A local award-winning commercial window manufacturer,which company officials said is in an expansion period,played host to the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce coffee Thursday morning. Bill Osbern,chief executive officer of Peerless Architectural Windows and Doors,told those in attendance that the plant now employs about 300 people and is"currently in a growth mode."Peerless produces commercial window systems for public and private buildings across the nation.
"We're doing some neat things here,"he said."We're a management-owned company,bought in 2007...committed to growing employment in Fort Scott."
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the privately-owned firm,which makes windows for very specific projects such as high-rise buildings,public schools,hospitals,universities and military bases that meet anti-terrorism requirements.The company does"a lot of custom projects,"Osbern said.
Earlier this year,the company finished a project in Boston with 8,000 windows;it does a lot of work on historic preservation projects and sells hurricane-resistant windows for areas subject to those storms.
Osbern said the company is currently in the running for a project on the new Google building in New York that will include 6,000 windows.
"We're a leader in our industry,"he said.
The company offers profit sharing for its employees,Osbern said.
"You have to grow people to grow,"he said.
The plant is"always looking for good employees"and has attracted several good employees through word-of-mouth,Osbern said.
Plant Manager Bill Jones offered tours of the plant Thursday.Many Peerless staffers have been with the firm 30 years or longer.
"Thank you for being here,"City Manager Dave Martin told company officials."That's what makes Fort Scott great;we have great companies."
Peerless Architectural Windows and Doors EnergSave G-500 Window Series,a series of windows made in Fort Scott,was chosen this year as the winner of the 2012 Most Innovative Commercial Window Award.
The company previously won the prestigious laurel,formerly known as the Crystal Achievement Award,in 2011 in the same category.
Founded in 1952 in Fort Scott,Peerless is a vertically integrated manufacturer of aluminum custom designed architectural and commercial rated windows and doors for retrofit,new construction and historic projects.The complete line of Peerless products includes single and double-hung,sliding,casement and projected windows,and terrace and sliding glass doors and window walls.
Capabilities include engineering,testing,aluminum extruding,glass insulating,anodizing and architectural paint finishing.
The following announcements were made at the coffee:
*Fort Scott Community College Athletic Director J.D.Ettore said Friday and Saturday is Hall of Fame weekend at the college.The Greyhound Golf Classic,a tournament in four-person scramble format,will return Friday.The event also includes a reception and breakfast in conjunction with the induction ceremony.The 2012 inductees into the FSCC Athletic Hall of Fame are Bruce Chambers,Eddie Brown and the 1971 Greyhound Football team.
*Jeremy Culbertson,youth pastor at the First Church of the Nazarene,said he is launching a new coffee shop downtown and hopes to open it in early December.Culbertson said the shop will create another social meeting spot for area youth.More information can be found online at www.fortscottnazarene.org/coffee-shop,or his Fort Scott Coffee Shop Facebook page.
*Tina Rockhold with Mercy Hospital said the fifth annual Spirit of Women Girls'Night Out event is scheduled for Nov.5 at Fort Cinema.Rockhold said tickets to the event are now available at the chamber office,Mercy main registration desk and Mercy Medical Plaza,and they are"going fast."Movie choices this year are"The Help,""Joyful Noise,"and"Temple Grandin."
*Martin recognized Steve Cliffman,master scheduler at Peerless and one of the organizers of the Fort Scott Country Music Show held twice a month at Memorial Hall.Cliffman talked about the show,which includes performers who have played for a variety of famous musicians.
*UMB Banking Center Manager Heather Griffith mentioned the promotion that local business owner Mark Shead plans to run in conjunction with The Beacon Benefit Soup Line next week.Shead plans to donate up to$5,000--$1 for each person who subscribes to his business newsletter.He will donate$1 for each new current,local email address that is registered through Nov.1.
*Tammy Hill with UMB said bank staff has decorated pumpkins and encourages the public to visit and vote for their favorite.
*FSACC Executive Director Lindsay Madison said some upcoming community events include a Halloween parade and festivities in the downtown area on Saturday,Oct.27;a tax seminar Lunch and Learn event on Tuesday,Oct.30,at the Mercy Professional Building;the annual Forks and Corks,a food,wine and liqueur tasting event,set for Nov.2 at the Liberty Theatre;and a holiday open house from 5 to 8 p.m.Nov.7,in the downtown area during which many stores will offer refreshments and special discounts.
Source:
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