UGPS Leadership (left to right): Process Developer Brandon Raynor, Field Operations Manager Mike Airhart, Director of Project Management Joe Schultheis, CEO Tom Nesbitt, COO Bob Cummings
United Glass and Panel Systems, Inc. (UGPS), a leading glazing subcontractor headquartered in North Canton, has become the first in Ohio and the 50th overall to earn North American Contractor Certification (NACC). NACC is an ANSI-accredited, award-winning credential that recognizes architectural glass and metal subcontractors who adopt standard best practices not only for glazing quality and construction safety but also for business operations. By attaining NACC, UGPS demonstrated its commitment to processes and procedures that consistently deliver high quality project results.
“It is great to get a certification, but our number-one reason to earn NACC was to fix some items we took for granted after being in business for 26 years,” said UGPS President Tom Nesbitt. “I learned a lot about my company, in pulling it apart and looking at inefficiencies. We’ve always considered ourselves the glazing leader in Ohio and it was important to get there first. We look forward to face time with our customers to explain what NACC means to us and to them.”
UGPS worked with NACC administrators over seven months to undergo a series of rigorous assessments and implement standard written documents including a quality management system (QMS). The company’s certification became effective March 10, 2022. To maintain certification, UGPS will be reevaluated annually to confirm its business and glazing practices remain at the high standards NACC requires.
Nesbitt attributed his company’s ease in earning NACC with company-wide buy-in and incorporation of digital tools, including AutoDesk Build and Monday.comTM construction management cloud software. “Doing a lot electronically was very helpful. We worked with every department to implement procedures from project management to inventory.”
Since its 2015 launch, the NACC program has certified 50 glazing subcontractors in 17 states and Canada. Over 30 more companies are progressing toward certification in 2022. Glazing contractors can earn the NACC credential in one or more of eight operational categories based on the company’s focus of work. UGPS earned NACC in five of eight categories: entry glass (exterior or interior), interior glazing, building envelope low-rise, building envelope high-rise, and guardrails.
“As we continue to certify contractors, they are driven to identify best practices and lessons learnedand to share recommendations with others undergoing certification,” explained NACC Program Administrator Jeff Dalaba, citing UGPS’s experience syncing NACC processes with cloud-based software tools as one example. “As a result of this process, NACC is strengthening individual glazing contractors and motivating others in the industry to become better. NACC gives peace of mind to building owners, architects, construction managers, and insurers. Hiring a credentialed glazing subcontractor reduces stakeholder risk by providing verified evidence of adherence to the highest standards and best practices.”
About United Glass and Panel Systems, Inc. (UGPS)
Headquartered in North Canton, Ohio, with a reach extending to seven states, UGPShas built a reputation for integrity, excellent customer service, and effective project management in commercial glass and glazing. Building envelope capable, UGPS is a signatory under national and local labor agreements for three union trades: glaziers, carpenters, and iron workers, and can seamlessly install and fully enclose building envelopes under one contract. UGPS also offers in-house custom fabrication of framing, glass, and architectural metal panel systems, for greater control over project delivery and improved design flexibility. Recent projects have included unitized curtain wall and composite metal panelsat Summa Health System West Bed Tower in Akron, Ohio, and window wall and curtain wall at INTRO Cleveland, the largest timber structure in the U.S. For additional information, visit https://ugps.com.
About NACC
The North American Contractor Certification (NACC) program recognizes glazing subcontractors who demonstrate consistency, quality, and safety excellence. The credential is much more than an arbitrary award; it is a third-party endorsement of companies having completed a rigorous and comprehensive evaluation process. NACC earned the International Risk Management Institute, Inc. (IRMI) Gary E. Bird Horizon Award for demonstrated commitment to improving construction risk management. NACC was created with input and guidance from glazing, design, and construction industry experts. The program is managed and administered by an independent third-party, Administrative Management Systems, Inc., and sponsored by the Architectural Glass and Metal Certification Council (AGMCC), a 501(c)3 not-for-profit, public benefit organization. For additional information, visit https://www.naccprogram.com.
