Bendheim Welcomes Fourth Generation to Family Glass Business

With less than 3% of all family businesses spanning into their fourth generation (Family Business Institute), Bendheim is proud to welcome Benjamin Jayson, the first fourth generation family member to join the company and carry on the family’s glass tradition.

Founded in 1927,Bendheim has grown into one of North America’s foremost importers and fabricators of specialty architectural glass, and continues to be a family-owned and operated business. According to Forbes, family businesses are a powerful economic engine, contributing 57% of the U.S. GDP, employing 63% of the workforce, and generating 78% of all new job creation. With Ben’s arrival, Bendheim joins a select minority of U.S. family businesses that have grown and diversified over the decades to create lasting value for future generations, generate employment opportunities for American workers, and advance domestic manufacture.

Ben’s glass education began at an early age, learning about colored glass from his mother, an acclaimed stained glass artist. During his teen years, Ben spent his summers at Bendheim, working in the stained glass division. He learned the business from the ground up, selecting orders and racking and packing cases, among the hundreds of varieties of patterned and colored glass.

Today, Ben begins his next phase of glass education with the unique opportunity to work in Bendheim’s manufacturing facility, gaining first-hand knowledge and understanding of the different product lines and glass production processes. Just as importantly, Ben will have the opportunity to form strong working relationships with the people that make the company run. Following training in the plant, he will work in each of Bendheim’s subsidiaries and departments, learning all the facets of the business. Upon completion of this all-encompassing program, Ben will move into management and continue the tradition of unparalleled commitment to glass knowledge, innovation, and excellence, for which Bendheim has been known for over 85 years.

“Having been a part of Bendheim since the 1950s, I have watched this company thrive and develop into the successful and innovative specialty glass provider that it is today. I confidently passed the torch to my three sons in the 1980s, and am now proud again, as a grandfather, to see the younger generations take an interest in our family business,” said Fred Jayson, former Bendheim President. “Ben comes to us now with global business experience, and there is no doubt he will be able to bolster the value of this company and help us continue to grow and fortify the organization for generations to come.”

“Even from a young age, Ben always had a strong motivational drive to pursue his passions. It’s an exciting time for Bendheim as Ben combines that drive with his corporate background to help guide the company toward new endeavors,” said Robert Jayson, President of Bendheim. “Ben’s presence here adds a new dimension, and we are all excited to see how his knowledge and personality will take the business to new levels.”

Ben earned a Bachelor of Science in International Business Administration from Northeastern University in Boston Mass., graduating magna cum laude with a triple concentration in finance, marketing, and accounting. Prior to joining Bendheim, Ben worked 4 ½ years as a financial planning analyst at General Electric Water & Process Technologies, after completing GE Energy’s rotational Financial Management Program (FMP). Led by senior GE professionals and mentors, the FMP is considered to be one of the premier early career management programs equipping the selected participants with exceptional technical, financial, and business skills. Prior to GE, Ben worked at Schüco International KG in Germany, Europe’s largest manufacturer of window, door, and glass façade systems. Ben’s internship in Shüco’s Corporate Communications department allowed him to study the architectural glass industry and sharpen his business and language skills.