The Building Envelope Contractors (BEC) Conference 2026 brought together more than 650 professionals from across the glass and glazing industry in Louisville, Kentucky, delivering a focused program addressing the evolving challenges and opportunities facing the sector.

Organized by the National Glass Association (NGA), the annual conference serves as one of the most important gatherings for glazing contractors, façade specialists, manufacturers, and suppliers involved in the building envelope industry.

Opening the event, Lakisha A. Woods, President and CEO of NGA, acknowledged the headwinds currently impacting the industry, including rising performance expectations for building envelopes, supply chain disruptions, and ongoing project delays affecting construction timelines.

Despite these challenges, Woods emphasized the organization’s commitment to supporting industry professionals through resources and collaboration.

“We exist to support the glass and glazing community,” she said, highlighting NGA’s role in providing technical guidance, training programs, advocacy initiatives, and networking opportunities designed to help companies strengthen their competitiveness.

The conference program featured a wide range of sessions, including technical discussions, business strategy workshops, and panels addressing workforce development and succession planning within family-owned companies.

One of the featured discussions, “New Gen, New Rules: Fresh Perspectives on Family Business Succession Strategies,” explored how the next generation of leaders is reshaping leadership models and long-term strategies in glazing and façade businesses.