, and then realizing they will actually be helping you. On today’s episode, we hear from current employees who got their beginnings here as interns. Hong Chen, a Senior Engineer in Code Compliance, and Morgan Lingle, a Talent Specialist with our HR Team, joined me for this fun conversation. They shared about staying awake on truck deliveries, and the genius behind Ice Cream Fridays.
Now you’ve heard some of the benefits of having an internship program. But then, how do you actually make it effective for your business? What’s the best way to interact with your intern? Today we are speaking with Stephanie Cz, who has worked with several interns during her career here at PGT Innovations. Stephanie shares some tips to make the experience great for both of you. We also hear from two more of our summer interns, Austin Ham and Alexander Loutchenok.
We are excited to bring you this new series, Workforce of Tomorrow. Our first guest is Jessica Murphy, one of our HR Business Partners and coordinator of our 2022 Summer Internship program. Jessica shares some winning insights for a successful internship of your own. We also hear from several of our interns from the summer of 2021. Sharing a bit of their experience as interns, we have Saylor Evans, Josiah Pool, Nicholas Hull and Dylan Thomas.
We’re kicking off the new year with our new Senior Vice President of Customer Strategy and Innovation, Bob Keller. He’s certainly not new to our enterprise, but has a new role here at PGT Innovations. Bob and I talk about the resiliency of our dealers through recent challenges, along with some exciting improvements on the horizon. This conversation is full of laughter, hope, and gratitude, which is a great way to begin 2022.
While out on the road, it’s always great to meet people. In our final episode in our Road Show Series, we had a great conversation with Jack Redden, our Commercial Market Development Specialist. Jack took time between sessions that he taught for our team while in Dania Beach. Jack shared a bit about his role in working with architects, and also shared about his big win at a recent poker tournament in Vegas!
Another brave attendee joined us at the Road Show Podcast table while we were in Dania Beach. In the first half of today’s episode, we talked with Heidi, who was so excited to have learned a few things that she can put to good use immediately. The second half of today’s episode features Lucy Castillo and Albert Rodriguez, both sales reps in the Miami-Dade-Broward areas. They helped us with our Spanish sessions, and even taught us a couple of terms. This is so helpful for many learners who are not native English speakers. Muchos gracias Lucia and Alberto!
When employees are knowledgeable and confident, your customers are better served. One of our recent attendees, Jennifer, a new-to-the-industry employee, sat down with Patrick Jameson, our Customer Education Manager, and Albert Rodriguez, our Sales Rep in Miami-Dade, for the first half of today’s episode in Road Show Series. The second half is a look at the improvements PGTI is making to our production environment to improve lead times. Be sure to listen to this fun conversation with Matt McDonald, Regional Sales Manager, Teresa Saez, Sales Representative, Jim Shank and myself (Sherri Connor).
On today’s episode, we did something a little different. We packed up the podcast studio and traveled to Florida’s East Coast for a recent training event. So here’s the first of a few in our Road Show Series. Jim Shank, our Senior Manager of Customer Education and Innovation, sheds some light on what’s ahead for PGTI University. A new learning platform, certifications, and a mobile app! Listen to learn more.
When it comes to success, we can learn a lot from those at the top. We had a powerful conversation with our CEO, Jeff Jackson on keys to success, enemies of growth, and why it’s important to look back and thank our mentors. You’ll enjoy today’s episode with Jeff.
Today’s Clear Impact Podcast serves up some helpful ideas for the sales function of Running a Successful Business. Brian Covey, our VP of Sales, shares his wisdom regarding relationship building, communication, and follow up practices. He also shares some great ideas on how to leverage your showroom to maximize results. This is a fun conversation, reinforcing that it’s okay to joke around with the people we work with.
Just how important are your technology and systems? You know as soon as it doesn’t work, right? Today on the Clear Impact podcast, we talk about all things technology with our Vice President of IT, Steven Colopy. We discuss the value of good systems, what to look for when hiring a professional service, and how to navigate the ever-changing landscape of technology. Whether you consider yourself a novice or a pro, we think you’ll get something good out of today’s episode.
Hard hats, gloves, eye wear, steel toed boots are just a part of what keeps people safe on the job. Our episode today centers around safety as we talk with Todd Benedict, our Senior Manager of Environmental Health and Safety at PGTI. While safety gear is important, you’ll learn that attitudes, training, and awareness towards workplace safety have a clear impact when it comes to Running a Successful Business.
Running a Successful Business means that you keep an eye on quality, which is our topic on today’s Clear Impact Podcast. We are chatting with Sudhir Rao, our Senior Quality Manager. We cover a range of topics, from how to establish standards for quality, pride in our work, statistics, root cause analysis, and we even talk about just being nice. We hope you enjoy today’s episode.
Being a female in a male dominated environment can be tricky. Debbie LaPinska joins us today and we discuss how to overcome doubts that our male counterparts may have when dealing with women in the workplace. We also talk about the importance of having mentors who help guide us down the path less traveled. Leading Ladies, a collaborative platform here at PGTI, gets a shout out as well, as we strive to level the playing field for women manufacturing and in leadership.
Running a Successful Business doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Today on the Clear Impact Podcast, we talk with Debbie LaPinska, our Chief Human Resource Officer, as we discuss the benefits of having a community mindset. Debbie shares with us ways that PGT has given back, and how those actions made a lasting impact on our company and employees. We also share practical ideas on how business owners can align their purpose to help others in a meaningful way.
How do your customers feel about doing business with you? After a phone call or an email exchange, are things better or worse? Today on the Clear Impact Podcast, we talk with Raymond Jones, our Training Specialist Manager for our Customer Care Teams. We stress the importance of the customer always being right, or do we? You’ll have to listen to find out.
Who needs to know what? As a dealer, your experience and knowledge is what gives you a competitive advantage. Today on the Clear Impact Podcast, we are staying close to home as we chat with Jim Shank, Sr. Manager of Sales Education and Innovation. Jim shares why it’s important to invest in training, not just for today, but for tomorrow.
Why is it that calling an attorney is sometimes the last thing you want to do? Not us! On today’s episode of the Clear Impact Podcast, we actually phoned in with our General Counsel, Ryan Quinn. He shares some great tips when dealing with the legal side Running a Successful Business. You’ll learn how to avoid trouble in the first place. Ryan also shares where you might find a good lawyer, and yes, they do exist.
Running a successful business is a little bit like a playlist. It’s definitely a mix - with people, leadership, sales, and numbers. On today’s Clear Impact Podcast, we have a great conversation with Brad West, our CFO. Not only does he share about the 3 keys to financial success, he threw in some bonus content just for the music lovers.
One thing that cannot be overlooked in “Running a Successful Business” is company culture. Remembering the company core values, how employees treat one another, and keeping excellence at the forefront are some of the compass points of culture. Today we hear from Debbie LaPinska, Chief Human Resource Officer and Rachel Evans, VP of HR for the Southeast Business Unit of PGT Innovations. We hope this conversation encourages our customers to spend some time evaluating their own company culture.
Most of us work with others, and that is where solid Human Resource strategies come into play. We chat today with two of our HR Rock Stars, Kelly Detter and Rachel Evans. Kelly is our HR Manager here at PGT, and Rachel is our VP of Human Resources for the Southeast Business Unit of PGT Innovations. This quick and energetic conversation provides some helpful reminders when it comes to taking care of the people on your team.
On today’s Clear Impact Podcast, we are chatting with Bryan Lingle, Corporate Chaplain and Life Coach for PGT Innovations. Bryan and I had a lot to talk about regarding the value of people, how to really connect and tune in with employees and what their needs are, and how that might require something from us. We hope you enjoy today’s episode.
As we wrap up our Windows and Doors 101 Series, Patrick Jameson and I talk today about Common Concerns. We talk about condensation, distortion, why inswing doors may or may not be better for you. You’ll feel like an expert after you listen to today’s Clear Impact Podcast.
On this episode of the Clear Impact Podcast, we continue with Windows and Doors 101. And we actually discuss a little known fact… Care and Maintenance of Windows and Doors. What? What does that mean? Don’t I have enough to maintain? Patrick Jameson tells us some simple things we can do to help our windows and doors to function properly and last a long time!
There is more to tinted windows than you may realize! Is it a film that is put on afterwards? What is Low E? What helps lower my energy bill? And is there really a thing called Turtle Tint? Learn all about this and more as we continue in the Windows and Doors 101 Series. Today we’re chatting with Jim Heise as he helps us understand these important details.
As we continue with our Windows and Doors 101 Series, we explore design pressure. I want to protect my home against 140 mile per hour winds, so why does design pressure matter? What is design pressure? On today’s episode of the Clear Impact Podcast, Patrick Jameson and I talk about this little known but important number.
What is glass? What is hurricane glass? What is impact glass? And how it like a grilled cheese sandwich? We discuss all of this with Jim Heise on today’s episode as we tackle the basics. It's part of our current series called Windows and Doors 101. You will learn more about these details and why it matters when it comes to investing in your home.
It’s always a fun conversation with Patrick Jameson as we begin our Windows and Doors 101 Series. Aluminum framed windows... vinyl framed windows... is one safer? Is one going to last longer? How do I know which one to buy? We address this topic on today’s episode of the Clear Impact Podcast.
As we wrap up our Introductions Series, we saved the best for last. We sat down with our CEO, Jeff Jackson for a few minutes today. Jeff shared about his humble beginnings in a blue-collar family from a small town in Georgia. We chatted about his role here at PGT Innovations, his vision for the future, and how he stays grounded as he leads our enterprise. You’ll love this episode with Jeff Jackson.
As we continue with Introductions, we spoke with Brent Boydston. Brent shared how his childhood home helped shape his perspective, and how that influences what he does here at PGT Innovations. We even touch on some things from the past, and looked into the future. You're gonna love this conversation with Brent.
Today we are chatting with the lovely Melissa Stone, one of our Sales Directors. She oversees our Builder Partnerships and our National Account Sales. Melissa shares why relationships are the main focus of her role, and how relationships help everyone to be more successful. You're gonna love today's episode.
Who knew that discussing dealer financing could be so interesting? Today on the Clear Impact podcast we are introducing Brian Covey, our Vice President of Sales for the State of Florida. Brian shares a ton of great information regarding the benefits of the Synchrony Financing Program we helped set up for our dealers. Brian also shares with us that accepting feedback is an important key to personal and professional growth.
Today on the Clear Impact podcast, we chat with Dean Ruark, our Vice President of Engineering and Innovation. We learn the unique value of having an entire team of engineers here, and how each is encouraged to try new things. We learn how ideas become reality, and where Dean got his inspiration to be the solid leader that he is.
Today on the Clear Impact Podcast, we chat with Rob Moulds, our Vice President of Sales Operations. Rob shares how he got started in the fenestration industry and what he enjoys most about his role here at PGT Innovations. We discuss one of our favorite topics, Hurricane Season, and what people can do now to be prepared.
Our episode today on the Clear Impact Podcast is a great one as we meet Liz Rodriguez. Liz is the South Florida Sales Director, and she is an absolute gem, a true professional. We discuss a really, helpful topic – selling techniques! You will hear the passion Liz has for her work, her team, her customers, and her family.
As we continue with our Introductions Series, we get to chat with Shawn Harlacher, our North Florida Sales Director. He’s one of the most likeable people ever! Shawn oversees several people on our sales team, and actually crosses over two time zones but remains in Florida. We learn a little bit about Shawn, his family, and why it’s important to have impact products in your home, even when you don’t live near the water.
Our Introduction Series on the Clear Impact Podcast is switching gears and diving into another topic that we believe our dealers will find helpful. Today we are talking with Nina Smith, our Customer Care Manager. Nina has such a heart for providing excellent service, and that translates into how she leads her team of problem solvers. We learn where she gets her can-do attitude and how this benefits situations when things aren’t as perfect as we would like them to be.
Today on the Clear Impact podcast, we continue our conversation with Josh Soto, a Digital Marketing Specialist here at PGT Innovations. We learn about the Lead Match system that we designed and built to help our dealers. We learn how this proprietary system works and how our dealers can fully leverage this amazing FREE resource. We also learn a little bit more about Josh’s history and even a little bit about what kinds of exercise is the best!
The Introduction Series on the Clear Impact Podcast continues with another Rockstar on our Marketing Team. Today we meet Josh Soto, who is on the Marketing Team for PGT Innovations. Josh and I had so much to discuss we actually divided our conversation into 2 podcasts.
In this first episode, we learn how Josh landed in a marketing role here at PGT Innovations. We also discuss why Digital Marketing helps our dealers succeed in today’s climate, and how we are helping them to elevate their online game.
Listen to Part 2 for the rest of our conversation with Josh Soto.
We understand the importance of marketing when it comes to a successful business. In today’s show, we continue with Introductions, and we want you to meet Christy Sackett, the Senior Director of Marketing for 6 of our Brands. Christy shares with us why she loves marketing, how she got her start in the industry, and who her biggest cheerleader is. We hope you enjoy today’s show.
We continue with our Introductions Series in today's show as we talk with Patrick Jameson, and yes, he’s Irish! Patrick is our Customer Education Manager and is one of our primary trainers here at PGTI University. He’s also a YouTube sensation! We talk about the importance of proper installation, and a couple of myths around the fenestration industry. We also learn how much Patrick loves coffee and why he doesn’t mind driving to Miami just to get some fabulous Cuban coffee.
As we continue with introductions, we spoke with Jim Heise, one of our most knowledgeable trainers on the PGTI University Faculty. Jim is a Senior Knowledge Specialist and Building Code Expert. He is also a sought-after speaker at conferences across the Fenestration Industry. He is incredibly knowledgeable and has this incredible ability to keep his classes entertaining – even building code classes! We learn about the importance of codes, and we also chat about how Jim got his start in this industry and what is important to him.
As we launch the Clear Impact Podcast we believe in beginning with introductions. Our first series is just that – it’s our Intro Series – Get to Know PGT Innovations. There is an incredible team of people behind the brands, and we are introducing a few of them to you over the next few weeks.
We first want you to meet Jim Shank, who is the humble and fearless leader of PGTI University Customer Education Team. Jim is the Senior Manager of Sales Education and Innovations. In today’s show we talk about the importance of training, and we also learned some of the important values that Jim holds. We hope you enjoy today’s episode.