Clear Impact Podcast

Making changes can be tough, and sometimes uncomfortable, kind of like pruning the bushes. Today we hear from Benji Hershberger who shares about his background and his new role in Product Management. We discuss the product changes happening in our Florida product portfolio and how this will enhance business efficiency and growth. Additionally, Benji walks us through the MITER Brands Guiding Principles and how these pillars impact our business decisions, every day, everywhere.

There is something special about great people having great conversations - and that is what you've got with these two MI sales professionals. Micah and Chris (aka Big Cat) share a bit about their history, current roles, and what they connect with the most in the MITER acronym. While Relationships is a big part of the sales role, they chose to elaborate beyond the single letter R. Listen and enjoy.

How does one begin as a chemical engineer in Australia and become our Vice President of Operations for Florida? Chris shares a bit of his leadership journey - hard work, dedication, and working well with his teams to achieve results. We also learn about some of the improvements that have been happening in our South Florida Operations. For reference, the MITER way of operations includes five quality pillars: Safety, Integrity, Creativity, Continuous Improvement, and Profitable Partnerships.

Shawn led 12 of us through the sales training event in Tacoma, and Benji, our VP, joined in as well. We spent time reflecting on the MITER acronym and how all of the letters connect to our work of MITER Brands University. This short conversation provides an inside peek at what the learning team is learning about!

People first is more than just a nice slogan; it's truly how MITER does business. Karen Watson popped in to say hello to her fellow colleagues, and shared a bit about her nearly 30 year career on the Milgard side. With territories in Western Canada, Alaska, Washington State, and Hawaii, there is never a dull moment for this industry pro.

Sales training events allow colleagues a chance to sharpen their skills and connect with each other. These three all work in the sales side for Western Window Systems, and our conversation reflects their energy and personalities. You'll hear why building relationships is a natural thing for them to do, and why customers appreciate connecting with them.

Sometimes our experiences elsewhere helps us see how wonderful our present circumstances are. Eric has spent time in large organizations, and he has been instrumental in getting our companies integrated. As an HR professional, Eric appreciates the "people-first" attitudes that prevail with MITER Brands leadership.

Customer service is a critical piece of any successful business, and great leaders come from the ground up. Jillian began 17 years ago on the manufacturing floor and now leads the teams taking care of customer and warranty services for the western side of MITER Brands. With the tremendous legacy to uphold, Jillian appreciates the opportunity to embrace new technologies that allow for improvements in the customer experience.

As the Operations Manager for Internal Supply, overseeing nearly 200 team members, Marc is a wealth of knowledge! He understands the process as someone who began 31 years ago on the production floor. He and his team are continually working to innovate and improve how we manufacture our extrusions in Tacoma. Like others, he is learning more about AI to expand our capabilities.

When people love what they do, it's been said they don't work a day of their life. After 22 years at MITER Brands, Tim enjoys working in his current role as Pricing Manager for Milgard. It provides a great opportunity for him to leverage his years of experience across various roles. Tim is also involved with the MITER Foundation and appreciating the teamwork involved in that effort.

Meeting colleagues on the other side of the country is such a fun thing to do! And then learning how their expertise supports the business. Jeremiah (a fellow Iowa native) shares about his various roles in the business over a 20+ year tenure. He now serves as VP of Marketing Operations. Joanie is working on a major puzzle, blending two different SalesForce platforms across our enterprise. She began as an intern and has grown tremendously in her career at MITER Brands, always focusing on what is possible.

What makes a company innovative? Is it the people, the products, or their process? Maybe it's a magical mix of all three. Kevin and Erik share a bit about their roles in researching and developing products for our Western brands (Milgard, Western Window Systems, and Anlin Windows & Doors). The collaboration between product marketing and engineering allows for growth of this market share and profitability.

Some folks just inspire others to greatness - and Dave Alexander is definitely one of those people. His enthusiasm for leading our Manufacturing Excellence Teams is evident - and a bit contagious! With the challenge of 20 manufacturing sites, and thousands of products manufactured daily, Dave remains humble while in the relentless pursuit of 100%. You'll learn about the attitude and mindset around the quality initiatives across all of the MITER Brands product portfolios.

Building relationships is an intentional component of our business, and the ETP trip allows for that very thing. Today we peek behind the curtain and chat about what goes into planning this trip, the criteria for going, and why we continue to provide this amazing trip for our partners. Brian and Katie share a bit about their experience and why it's so valuable to our customers, and to us.

Helping a non-profit organization AND taking a tropical vacation to Mexico? This combo was too good to pass up for Rick Cross with Paradigm, a MITER Brands vendor partner. When he attended a MITER Foundation event last year, and the ETP trip came up for bid, Rick raised his paddle. On the trip, he enjoyed networking with our teams and our customers, and his wife enjoyed some pool time. A win for them, and a win for the MITER Foundation.

Whenever you go on a trip, you’re sure to make memories. Imagine catching your first fish ever and it’s a 140lb Marlin! That’s what happened when Jesus Castro (and his wife) attended the ETP trip in Los Cabos this year. Jesus is the Senior Director of Operations for The Window Depot based in Tuscon. They have been a Milgard dealer since 2011 and have ten retail locations throughout the SW Region of the US.

With 14 locations throughout Pennsylvania, Lezzer Lumber has been in business since 1927. They began selling MI products in the late 70’s, originally purchasing screens to go with a competitor’s windows. As a third-generation business, K.C. grew up in it, and is now VP of Sales. Relationships with their customers are what their focus is, and what lends to their success, and ours.

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.