Good Morning America … from Simonton Windows!
PARKERSBURG, W. VA. – Viewers of the popular ABC national morning show, Good Morning America, learned about the recent rehiring of Simonton Windows® employees on the show’s Friday, August 7th broadcast at 7:05 am. The segment, which included interviews with a rehired West Virginia Simonton employee along with company president, Mark Savan, was taped late on Thursday evening at Simonton’s Ellenboro, W. Va. plant.
“We received the call from a producer around noon on Thursday that they were interested in covering this story because it reinforces a positive element in the economy,” said Gary Pember, marketing vice president at Simonton. “The team at Good Morning America stressed an interest in showcasing how companies are putting employees back to work. And, at Simonton, we perfectly fit that profile.”
For the show, Simonton employee Mandy Stewart was interviewed. Originally hired in 2005, Stewart, a glazing operator, was laid off on December 30, 2008, because of a slowdown in business. Fortunately, with business building back up during the second quarter of 2009, Stewart was rehired by Simonton on June 15, 2009. Stewart’s husband Christopher, who also works for Simonton Windows, had also been laid off and returned to work after three-months of unemployment. Altogether, 263 hourly employees have been offered reemployment by Simonton in West Virginia this year, plus another 139 employees in Illinois.
“Based on the successful return of seasonal product demand during the second and third quarters, plus the positive sales resulting from the tax credit incentive available to homeowners from the U.S. government, we’ve been in a good position to rehire every hourly employee in West Virginia and Illinois who had previously been laid off,” says Pember. “That’s more than 400 employees back at work. We’re also looking to hire 55 additional seasonal employees right now to help with production of our products.
“The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has certainly provided an incentive for homeowners to purchase energy-efficient replacement windows. We’re fortunate that many homeowners are selecting our Energy Tax Credit (ETC) glass packages that are guaranteed to meet the qualifications for the tax credit. That increase in business has allowed us to rehire our employees and look for new employees.”
ABC’s Good Morning America, which has more than four million viewers each morning, aired the segment as part of a feature story entitled “Jobs Report: Is Anyone Hiring?” To view a copy of the segment from Friday morning’s broadcast, go to http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/ and click on the segment title on the home page. To view the release on Simonton rehiring workers, visit http://www.simonton.com/TopMenu/Press/Press
Simonton Windows produces ENERGY STAR® qualified replacement and new construction windows and doors, including a line of impact-resistant products. Simonton was ranked #1 in quality in the 2009, 2007, 2002 and 1998 Brand Use Studies sponsored by Builder magazine and has won three Best In Class Awards from Market Research Associates.
Founded in 1946, Simonton’s hallmark has been to deliver its made-to-order products in five days or less. Part of the home and hardware business of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE: FO), Simonton delivers award-winning products nationwide to key markets throughout the 48 continental United States.
Simonton is a founding sponsor of The Weather Museum and a supporter of Homes for Our Troops. For information, call (800) SIMONTON (1-800-746-6686) or visit www.simonton.com.
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