WARROAD, Minn., April 30, 2010 – Marvin Windows and Doors was honored yesterday as “Family Business of the Year” by the University of St. Thomas’s Opus College of Business.

The prestigious award, given by the college’s Center for Family Business of the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship, recognizes Marvin for 98 years and four generations of business success coupled with ongoing family leadership and community involvement.

“We’re honored and humbled to be recognized with this award,” said Jake Marvin, Chairman and CEO of The Marvin Companies. “In our modern economy, it’s more important than ever to have companies that recognize the timeless values of quality, integrity and commitment to families, employees and communities.

“As I look back, I realize that much of what we all learned about business, we learned from our father at the dinner table,” Marvin said. “The values he taught us every day are the same values we strive to uphold in running our business.”

Based in Warroad, Marvin employs more than 5,000 workers at seven factories in five states. The company is the world’s largest manufacturer of made-to-order wood and clad wood windows and doors.

Marvin was founded in 1912 by George Marvin, who opened a lumber and cedar business in Warroad. George’s son, the late Bill Marvin, led the company through a period of remarkable growth beginning in the 1950s, growing Marvin from a regional supplier into an internationally renowned maker of premium windows and doors.

Bill’s six sons and daughters picked up the leadership mantle. Ten members of the fourth Marvin generation are currently working within the Marvin family of companies and some are in leadership positions.

Ritch Sorenson, Opus Endowed Chair in Family Business and Academic Director of the Family Business Center, and Bill Monson, Director of the Family Business Center at the University of St. Thomas, say, “Our recognition reflects three areas of excellence: business, family, and community.  Marvin has a track record of innovation, financial performance, quality, customer loyalty, sensitivity to environmental issues, mutual respect and commitment to employees.  Multiple family members across the generations have worked in the business and fourth generation family members are being prepared to assume leadership.  The company reflects the culture, values and talents of its origins in Warroad, Minnesota, and represents the best qualities of family business.”

Since 1989, the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship has recognized outstanding individuals and companies that personify the spirit of entrepreneurship and demonstrate excellence and ethics in their pursuits.

Marvin’s “Family Business of the Year” award was given at the 2010 Annual Entrepreneurs Award Dinner in the Schulze Grand Atrium of the University of St. Thomas School of Law on the Minneapolis campus.

Marvin Windows and Doors has been honored with the advertising industry’s top award for creative excellence in business-to-business advertising.

Awarded annually by American Business Media, the Creative Excellence in Business Advertising (CEBA) Awards are recognized as the industry’s highest honor for B-to-B advertising.

Marvin was honored for one in a series of ads for its myMarvin program, which features noted designers and architects creating dream windows based on their personal inspirations. The winning ad, by Minneapolis agency Martin/Williams, features garden home designer P. Allen Smith and his creation, a window based on a theme of intertwining vines, flowers and leaves. A video on the making of the ad can be seen here.

“Marvin has always been recognized not only for the technical quality of our windows and doors, but also for their beauty and innovation,” said Brett Boyum, Marvin’s director of marketing. “This award highlights the creativity that goes into everything we do, whether it’s a window or an advertisement.”

The winning entries were highlighted in a special insert in October issues of Adweek and Brandweek.

Marvin's Ultimate Push Out Casement Window

The Crystal Achievement Awards recognize unique innovations in product technology, manufacturing and marketing. Each year’s award winners are featured in the September issue of Window & Door magazine.

Introduced at the International Builders’ Show in January 2008, the Ultimate Replacement Casement has a host of innovative features. Chief among those is the wash mode, made possible with commercial-grade hardware. In three simple steps, the exterior of the window can be rotated making it possible to easily clean the exterior of the window from the interior of the home.

Options and choices for the Ultimate Push Out Casement and Awning abound. An optional simulated check rail and taller bottom rail allow the window to look like a double hung, but perform like a casement—a valuable option for homeowners who want to match their home’s current architectural style, but who prefer a casement’s operation and performance.

Window & Door also recognized myMarvin.com with a Crystal Achievement Award. The Web site launched in February with window creations from five of the world’s leading artists, architects and designers. Each of the five provided a sketch of their window creation, and Marvin built a window from that. By showing what Marvin is capable of, homeowners, builders, remodelers and architects can become inspired to use their own creativity in designing a home.

The Ultimate Lift and Slide Door was recognized as one of 2009’s 100 Best New Products by Professional Builder. This award is for the elite products of the year that serve builders with their ingenuity.

Ultimate Lift and Slide Door

Built to impress, the Ultimate Lift and Slide is built on a track system that allows door panels to open up a room while leaving the view intact. The Ultimate Lift and Slide’s large sizes are perfect for homes that seek to integrate indoors and out. The maximum panel size is six feet by 12 feet with minimums of 30” by 51” when more of a pass through opening is required. Even with these large sizes, the Ultimate Lift and Slide operates easily thanks to its hardware.

Marvin is honored to be recognized with these industry awards. Even in these challenging times, Marvin continues to produce great new products for our customers. Honors like the Crystal Achievement Award and the 100 Best New Products are an industry recognition of our innovation and service.

• This is Marvin’s second Crystal Achievement Award in three years.
• The Venting Picture Window was honored for its innovation in 2006.
• The Crystal Achievement Awards recognize unique innovations in product technology, manufacturing and marketing.
• Each year’s award-winners are featured in the September issue of Window & Door magazine.

Introduced at the International Builders’ Show in January 2008, the Ultimate Replacement Casement has a host of innovative features, including:

• The wash mode is made possible with commercial-grade hardware.  In three simple steps, the exterior of the window can be rotated making it possible to easily clean the exterior of the window from the interior of the home.
• A simulated check rail mimics the look of a double hung make it a window that can replace any window.
• Availablity in large sixes: up to 40″ wide  x 92″ tall or 36″ wide x 96″ tall.
• The Ultimate Replacement Awning and Ultimate Replacement Picture Window are also available to add to the design flexibility.
• Installation is easy, thanks to its narrow jamb.
• 0 degree, 8 degree and 14 degree beveled frames are offered to match perfectly into nearly any new or existing opening.

“The Ultimate Replacement Casement is the top window in its class. We listened to our customers who wanted large sizes, wide open views, and easier operation, but also needed design flexibility to match other windows in their houses.  The Ultimate Replacement Casement is the answer to those needs and more.”

Thomas Goetz, Senior Product Planner, Marvin Windows and Doors

“When so many headlines are gloomy, it’s a real pleasure to put the focus on new products and technologies that highlight creativity and ingenuity and the growth potential of our industry. Our Crystal Achievement Award winners this year are delivering some real new options to homeowners,”

John Swanson, editor/associate publisher, Window & Door Magazine

• Marvin Windows and Doors makes wood and wood-clad sliding and swinging patio and French doors.
• With many divided lite options, wood species and numerous claddings, casings and colors, Marvin has the unique ability to make patio doors to fit any sort of home.
• Marvin Entry Doors are handcrafted by artisans in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
• Made with the finest woods, such as true Honduran Mahogany and Honduran Cedar, Marvin Entry Doors come in seven styles, but can be completely customized.

The BICA was developed by MRA to recognize outstanding performance in studies conducted by the firm.  BICA winners are selected for consistently high quality rankings and remarkable customer service as established by over 1,500 building trades’ professionals.  These professionals included window and door distributors, home builders, remodeling contractors and building materials retailers.

For this survey, building trade professionals were interviewed using an unaided, out-bound telephone method.  Only those individuals who have direct responsibility for purchasing entry and/or patio doors were interviewed.  Sixteen different attributes are tested on each brand mentioned by respondents.

“We are thrilled to be a BICA winner.  Marvin’s quality patio doors are the finest in the industry and we are pleased to know that those surveyed for this award agree with that.”

Brett Boyum, Director of Marketing, Marvin Windows and Doors

“Marvin Entry Doors are the threshold to luxurious living and we are honored that our customers think so highly of us.”

Brenda Baumann, Entry Doors Marketing Manager, Marvin Windows and Doors