Fenestration Conversations

Al Dueck, Owner of Duxton Windows and Doors in Winnipeg, has done more thinking than most about his staff. He’s put extra effort into finding, developing and retaining people to work in his company, with great results. From Saturday morning breakfasts served by the hand of the boss, to pick-up soccer matches behind the shop, Duxton has benefited from a family-style atmosphere nurtured by Dueck. Here, he explains his approach and some of the non-linear thinking that went into it.

In this special coronavirus episode of Fenestration Conversations, Bonny Koabel of AKR Consulting tells you what government assistance is being offered to companies impacted by the pandemic. There’s help with wages, tax relief, credit, direct grants and more, with more to come on the horizon. Bonny has been getting companies access to government services for a long time and knows the ropes when it comes to cutting red tape.

In 2006, Suzanne Bernier developed the Ontario WSIB’s first pandemic plan in response to the SARS outbreak, which was globally recognized as the best of its time. She then led her employer’s internal response to the H1N1 pandemic after several outbreaks in their workplace. She was invited to address the UN in Switzerland to educate on pandemic response and commissioned by its New York headquarters to deliver their first-ever pandemic tabletop workshop to evaluate the effectiveness of UN pandemic action plans. Suzanne joins host Patrick Flannery in this special episode of Fenestration Conversations to tell you how our industry should protect staff and customers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Give me an F!…give me a G!…The Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance (IGMA) and the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) have merged into one organization called the Fenestration Industry and Glazing Alliance. FGIA executive director, Janice Yglesias, and FGIA director of glass products and Canadian affairs, Margaret Webb, explain the new association, talk about some industry issues and discuss how a big organization for all of North America’s residential and commercial fenestration providers might serve the market better.

Software expert Mitch Lewandowski talks about the capabilities of the latest production and ERP systems, with tips on cost and how to choose the right one for your business. We address implementation, mobile optimization, platform compatibility, cloud services and more. Things you need to think about in the ever-evolving world of data management.

In this episode, Fenestration Review editor, Patrick Flannery, talks to Normand Doucet, a partner at Quadra Plast in Saint-Therese, Que., about the latest advances in vinyl extrusion technology and new things that are possible in window design. It’s a chance to see behind the curtain of the industry that supports our industry.