Report from Saint-Gobain's International Gypsum Trophy Competition
As we enter this ancient brick façade building that appears to have been built in the 16th century, we’re led to the downstairs. It looks like a cellar, and without any natural light on this floor, it might as well be catacombs. Piles of cheese, blood sausage, duck, Angus beef and hamburgers that look to be five pounds each are placed in front of us, the tall pints of fresh beer just keep coming. Here we are; several North Americans out of our natural surroundings in this foreign land yet altogether comfortable. After all, these companies are competing as the American and Canadian respective nominees in Saint-Gobain’s exotic and choice Gypsum International Trophy Awards ceremony in Prague. It has to be said, in the present context of this moment, life is good. The next night, the contractors in our company will find out if their respective and choice awards will be named top honors. If these companies hold any trepidation or anxiety about the event, we wouldn’t know. Everyone seems to be having a good time.
And why not, because in the words of Saint-Gobain’s Claude-Alain Tardy, these companies and individuals are among an exclusive group of international peers competing in the “drywall Olympics.” This writer considers that in the eyes of each of the three North American contractors here, the honor’s already been established to get the invite to travel this far and it seems to these people that the experience is really just as important.