Lee & Cates Glass was founded in 1926 by the brother-in-law combination of Thomas Lee and Raymond Cates. We are celebrating our 86th year in business this year with many fourth generation individuals involved in the operation of the business. We currently have fourteen retail locations providing a full service product line of auto glass, residential glass & mirror products, and commercial replacement and repair. Along with the retail centers we operate a central mobile auto glass division, a commercial glazing division, and a flat glass fabrication plant serving that all serve the Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia markets. Our involvement in the National Glass Association goes back as far as I can remember. My guess is some 50 years or so. I readily remember my father attending the glass association national meetings in such glamorous locations as Detroit, Michigan. My father’s active involvement in the association was a precursor to my getting heavily involved including a stint on national board of directors. The NGA offers a tremendous line of products and services to member glass companies along with the annual trade show now called Glassbuild.
All the good programs aside my biggest gain out of the association has to be the friendships and contacts I have made along the way. The ability to call a friend in Texas, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, California, Maryland, Massachusetts, and many other states is invaluable not only as business confidants but friends as well. We all have the same issues it is just a different magnitude depending on the sizes of our markets and businesses. Conversations may have lengthy time spans in between but when they occur it is with the knowledge that we are trying to give one another quality feedback. This not only helps me professionally but more importantly keeping my personal life in check. With this roller coaster of an economy and all its happenings a faith in God along with good friends and family will get you through times that are not for the squeamish.
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