Schedule at a Glance
NGA Glass Fabricator Conference (GFAB) · June 14–17, 2026 · Chicago, IL
What's Included With Your Registration?
Compare registration types to find the right fit for your role and your team.
For Decision Makers Executive Track | For Technical Leaders Glass Conference Track | For Production Teams GFAB Workshop Track | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions & Programming | |||
| Executive Track sessions Mon Strategic sessions on markets, design, AI, M&A, and more | ✓ | — | — |
| NGA Glass Conference sessions Tue–Wed Committees, task groups, advocacy & expert discussions | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| GFAB Workshop: Quality Control in Glass Tempering Tue Hands-on at Skyline Architectural Glass · Separate registration | FREE ticket for a team member | — | ✓ |
| Networking & Social Events | |||
| Welcome Reception Sun | ✓ | — | — |
| Architectural Boat Tour of Chicago Mon | ✓ | — | — |
| Rooftop Reception Tue eve Open to all registrants | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| NGA Volunteer Awards Dinner Tue eve Open to all registrants | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fun Run/Walk Wed | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Hands-On Experiences | |||
| Skyline Architectural Glass Facility Tour Tue See projects come to life · Open to all registrants | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| GFAB Lab Mon–Tue Interactive networking zone · Competitions, prizes & new tech on display | ✓ | ✓ | — |
Glass Conference Track is available as a stand-alone registration or is included with Executive Track registration. Workshop Track registrants attend Tuesday only.
Full Schedule
Sunday, June 14, 2026
TBD
🥂 Welcome Reception
Details to be announced
Monday, June 15, 2026
8:30 – 9:15 AM
🤝 GFAB Lab Tabletop Networking
9:15 – 9:30 AM
Welcome & Introduction
9:35 – 9:40 AM
Take 5 Cyncly
9:45 AM
Intro Keynote Introduction · Cardinal Glass
9:45 – 10:30 AM
What's Coming for the Construction Market?
Richard Branch, Chief Economist · American Institute of Architects
10:35 – 10:40 AM
Take 5 glasstec
10:45 – 11:15 AM
Opportunities for the Interior
Cheryl Durst, Hon. FIIDA, EVP & CEO · IIDA
Lakisha A. Woods, CAE, President & CEO · National Glass Association
11:20 – 11:25 AM
Take 5 TSS
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Case Studies in Glass
An architect-fabricator 1:1 with Skyline Design and Kim Dowdell (architect)
12:00 – 12:05 PM
Take 5 A+W
12:05 – 1:00 PM
🍽️ Lunch & GFAB Lab Networking
1:00 – 1:05 PM
Welcome Back
1:10 – 1:35 PM
AI in Glass Fabrication
Elton Boocock
1:35 – 1:55 PM
Smart Factory Roundtable
Facilitated by Elton Boocock
Featuring Guide Wheel and additional sponsors (TBC)
2:00 – 2:05 PM
Take 5 IGE Solutions
2:10 – 2:50 PM
Update on M&A Market in Glass Fabrication
Scott Mashuda, REAG
2:55 – 3:25 PM
🤝 Networking Break & GFAB Lab
3:30 – 3:35 PM
Welcome Back
3:40 – 3:45 PM
Take 5 LiteSentry / Soft Solution
3:45 – 4:30 PM
Keynote: Kim Lear
Session title to be announced
4:30 PM
Closing Remarks
4:30 – 5:00 PM
🤝 Networking & GFAB Lab
5:30 – 7:30 PM
⛵ Chicago Architectural Boat Tour
Included with Executive Track registration
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
7:30 – 8:30 AM
☕ Networking Breakfast
Visit GFAB Lab tabletops during meals and breaks
8:30 – 11:30 AM
NGA Fabricating Committee and Presentations
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
🍽️ Networking Lunch
Visit GFAB Lab tabletops during meals and breaks
12:30 – 2:00 PM
NGA Advocacy Committee
2:30 PM
🚌 Board bus for facility tour
3:00 – 3:45 PM
🏭 Tour: Skyline Architectural Glass Facility
4:00 – 5:30 PM
🥂 Reception at Skyline Architectural Glass
5:30 PM
🚌 Board bus · Return to Radisson Blu
7:00 – 9:30 PM
🍽️ NGA Volunteer Awards Dinner
Radisson Blu
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
7:00 – 8:00 AM
🏃 Fun Run/Walk
8:00 – 9:00 AM
☕ Working Breakfast with Presentation
9:00 – 11:30 AM
NGA Fabricating Committee and Presentations, continued
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
🍽️ Working Lunch with Presentation
12:30 – 1:30 PM
NGA Forming Committee and Presentations
3:15 – 4:30 PM
Fabricator Workshop
TrueNorth Collective
Tuesday, June 16, 2026 · Skyline Architectural Glass
8:30 – 9:00 AM
Arrival at Skyline & Welcome
9:00 – 10:00 AM
Session 1: Quality and Training in Tempering
Classroom session
10:00 – 10:15 AM
Break & Split into 3 Groups · Move to Skyline Fabrication Area
10:15 – 11:45 AM
🛠️ Round Robin #1: Addressing Roller Wave
Station 1 · Tempering Line, operator end — Common tempering issues from the operator's perspective (SME: Glaston)
Station 2 · Tempering Line, finished end — Automated roller wave measurement with Osprey scanner (SME: LiteSentry / Soft Solution)
Station 3 · Manual Room — Manual roller wave measurements (SME: SGCC)
30 minutes per station
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM
🍽️ Break & Box Lunch · Room reset to tables for Round Robin #2
12:45 – 2:15 PM
🛠️ Round Robin #2: Common QC Issues — Bow, Warp & Breakage
Station 4 · GASP Measurements
Station 5 · Bow Measurements
Station 6 · Cullet Counting
30 minutes per station · Lecture area
2:15 – 2:30 PM
Break
2:30 – 4:00 PM
🏭 Skyline Architectural Glass Facility Tour
Group 1 · 2:30 – 3:00 PM
Group 2 (Bus 1) · 3:00 – 3:30 PM
Group 3 (Bus 2) · 3:30 – 4:00 PM (if needed)
3:00 – 5:00 PM
🥂 Rooftop Reception
Open to all registrants · Join when your tour group finishes
7:00 – 9:30 PM
🍽️ NGA Volunteer Appreciation Dinner
Radisson Blu
GFAB Speakers
Featured Speakers
Meet the experts leading sessions across all three GFAB tracks.
Less detail - reg focused
NGA Glass Fabricator Conference (GFAB) · June 14–17, 2026 · Chicago, IL
Choose Your Registration
Find the right fit for your role and your team.
For Decision Makers Executive Track Sun–Wed · 4 days | For Technical Leaders Glass Conference Track Tue–Wed · 2 days | For Production Teams GFAB Workshop Track Tue · 1 day | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategic sessions | ✓ | — | — |
| Glass Conference sessions | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Hands-on workshop | FREE ticket for a team member | — | ✓ |
| Facility tour & GFAB Lab | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Evening social events | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Architectural boat tour of Chicago | ✓ | — | — |
Glass Conference Track is included with Executive Track registration or available as a stand-alone registration. Workshop Track registrants attend Tuesday only. Every Executive Track registration includes a FREE Workshop ticket for a team member.
More detail with date cues
NGA Glass Fabricator Conference (GFAB) · June 14–17, 2026 · Chicago, IL
What's Included With Your Registration?
Compare registration types to find the right fit for your role and your team.
For Decision Makers Executive Track | For Technical Leaders Glass Conference Track | For Production Teams GFAB Workshop Track | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions & Programming | |||
| Executive Track sessions Mon Strategic sessions on markets, design, AI, M&A, and more | ✓ | — | — |
| NGA Glass Conference sessions Tue–Wed Committees, task groups, advocacy & expert discussions | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| GFAB Workshop: Quality Control in Glass Tempering Tue Hands-on at Skyline Architectural Glass · Separate registration | FREE ticket for a team member | — | ✓ |
| Networking & Social Events | |||
| Welcome Reception Sun | ✓ | — | — |
| Architectural Boat Tour of Chicago Mon | ✓ | — | — |
| Rooftop Reception Tue eve Open to all registrants | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| NGA Volunteer Awards Dinner Tue eve Open to all registrants | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fun Run/Walk Wed | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| Hands-On Experiences | |||
| Skyline Architectural Glass Facility Tour Tue See projects come to life · Open to all registrants | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| GFAB Lab Mon–Tue Interactive networking zone · Competitions, prizes & new tech on display | ✓ | ✓ | — |
Glass Conference Track is available as a stand-alone registration or is included with Executive Track registration. Workshop Track registrants attend Tuesday only.