By Elliot Novess
Western Herald
Robert and Thomas Trainor’s lecture “Entrepreneurship in a Global Economy: A Family Experience” gave Western Michigan University students a look at how a family business can survive, change and thrive over 57 years.
The Trainor’s lecture was held March 11 in Schneider Hall’s Brown Auditorium was a self-reflection of their family dynasty. Their visit was a part of WMU’s Haworth Business College distinguished lecture series.
Robert and Thomas were also accompanied by their brother Ed, who works for the company and is also a WMU alumnus. Seven members of the Trainor family have graduated from WMU. Robert Jr. graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Thomas earned his bachelor’s of business administration in 1984.
“Their lives were deeply touched by this university,” WMU President John Dunn said to the crowd before the lecture.
In 1953 their father, Robert Trainor Sr., started Trainor Glass in Chicago. Trainor Glass fabricates and installs glass products and aluminum framing systems in new construction, building rehabilitation, office interiors, and custom work. The slogan “No job too large, no job too small” was on their first company brochure and is still used today.
“We do not want to be the biggest but the best,” Robert said, recalling one of his father’s sayings.
Before Robert and Thombs came to WMU, their father gave them insight into the business world. All family members held blue-collar jobs in the company before moving into their leadership positions. Robert Jr. has been the chief executive officer since 1995. Thomas was named company president in 2008.
“We had to pay for our own classes,” Robert Jr. said. “We worked for school.”
Conservative growth is why Trainor Glass has become a leader; this philosophy gave their company a good position during tough times.
“In the ‘70s glass was attacked as an energy hog,” Robert said.
Today, glass is considered not only aesthetically pleasing, but studies have shown that letting more light into a building decreases absenteeism at work, according to Robert.
Trainor Glass has shown the ability to be a leader and innovator in their field. In 1992 they sold the first hurricane impact glass system. In the late 1990s they began contracting with China. There they found the advantages of low cost labor and automation allowed buildings to be manufactured in a factory and then assembled on site. Rather than having all of the fabrication and assembly take place on site.
“We shipped in six buildings,” Robert said. “Whole facades in Chicago.”
The Haworth Business School presented Robert and Tom with commemorative WMU clocks at the conclusion of their lecture. A dinner for attendees after the lecture gave students a chance to rub elbows with the Trainor family.
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