Joe Barnes Marks 40-Year Career at Bendheim, Company Holds Celebration in His Honor
Bendheim Honors Employee’s Lifetime Achievements and Dedication to the Stained Glass Indusry
Bendheim recently celebrated the service and achievements of Joseph “Joe” Barnes, during his 40 year career in the company’s Art Glass division. More than 100 colleagues, customers and friends from New Jersey, New York, Kentucky, Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Ohio and Vermont attended Joe’s party to honor his lifetime of dedication to the stained glass industry.
Joe’s career in the stained glass business has spanned 65 years. After serving with the Marine Corps in Japan during World War II, he found his first glass job at Leo Popper’s, importers of specialty glass, almost by accident. After Popper closed its doors around 1970, Joe joined Bendheim to work in customer service, glass selection, cutting and delivery.
Joe became a favorite among many glass artists through his knowledge of glass, commitment to customer service, and his genuine love of people. During his career at Bendheim, he selected glass orders for customers from around the world and offered much needed “how-to” advice.
Joe was the inaugural recipient of the American Glass Guild’s “Lifetime Achievement Award,” now presented annually as the “Joe Barnes Lifetime Achievement Award.”
“Everyone who has ever met Joe has appreciated his kindness and willingness to help. He has touched the lives of thousands of people throughout his career,” said Robert Jayson, President of Bendheim. “For Joe, it did not matter whether you were a young artist just opening a glass shop or a member of an established studio. He treated everyone as if they were the most important customer.”
Over the years, Joe has seen Bendheim grow from a small, family-owned stained glass business to a national leader in specialty glass serving the international architectural and design community with five divisions, thousands of glass products, and extensive processing capabilities. He will be retiring from Bendheim in early 2011 to begin a new chapter of his life. He plans to move back to his hometown in North Carolina to join his family and pursue his dreams of travel. He also hopes to stay in touch with friends, colleagues and customers.
About Bendheim
Bendheim is one of the world’s foremost resources for specialty architectural glass. Founded in New York City in 1927, the fourth-generation, family-owned company offers a virtually unlimited range of in-stock and custom architectural glass varieties. Bendheim develops, fabricates, and distributes its products worldwide. The company maintains production facilities in New Jersey and an extensive showroom in New York City
