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 Is GMI for me?
GMI is designed to address the professional aspects of managing a glass-industry business. Course topics include bidding and estimating, sales and marketing, finance, legal, project management, strategy, and leadership development.
Ideal GMI candidates have at least a year’s experience in the glazing industry or related field and should also have experience in supervisory or project management roles. GMI students should aspire to a career on the professional side of the industry, up to and including executive authority in a contract glazing firm. In addition, students should be familiar with basic storefront framing components, glass and glazing, and other materials; and they should also have witnessed or helped with fabrication, installation and glazing/reglazing of basic storefront and other basic window products.
Instructors
The content for GMI has been designed to specifically focus on contract glazing, thus all course material is selected and provided by someone within the industry or associated with the industry. Certain courses, including bidding and estimating, project management, and sales and marketing, will be taught by industry professionals from companies like Viracon, Trainor Glass, and W&W Glass. Other courses, including finance and legal, merit instruction from experienced professional in their respective fields.
Modules
Four distinct training modules run approximately 10 weeks each as outlined below. For more detailed information, click here.
Bidding and Estimating
The essentials of basic project estimating with proven industry methods and resources.
Taught by Rod Van Buskirk of Bacon and Van Buskirk.
Sales & Marketing and Project Management
Sales & Marketing—A comprehensive look at relationship-building, bidding tactics, sales, and marketing initiatives that are proven effective at leading glass shops in building new and repeat business. Taught by Max Perilstein of Arch Aluminum.
Project Management—The key steps to planning, purchasing, scheduling, expediting and billing important projects that can make or break your company. Taught by Paul Main of Trainor Glass and Jeff Haber of W&W Glass.
Finance and Legal
Finance—Equipping non-financial managers with the basic skills needed to effectively manage job cost projects, anticipate cash flow, ensure profitability, control inventory and labor costs, and minimize year-end taxes. Taught by representatives from FMI consulting.
Legal—A review of standard contract forms and other legal documentation, plus an overview of legal issues and pitfalls every business should be aware of. Taught by Chip Gentry of Carson & Coil, P.C.
Strategy/Leadership Development
Training will focus on the key determinants of effective leadership, including team building, strategic planning, goal-setting, field and staff recruitment and retention, motivation and empowerment. Taught by David Walker of NGA and Richard Voreis of Consulting Collaborative with contributions from Bob Trainor of Trainor Glass, and John Heinaman of Heinaman Contract Glazing.
Format
GMI’s 40-week program kicked off May 5 and is conducted primarily via one-hour weekly webinars on Mondays at 7 p.m. Eastern. (Some times may be shifted due to instructor availability.) Sessions will be recorded and available for students in case they miss class. For a sneak peek at GMI content, click here.
GMI requires occasional reading and other homework as designated by the instructor. Time-wise, plan for one hour of class time per week plus one to two hours of homework, reading, or other follow-up. GMI also includes occasional group projects.
All students will receive necessary log-in and password information before the course launches.
Students can still enroll in upcoming modules. Click here for schedule.
GMI graduation will take place in May 2009.
Cost
For NGA members, the cost per student is $1,195. For non-members, the cost is $1,795. Students may take any individual module (such as Sales and Marketing) for $495. In addition to course materials and instruction, full tuition includes complimentary admission to NGA's Glazing Executives Forum on October 6, 2008 in Las Vegas, NV at GlassBuild America—a $195 value, complimentary admission to GlassBuild America—a $50 value, and a one-time 25% discount for NGA's MyGlassClass.com.
Keep up to date
For up-to-the-minute information about GMI—including instructors, introductory classroom session location and more—please e-mail Matt Rumbaugh, NGA’s Division Manager of Education, Training & Certification, at mrumbaugh@glass.org and ask join the GMI Google Group.
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Know someone else who may be interested in GMI? Click here to share information.
Register today to ride the wave in glass-management education.
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