Clear Impact Podcast

Florida Windows and Doors is a Diamond Dealer for PGT with several locations in Florida. They work heavily with builder partners and contractors and focus on relationships with their customers. Kelli Bryan and her husband Kyle attended our ETP trip for the first time this year and appreciated the networking opportunities the trip offered. Her advice for someone trying to level up? She recommends taking advantage of the resources and opportunities offered to the MITER Brands customer base.

Our team, MITER Brands University, or MBU (formerly PGTI University), has a new name, and a new look! With an expanded scope of customer education for all of MITER Brands, we wanted a logo that would fit us. Today’s episode brings Nick Board and Annie Leung to discuss the story behind our new look and the process of its creation.

Interacting with customers at a training event is one of our favorite things! We had a quick conversation with Tyler Kramer from Weathermaster Building Products, Jamie Smith from Lighthouse Windows, and Ryan DiPaolo, who is their Territory Rep for MITER Brands. We chat about WHY it's important to continue learning and understanding the industry and our products.

There is so much to learn in this industry, whether you're brand new or well seasoned. We had the chance to talk with Kyle Bryan from Florida Windows & Doors, who brought a few people from his team. Being knowledgeable about the business is a key factor in success for this Diamond Dealer partner.

When our team shows up for a training event, we know it's going to be an amazing event. Our learners appreciate having the interaction with us - and each other. This episode brings a short conversation with Matt, Kyle and Scott from Neighborhood Windows and Doors, as well as a short conversation with our team.

Our name is a representation of our core values, with each letter standing for an important element of who we are. It forms our connection with team members, customers, suppliers, and communities. Listen to this episode to learn more about MITER, as our CEO, Matt DeSoto, walks us through each letter and its meaning. You might learn something new!

What started out as helping distribute relief supplies, has evolved into exploring damage and performance of windows and doors. Our engineering teams learn a lot through this exercise, and partner with other organizations in post storm evaluations. Dean Ruark, our VP of Engineering and Innovation at PGT, shares some of his first-hand experiences in assessing post storm damage in these devastating circumstances.

We continue to chat with Lisa, Logan and Alonso as they share about the NFRC, the National Fenestration Rating Council. This organization manages all the testing for Fenestration products on several criteria. We learn more about this group, how they function, and why it’s important for our business and the consumers.

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.

Every three years, the Florida Building Code is updated, with the most recent version which took 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, MITER Brands 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.

Jim Shank joins us today as we talk about the common concerns when it comes to your new windows and doors. What kind of entry door should you have? Is distortion normal? What about condensation? How about suction cup marks? All of these questions are answered in this final episode of Windows and Doors 101.

Wait, I have to maintain my windows and doors? What does this look like? What happens if I don't? Should I pressure wash them? In this short episode with Francisco Feliz, we help you understand why care and maintenance will help your window and door products functioning well for years to come.

Does tinted glass help your home to be more energy efficient? Maybe, or maybe not. Can you just add tint afterwards? Patrick Jameson and I discuss the various benefits - or drawbacks - of having your window glass tinted. We also discuss Low Emissivity coating and other considerations when purchasing windows and doors.

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 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 Francisco Feliz on today’s episode as we tackle the basics. You will learn more about this and why it matters when it comes to investing in your home.

Which kind of frame is best? What holds up? What provides the biggest color options? Sometimes it depends on where you live. Learn all the pros and cons of the various frame types (aluminum, vinyl, fiberglass, etc) as we chat with Shawn Martin.

Organizing an event can be fun! Or stressful, or chaotic, or possibly all of the above. Tackling an event this impressive most certainly requires Grit. We sat down with Shawn, who helped coordinate our multi-day event in Scottsdale. Listen to his perspective of how everything came together, leaving a powerful mark on all who attended.

With over 300 people in attendance from across the country, we were able to have several conversations with folks experiencing this inspirational event. From Florida to Hawaii and a few spots in between, we enjoyed meeting so many teammates. Sharing their takeaways are: Tony Quatraro, Jason Rosenberg, Everett Anez, Anthony Scales, David Flores, and Josh Williard.

You know how sometimes your work friends become your actual friends? That's the case with Stan and Jerry, as they share a bit of their history, friendly work competition, and years spent advancing the company forward. They referred to themselves as "Frick n Frack", which always makes for a fun conversation!

As a childhood cancer survivor, Brady Lucas has had to demonstrate Grit that most of us have not. Yet he chose to have a great outlook - and continues to give back by working in non-profits. Brady shared his cancer story by authoring an inspirational book for children with cancer, Smiley's Smile. Brady was a powerful keynote speaker at our event, sharing about the work of MITER Foundation that champions the cause of fighting childhood cancer.

When it comes to Grit, Brad Snyder is no stranger. Naval Academy grad, military veteran, paralympic athlete (8 medals, 6 of which are gold), speaker, husband, father, and more describe his outer achievements. What is incredible is hearing about his inner achievements: his perseverance, courage, and grit to rise above challenges and succeed. Brad shared his story from our stage, and then shared more with Joe Person on this powerful episode.

Grit, the theme of our CX event, is literally the foundation of MITER brands. And when legends gather, it's worth recording. Jim Milgard, Pete DeSoto, and Rod Hershberger discuss the dedication and tireless commitment they exemplify in building their businesses. Now collectively under one umbrella, it's exciting to dream of what we can do together.

Dorgis Betancourt, owner of E & D Quality Install in Homestead, completed the rigorous certification journey for PGT and CGI, only our second learner to achieve this goal of Brand Expert. Dorgis and his wife Diana share a little about their business and why this knowledge is fundamental to their success.

Our team created an extensive certification program with multiple levels, with Brand Expert at the very top. Casey Thomas with Royal Palm Aluminum is our first learner to reach this level. He shares his experience of his learning journey and how this has helped him to reach success for himself and his company.

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.

If you’ve ever worked with impact products, you know how heavy they can be. And you’ve probably been wondering when someone was going to improve this. Well, the wait is over. Our team is excited to introduce Diamond Glass! This new impact resistant glass technology offers better clarity, better scratch resistance, and is up to 45% lighter than standard laminated glass. One of our pilot dealers, Adam Dovi, from Dovi Window Designs, Inc., shares his experience working with Diamond Glass in our WINDOOR products.

Generosity is such a wonderful thing, and that is the heart behind the MITER Foundation. Supporting several causes and raising millions each year, we are excited to be a part of this! We caught up with Gwen Mallon at the 2024 CX event, and she shared more about about this amazing organization.

While attending the 2024 CX event in Scottsdale, we were happy to connect with Ali Zahrieh, our SVP of Strategy and M & A. It's been a big year for him and the team with acquiring and divesting several entities within the legacy PGT Innovations brands. Ali sheds some light on these integration decisions and will continue to help the team with go-forward strategies.

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, our 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!

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.