Crystal President Named Queens Power Leader The success and growing prestige and influence of Crystal Window & Door Systems and its top executives continue to be recognized by the press and public. Recently, Steve Chen, President of Crystal Windows, was included by City & State New York Magazine in its notable Queens Power 100 List for 2023. The list, published in the magazine’s May 22, 2023, print and online editions, highlights the top 100 movers and shakers in the New York City Borough of Queens. Queens is home to almost 50,000 businesses and 2.4 million people, making it the fourth largest city in America if ranked separately. In selecting Chen for the auspicious list, City & State editors noted the size of the company’s Queens workforce, product compliance with new aggressive energy codes, and the company’s community, philanthropic, and educational support. Crystal’s headquarters and production facility in Queens employs 350 workers, with 99% residing in New York City or State, and 98% are minorities. Crystal supports many local educational, art, and charitable institutions and programs such as the Queens Museum, Queens Theatre in the Park, and Queens Library Foundation. The company recently established a $1.1 million endowment for Queens College School of the Arts for art exhibits and scholarship programs. “At Crystal Windows, we are always focused on doing what’s best for our customers, our employees, and our community,” said Steve Chen. “It is very rewarding to see these corporate values recognized.” City & State New York, a weekly publication, is the leading political and public policy publication for New York City and New York State. The annual Queens Power 100 List includes numerous elected officials, key government agency heads, major non-profit and advocacy group leaders, and a select group of business leaders based in Queens.
Crystal Windows Appoints VP of Sales and Marketing National manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems recently promoted Regional Sales Manager Steven Yu to Vice President, Sales and Marketing. Yu, who has been involved in Crystal sales and marketing efforts for nearly 20 years, will direct sales operations across the country as well as corporate marketing initiatives. “Steven brought innovative sales strategies first to Crystal’s Mid-Atlantic Sales Region and more recently to our Metro New York City Sales Region, both with significant results,” said Steve Chen, President. “He has demonstrated tremendous ability to bring complex projects to fruition, grow sales for the company, and market our products to an ever expanding audience.” Yu is now responsible for overseeing sales to commercial and residential trade customers through a team of 36 regional sales managers and sales professionals. He also directs Crystal’s Marketing Department activities, including new product launches, print and online communications, trade show and event participation, and customer engagement. In his new role as Vice President, Yu will focus on increasing market share for Crystal in the Southeast and Midwest, extensively promoting new Crystal commercial and residential product offerings, and enhancing Crystal’s market positioning as a high performance manufacturer. Yu joined Crystal in 2004 as a graphic designer in the Marketing Department. After holding several positions of progressive responsibility, he was promoted to Marketing Manager, where he expanded sales support activities to serve the company’s growing sales team. In 2011 and in addition to Marketing Manager, Yu became Regional Sales Manager for Crystal’s Mid-Atlantic Region, which covers Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland through Virginia. Under his leadership, regional sales increased five-fold. In 2019, he added responsibility for Crystal’s large New York Metro Region, which covers all of New York City and surrounding counties in New York State. Prior to joining Crystal, Yu worked as a website and database application systems developer at Polytechnic University in New York, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in computer science.
Crystal Window & Door Systems Receives Industry Recognition Leading national trade publication US Glass Magazine named the Crystal Aluminum Series 1450/1460 Terrace Door the winner in the 2022 Doors and Door Products category of its annual Readers’ Choice Awards. “I’m proud that Crystal’s industry leading window and door products continue to be valued by the building industry,” said Sabrina Leung, Crystal’s R&D and Architectural Sales Manager.
Crystal Windows Unveils New Recruiting Videos National manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems recently created a series of recruiting videos featuring employees discussing their experiences working at the company. These interviews include longtime and newly hired employees working in production, sales, administration, and logistics at Crystal locations across the country and at subsidiary Gateway Extrusions in Union, MO. At a time when manufacturers face hiring challenges, Crystal has revamped and improved many of its recruiting strategies, employment benefits offered, and employee communications. The new recruiting videos are part of this effort, which is showing positive results. “In addition to competitive salaries and benefits, Crystal offers employees opportunities for career development at every stage, from their first day,” said Isabella Leung, HR Manager. “Most of our supervisors and managers have been promoted from within the company because of the experience and knowledge gained on the job, and they are recognized throughout the industry as experts and leaders.” The employee experience themed recruiting videos, 23 in all, are posted on a rotating schedule on Crystal’s social media platforms, corporate website, and company YouTube channel. They are also a featured highlight at business expos, career fairs, and on campus recruiting events Crystal attends in the metro New York, northeast Pennsylvania, St. Louis, MO, and Riverside, CA regions where Crystal and subsidiary factories are located. “Besides being great for outside career fairs, Crystal’s recruiting videos are an effective tool for our current employees to share with family and friends who may be interested in joining the Crystal family,” said Leung. “Our employees speak from the heart about the satisfaction they find working at Crystal. These are powerful testimonials.” A sample of Crystal recruiting videos can be seen at the company website, under the About Crystal/Careers tab at https://crystalwindows.com/careers. These and other employee interview videos were made in conjunction with updates to Crystal’s award-winning corporate video The Story of Us, seen on the website home page.
Crystal Windows Earns Industry Sustainable Recognition National manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems recently earned another industry recognition for its sustainable production operations. Leading national fenestration publication US Glass Magazine named Crystal Windows a 2022 Green Award winner for Production Efficiencies in the November 2022 issue. Crystal was one of only five companies this year (and one of only two based in the USA) whose products or production processes were recognized for extraordinary efforts to provide a more healthy, sustainable living environment. Earlier this year, Crystal’s New York facility received an environmental award from national Door & Window Market (DWM) Magazine. “Crystal has long fostered a corporate culture to reduce, reuse, and recycle everywhere throughout all our factories,” said Andy Shashlo, COO. “Each of Crystal’s sustainable actions by itself may be small, but when added together, the impact on our operations is impressive. It is very rewarding to have our efforts recognized with this industry award from US Glass Magazine.” Crystal uses domestic suppliers for nearly all its product materials and components, it recycles all production scrap in various ways, and it optimizes logistics to coordinate between facilities, customers, project locations, and even supplier warehouses to reduce transportation. Besides seeking to ensure production processes are as environmentally friendly and efficient as possible, Crystal made a significant step this year with a one-MW solar electricity generation system installed at its New York headquarters and main production facility. The system will offset almost 35% of the company’s overall electricity needs at this location. Crystal also receives hydropower for another 25% of its electricity needs under a separate arrangement. Each year, US Glass Magazine selects Green Award winners based on strategies and commitment to environmental and operational performance, as well as high-performance architectural products. For 2022, along with Crystal Windows, US Glass Magazine recognized two international glass manufacturers, AGC Glass Europe (at its facility in Belgium) and Saint-Gobain (at its facilities in France, Spain, and Germany), for low-carbon glass production, and Dow for carbon-neutral silicone products. South America-based glass and window fabricator Tecnoglass was recognized for its green production processes.
Crystal Windows Opens New Branch Office Award-winning manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems is moving its national expansion plans forward with a new branch office in Dallas, TX. Located near major highways at 454 West Mockingbird Lane in the West Dallas neighborhood of the city, the facility will include a sales showroom, warehouse space, and administrative offices. At over 5,600 sq. ft., this will be the largest of Crystal’s branch sales and distribution centers independent of a production facility. “In recent years, Crystal has supplied several projects in the region and with the Texas construction market booming, it makes sense for us to establish a presence here,” said Frank Ganninger, Central West Regional Manager. “This will allow Crystal to further develop relationships with the design and construction professionals here.” The Dallas branch office is undergoing renovation and fit-out and will be operational early next year.
Crystal Windows Ranked 9th Largest NY Area Minority Firm The recognition of national award-winning manufacturer Crystal Window & Door Systems continues as the company has again been included in the top business ranking of New York City area minority-owned firms. In its May 3, 2021 edition, noted publication Crain’s New York Business ranked Crystal Windows 9th on its list of the New York area’s largest minority-owned companies. Crystal Windows has been included in the Crain’s list for the past 23 years, since 1998. This year’s ranking represents Crystal’s highest achievement to date with the Crain’s list. The Crain’s list is comprised of the largest privately held firms that are at least 51% minority-owned and headquartered in New York City or in seven surrounding New York and New Jersey counties. The ranking is based on annual company revenues from the prior year. The list, while no longer annual, is compiled and published every few years. Others on the 2021 list include Goya Foods, Sigma Plastics, and Bartlett Dairy. “I’m extremely proud that Crystal’s ongoing success continues to be recognized by Crain’s,” said Steve Chen, Crystal’s President. “With 20 million diverse people and tens of thousands of minority-owned companies in the New York metro area, this makes the recognition even more significant. It’s all been made possible by our dedicated employees, our great fenestration trade customers, and the appeal of our energy efficient made-in-America window products.” Crain’s, the region’s premier weekly business magazine, is published in print and online. In prior years, Crystal Windows and both its Chairman Thomas Chen and President Steve Chen have been featured or included in the magazine’s articles, recognitions, and TV show. Most notably, Steve Chen was recognized in the past as a Crain’s Top 40 Under 40 Young Business Executive. Crystal was also the recipient a few years ago of the Crain’s Top Family Business Award.
