Speaker 0 00:00:05 Welcome to the clear impact podcast brought to you by PGT university. Thanks for joining us today. My name is Sherry Conner and I am your host <inaudible> and you've got to drive a pretty cool car during those days.
Speaker 1 00:00:24 I did. Yes for awhile. I had a fully uplifted, a police car and a Dodge charger. It was a lot of fun
Speaker 0 00:00:31 Today. We are launching the clear impact podcast and we believe in beginning with introductions. Our first series is just that it's our intro series. Get to know PGT innovations. There's an incredible team of people behind the brands, and we are introducing some of them to you over the next few weeks. We first want you to meet Jim shank, who is the humble and fearless leader of PGT I university customer education team. Jim is the senior manager of sales education and innovations in today's show. We talk about the importance of training and we also learned some of the personal values that Jim holds. We hope you enjoy today's episode. Well, hello, thanks so much for joining us today. We are here with Jim shank, who is the senior manager of customer education and innovations. Is that correct? That is correct. Welcome to our podcast. It's going to be here. Thanks for taking some time out of your busy day to join us. Uh, so Jim, can you tell us a little bit about yourself please?
Speaker 1 00:01:31 Oh my goodness. Well, from a professional standpoint, throughout the, let's see the eighties, the nineties, the two thousands for a little bit, over 30 years, I was predominantly an education specialist in the it industry. So I did a lot of different things with regard to styles of education as technology merged through those years and had an opportunity to work with a lot of higher education and universities, colleges, and so forth throughout the Midwest and East coast. So I did a lot of different things. And then towards the end of my career in it, I had the privilege of working with public safety. So the same type of thing, not specifically going towards education, but working with police departments and EMS and fire departments and so forth and with their technology, that, that was a true honor. That was a lot of fun.
Speaker 0 00:02:19 And you got to drive a pretty cool car during those days, right?
Speaker 1 00:02:23 I did, yes. For awhile. I had a fully uplifted a police car and a Dodge charger. It was a lot of fun. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:02:29 Nice. So how did you begin here at PGT innovations or the fenestration industry? How did you make that, that leap?
Speaker 1 00:02:38 Well, you know, it's not a natural transition from it to a windows and doors, you know, but had a lot of fun with it. No, I retired from the it side and after a little bit of break, just to kind of doing my own thing and going to the beach occasionally, um, I decided that I wasn't ready to not do anything. So I, uh, live here in Sarasota County. So I did a Google search and looked for the largest manufacturer in Sarasota County. PGT industries was the first hit. I contacted PGT, not honestly not knowing exactly what they did, but uh, wanted to work on a manufacturing line, just something completely different than I'd ever done before. I, you know, long story short had a conversation with the, uh, um, HR team, the recruiting side, talked to myself into an interview and through that process found myself working the night shift on a production line, something I'd never done before, had a great time with it.
Speaker 0 00:03:31 So you to do your white color for no color for a blue color.
Speaker 1 00:03:36 Exactly. Nice.
Speaker 0 00:03:39 So then how did you end up in your current role?
Speaker 1 00:03:41 I was, as I said, you know, working on the manufacturing line, doing things that I'd never done before working in the construction of windows and, uh, I was on the window line. So the various different types of windows my resume had been filed with, uh, you know, the HR department and so forth. And I started meeting people and talking with managers and things, and an opportunity came up in a department that at that point I knew nothing about, um, it was the dealer education team, uh, within this idea of a university within the organization because of my background, there seemed to be a little bit of a natural fit. So we had conversation and, um, in early 2018, I joined the department as a trainer and started working with the team and actually delivering content to our customers.
Speaker 0 00:04:27 Wonderful. So PGT university, talk to us a little bit about what PGI university does.
Speaker 1 00:04:34 Yeah. So that's a great question. PGT university, uh, first of all, it's PGT I, so it is at the corporate level, uh, PGT innovations, the university entity or department training department, if you will, uh, within the entire enterprise now within that, there are many different education teams that do various different types of education. Um, specifically I was working with the dealer education team, so outward education or customer based education, training our customers on our products and what to do with our products, how to sell them, how to install them, how to compare them to other offerings in the industry and so forth. Uh, and then there's also this nebulous idea and it's a huge conversation, but this nebulous idea of industry knowledge, what is fenestration? What do we deal with from a regulatory standpoint, um, are there codes, building codes and things, and how does that apply? That's not product specific that's industry specific. We as an education team at that point dealer education, we were training into those what we call silos of content. All three, it sounds like a lot. It is, it is, but it's fun. It keeps us busy,
Speaker 0 00:05:47 Be sure to tune in for upcoming episodes to help you understand the fenestration industry, what you need to know when buying windows and doors and other related topics you can find out more
[email protected]. You can also find us on Facebook and LinkedIn. So what is the importance of training for the customer? I mean, wouldn't, they just be able to glean what they need to know from a sales brochure or from somebody that they already work with. Like why would a dealer or a customer PTI once a bother with any of the training that we offer?
Speaker 1 00:06:24 There's a couple of different ways to look at that question. And again, it's a great question, but we want to be as individuals, we want to be productive. We want to be successful at what we do. All of our customers feel that same exact way. Our goal as the department is to give them the tools sets and give them the information and knowledge that they need so that they can be successful. If our customers are successful doing what they do, then we as a manufacturer, providing them products will be successful. So, you know, it's, uh, it's, it's a win, win, win. And we go about that in many different ways. And I think that's one thing that makes our education popular amongst our customer groups. We have instructor led training, live instructor, led training, where people come to classes at our various different training locations.
Speaker 1 00:07:08 We also provide e-learning content, uh, on a learning management system that's available 24 seven, three 65 from anywhere in the world. We also provide webinars style training, and that's been huge with COVID and, you know, for the last 18 months or so. So we do that. We also have remote training capabilities where we have a customized van and stage trailer that we can tow on site to a customer location or retail location, and train in that manner as well. And then there's all the various different social media type of avenues that we have now. Um, most recently, whether it be YouTube or LinkedIn or our website, we're delivering content in many, many different ways and fashions to our customer base. So we make it very easy for our customers to learn about PGT I, or various different brands and the products within those brands.
Speaker 0 00:07:58 That's wonderful because I'm sure it's a, it's a fairly complex industry. Construction is complex. Um, windows and doors seem to have a lot of various components and, uh, differences between this one and that one, and they're expensive. So for a consumer, they really need to know what it is that they're buying and the people that are facing those consumers really need to know more than they do. So, uh, I can see where, what the university is providing is extremely valuable. Uh, but yet we don't charge anything for that. It's all free. It's all free service of BGT how wonderful. Yeah. That's, that's amazing. So what do you love most about the role that you're in
Speaker 1 00:08:43 Really enjoy everything I'm doing, but what do I love the most? I would have to say it's the people that I work with. Uh, and I mean that multiple levels, obviously within the training team, ourselves, as, as, as a group of people, everyone's just tremendous, uh, they're professionals, they're a lot of fun. They truly enjoy and believe in what we're doing. Uh, so we all have fun doing that. So at the departmental level, it's fantastic, the individuals, and, you know, from an internal perspective, when I think of the company, you know, it's great working within an environment where everyone is smiling and having fun and there to help each other. It's a very collaborative environment. So as one person has an idea of something, they want to try. Other people jump very rapidly on board with that idea and say, how can I support that? How can I help you? That that's fantastic. And then the third and probably most important, you know, group of people that we work with, uh, that I enjoy are customers themselves. You know, when we bring people into our facilities for training opportunities, when we go onsite for training opportunities, uh, you get to meet some very unique individuals and there are a lot of fun and it's, it's just a blast. It's just a blast. People, people sort of thought about,
Speaker 0 00:09:54 Well, I think it's important to enjoy what it is that we're, that you're doing every day. Otherwise the beach would be a better alternative, right?
Speaker 1 00:10:01 Find parking,
Speaker 0 00:10:02 Right? That is a challenge this time of year. So this is a question that we're going to ask all of our guests on the clear impact podcast, because we're talking about impact and that's kind of a double entendre in that impact resistant windows and doors are what we primarily manufacture, but also impact in how we make a difference in the lives and the business of our customers. But I'm curious if you could tell us who is someone, or maybe it's an event that has had a major impact on your life?
Speaker 1 00:10:36 Well, when you've had a long life, that's a difficult question. There there's a lot to look back on. There, there are so many different people and events that, that shape who we are, depending upon where we are in our life. You know, uh, not only from an age, but accomplishments and so forth, but if you forced me in a corner, I would have to say that probably, um, my father-in-law, my wife's father had a tremendous he's gone now, but he had a tremendous impact on me. He was a consummate professional. And, uh, someone that I looked up to was, uh, uh, privileged to be considered part of his family, you know, upon marrying into it. He was the individual that always found the great things about other people. You know, he would look past the things that weren't so great. Didn't focus on those because we all have them.
Speaker 1 00:11:31 Right. Um, but he would focus on those things that were outstanding about individuals lift them up in that, uh, you know, in that, in that way. And that's truly what I think, you know, the big picture is what it's all about. It's about lifting others up collectively and looking for opportunities and ways to do that because that's the way we move forward with a common, right, as, as a species, that's what we're about or should be in my mind. Uh, and I try to translate that and I believe my entire team does, uh, to what we do within the PGT environment, that university environment, uh, we're always looking for ways to help others. And again, it goes back to them being successful makes, you know, equals us being successful. And I think it's just a great way to live. It's a fun way to look.
Speaker 0 00:12:17 I've seen you demonstrate that, uh, in numerous occasions. So I think, I think it rubbed off a little bit. He was a good influence. Nice. Well, I think that wraps up our session for today. Jim, thanks so much for taking time to join us and tell us a little bit about your history and, um, a little bit about the university and I'm sure we'll have you back again. I look forward to it. Awesome. Thank you so much. PGT a university is the customer education team for an entire family of brands. We began with the original, easy breeze, ports and closure lie then became PGT. America's leading brand of impact resistant windows and doors. We then added CGI CGIC WinDoor, Western windows, new South windows and echo windows and doors. We create products built to withstand major storms, keeping people safe, secure, and prepared. Our exceptional brands give you the protection you need without compromising design or functionality. PGT university is here to educate you our listener so that you can be a more informed consumer of window and door products.
