NewsMakers

appointments
Charles (Chuck) Croskey has become the chairman of the board of directors of Guardian Industries Corp. An international executive with 40-plus years experience in the glass industry, Croskey has been a board member since 2010 and has been with the company since 1970. Most recently, he was the group vice president responsible for all of Guardian’s manufacturing, marketing and distribution operations throughout Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Croskey began his career at Guardian’s first float glass plant in Carleton, Mich., and went on to hold several posts at the company’s Kingsburg, Calif., float glass plant, ultimately responsible for the company’s West Coast operations, including float and fabrication facilities. In 1988 he was named the company’s employee of the year. Before joining Guardian, Croskey worked for General Motors Corp.

Croskey replaces outgoing chairman Peter Walters, who completed two terms as board chair. Walters remains a member of the board.

Officials at ASTM International in West Conshohocken, Pa., have elected Thomas A. Schwartz, senior principal, president and head of the building technology group at Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc. (SGH), as vice chairman of the board of directors for 2011-2012. A member of ASTM International since 1982, Schwartz currently works on Committees E06 on Performance of Buildings as well as C14 on Glass and Glass Products, among others.

Bohle America Inc. has appointed Pat Bailey to represent the company in the states of Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and Montana.

Based in Denver, Bailey has been in the glass industry for more than 27 years representing manufacturers of flat glass and mirror, including Vitro and Binswanger, as well as manufacturers of door hardware and glass handling equipment.

new hires
Wojan Window & Door has added Tim Hruska as its new production engineer. Relocating from the Sacramento area, he joins the company after more than 21 years in the window and glass industries.

Hruska earned his degree in industrial engineering from the University of Idaho and, throughout his career, has held various positions relating to production planning and business management on both the commercial and residential sides.

Tim Doughty has joined Tubelite Inc. of Walker, Mich., as client development manager to serve Georgia.

Doughty joins Tubelite following nearly 30 years of service with Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope (OBE) and Vistawall Architectural Products. He began as an architectural field representative and was promoted to district sales manager and then to region sales manager. He most recently served as southeastern region sales manager.

AMinuteWith …
Bob Leyland, Kawneer Co. Director of Sales

Bob Leyland, director of sales at Kawneer Co. in Norcross, Ga., recently announced that he will retire on August 3, after 37 years with the company. Colin Brosmer, currently director of front end services, will take over Leyland’s position, effective July 27.

Q: What would you say has been your greatest contribution to the glass industry?
A: I would say my involvement in people development. The reason I spent 37 years with the same company is the people within the industry and the company. I’ve had a number of positions throughout my career, I’ve had a chance to hire people, and help them grow in their roles, and that is very important to me.

Q: What are you most proud of?
A: Couple of things: Being able to participate and lead an industry-leading company. I started with Kawneer right after graduating from Michigan State. The people I have had the chance to work with, the customers, and the opportunity to take on more responsibilities, is one area. It’s also been really important to me to be a leader in our own organization. I have worked with and for very strong leaders and I have learned from them a tremendous lot.

Q: If we asked somebody in the glass industry what your legacy is, what would they say?
A: I would like to think that they would say that I have been a dedicated, ethical, high-integrity person who has led a successful company, managed product performance and people development. A guy who had tried to live and operate with a sense of integrity. I would like to think both my colleagues and customers will think of me as a positive influence.

Q: What do you plan to do?
A: I do not have any immediate plans. I will take some time to relax a bit and contemplate what might be of interest to pursue. My wife is a teacher and she has one more year to teach, so I have one year to figure that out. I have been working since I was 12, as a paper boy. So it might be healthy for me to just stop and think for a bit. I still have a high level of energy, so I will do something. I live in a golf course community, so I might get a chance to get better in golf. I am excited about what the next chapter of my life will bring, but I will go one step at a time.

View full interview at usglassmag.com/digital.

USG
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