Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign.
[00:00:09] Speaker B: Welcome to the Clear Impact Podcast, brought to you by PGTI University. Thanks for joining us today. My name is Sheri Conner and I am your host.
[00:00:24] Speaker C: Good morning. We are here on the Clear Impact Podcast and this is day three of the CX event. But this is like day 355 for you of the CX event.
We're recording in Scottsdale at the 2024 CX event and I have twisted Sean's arm into coming over and recording with me. So welcome back to the podcast, Sean.
[00:00:45] Speaker A: Super excited to be back. It was fun the first time, so great to do it again.
[00:00:49] Speaker C: So, Sean, you are basically the point person for everything at this event, right?
[00:00:55] Speaker A: Yeah, I think it was defined to me by Tony Mater that you own the event, it's yours. So.
[00:01:01] Speaker C: Okay, no pressure, no pressure. So what are some of the. Just rough numbers here?
[00:01:07] Speaker A: 355 attendees. Okay. Most arriving on Monday. So Monday through this afternoon. On Wednesday is our event. We had three different class sessions and those were taught in six different classes over the course of yesterday. We focused on sales and marketing tools and assets. We split that apart for the east and south and then for the west and the Amblin and Western groups. We also had a products class, which was product focus of what's coming. And that again was split just like the other class. And then we had a class that was really a continuation from last year's event. So we did. We called it Commercial 1.0 and this one was Commercial 2.0. So a year ago, it was really how to effectively go get a commercial job and focus on the right customers, the right partners of theirs, and the right products for the application. This one was, you've got the job. Now how are you going to make sure that job goes well, really, with the primary focus of how are you going to get the next job?
[00:02:11] Speaker C: And all of those sessions are recorded, right?
[00:02:13] Speaker A: Not recorded, but we do have the PowerPoint decks that were developed, so we do pass those out. And then we also have our general sessions. So we had two general sessions yesterday. We had Tony. Tony Motter, who was our emcee and moderator for all of the general sessions. So he did a great job, had some fun and, you know, just. I thought he did great up on stage.
[00:02:33] Speaker C: Yeah, I told him that too.
[00:02:34] Speaker A: Yeah, we had. Natasha Ramsey has done it the last two years and she was amazing at it too. But I think it's impactful for Tony. You know, it's really his event too. And so, you know, getting him up there in front of folks, it's great for him to get the exposure and for people to know who he is. But we had Brock and, you know, I think some of the exciting stuff was, you know, just talking about where we're going, tying to our theme of grit and how important that is and how it really does match up with our business and how we approach it, the things we do. Then we had Brad Snyder and just what a story, you know, and again, tied to grit. And then we had the ops guys up, you know, Jason and Craig and, you know, telling us what's coming in the future and how we're doing. And then we had the founders panel. The founders panel, which. It's just amazing, you know, and I loved Matt's comments last night. They're all spry, they're all there. They know the business, they live the business. And the stories they shared were just.
[00:03:28] Speaker C: Great, you know, and thanks to some pre planning on your part and some arm twisting.
[00:03:35] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:03:36] Speaker C: Was able to record sessions with most of those people as they left. Yeah. So had an amazing session with some of those folks yesterday and then the awards ceremony last night.
[00:03:46] Speaker A: Yes.
[00:03:47] Speaker C: And so that was really cool to watch. Like, we've done sales meetings at PG where we've been included, and they would make up awards. You know, like, they were fun and silly, but there were like serious awards. But last night was all like, okay, you guys nailed it. Hit your numbers. You've exceeded your numbers. This is what you've done in your territory. This is what you've done in your operation. And just to make public acclamation for those individuals is a pretty big deal.
[00:04:12] Speaker A: So in my legacy, you know, I was a sales rep for a while and a senior rep. And the legacy event for the sales award was President's Club. And I got to go three times. And it was a Hawaii trip, five days, you know, you and your significant other, and it was just great, you know, and it was well deserved. And there were amazing things to be done there. But, you know, I've said to Tony and some other folks, I think a bigger piece of it for me and maybe not for everybody, the trip's amazing and it's something to be had, but it's that peer recognition, you know, being recognized in front of your peers is just so impactful. And, you know, I just love that that's what that event does, you know, that awards piece and then to add the piece and talk about where we're just nailing it on the operations side.
[00:04:58] Speaker B: We are sharing our expertise around all topics relating to the window and Door industry. Whether you are a customer selling our products or a homeowner doing research, the Clear Impact podcast provides helpful content that makes an impact. Subscribe today wherever you listen to podcasts.
[00:05:17] Speaker C: Yeah, well, and I heard it said more than once yesterday, you know, sales earns the first sale, operations earns all the rest.
[00:05:24] Speaker A: Correct.
[00:05:24] Speaker C: And that's really true. And I think the other thing that has been really powerful for me, and obviously I've been sitting with Florida folks and people that I know, is the amount of recognition that has been given to those of us in the room that are new, that are still trying to navigate it. Yeah. And figure out what is Miter brands and how does this all fit with our roles now? And just to be. I mean, first of all, whoever picked this resort, kudos, because this is an amazing space for an event like this. But everything is just well done, well orchestrated. You can tell a lot of time and energy went into the planning. So as the point person behind it all, is it going as you had hoped?
[00:06:09] Speaker A: Yeah. You know, I mean, that's a great question to ask. And before I answer that, I want to say this event is not possible without the help of Mary Killian. Mary is our event coordinator, event planner. She is a vendor for us, but she does all of our major events. And Mary and I did the site visit. We pick the properties together. She handles the rooming. She takes a lot with the logistics of foods and things like that and the gala night and what you saw and how the room was set. And, you know, I do the schedules and the training and, you know, all of those pieces, and then we work hand in hand. But to me, is it going well? Yeah, it's amazing. But I tell people, really, I have two analogies I use. It's either the wizard of Oz, you know, it's all beautiful. Just don't look behind the curtain. Or it's the duck swimming on the lake. And, you know, it looks gracious and just posed and floating along, but, man, if you look underwater, the feet are going 800 miles an hour. So, you know, there's a lot of moving pieces and you just have to adapt. And, you know, we had to adapt yesterday, and we, we made it work.
[00:07:11] Speaker C: Well, from a spectator viewpoint, participant viewpoint, it seems to be pretty flawless.
[00:07:17] Speaker A: That's what we want.
[00:07:18] Speaker C: Yeah. No, so well done. I don't know that anything went sideways or didn't happen the way it was supposed to. Everything seems to be flowing as it should. So hats off. I know this is a bigger event than you have done. In years Prior, it's about 100 people more. Just 100 people.
[00:07:35] Speaker A: Just 100 people.
[00:07:35] Speaker C: It's no big deal.
[00:07:36] Speaker A: But the thing I would say is, you know, just as a summary to the event, I go back to something Matt always says, and that is, if you're going to do it, you do it first class. And if you're not going to do it first class, then why are you doing it?
[00:07:48] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:07:49] Speaker A: And our intent of this year was with the acquisition of pgt, you know, we doubled in size. And not that Mitre wasn't. Mitre is a major brand and MI and Milgard are major brands on their own. But adding PGT to that just takes us to a whole new level.
[00:08:07] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:08:07] Speaker A: So I would tell you from a person who has to put this on and the appearance of it and what it is, it is a step up from where we were 19 months ago. Like the hype video at the beginning of the general session. Just having an intentional video like that that just fires you up. The big digital walls on the stage, we used to all come up from the side of the stage. They sent us a sheet for all the presenters and to their bios. And then there was a box on there and it said vog. And we're like, what is vog? We had to Google it. So we're on a call. I Googled it and I go, it's Voice of God.
And I'm like, oh. So it's what they're going to say over the mic as they're going to get introduced. Right.
You know, it's always been the next person on stage says, okay, I'm going to hand it to this person. Right. You know, so just really trying to elevate the presentation of the event.
[00:09:01] Speaker C: Yeah.
[00:09:02] Speaker A: Was a big focus for me this year.
[00:09:04] Speaker C: So the event actually started Monday evening. We came in Sunday and I took a peek into the room and saw, like, I don't know, 20 tech people just running wires. And there were no tables or chairs or anything. It was just all like, all the prep for the av. And I mean, here I have just this little soundboard and a laptop and microphones. And this is nothing compared to what those guys were putting together. I was like, oh, this is going to be awesome.
[00:09:31] Speaker A: And it's kind of that wizard of Oz thing, right? Like you walk into and in the corner there's a small stage with four or five people on it.
[00:09:38] Speaker C: Sure.
[00:09:38] Speaker A: I need to take you behind the curtain because there is mountains of equipment and wires that run all the different presentations and boards and we have never had a stage manager and an event manager for the general session piece. We've had the Encore team. That helps. Then we feed them and they tell us what they need.
[00:09:58] Speaker C: Right.
[00:09:59] Speaker A: These guys, they did all the designing of all the backdrops. Nikki Dumontis worked with them to get the branding correct. And Tony and Nick bored as well. And there's a lot of people, you know. So, yes, I may own the logistics of Here comes the meeting and what do we got to do, but it is an army of people behind it that are just amazing.
[00:10:18] Speaker C: Well, it's well done. It's very well done, and it's been an honor to be here and to record some sessions. I'm not going to keep you because it looks like you're stepping into a quick meeting. So thank you again for including our team and for. For thinking of having the podcast studio here. It's been just so much fun for me to get to meet these people, and I'm excited about getting those episodes posted out.
[00:10:39] Speaker A: Yeah, I think people are amazed. I've had so many people say we have a podcast. I'm like, yeah, we do.
[00:10:45] Speaker C: Yeah, we do.
[00:10:46] Speaker A: So I'm sure your world's gonna get busier with that, but just excited for people to experience it and learn more about all the things. And that's a nice piece, too. And I'll leave this as my parting pieces. You know, with the acquisition, and especially coming from the Milgard side with the acquisition, you know, there are a lot of things learned from each side of the business and things that make us better and adopt from one side and introduce to another. And as PGT is coming into that fold, that's all starting over again.
[00:11:13] Speaker C: Right.
[00:11:13] Speaker A: And I know you know the world of acquisitions.
[00:11:15] Speaker C: Oh, yeah.
[00:11:16] Speaker A: But it's super excited to see, and I think the podcast is going to just become so much bigger because it's just such an impactful tool, you know, and resource to give to not only our customers, but internal folks.
[00:11:27] Speaker C: Yeah. Well, I'm happy that they like it and that we like it, and it's fun. And so far, I haven't had anybody, like, too scared to record with me.
[00:11:36] Speaker A: They're a little apprehensive, but you get them comfortable, which you always do, so.
[00:11:40] Speaker C: But guess what? I have grit.
[00:11:41] Speaker A: There you go.
[00:11:42] Speaker C: Chase them down. Yes.
[00:11:44] Speaker A: Or I'll push them to the table.
Sheri, thank you.
[00:11:47] Speaker C: Thank you. Thank you so much. Have a great day.
[00:11:49] Speaker A: You too.
[00:11:50] Speaker C: All right, take care. Bye.
[00:11:54] Speaker B: The Clear Impact podcast is brought to you by PGTI University. We are a part of Mitre Branch, a family of leading window and door brands united by our passion for quality and relentless pursuit of 100%. One of the missions of Mitre Brands is to unite and deliver the finest customer experience possible across the nation. Our window and door brands deliver regionalized expertise and products. Backed by a national company, PGTI University is here to educate you, our listener, so that you can be a more informed consumer of window and door.
