AWA Nominated for Most Innovative Program for Crystal Achievement Award for 2006

The American Window Alliance as a team of fabricators helped save a member's business after Hurricane Katrina.

In late August of 2005 the American Window Alliance was on a professional retreat in Whitefish, MT with members of the AWA which is a group of independent vinyl window manufacturers who service the eastern US.

One member of the AWA is Alliance Windows of Louisiana owned by Paul Huston and located in Slidell, LA. Huston made an emergency trip home as the hurricane approached. His top customer, Kris Anderson of Advanced Building Products which distributes the Alliance window brand in Harahan, LA was also on the trip and returned home to board up his business and evacuate from the area. The results of that hurricane have been well documented and both of these businesses were at risk as their employees scattered and their physical plants were damaged by water and/or wind.

The AWA members immediately saw a need and so they raised nearly $60,000.00 through company and employee contributions to aid the hurricane victims employed by these companies. Huston and Anderson used these funds to provide aid and comfort for their most needy employees.

The AWA even sent technical support teams from member fabricator sites to Slidell. The AWA team of technical experts refurbished and repaired equipment damaged in the storm even as another hurricane approached. Evacuation orders were ignored by these dedicated professionals in order to finish the job.

Due to the effective emergency planning and leadership of Huston and Anderson and with a little help from their AWA friends, both companies are today back on their feet, growing their sales and are examples of what private businesses can do for each other in times of need.

Members include:
Pro Windows, Little Rock, Arkansas
BMD, N. Kansas City, MO
SYRON, Syracuse, NY
Yale Windows, Dayton, OH
Midway Industries, Chicago, IL
Mathews Brothers, Belfast, ME
Stergis, Walpole, MA
Alliance Windows of LA, Slidell, LA
Alliance Windows of NJ, Mt. Ephraim, NJ

Members include:
Pro Windows, Little Rock, Arkansas
BMD, N. Kansas City, MO
SYRON, Syracuse, NY
Yale Windows, Dayton, OH
Midway Industries, Chicago, IL
Mathews Brothers, Belfast, ME
Stergis, Walpole, MA
Alliance Windows of LA, Slidell, LA
Alliance Windows of NJ, Mt. Ephraim, NJ