2009 30 under 40 winners

Garret Henson, 39

Director of sales, Western region, Viracon Inc., Owatonna, Minn.

After 15 years in various selling positions for Viracon, Henson continues to be excited and challenged by his job. “When you’re sitting on an airplane and you tell people you put glass on buildings, it doesn’t sound that exciting. But every building is unique and every customer’s expectation is different, so it’s always so fresh. Our industry is always changing so it’s not like you’re doing the same thing over and over. Yes, glass is glass, but there continue to be so many different things you can do with it.” Henson was encouraged to apply for a job by Viracon’s founder and owner, Jim Martineau, and continues to be challenged by his mentor Brad Austin, senior vice president of sales and marketing.

Business trends are constantly changing but Henson says he relies on the basics of good customer service to help the company grow. “It’s just not in my DNA to know everything, but the principles of taking care of the customer or client better than your peer will win you more business than you’ll lose.”

His other secret weapon for building customer relationships? Playing a lot of golf. “I’m a golf junkie. I have so much fun taking customers out to experience rounds of golf. You learn so much about other people, and yourself.”

One-word description of the glass industry: Resilient
One-word description of self: Energetic
Career history: 2005-present, director of sales, Western region, Viracon, Owatonna, Minn.; 2002-04, director of international sales, Viracon; 2000-02, international sales/business development manager, Viracon; 1994-99, architectural field sales representative, Mountain Time Zone, Viracon, Denver, Colo.; 1993-94, inside/outside sales trainee, Viracon, Owatonna, Minn.; 1992-1993, independent real estate agent
Education: 1992, Bachelor of Business Administration, finance and real estate, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, N.M.
Diversions: Golfing, traveling, hanging out with his two sons
Family: Wife, Tanya; two sons, Samuel, 6, and Drew, 3
Favorite book: Anything by John Feinstein
If a movie were made about your life, who would you cast to play you? Matt Damon
Connections: 800 Park Drive, Owatonna, MN, 55060, 507/451-9555, ghenson@viracon.com, www.viracon.com

 
Return to main page