Fenestration Day, now in its third year, will be held April 12 in San Antonio. Due to the popularity of the educational sessions for manufacturers in past years, DWM has added a track this year for dealers. The event will also include some joint sessions, allowing for some interaction and sharing of ideas among both groups.

The event is being held in conjunction with Glass TEXpo™, organized by DWM’s parent company, Key Communications Inc. and co-sponsored by the Texas Glass Association. Fenestration Day attendees may receive free admission to the Glass TEXpo trade show floor, following the conclusion of the Fenestration Day sessions.

Manufacturers Educational Track
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Guarding Against Green Claims;
Green Certification Program Overview
The first speaker in this session, Arlene Stewart, AZS Consulting, is known as an energy expert in the industry and will tell attendees what to do when it comes to making green claims. She will also provide real-world applications and legal cases. The second speaker, Tracy Rogers, Quanex Building Products, and a member of the American Architectural Manufacturers Association, will give an overview of AAMA’s green certification program that is being finalized and planned for introduction later in 2012.

11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Door and Window Industry Update
Michael Collins, managing director, building products group, at Jordan, Knauff and Co., and DWM columnist and blogger, will offer his latest statistics on the door and window industry, including mergers and acquisitions.
Sponsored by FeneTech.

1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
Maximizing Your Dealer Network
Why do some of dealers in your network succeed, rising and staying at the top, while others never seem to get out of the starting block or struggle to stay afloat? Jason Barr, president of improveit! 360 will offer the 10 keys to transforming your network. He’ll share tips to help you remove costly network fragmentation and improve network communication, collaboration, efficiencies, and effectiveness; how to leverage marketing and sales tools for increased sales; protect and extend your brand; and much more.

Dealer Educational Track
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Generate and Close More Leads, For Less
Whether you’ve been in the window industry for a few months, a few years or a few decades, it’s no secret that leads are the lifeblood of a successful home improvement business. With the price of an issued lead around $300 each, your ability to generate quality leads and close these expensive investments is critical to a healthy bottom line. Because most remodelers and contractors are already too busy just trying to juggle the tasks necessary to run their business and delivery quality service, leads often slip through the cracks and lay dormant where they can’t possibly generate a return. This seminar, hosted by improveit! 360 President Jason Barr, will show you the importance of consistently nurturing leads until they’re ready to buy and how communicating regularly with all your prospects and customers can result in growth of 30 percent and more. This seminar is a must-attend if you want to improve your close rates, grow your business and boost your profits.

11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Financing Options: Let’s Get Creative
Window companies, and in turn homeowners, have a lot of options when it comes to financing. But how do you determine what options to offer the homeowner when you or one of your reps are on a sales call? How do you provide them the best option and also offer additional opportunities—such as upselling—for you and for them? Learn from Jim Plavecsky, owner of Windowtech Sales, who works with window companies on financing, as well as home improvement companies who have been especially successful in this arena. Additionally, Peter Micciche, CEO/president at Renewable Energy Equipment Leasing, will also talk about different financing options available. Micciche works with various industries, including window companies, on financing solutions.

1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
Market Update, Dealer Trends and “How to Survive” Challenges
Michael Collins, managing director, building products group at Jordan, Knauff and Co., and DWM columnist, is known as an industry expert, and he will bring his insights to dealers and distributors. He will offer a look at market statistics regarding the door and window industry, as well as talk about some of the challenges facing two-step distributors and how to survive these challenging times. Attendees will also learn what successful dealers are doing to succeed.

Joint Sessions
7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m.
Registration and coffee/chance to meet supplier/sponsors

8:30 a.m.-9:45 a.m.
Looking into Housing Markets’ Crystal Ball
David Crowe, chief economist for the National Association of Home Builders, will highlight the current and forecasted economic and housing market activity as well as insights into the remodeling market. Join us as Crowe answers the many questions that both dealers and distributors and manufacturing companies have regarding the future of housing.
Sponsored by Deceuninck North America.

12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.
Networking Lunch with Manufacturers and Dealers
Additional chance to visit with sponsors/suppliers.

1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
Social Media Like You’ve Never Seen It
This isn’t your “run-of-the-mill” social media seminar. DWM editor and publisher Tara Taffera and Debra Levy, president of DWM’s parent company, Key Communications, will cover the basics of what manufacturers and dealers need to know when it comes to social media applications. Then the groups will split and Taffera will talk to the dealers about what this group is doing on social media and Levy will do the same with manufacturers. Prepare to be interactive and armed with the latest social media tools to help grow your business.

3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
What Manufacturers and Dealers Want
Dealers: Have you ever wanted to tell your manufacturers want you really want? Manufacturers: What do you really wish your dealers would do? Here’s your chance to lay it all on the line. In this interactive panel, manufacturers and dealers will share their thoughts and attendees will be asked to weigh in with their own feedback as well.

Panelists will include Dan Wolt, president and founder, Zen Windows, Columbus, Ohio, with 22 years of experience in the window industry and Dennis Northcutt, national sales manager, NT Window in Arlington, Texas.. Check back to dwmmag.com/feneday for additional panelists.

3:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Glass TEXpo™ 2012

6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
Glass TEXpo Welcoming
Cocktail Party on the Show Floor

Sponsor a Session
If you are a supplier who would like to sponsor a session in either the manufacturer or dealer track, or both, contact Tara Taffera at ttaffera@glass.com.

DWM
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