Walking on Broken Glass
by Abby Bowman
The Auto Glass Technician Competition (AGTO) finalists weren’t prepared for a curveball. As it turns out, neither was I.
For those who missed it, the AGTO judges added an extra challenge to the finals by smashing the backlites right as the technicians were about to begin their backlite replacements. Even though, as event staff, I knew this was coming, I didn’t expect all the shards of glass that littered the floor.
The AGTO judges’ curveball made a bit of a mess, sending glass into the cars and on the floor.
In hindsight, of course, if you break glass, glass will be on the floor. At the time, though, I was so focused on taking photos that it didn’t occur to me until I stepped on it.
I’d selected my shoes for the day based on their cushioned soles and breathable uppers. It turns out air isn’t the only thing that can get through breathable fabric. Tiny pieces of glass can, too.
Don’t worry, I didn’t get cut, but the whole incident got me thinking. I knew what was coming. I’d armed myself with the only tool I thought I’d need (my cell phone, with its camera and recorder), but that wasn’t enough.
I have listened, concerned, to similar stories on a larger scale from many auto glass shop owners and technicians. They thought they had everything they needed to prepare for the future, but then the industry threw them a curveball they weren’t equipped for.
As I walked the show floor (without glass in my shoes) and listened to the educational sessions, I found plenty of equipment, supplies, programs, certifications and business advice designed to help companies prepare for these curves.
Obviously, no one can truly know what the future will yield, but investing in good equipment and marketing can help.
I hope that every single Auto Glass Week™ attendee left Reno ready to face the future. For anyone who didn’t attend, join us next year in San Antonio to gear up for what’s ahead.
Abby Bowman is the editor of AGRR magazine. Email her at abowman@glass.com and connect with her on LinkedIn.
To view the laid-in version of this issue in our digital edition, CLICK HERE.
