USGlass - March - 2006

Volume 41, Issue 3 March 2006

Newsmakers

new hires

Harmon Inc. Announces Personnel Changes

Specialty contractor Harmon Inc. has hired Eric C. Rock as a project coordinator serving the new construction and renovation commercial glazing needs of customers throughout Maryland, Washington, D.C. and northern Virginia.

The company has also announced the promotion of Brian Buffa to project manager in the Chicago area.

Sean Murphy has also been promoted to project manager serving Illinois customers and their construction and renovation projects’ commercial glazing needs.

The company has expanded Doug Renninger’s position as sales manager to include all of Ohio and surrounding areas. He supervises the commercial glazing sales efforts for new construction, repair and replacement and renovation.

The company has hired Kandace Bednark as project coordinator serving general contractors, architects and building owners’ commercial glazing needs throughout Michigan and the surrounding area.

Also in a new position is Heidi Lohmann, who has been promoted from customer service representative to small contract coordinator.

Scott Swartz has been promoted from engineering coordinator to project coordinator.

Ken Stromdahl has been named new senior project manager for glass services in Chicago.

Six new staff members have also been added to Harmon’s Denver office. Bill Wiedemann has been named general manager. Don Farrar is the new project executive, and in the position of senior sales representative is Joel Watson. Cyndy Workman-Snow has also been named senior sales representative.

Matt Richardson has been hired as project manager, and filling the position of general superintendent is Jerry Peterson.

The company’s Cleveland office has promoted Robert Rykena from project manager to service/small contact supervisor.

Ken Oliver has been added as project coordinator in the Cincinnati office.

Harmon’s Tampa office has promoted Bruce Whitfield to service and small contract supervisor.

The Boynton Beach, Fla. office has added Michael Rollock as a senior project manager serving general contractors, architects and building owners in southern Florida.

weddings

Glass Week Plays Host to Wedding

Glass Week, the educational and technical industry gathering sponsored by the Glass Association of North America, which took place in Dana Point, Calif. last month (see pages 82-87, 102), also provided the backdrop for another industry first.

Henry Gorry of Guardian Industries chose Glass Week as the venue in which to marry his bride, Iwona Smolka, also a Guardian employee, in a private ceremony on February 1. Russ Ebeid of Guardian served as best man. Gorry, who donned a top hat for the occasion, spent just a few days honeymooning with his bride before returning to work.

appointments

Pilkington NA Announces New Appointments

Pilkington North America has announced that Laurie Kruger will be returning home to Australia after serving 42 months as Pilkington’s president building products North America. Kruger will serve as president building products and group country manager, Australia.

Prior to his North American role, Kruger held various senior management positions in both Pilkington’s building products and automotive businesses in Australia.

Richard (Dick) Altman has been appointed president building products North America. Altman is currently plant manager of the Rossford, Ohio, facility and was previously vice president operations support for building products in North America. He was to begin his new assignment on March 1, 2006.

Krynski to Head Business Development for PPG’s Building Renewal Team

PPG Industries of Pittsburgh has named Thomas Krynski business development manager building owner and facility manager segment for the company’s new building owner support program.

In the newly-created position, Krynski will be responsible for promoting architectural glass, coatings and paint to building owners and facility managers.

He will call on building owners and property managers throughout the country, while building and promoting local teams of glazing contractors, glass fabricators, metal building panel manufacturers and painting contractors to refurbish and maintain the buildings under their stewardship.

Krynski joined the company in1999 as a senior consultant for architectural services.

associations

GANA Laminating Division Announces New Chairperson

The laminating division of the Glass Association of North America (GANA) has named John Bush of Oldcastle Glass its new chairperson. He is director of laminated products and development with Oldcastle Glass.

“I look forward to working with the many dedicated and talented individuals who volunteer within the GANA laminating division,” said Bush. “With the continuous creation and execution of division technical activities, fantastic membership growth and continuing marketing programs, our division will maintain its leadership and support of the laminating industry.”

Bush started his career in the flat glass laminating business in 1987 as technical director of specialist glass laminator Romag. In 1994, he moved from his home in England to Florida to set up a glass laminating subsidiary plant for Romag, supplying the then newly-emerging market for hurricane impact-resistant glass. Oldcastle Glass acquired the plant in 1998.

Bush has ten years of experience in the manufacturing, testing and marketing of hurricane-resistant glazing and has been active in GANA meetings, participating in division task groups.

obituaries

Alan J. Campbell, Former WDMA President, Dies

Alan J. Campbell died of a heart attack February 3, in Tallahassee, Fla., at the age of 55. Campbell was the president and chief executive officer of the Florida Society of Association Executives and, for 12 years prior to that, had served as president of the Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA).

"Al will truly be missed by those who had the pleasure of his acquaintance and friendship, said the WDMA."

For four years during his term as WDMA president, Campbell had contributed the “WDMA Opens Up” column to DWM Magazine, a sister publication of USGlass magazine.

He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Patricia; three daughters, Meghan, Maureen and Emily Webster; grandson Ryan; and son-in-law Curtis Webster. He is also survived by sisters, Cathy Mila and Laurie Carnal, and brother, Bruce. Campbell was the son of Charles (deceased) and Roseann Campbell.

elections

Sen. Mark Pryor Elected Chair of Alliance to Save Energy

The Alliance to Save Energy’s board of directors has elected Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) as its new chairperson. Pryor replaces Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), who has served as the alliance’s chair for the past four years. Dorgan will remain on the board as one of seven congressional vice-chairs.

Pryor joins James H. DeGraffenreidt, Jr., as co-chair. DeGraffenreidt is the chairperson and chief executive officer of Washington Gas.

health

Sommer & Maca Export Sales Manager, USGlass Columnist Undergoes Surgery; Recovering Well

René Bergero, export sales manager for Sommer & Maca and a columnist for USGlass magazine, underwent surgery to remove a cancerous growth on his liver last month. His family reported that he is doing well and is expected to undergo chemotherapy treatments as well.

Cards and other well wishes can be sent to René at: 6955 West Monroe Ct., Niles, Ill., 60714.

Promotions

Dow Names Leaders for Curtainwall, Asian Construction Markets

Dow Corning Corp. has named Ricky Neoh as the new global market leader for the company’s construction industry curtainwall market, and Tim Efthimiady has been named Asian construction industry leader for the company, as well.

Prior to the appointment, Neoh served as the company’s Asian construction industry leader and has served previously as Dow’s Asia market leader for the curtainwall segment in Shanghai.

Efthimiady will step into the Asian construction industry leader position recently vacated by Neoh. Before doing so he served as Asia marketing and sales development manager for Dow and has nearly 20 years experience in commercial sales and marketing in Asia.