Harter retires; Americas Glass Association discontinues operations

The board of directors for the Placerville, Calif.-based California Glass Association/Americas Glass Association announced the retirement of Donn Harter, its president and technical director, in a March 14 release. And “with Harter’s retirement, no equal replacement, and the current economic conditions,” the AGA board of directors has discontinued the operations of the AGA, effective March 11, 2011.

For the past 35 years, the glass association and glass industry “benefited from Harter’s leadership, knowledge, determination and foresight,” according to the release. During his years as president of the CGA, Harter created products and services such as the Source, pocketGuide, Glass Expo West, Glazing magazine, and Bug-it. He served the association and industry as an expert on safety glazing and fire-rated codes, and provided countless hours of codes interpretation and consultation, including legislative and committee representation for California and the nation.

Many of the products created by Harter will be maintained, and he will continue to support industry education by producing the Source, pocketGuide, Shower Safety Manual, Mirror Manual, Glazing 101 and other glass publications. He also will continue to advise glass companies on safety glazing and fire-rated codes through a codes consultation service. In addition, Bug-it, a customized, permanent post-manufacturing label for identifying safety and fire-rated glazing, will continue to be offered to the industry, according to the release.