New Owner Preserving Legacy of Service
Richard Lyon moved to Bend in June 2013 when he was preparing to close on his purchase of Bend Commercial Glass (BCG). Lyon’s 15 year background in commercial real estate development and ownership of an architectural signage company in Seattle prepared him well for a leadership role in his new company.
Lyon explains, “The thing I bring to the table that has the most value for BCG is my background working with developers, contractors, project managers, architects and business owners. I understand the construction process and the business risks involved in getting the job evaluated, bids prepared and complete the work.”
Lyon spent plenty of time in his former business pursuits learning to understand the value of all the small details. “Although I’m new to the door and window industry, my background working with the process of satisfying customer’s expectations and understanding client’s needs allows me to provide my team the leadership to get the job done.”
When one acquires a new business the road is not always smooth nor fast. Lyon looked at many different local businesses to purchase for nearly two years. He says, “I started looking in 2010, but the local economy was really in the doldrums. Finally, in late 2012, I met Tony Wahlberg at BCG. Tony had owned BCG since 1999 and had been kicking around the idea of selling the business and retiring. Tony and I worked through the spring and summer on the deal and on July 24 this year we closed on the sale. I was fortunate enough to have a great working relationship with Tony. I guess I came along at just the right time to purchase the business.”
But Lyon is quick to add, “I have the general skill set that lends itself to what we are doing at BCG but the key thing is I could not have bought this business if I didn’t have the outstanding team in place that I have here. I have a full operations team from my excellent project managers, CAD technician and 10 glaziers. I have the full team with all the skills and experience necessary to be successful and to grow.”
As the new owner, Lyon is making a few changes to the business, based upon the input and considerable experience of his team.
“When we reorganized the floor plan, production flow and equipment placement, everyone had good ideas and input about how to be more productive. They are all operational experts, so I told them my general vision and they came up with and executed the plan. The final layout is already showing more efficiency and better work flow with the ability to assemble larger products like the curtain wall assembly for the new Cancer Center wing at St. Charles Medical Center.”
Managing numerous high level construction products can be intense and complicated, “Our team has excellent management capabilities with years of cumulative experience in the glass industry. Our top management people are Trevor Shores as senior project manager and general manager for the commercial door and hardware division, Tim Sullivan as operations director and Nick Ricketts as project manager and service department manager. Collectively they have over 75 years experience in the glass glazing and commercial door business.”
As construction subcontractors, BCG provides commercial windows, storefront systems, doors and door hardware, skylights and curtain wall systems to contractors and their clients for both tenant improvements and new construction projects. This includes the commercial door and hardware division which is also part of BCG.
Lyon is intent on continuing with the legacy of exceptional customer service that BCG provided under the previous ownership of Wahlberg and General Manager Gene Caverhill. Lyon adds, “We are looking at every aspect of the business to improve the service that we provide to our customers. Times have changed in the construction industry which is now leaner and more focused on financial risk mitigation. This is evidenced by tighter contracts and new requirements that favor responsive and professional subcontractor partners.”
To keep in step with the new leaner construction industry Lyon offers, “In addition to renovating the shop, we have invested in new equipment, purchasing an efficient double-headed programmable fabrication saw and are in the process of revamping operations in the commercial door and hardware division to be more efficient.”
Business has improved with many new projects in the region. Lyon says, ”We have a solid backlog of work on the books for future business with projects like the COCC Redmond Technology Center, the new K-8 school in Warm Springs and Suterra’s new manufacturing facility in Bend.”
Looking forward to new projects isn’t the only thing on Lyon’s mind as he explains about the service department of BCG, “A good portion of BCG’s business comes from small companies and mom and pop business owners needing repairs to windows, Doors, or storefronts. BCG also provides the Central Oregon business community with a 24 hour service department that is available for business owners, landlords and property management firms.”
Lyon says, “There is a lot of competition in the glass business so you have to be well organized and have well trained guys to do the job. My goal since acquiring BCG has been to have a seamless and transparent transition. Keeping that in mind, we are working hard to continue the legacy of customer service that our team has provided in the past, and to continuously make improvements to better serve our clients.
Bend Commercial Glass Commercial Door & Hardware
1105 SE Centennial St., Suite B, Bend, Oregon.
www.bendcommercialglass.com, 541-585-4527
Owner/President: Richard Lyon
No. Employees: 18
Year Established: 1988
Product/Service: Storefronts, Closers, Curtain Walls, Sloped glazing, Mirrors, Skylights, Kalwall Translucent Panel Systems, Horton and Record Automatic Entrances, Medical & Industrial, ICU Doors, Heavy Equipment Glass, Security Glazing, X-ray Glass and Fire-Lite Glazing. Commercial Door & Hardware provides Hollow Metal Doors and Frames, Wood Doors & Frames, Access Panel Doors, Bathroom Accessories, Interior Knock Down Frames, Anemostat Litekits & Louvers, Commercial Hardware and we change out locks and re-key.
Outlook for Growth: There is a positive outlook for growth for 2014 and beyond as the regional economy improves. The two divisions are seeing improvements in efficiency with the newly renovated shop and new state-of-the-art equipment that will allow for faster turnaround for customers and contractors in Central Oregon.
