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KUDOS
Glass Doctor Honors Employees
Waco, Texas-based Glass Doctor recognized several employees and franchisees during its annual reunion conference held at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas last summer.

The Glass Doctor of Charlotte, N.C., owned by Ed Sieber, was named the Franchisee of the Year. Sieber purchased the franchise from his father and brother in 2002.

David Kozlowski of the Glass Doctor of the New Berlin, Wis., franchise was honored with the 2008 Rookie of the Year award.

Brad Roberson of the Brookhaven/ Jackson, Miss., franchise received the president’s award, which is given at the president’s discretion. Roberson also received the Top Gun designation, which is given to the top 10 percent of franchisees.

The company honored Mike Evans of the Bozeman, Mont., franchise with the Recruiter of the Year award for attracting quality people to the franchise.

Three franchise owners received the Excellence in Leadership award: Ron and Jane Maxey of Valparaiso, Ind.; Larry Patterson of Carrollton, Texas; and Gene Porter of Clovis, N.M.

Bill Dawson of the Columbia, Tenn., franchise and Matt Kelly of the Cleveland location were recognized with Excellence in Mentoring awards. The awards are given to franchise owners who are role models to other franchisees.

The company presented Personal Achievement awards to Tim and Wendy Born of Rome, Ga.; Rod Hunter of Joplin, Mo.; Calvin and Sonya Kahl of Gainesville, Texas; Dave Kozlowski of New Berlin, Wis.; Mike Nogosek of Minot, N.D.; Dan Osborne and Sam Shalhoub of Tabernash, Colo.; David and Sylvia Porter of Lawton, Okla.; Wayne Robinson of Amarillo, Texas; and Vern Steiner of Millersburg, Ohio.

DEATHS
Auto Glass Entrepreneur Joe Kellman of Globe Glass Passes Away
Legendary auto glass entrepreneur Joe Kellman passed away on January 7 on his 90th birthday.

Kellman got his start in the glass industry at the age of 14 when he worked at his father’s small glass shop, Globe Glass. When his father died, his brother Maury took over the manufacturing division of the business and Kellman was given two small retail glass shops. The two shops grew into what was at one time was the country’s largest privately owned auto glass chain.

The company also created what many say was the first nationwide auto glass network, the Chicago-based Globe Glass/U.S. Glass Network. Globe Glass merged with Windshields America in 1996, creating Vistar, which merged with Safelite in 1997.

Kellman and his wife, Lou Anne, had retired to San Diego many years ago.

In addition to his work in the auto glass industry, Kellman was known for his charitable work. He founded the Chicago-based Better Boys Foundation, a non-profit organization designed to help inner-city children in the west side community of North Lawndale where he grew up, in 1961 with his longtime friend and entertainer Buddy Hackett. In 1988, Kellman founded the Corporate Community School of America (now known as the Kellman Corporate Community School), also for the North Lawndale community. Just two years ago, the Joe Kellman Family Foundation helped to build a new community center, the Kellman Community Center, in North Lawndale, to further the work of the Better Boys Foundation.

Kellman is survived by his wife, Lou Anne; two sons, Jack and Richard; two stepsons, Bill and Bruce Suggs; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

“I just remember him as being this incredibly creative, dynamic generous but tough-minded—take-no-prisoners—kind of a guy—just an amazing, person,” recalls Lyle Hill, president of Chicago-based MTH Industries. “[He had] an amazing, brilliant mind.”

Hill began working for Kellman in 1970, after he’d graduated college, and later led an employee acquisition of the MTH division of Globe Glass and Mirror from him in 1998.

“He was just the most visionary person I’ve ever known,” says Hill. “Everything about the auto glass network as it’s known today—he was at the forefront of that.”

David Rohlfing, president of Glass America, worked with Kellman in the latter half of 1995 during the merger negotiations of U.S. Auto Glass/Globe Glass & Mirror and Windshields America and subsequent formation of Vistar and also remembers Kellman as a tough competitor, along with other great qualities.

“Mr. Kellman was a good teacher and a great person to work with,” says Rohlfing. “I learned a lot from him and will always remember his legacy to the industry.”

Belron US president Tom Feeney remembers Kellman fondly as well.

“Though we are sad to hear of his passing, he lived a great life,” says Feeney.

AGRR
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