2009 30 under 40 winners

JR Grau, 38

Regional sales manager, Basco Shower Enclosures, Mason, Ohio

Grau has worked for Basco for more than half of his life, a situation he credits to strong leadership and a family-friendly work environment at the company. “I’ve known the owner, Mr. [William] Rohde, my entire life. He can walk out onto the shop floor with 100 employees and know them all. He earned their respect and that means they work harder for him. That’s the philosophy I use with my customers. I know their concerns, and I know what they’re dealing with on a day-to-day basis.” Grau’s father worked for Basco for 47 years before recently retiring, and he joined his dad at the company when he was 17 years old.
Grau believes this family approach to the business will keep Basco strong in tricky economic times. “I’ve been here 22 years and it always seems to continue to grow. Even in a tough economic year, we’re still holding our own as a manufacturer. So that’s something very positive.”

The company’s commitment to its employees is easily transferred to its customers, he notes. “Being successful is attending to customer needs. Being in customer service gave me a totally different perspective about why Basco is so successful in shower doors. It’s one of the reasons I’ve always stayed—not only their attention to the employees, but also to the customer.”

One-word description of the glass industry: Technical
One-word description of self: Innovative
Career history: 2007-present, regional sales manager, Basco Shower Enclosures, Mason, Ohio; 2007, customer service/quality control, Basco; 2006-07, branch manager of service center, Basco, Baltimore, Md.; 2003-06, installer, Basco, Mason, Ohio; 1998-2003, customer service administrator, New England area, Basco; 1995-98, technical service administrator, Basco; 1988-95, lead fabricator, Basco; 1987-88, packaging/material handler, Basco
Education: 1988, Bethel-Tate High School, Bethel, Ohio
Diversions: Hanging out with his kids, riding four-wheelers
Family: Wife, Michelle; two sons, Doug, 10, and Zach, 4, and a daughter, McKenzie, 7
Favorite book: Dr. Seuss books. “They keep my kids interested.”
If a movie were made about your life, who would you cast to play you? “I was told Vince Vaughn.”
Connections: 7201 Snider Road, Mason, Ohio 45040, 800/543-1938, jrgrau@bascoshowerdoor.com, www.bascoshowerdoor.com
 

 
Return to main page