Glass Week Ends; BEC Starts

Report from Sunday, February 15


The question “how are you doing?” has taken on new meaning here as GANA’s Glass Week ends and the BEC Conference begins. Where people used to respond with updates on their lives or their health, people instinctively now feel they are being asked about the health of their company in light of the economy.

A question of “how are you doing?” invariably leads to a response of “we are hanging in there,” “we are holding on and hoping it turns” or a variation thereof. The biggest discussions center around the economy of course.

The lead industry story is about the changing ownership –and face-- of the primary glass manufacturers. With two of the manufacturers believed to be in play and another two under significant economic distress, it will be interesting to see how this year turns out. I wouldn’t be surprised to see changes in ownership yet again among some of the primaries.

One of the nicest parts of Glass Week/BEC is getting to catch up with people in the industry…and there was a lot of catching up to do. Both Russ Ebeid of Guardian and GANA’s executive vice president Bill Yanek were in the process of celebrating birthdays...”All you have to do is say you were out with Ren Bartoe last night and everyone will understand how you feel,” said ICD’s Kris Vockler at the beginning of her report on the decorative glass division, “and I was out with Ren Bartoe, what more can I say?” Arch’s Max Peristein was attempting to be in two places at the same as outgoing BEC chairperson as incoming chairperson Henry Taylor raced back from Switzerland to Las Vegas. Valerie Block of DuPont glowed as she talked about missing the newest addition to her family—her first grandchild, a boy.