AGRR - March/April 2008 - AGRR Magazine

industry insiderspeople in the newsThe Belron US team poses with CEO Gary Lubner, Belron US chief operatingofficer Rich Harrison and Belron SA chairman Ronnie Lubner. From left toright: Ward, Groves, Gary Lubner, Ehrlich, Harrison, Weger, Fiegel, Cowlesand Ronnie Lubner.KUDOSBelron ® Holds Triathlon forSouth African OrganizationMore than 560 Belron employeesfrom 13 different countries competedin a triathlon in London last August toraise money for MaAfrika Tikkun, anorganization that assists disadvantagedand impoverished communitiesin South Africa.Six of the 560 were from Belron US:• Geoffrey Cowles, computer operatorshift supervisor in Mount Vernon,Ohio;• Brian Ehrlich, production schedulerin Columbus, Ohio;• Brent Fiegel, warehouse lead inDEATHSCRL Vice PresidentAudette Passes AwayC.R. Laurence Co. Inc. (CRL) vice presidentJim Audette, who also served as assistantto the company’s president, passedaway on December 9 at the age of 67. Audettewas with with CRL for 44 years.Audette was heavily involved with thedevelopment of many of CRL’s products. Healso helped create CRL catalogs, and assistedin the design and construction ofmany of CRL’s facilities, both the headquarterscampus and the branch warehouses.“He was a true professional and a greatfriend,” says Don Friese, CRL chief executiveofficer. “He contributed so much tothis company. He was one of the most talentedpeople ever to be a part of CRL. Hewill be deeply missed by all of us.”Audette is survived by his wife, Ramona,and three children.PPG Auto Glass EmployeeKilled in AccidentA PPG Auto Glass employee, EdwardW. Kocian, 61, was on January 25, aftera car accident in Westmoreland County,Pa., while on his regularly scheduledroute. According to reports from thePittsburgh Post-Gazette, Kocian’s vehiclestruck a garbage truck.A statement issued by PPG says companyofficials are in contact with theWashington Township Police and arereaching out to Kocian’s family to provideassistance as needed.“PPG will conduct an investigationinto the cause of the accident and willcooperate with local law enforcementofficials,” reads the statement. “Thethoughts and prayers of all of PPG’s employeesare with the Kocian family asthey seek to cope with this tragic loss.”Kocian is survived by a daughter,Merry K. Kocian, and a son, Michael Kocian,both of Columbia, S.C., and twobrothers, Richard Kocian of McDonald,Pa., and Kenneth Kocian of Pittsburgh.Bell’s GlassOwner Passes AwayJames L. Bell Sr., 58, of Sissonville,W.Va., the owner of Bell’s Auto Glass inCharleston, W.Va., passed away on January29. He worked in the auto glass industryfor 35 years.Bell is survived by his wife, Linda Bell;son, James L. Bell Jr. and his wife, Tina,of Fort Mill, S.C.; a daughter, MichelleSonger and her husband, Kevin, both ofSissonville; a brother, John A. Bell ofCharleston; a sister, Sandra J. Turner ofSissonville; and several grandchildren.Bell was cremated, as was his wish,and a memorial service will be held at alater date.In lieu of flowers, the family requeststhat donations be made to HospiceCare,1143 Dunbar Ave., Dunbar, W.Va., 25064.Harlingen Glass FounderGonzales Passes AwayClaudio Gonzales, the founder of HarlingenGlass Co. in Harlingen, Texas,passed away on February 26 at his home.Gonzales also was a founding member ofthe Texas Glass Association (TGA), a pastpresident of the TGA and a past presidentof the Rio Grande Valley Glass Association.Gonzales, who retired from Harlingen in2001, died of a heart attack at the age of76. He is survived by two daughters, SandraTovar and Jerry Ingles, and five grandchildren.He was preceded in death by hiswife, Dora, who died earlier this year.“We owe Claudio a great deal of thanksfor his efforts to help build the TGA,” saysRay Soliz of Harlingen Glass Co., who alsoserves as a TGA board member and hasknown Gonzales since 1986. “He was veryinfluential—he was a mentor.”Soliz and Gonzales founded two companiesduring their time working together,Custom Glass and Coastal Glass.50 AGRR March/April 2008 www.agrrmag.com