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Family company featured in global enterprise talk

March 2, 2010

KALAMAZOO--Two siblings who head the Trainor Glass Co. will present a talk titled "Entrepreneurship in a Global Economy: A Family Experience" at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 11, at Western Michigan University.

Robert J. Trainor, CEO, and Thomas D. Trainor, president, will present the free, public talk, which will be held in Schneider Hall on WMU's main campus in Kalamazoo. The event is part of the University's 2009-10 Haworth College of Business Distinguished Speaker Series. A question-and-answer period and reception will follow the presentation.

Trainor Glass is a national glazing contractor that furnishes and installs aluminum and glass products and systems. The company's applications can be found in new construction, building rehabilitation projects, tenant interiors, custom specialty work, solar systems, stone and composite facades, and retail design centers.

Founded in 1953 by Robert Trainor Sr., the business began as a single shop in Illinois and has grown to become one of the largest glazing companies in the United States, with annual sales in excess of $200 million. Trainor Glass employs a team of more than 600 workers in 22 operations ranging from large highly efficient manufacturing sites to an AutoCAD center and satellite offices.

Before joining the company, Robert Trainor Jr. graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from WMU. He was named chief executive officer of Trainor Glass in 1995, after more than 30 years of increasingly responsible positions with the company.

As CEO, he oversees 21 divisions, some 575 co-workers, state-of-the-art unitized manufacturing facilities and transparent 24/7 online project management programs. Robert has served since 2004 on the board of directors of the National Glass Association and is a member of the WMU President's Circle and WMU Alumni Association.

After earning his BBA in 1984, Thomas Trainor worked as a certified public accountant. He has been licensed in Illinois since 1989. Thomas worked closely with Trainor Glass Co. in the 1980s and 1990s to improve systems and profitability. He was named chief financial officer in 1998 and elevated to president in 2008.

Today Robert is responsible for all business operations, costing, finance and related processes. He is a member of the National Glass Association, the Glass Association of North America and the Illinois CPA Society. He also is a member of the WMU President's Circle and the Campaign for WMU Steering Committee.

Those wishing to attend the "Entrepreneurship in a Global Economy" talk are asked to register by March 5. To register or obtain more information, contact Monique Haley in the dean's office of WMU's Haworth College of Business at monique.haley@wmich.edu or (269) 387-5050.

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Media contact: Jeanne Baron, (269) 387-8400, jeanne.baron@wmich.edu

WMU News
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