February 16, 2026
In this episode of From the Fabricator, host Max Perilstein sits down for a Q&A conversation with Brad Thurman, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at General Glass International (GGI). A Louisville-area native, Thurman offers a local’s perspective as the National Glass Association’s Building Envelope Contractors (BEC) Conference heads to Louisville, Kentucky this year—while also walking listeners through his unexpected path into the glass industry, the people and companies that shaped his career, and what sets GGI apart as a family-run fabricator known for tackling complex work.
Thurman and Perilstein also unpack what makes GGI distinctive—its five-generation family-run culture, long history, broad sourcing network, and a “find a way to say yes—can do” mindset that supports everything from day-to-day fabricated products to complex decorative and digitally printed glass. Along the way, they discuss how signature, artwork-driven projects such as the Harlem Hospital and Moynihan Train Hall come together through close coordination with the design team and glazing partners.
The conversation closes with a Louisville-forward preview of NGA’s BEC Conference, why the event is valuable for decision-maker networking and education, and a candid, on-the-ground outlook for 2026—shaped by evolving market conditions, increased automation, an influx of new talent and innovative thinkers entering the glass industry, and project pipelines that contractors, fabricators, and suppliers are watching closely.
Watch the video on YouTube.