Promotions

Three Get New Roles at Vitro

Vitro Architectural Glass has announced three promotions. Paul Bush is the new director of quality and technical services, Deron Patterson will be architectural market manager in Mexico and Guillermo Martinez has been named manager of general marketing for architectural glass operations in Mexico.

Bush, formerly director of technical services for the company, will direct its quality initiatives, including product quality and customer crisis management. He’s held several management positions with PPG since 1986, including in product development, product quality and technical services. He is also the company’s representative to the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA), where he serves as vice president for the Glass Material Council. Bush also has been Vitro Glass’ representative for the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) since 1997, where, among other roles, he serves as chairperson of the board.

A 19-year sales veteran of the North American glass industry, Patterson spent the last five years as international sales manager covering Central and South America, Mexico, the Caribbean and the Asia-Pacific region. In his new position, he will direct a team of national architectural managers and sup-port the Vitro Certified fabricators in Mexico.

Patterson previously managed architectural accounts in Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Mexico, as well as held roles in the sales and marketing departments, both domes-tic and internationally, for PPG’s flat glass business.

Martinez, whose entire 14-year career is with Vitro, will now oversee customer and channel marketing strategies, lead strategic marketing projects across the United States and Mexico, and promote the use of energy-efficient glass through compliance with regulatory codes. He previously served as strategic planning manager for flat glass business and strategic planning and marketing manager for the company’s automotive division. He was a member of the mergers and acquisitions and post-merger integration teams for Vitro’s 2016 acquisition of PPG’s flat glass manufacturing and glass coatings operations and the 2017 acquisition of Pittsburgh Glass Works’ (PGW ) automotive original equipment manufacturer glass business.

Appointments

PGT Innovations Adds New Vice President

PGT Innovations Inc. appointed Raoul Quijada as vice president and corporate controller. Quijada will lead the consolidated corporate accounting and reporting functions for all of the organization’s brands.

Since starting his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers, Quijada has amassed more than 20 years of experience and a record of leadership through several Fortune 500 Companies, including Western Union, Newell (Rubbermaid), Systemax Inc. and Ominto Inc. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of St. Thomas, Opus College of Business and a bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting from Concordia University.

Pleotint Names Namrata Vora Chief Revenue Officer

Pleotint LLC appointed Namrata Vora to chief revenue officer, overseeing all aspects of sales and marketing. Vora joins the Suntuitive team with an extensive and successful back-ground in dynamic glass, according to the company.

“We are thrilled to have someone of Namrata’s caliber promoting and selling Suntuitive Dynamic Glass,” says Pleotint president Tom Donovan. “She knows the marketplace extremely well and will be pivotal to our continued growth plan.” Vora spent eight years at electrochromic glass manufacturer View, in several key roles, including product marketing, product management and sales.

Saffell Joins AAMA as Technical Director

The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) recently hired Steven Saffell as its technical director. He will over-see AAMA’s technical operations, including standards, product certification and codes and regulatory affairs.

Saffell, who has architectural experience, including in modular home design, also spent three years teaching as an adjunct professor, and has worked in manufactured housing and residential and commercial fenestration, including for Simonton Windows and Ply Gem. As an active AAMA member participant since 2013, including several leadership and board committee positions, he is familiar with the association and has extensive experience with its product certification programs, as well as code requirements and development, AAMA officials suggest.

“With 32 years of work experience, Steven’s broad history will be invaluable in his role overseeing our entire technical operation,” says Janice Yglesias, AAMA’s executive vice president. “Additionally, he brings crucial knowledge and technical expertise related to commercial fenestration systems to the association.”

Morgan Advanced Materials Appoints Tom Ford

In a move that company officials suggest will bolster its position in fused silica rollers, former president of George Ford & Sons, Tom Ford, has been appointed as fused silica product manager for Morgan Advanced Materials’ Haldenwanger operation. As son of George Ford & Sons founder, Ford spent 40 years working in all aspects of his family’s business. He will lead in a market that’s expected to grow by 5.9 percent per annum, officials for Morgan suggest, including across Europe and Asia. “I am looking forward to beginning this new chapter of my career,” Ford says.

Obituary

Founder of Veka Passes AwayHeinrich Laumann, the founder of Veka, has passed at age 89.

“We are deeply saddened and we extend our sincere condolences to the Laumann and Hartlief family as we remember Mr. Laumann as a passionate, personally engaging and energetic entrepreneur,” says Joe Peilert, president and CEO of Veka North America. “Starting with eight employees in 1969, he built Veka into the global market leader for vinyl window profile systems with more than 5,600 employees in 25 countries. He was a pioneer in the PVC extrusion industry and early on recognized the potential of vinyl as a window and door material in the American market … Together with 750 American Veka employees, I am very grateful for his foresight to invest in America and his continuous support of our business … His leadership and entrepreneurial vision will continue to be a guiding example for us.”

Laumann passed away September 3, and is survived by his son in law, Adreas Hartleif, a Veka Group chairperson, and his daughter, Elke Hartleif, who is both a board member and global head of human resources.

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