The Ontario Glass & Metal Association (OGMA) presented its Lifetime Achievement Award, to Steve Gusterson, FCSC, CTR, vice president of pre-construction design in Canada for Apogee Architectural Metals and its Alumicor brand products. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognized Gusterson’s more than 50 years of involvement with the glass and metals industry.
Gusterson's career journey
His career began with Alumicor in 1974 with a summer job in the manufacturing facility. From those beginnings, Gusterson has contributed to nearly every department within Alumicor, from installation to drafting to project management. He worked as Alumicor’s contractor manager for the window division during the late 1980s before moving into sales. In 2015, he was promoted to vice president of sales for Ontario. In the 2020s, he moved into the role of vice president of pre-construction design in Canada. Based in Toronto, he works most closely with design teams and customers located in Ontario, helping them with their ICI building projects.
For more than 20 years, Gusterson has been an active OGMA member and served on its board of directors, including as a past vice president. He helped launch the association’s first website and its Awards of Excellence program. On behalf of OGMA, he previously assisted with the creation of the Ontario version of the “British Columbia Glazing Systems Specifications Manual,” which became the basis of the national version that is still referenced today.
Acceptance of the award
Gusterson accepted the Lifetime Achievement award from OGMA’s president, Blake Sanders, at the association’s Spring Golf Event, held May 29. Gusterson was joined by his wife, Lori Brooks, and other colleagues and friends celebrating his achievement.
“Steve is a trusted resource for the industry, delivering seminars, lunch and learns, and presentations to industry professionals and those looking to get into the industry. In recent years, with thoughts of retirement looming, Steve has worked closely with his colleagues at Alumicor on a succession plan that leaves him now doing what he loves best: working almost exclusively with the design community, helping them to bring their visions to life,” says Sanders.