The Architectural Glass and Metal Certification Council (AGMCC) hosted its annual meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, October 23-24. During the meeting, AGMCC announced a new website and continued progress with both the North American Contractor Certification (NACC) and Architectural Glass and Metal Technician (AGMT) programs, North America’s only third-party credentials for glazing contractors and glaziers.
AGMT and NACC are administered by AMS, Inc. and sponsored by AGMCC, which oversees both programs. The 18-member AGMCC board provides a balanced voice and industry perspective. Over 40 representatives of the board, committees, certified glazing contractors, and stakeholders were in attendance for the meeting.
“The annual meeting provides an opportunity to bring NACC and AGMT together through a methodical approach and open dialogue to realize the full potential impact of AGMCC’s mission in the industry,” said Terry Schaefer, vice president of AMS, Inc. “Both programs provide a mechanism to mitigate risk for glazing project stakeholders by providing verified evidence of contractors’ and glaziers’ adherence to the highest industry standards and best business practices.”
“We continue to see new faces at the public meetings and at the board level, explained Rodney Harvey, AGMCC board chair and principal of Curtain Wall Design Consulting, Inc. “There is a strong commitment to broad industry and stakeholder representation on the board. Maintaining this commitment allows us the opportunity to hear the voices of our loudest critics and strongest supporters. We must hear both to choose the appropriate path forward to serve participants and stakeholders.”
Data presented at the meeting revealed how the NACC program has made a lasting impact on the industry. In order to earn certification, glazing contractors are assessed via on-site and annual audits that examine Quality Management Systems (QMS), safety, glazing processes, business practices, and contract administration. Over 69 assessments in 2022, there were 538 findings; this figure dropped to 404 findings over 68 assessments in 2023.
“These statistics show that glazing contractors in the NACC program are getting better, creating and improving their processes,” said Scott Kennett, Program Manager. “It also demonstrates NACC is identifying consistent gaps during initial assessments, proving we’re looking in the right place to help contractors improve.
Annual meeting participants also discussed opportunities to expand and enhance both programs.
· AGMT organizers will pursue the idea of “specialty certificates,” which will build a layer of specialty focus above the core competencies currently evaluated. A subcommittee has been formed to evaluate specialty skills and feasibility of launching enhanced certifications by 2027.
· AGMCC will explore additional training and education pathways and potential collaboration with other providers to connect more qualified glazing installers with paths to AGMT certification. The AGMCC board and a newly formed subcommittee will craft criteria and a peer review process by which it will measure other providers’ materials for alignment with program standards.
· NACC organizers are working with certified contractors to develop additional case studies that communicate the value and benefits of certification; the website currently includes a dozen such articles.
“Success in business rarely happens by chance; more commonly success occurs through very intentional effort. The AGMT and NACC programs are available to support and encourage success,” Harvey added.
