Commercial Glass and Glazing

In 1971, after four years at East Carolina University in the Industrial Technology program I came back to Lenoir to help run the family business. I had worked as a glazier during summers since high school and it just seemed like the thing to do at least for a while, little would I know that 40 years later I would still be in the glass business. The company had done everything you could do related to a small glass business but it had seen many products come and go as the industry evolved. We became involved with Amarlite Aluminum as a supplier in the 60's for aluminum storefront materials and had even done a few curtain wall jobs which were rare in Western North Carolina. We had a good supplier relationship withAppalachian State University in Boone and other institutional organizations in the area. The furniture industry was still growing and there were industrial sales in that area. I started an aggressive bid program focusing on commercial glass. It was a busy time and our sales grew our aluminum storefront business doubled. One thing I have not mentioned before is our staff. I was lucky to retain two people who started with my father and their depth of knowledge helped keep the company going and growing.