During its quarterly meeting on 13 January 2011, the Houston Area Glass Association (HAGA) recognized several of its members and a former staffer for their service and dedication to the glass industry…
During its quarterly meeting on 13 January 2011, the Houston Area Glass Association (HAGA) recognized several of its members and a former staffer for their service and dedication to the glass industry. Virginia Lee, who served as the executive director for the Texas Glass Association (TGA), was presented with a gift certificate from HAGA for more than 20 years of service to the glass industry. Lee, who retired from the TGA in April 2010, was previously recognized for her dedication to the industry during the TGA Awards Breakfast, which took place as part of Glass TEXpo 2010. Trina Polaniec of RAM Industries, who has worked in the glass industry for more than 25 years, received a board member appreciation plaque for her years of service on the HAGA board. Polaniec beginning her glass career at Glass Wholesalers, a Mueller Group Company, where she worked for about three years, then joining Bob Lawrence at what is now known as Craftsman Fabricated Glass, where she worked for more than 20 years. She has worked for window manufacturer Ram Industries as an inside sales manager for the past year. Polaniec has served on the board of directors for the HAGA from 2006 to 2010 and on the board of directors for the Texas Glass Association since 2010. She also created the Glass TEXpo logo used at the 2010 event. David Ozment of Binswanger was presented the HAGA 2010 Glass Professional of the Year award. Ozment began working in the glass business as a teenager with his father at Binswanger Glass in 1980, before opening Ozment Glass in Beaumont, Texas. He is currently an account executive for the upper Gulf Coast area and also serves on the Texas Glass Association board of directors, along with volunteering with numerous civic organizations. Ozment was also recognized by Binswanger Glass for 30 his years of service. During the meeting, James Emmert of Dauphin Sales recognized two glass industry professionals from Window Systems of Texas for their years of service to the industry: Stanley J. Kottwitz, in the industry for 50 years, and Tom Rodgers, in the industry for 52 years. J.B. Whisenant from Craftsman Fabricated Glass was also recognized for his 49 years of service.