[22 January 2024 – Sackets Harbor, NY] The Architectural Glass and Metal Certification Council (AGMCC) has appointed four new members to its board of directors. Progress Glass Company President T. Chuck Burkard and Glass Solutions, Inc. CEO Andy Hill represent glazing contractors; Kawneer Director of Global Product Management Chris Giovannielli represents suppliers; Clark Construction Enclosure Group Senior Quality Manager John Merkert represents the construction industry at large. All four directors will serve three-year terms beginning 1 January 2024.
AGMCC and its board oversee the North American Contractor Certification (NACC) and Architectural Glass and Metal Technician (AGMT) programs, North America’s only third-party credentials for glazing contractors and glaziers. The 18-member AGMCC board provides an equally balanced voice from the glazing industry and stakeholders. Members include 50 percent representation from glazing contractors and glaziers; the remaining 50 percent includes general contractors, architects, manufactures, curtainwall consultants, specifiers, and other glazing project stakeholders.
“The new board members offer outstanding experience and perspective to help shape the NACC and AGMT programs as they expand across the U.S. and Canada,” said AGMCC Program Manager Scott Kennett.
Chuck Burkard has nearly 50 years of experience in glazing and management for San Francisco and Cotati, California-based Progress Glass Company. He is a third-generation owner of the company, which celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026. Burkard sits on the Northern California Glass Management Association board and the District Council 16 Joint Apprenticeship Council. Progress Glass has held NACC since 2019 and 80 percent of its field personnel have earned the AGMT credential.
“The fourth generation is already here working in the field and office. The NACC and AGMT programs give them a vision and a guide to follow for the future,” said Burkard. “I look forward to learning, listening, and sharing ideas with the AGMCC board to make both programs stronger for mid-size family businesses like ours.”
Andy Hill has nearly 30 years of experience in sales and project management for glazing contractors, including over 20 years with Itasca, Illinois-based Glass Solutions, Inc. He serves on the boards of the Local Union 27 Health and Welfare Pension Fund and the Coaches Versus Cancer collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches. He is involved with the American Heart Association’s Hardhats for Hearts program to put AEDs on every job site in America. Hill holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Glass Solutions earned NACC in 2023 and has four AGMT glaziers on its team. The company’s recent certification and related improvements spurred a collaboration with Autodesk Build to streamline documentation.
“I’d like to get the NACC and AGMT credentials to become standards across the industry,” said Hill. “Part of promoting the programs is being able to show from A to Z how to gain efficiencies in the office, manufacturing, and field.”
Chris Giovannielli has nearly 30 years of glazing product experience. Representing global architectural glazing products company Kawneer, Giovannielli underscores the importance of proper installation to ensure building envelope performance. He participates in the Fenestration & Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA), the Air Barrier Association of America (ABAA), and as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. He holds an MBA from the University of Georgia Terry College of Business and an undergraduate business degree from William Paterson University of New Jersey.
“I want to improve customer awareness of the NACC and AGMT programs,” said Giovannielli. “Kawneer’s most important documents are the installation instructions. Certification helps glaziers and contractors follow those guidelines. As a supplier representative, I can provide direction and support to AGMCC.”
John Merkert has nearly 20 years of construction and building enclosure engineering experience. Representing Clark Construction, one of the nation’s largest building and infrastructure companies, Merkert has been pursuing formal company policies encouraging hiring those with NACC and AGMT credentials. Based in Colorado, he oversees projects in California, Washington, Nevada, Texas, and Tennessee. Merkert holds a B.S. in Construction Management from East Carolina University and volunteers with the Colorado Forest Service for wildfire management.
“My goal is to improve quality project outcomes,” said Merkert. “As building designs become more complex and increasingly deferred to the contracting community, skilled labor has become less common. My interest in AGMCC stems from my desire to improve delivery of construction projects and to reach new and smaller markets. I see lots of opportunity with both programs.”
About AGMCC
The Architectural Glass and Metal Certification Council (AGMCC) is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit, public benefit organization formed with the intent of harmonizing stakeholders involved in two glazing industry initiatives offering certification to both contractors and technicians. AGMCC’s purpose is to plan, organize, direct, coordinate, and sponsor the North American Contractor Certification (NACC) and Architectural Glass and Metal Technician (AGMT) programs for the contract glazing industry to assure that services to the public are performed in a manner that will tend to minimize defects and failures and to promote the standards, levels of competence, and/or performance requirements as determined by AGMCC. For more information, visit http://agmcc.org.