Team Spotlight
Andersen Corporation Recognized as a Yellow Ribbon Company for Commitment to Veterans, Service Members and Military Families
BAYPORT, Minn., Nov. 7, 2019 — The U.S. military has held a special place in Andersen’s history for nearly a century. This November, Andersen Corporation was recognized as a Yellow Ribbon Company by the Minnesota Department of Military Affairs, also known as the Minnesota National Guard, for its commitment to leveraging existing programs and building effective initiatives to support employee service members, veterans and military families. This proclamation builds upon Andersen’s longstanding dedication to supporting military veterans, active duty personnel and the extended families who love, nurture and sustain them throughout their training and deployment.
Beyond the Yellow Ribbon is a comprehensive program that creates awareness to connect service members and their families with community support, training, services and resources. To earn the Yellow Ribbon Company recognition, Andersen put forth a rigorous action plan stating how it will build programs and leverage existing support activities for employee service members, veterans and military families.
“At Andersen, we believe in working all together to make our company and our communities stronger. It’s a privilege to join the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program as an ardent supporter of veterans and military personnel who have dedicated their lives to selflessly serving our country,” said Jay Lund, chairman and CEO of Andersen Corporation. “We are proud of our employees who serve or have served in the military and we look forward to welcoming more service members and veterans to cultivate long careers with Andersen.”
Additionally last month, Lund signed the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Statement, demonstrating the company’s commitment to maintaining the strength and readiness of the Nation’s Guard and Reserve units.
As part of its comprehensive plan, Andersen commits to new and continued programs that:
• Hire, retain and support employees who serve in the reserves
• Sponsor career events for people transitioning from active military duty to the civilian workforce
• Create support plans for deployed employees and their families
• Provide pay differential above legal requirements for employees who are active in the armed forces
• Engage with veteran-owned businesses and work to include diversity in its supply chain
• Focus on aiding veterans’ support nonprofit organizations
“It’s my honor to recognize Andersen Windows and Doors for their commitment to supporting servicemembers and their families by becoming a Beyond the Yellow Ribbon company,” said Governor Tim Walz. “Our service members face unique challenges during and after deployment, and stable employment with supportive companies can make all the difference in easing those difficulties. Minnesota leads on supporting our servicemembers, veterans, and military families with the support of incredible partners like Andersen Windows.”
Furthering its commitment, the company also announced a $25,000 grant from the Andersen Corporate Foundation to Youth Service Bureau in support of its new Military Family Support Program. This program is a direct response to needs identified by the Minnesota Army National Guard and Reserves to assist the families of deploying and returning service members with customized programs and practical solutions to mental health challenges and other obstacles faced by the families of soldiers before, during and after deployments.
The Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Proclamation Ceremony was also supported by Major General Johanna Clyborne, deputy adjutant general for the Minnesota National Guard, Annette Brechon Kuyper, director of military outreach for the Minnesota Department of Military Affairs, and Tom Simonet, chair of the ESGR-MN, a Department of Defense office.
Historical Andersen Military Stories
Andersen has been a longstanding supporter of our country’s armed forces.
During World War I, under Fred Andersen’s leadership, Andersen suspended normal business operations to produce more than 200,000 window frames for barracks and other military buildings. Employees also manufactured thousands of target frames used in gunnery practice. By 1918, the plant devoted its entire attention to the war effort, suspending normal business. Fred’s sister, Mary “Molly” Andersen, also created the first American Field Service recreation camp for U.S. military nurses in Europe during the first World War.
During World War II, Andersen redesigned its Narroline® double-hung window to eliminate 97 percent of critical materials for the war effort, aptly naming it the Victory window. Andersen also contributed to the war efforts by producing wooden ammunition boxes. In recognition of these efforts, Andersen earned two prestigious Army-Navy “E” awards, an honor presented to companies whose production facilities achieved “Excellence in Production” (“E”) of war equipment.
About Renewal by Andersen
As the start-to-finish window replacement division of Andersen Corporation, Renewal by Andersen’s Signature Service is committed to giving you the best customer experience possible, through the perfect combination of the best people in the industry, a superior process, and an exclusive product through one of the largest nationwide networks of window replacement specialists. For a complimentary in-home consultation, or to view more information about Renewal by Andersen visit www.renewalbyandersen.com.
About Andersen Corporation
Headquartered in Bayport, Minnesota, Andersen Corporation and its subsidiaries manufacture and market window and door products under the Andersen®, Renewal by Andersen®, EMCO®, Weiland®, MQ™ and Heritage™ brands. Andersen, a privately held company, was founded in 1903 and employs more than 8,000 people with manufacturing sites in North America and Europe. Andersen has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2018 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award. Visit us at andersencorporation.com.
Renewal by Andersen Media Contact:
Adam May
651-264-5006
adam.may@andersencorp.com
Andersen Media Contact:
Eliza Chlebeck
651-264-5978
eliza.chlebeck@andersencorp.com
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"I cannot think of enough positive things to write about our recent experience with the entire team at Renewal by Andersen of Philadelphia. We had 24 original steel casement windows in our 100 year house that were difficult and costly to maintain. For 10 years I had resisted the idea of replacing them. I asked our handyman who is as honest as the day is long to replace 13 cracked panes and to re-glaze those panes where the glazing was peeling off or cracked.
After spending a great deal of effort and time to replace one pane, he told me that it would be prohibitively expensive to repair the windows and recommended replacing them. I saw a Renewal by Andersen ad in our local paper in early August. I researched many different window replacement manufacturers. Living in a National Historic Neighborhood, we have to adhere to strict guidelines on any renovation to our home. I was immediately impressed with the reviews that I read of Renewal by Andersen and the Fibrex material, as well as the ability to custom build windows that would meet the required replacement specifications of our neighborhood.
The quality of the install was impeccable from the difficult task of removing 100 year old steel casements and replacing with our new Windows. I felt completely comfortable with them being in our house even if I was not able to be there all the time. The house was left immaculate after the project was completed. While Replacement by Andersen Windows are not inexpensive, the quality of workmanship and beauty of the windows are second to none. I consider this to be an wise investment. The windows have greatly enhanced the beauty of our home both inside and out. I wish that we had done this sooner."
“We were so pleased with our experience! We live in an old, 1880's house, with extremely large windows.
I have a point and shoot thermometer, and so I was able to see just how cold the air was around our windows. You could feel the breeze if you stood near them in the winter! And it was virtually impossible to keep our house warm in these cold Upstate NY winters. We had to keep our thermostat 3-4 degrees higher than we wanted just to make it tolerable.
We are amazed at the difference the installation has made. We've lowered our thermostat 3 degrees and are much, much more comfortable than we were before.We used to have to bundle our kids up and now they don't need an extra sweatshirt just to watch a movie in the living room.
Another benefit that we weren't even expecting is noise reduction. We live on a reasonably trafficked road, and had always lived with the ambient noise. It was incredible to walk into our house the day the work was done, it was measurably quieter. We love this side effect!
The crew was great, courteous, and responsive throughout. They did a very thoughtful job caring for our home. If you got home after they left, you wouldn't have even known that they'd been there! It was a great standard of care and we are loving the result of the work.
The house looks great. We live in a historic district, so we are required (and would insist even if we weren't required) for the home to look identical from the sidewalk before & after the work.
They did a perfect job making the windows look just like they belong in our historic Victorian home!
Thanks!”
