USGlass -2009 March

Volume 44, Issue 3 - March 2009

People

promotions
Viracon Announces Organizational Changes
Viracon in Owatonna, Minn., has announced a number of organizational changes to address some anticipated retirements among the senior leadership team and provide further targeted focus and tighter alignment across the full organization. New assignments include the following:
Greg Silvestri will serve as president. Silvestri joined the company in August 2007. He will continue to simultaneously serve as executive vice president of Apogee, Viracon’s parent company, and will report directly to Russ Huffer, Apogee chairman and chief executive officer.

Don Pyatt will become senior vice president of technology and strategy, reporting to Silvestri. Pyatt has served as president since June 2000. He is preparing for a planned retirement in 2010.

Bob Randall, who has served as vice president of operations at the Statesboro, Ga., facility will become vice president, business development. This position is the company’s first senior manager dedicated to business development.

Pat McDermott will replace Randall as the vice president of operations at the Statesboro plant. McDermott has been with the company for 10 years in various capacities, most recently as a director of sales for the Eastern region.

Following Larry Kunkel’s retirement in March after more than 25 years with the company, Bill Wright will take over as vice president of operations in Owatonna. Wright most recently oversaw the building of Viracon’s St. George, Utah, facility.

Rick Farmer, who has held a variety of operational leadership roles with the company for the past nine years, will succeed Wright as vice president of operations for the St. George facility.

new hires
M3 Glass Technologies Introduces Personnel
Roger Erwin has joined M3 Glass Technologies in Irving, Texas, as outside sales representative. Erwin has been in sales for the glass industry for more than 25 years, and has served on the board of directors for the Houston Area Glass Dealers Association. After a seven-year absence, Elaine Tschirgi has been rehired as a decorative glass sales representative. She will coordinate the sales of acid etch, DecoTherm, Starphire, anti-reflective glass, pattern glass and other decorative glass products.

Metfab Makes Most of Marketing
James A. Murray Jr. has been appointed as the new marketing and sales director for Metfab Metals in Orange, N.J. Murray has recently earned a degree in marketing from the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising in New York, and has also had a variety of experience under the business umbrella of marketing and public relations.

PGT Announces New International Sales Manager
PGT Industries in North Venice, Fla., has appointed Bill Recio as international sales manager. He brings more than 20 years of international experience to the company and was previously responsible for sales and marketing at Sherwin Williams.