Black Line Glazing

Company Overview

Black Line Glazing has been in business since 2019, with offices in Salem and Grants Pass, Oregon. In four years, the company grew from only three staff and no work to over 60 employees and two locations.

Leadership:  Darand Davies, CEO; Patrick McConville, CFO; Aaron Davies, COO

Website

Locations: Salem, Oregon and Grants Pass, Oregon

Years in business: Five years

Q&A with Darand Davies

What products and services does Black Line Glazing offer?
We offer commercial and high-end residential, curtain wall, storefront and railings, as well as other typical services for a larger, commercial glazing company. Our projects can range from replacing a closer and a broken window to high-profile, large commercial projects.

What is your company philosophy?
When we started the company, we wanted our motto to be from the Bible; Philippians 2:3-4. We have a large banner as you walk into our fabrication facility and it is on all of our employees’ T-Shirts.

Philippians 2:3-4 says: "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

Another way to say this is to consider the other person’s interests first. In a conflict, what does the contractor want? What are their needs? When our employees have an issue with one another, what does the other person want? When we are able to turn the tables and look through their eyes, life goes better, business goes better. It is amazing when we do that out of humility, what can change.

What are your company's keys to success?

The construction business and those relationships are a marathon built from years of time and not quick, get-rich thoughts.
Do what we say we are going to do, and if we aren’t able to – it is better to say no.
Instead of asking what do we do, or how do we do it, ask why we are in business. Figuring out "the why" makes us a better company (from a book by Simon Sinek).
Always remember we can learn something from anyone. Once we stop learning, it is time to retire.

What’s something your company does that sets you apart from others, or that has been helpful to the way you do business/your bottom line?
Five years in and we’re still working on being ‘uniquely different.’ We have tried numerous things; some have worked out great and others were complete failures. What worked great when we had 3 employees doesn’t always work so well when we grew to 60 employees spread across 3 states, so we keep trying to innovate, adapt, and improve, and hopefully ‘practice what we preach.’

Why did you join NGA?
We joined to support our national industry association that is supporting legislation to make glazing more attractive, rather than something removed from a building envelope. We also joined to participate in technical committees, to receive the latest industry updates, and to take advantage of member discounts on NGA events.

What is a big glass project or accomplishment for your company?

Moving into the California market was big, and early on we picked up a large multi-million-dollar project at Oregon State University when we had no track record and frankly no crew at the time.