People

Wausau Window and Wall Systems
Armed with a Six Sigma/Lean manufacturing Green Belt, Brian Vanden Heuvel says he’s working up to his most significant career accomplishment: the Fall 2008 opening of Wausau’s new manufacturing center that will consolidate company operations. He’s directing and implementing staffing and facility improvement for the center, currently under construction. “The new facility will fulfill a key step in the company’s strategic plan,” he says.

As operations manager, Vanden Heuvel is responsible for production of window, door and curtain wall systems. He oversees three plants in the areas of production, manufacturing engineering, facilities and maintenance, tool and die room, traffic and shipping, and customer communications.

“I really enjoy the opportunity to contribute to Wausau’s continuous improvement in all areas of the business through the utilization of Six Sigma and Lean tools,” Vanden Heuvel says. Green Belt recognizes proficiency with Six Sigma principles focusing on better quality at a lower cost, and Lean manufacturing practices that work to reduce process time, he says.

As a Green Belt, Vanden Heuvel led a project that improved Wausau’s in-house testing. “To meet the industry’s most stringent requirements, we conduct intensive in-house testing of custom mock-ups and standard product certifications in our test chambers,” he says. “It’s critical that our customers’ product selections meet, or exceed, the intended performance requirements, which means testing is a key area of concentration for our continuous improvement efforts.”

Vanden Heuvel’s career began more than 20 years ago as a production scheduler for Black & Decker. “As I gained experience in supervision and facilitation, more opportunities to grow developed for me. I was able to transfer and build upon these skills when I first joined Wausau as a plant manager in 1998, through training and mentoring from others,” he says.

Outside of work, Vanden Heuvel spends time with his family, is an active member of his church and an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers.

Brian Vanden Heuvel
Education: 1987, Bachelor of Business Administration, production/operations management, University of Wisconsin,   Whitewater

Career: 2007-present, operations manager, Wausau Window and Wall Systems, Wausau, Wis.; 2006-07, plant manager, Greenheck Fan Co., Schofield, Wis.; 2005-06, project manager/team leader; 1998-2005, plant manager, Wausau Window and Wall Systems, Wausau Wis.; 1987-98, progressive positions leading to operations manager, Black & Decker, Beloit, Wis.

Personal: Age, 43; born in Appleton, Wis.; married, four children

Diversions/hobbies: Family, church, Green Bay Packers

Connections: 1415 West St., Wausau, WI, 54402, bvandenh@wausauwindow.com, 877/678-2983, www.wausauwindow.com.

Glaston Corp.
 

 Finland’s Glaston Corp. officials announced two appointments. Henrik Reims, senior vice president, One-Stop-Partner Deliveries and member of the Executive Management Group, will report to Mika Seitovirta, president and CEO. He previously worked for IBM Finland and has project management, customer solutions delivery and process re-engineering experience. Günter Befort, senior vice president, Software Solutions, will develop the company’s One-Stop-Partner offering. He  continues as managing director for Albat+Wirsam  Software AG of  Germany, acquired by Glaston last year.

Edgetech

Nicholas Robinson took the position of technical project manager at Edgetech I.G. of Cambridge, Ohio. He will chair the development resources Screening Task Group, plan and manage projects, act as a liaison to the Technical Steering Committee, and coordinate and assist with insulating glass test unit manufacturing. Most recently he worked for Moss Supply Co., Charlotte, N.C., as project engineer, and has spent seven years in the fenestration industry. He earned a Bachelor of  Science in mechanical engineering from Kent State University, Ohio.

AGC Flat Glass North America

Officials from AGC Flat Glass North America Inc. of Alpharetta, Ga., promoted Steve Micheli to vice president, Fabrication. He succeeds Eric Rapp who will transition to a consulting role. Micheli will continue as acting director of the Residential Fabrication division. Previously, he was senior vice president of manufacturing and fulfillment for Safelite Group, Columbus, Ohio. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and a bachelor’s in business management from Tiffin University, Ohio.

Vistawall

Ed McMahan joined Vistawall Architectural Products, Terrell, Texas, as a Houston sales representative. He has 25 years sales and sales management experience in commercial glass and glazing. He previously worked for Arch Aluminum & Glass Co. at its Magnolia, Texas, and Tamarac, Fla., locations.

Schott Corp.

Gerald Fine became president and CEO of Schott Corp., Elmsford, N.Y. He will coordinate and develop North American business activities. He joined as vice president, business development of Schott North America in June 2007. Previously, he was an engineering professor at Boston University. He holds a bachelor’s in geology from Amherst College, Amherst, Mass., and a doctorate in geology from the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena.