I read with great interest a recent company news article in [DWM] about how a Temperance Business Hires a Life Coach to help employees reach their personal goals. This article focused on MI Windows & Doors and how they are utilizing a life coach to help individual employees identify their life dreams and tie those […]

According to a study published in Harvard Business Review, 8.9% of employees feel engaged with tough bosses, while 6.7% feel engaged with nice bosses. But 68% of employees feel engaged with bosses who are both nice and tough. Most of us, at some point in our lives, had a coach—maybe in academics, athletics, talent or […]

On Oct. 13, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) proposed a rule change in its process for classifying workers as employees versus independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The proposed rule would use a six-factor “economic reality test” to to determine whether a worker is economically dependent on the employer or in […]

During customer visits in the last few weeks, the feedback I am getting is that a slowdown is indeed happening. Window fabricators may produce a steady number of units, but new orders do not match daily production levels. Backorders make up the difference. Lead times are coming back down and in some cases are returning […]

To grow your business and become more efficient and profitable, it is critical to re-evaluate your corporate values to determine what needs modification, which employees share your vision, and how your culture matches your hiring strategy. As a business owner, you should strive to adopt a modern culture that incorporates the following elements: 1. Encourage […]

You might not associate the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) with general operational improvements, but that’s the angle one of the Administration’s representatives pitched as a key benefit of the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) last week. Brad Baptiste, manager for OSHA Region VIII, told attendees of the Fenestration and Glazing […]

In a series of transactions occurring this week, door and window company ENERGI Fenestration Solutions was acquired by Vision Group. At the same time, two of ENERGI’s plants were parceled out as part of the deal—one acquired by Novatech Group Inc., the other by several ENERGI employees who are resurrecting an old brand. In a […]

I did a pretty dumb thing recently. At a very critical moment of public recognition, in front of the press and hundreds of the most important people in my life, I forgot about my team. It was the night of our Shark Tank viewing party (when we gathered to watch the episode including FlexScreen), and […]

Members of the Association of Millwork Distributors participated in a roundtable session yesterday where they were able to ask questions and share concerns. DWM/Shelter editor Tara Taffera was lucky enough to sit in at one such discussion and learn what is keeping members up at night and what they are happy about post recession. First […]

Millennials are poised to flood the workforce in the next two decades, and the window industry is no exception—in fact, they may be as susceptible to the trend as any. The recession of the last decade saw many Generation-Xers (ages 34-39) leave specialty sectors of the construction industry, such as doors and windows, for greener […]