The following article is summarized from Economic Forum, dated October 26, 2001, and written by Robert Hugo Adams, Minority Business Review, Inc.
"Like many successful immigrants, Mr. Chen has looked upon America as a place where a person's dreams can come true. Chen realized many years ago that there was a great opportunities in America, if one could acquire the skills and resources necessary to take advantage of those opportunities. A native of Taiwan, Chen came here not able to speak the language, without an extensive education, and no money. However, like many other immigrants, he accepted whatever employment he could find, went to school, saved his money and pursued his dream. Twenty years later, Chen is the owner of a majoring manufacturing company worth close to twenty billion dollars. Chen is also a major pillar of the Chinese American community, not only in Flushing and New York, but also across the nation.
The initiative and energy are welcome in America. If you understand what is needed and are willing to work hard to meet those needs, the potential for success in America is unlimited.
After years of hard work improving his language skills, perfecting his technical skills and saving his money, Chen and a dew associates gained an opportunity to start a window manufacturing company. They make their product perfect with skills and provide employment to people to help the community grow with him. Business development is a universal immigrant saga. It is the development of businesses that finally wins acceptance. It is business development that finally puts a new community on a solid footing. It is business development that allows an individual or a group of individuals to come to the table and make a significant contribution to the community, the area and the nation.
Mr. Chen built Crystal Window and Door Systems, Ltd. His company became one of the major manufacturers of Northeastern United States, and that position made him and his associates welcome wherever they went and whatever they pursued. In building his business, Chen has redefined America. Chen has created an America where Chinese is as American as apple pie. He has not taken a piece of the pie. He has created a new pie that provides the opportunities for many others to obtain a piece of the action. Chen built Crystal by emphasizing American business culture. He has not let his race, culture or background stop him. Product and price make race irrelevant. The nature of business is the common denominator. Chen has contribute to the community with a newly creative apple pie to provide employment for hundreds of people in Flushing to improve economic benefits. Looking at Americans like Thomas Chen, we realize that America is made up of much more than the descendants of English, Irish, German, French and other European settlers. So many different peoples have come here and blended their contributions with what have gone before. We are now truly a spectrum of human characteristics and a mosaic of human creativity. America is all of us together, all of our histories and cultures, all of our knowledge, skills and abilities.
After September 11, 2001, Mr. Chen has become more active in the community by feeling more responsible to help rebuild New York. He felt New York must be rebuilt so that it can continue to be the beacon of hope, opportunity and success that it has been to the rest of the world. Mr. Chen said, First of all, we feel that America is the best place to do business. It has given us great opportunities, for instance, to form Crystal Windows. Having received so many benefits from America, especially from New York, we feel that we have to take the responsibility for helping the government and people overcome this crisis. We have been beneficiaries. Now it is time to give back. We are trying to be a role model for the community. Mr. Chen donated 1% of monthly sales from September through the end of December to assist the victims of September 11's disaster. Crystal employees themselves have donated or pledged over $13,000 in support of the relief effort.
Under Mr. Chen's effective management and direction, Crystal Window & Door Systems is one of the top 80 manufacturers of replacement and new construction vinyl and aluminum window and door products in North America. Crystal serves markets in New York and 15 other states along the East Coast and in the Midwest. Crystal introduces new line of products, i.e. residential entrance doors, sunrooms, aluminum extrusions, thermal bright value added to shaped aluminum, and heavy commercial windows. Crystal has won many national award and growed rapaidly fast. Crystal is starting to make windows for the NYC School Construction Authority(SCA) and Dormitory Authority, etc.
Crystal Window & Door Systems is always presented as a Minority company. Being an immigrant, Mr. Chen is comfortable with other immigrants, especially in terms of the workforce, the smaller contractor, and the customer base. Crystal demonstrates the importance of having successful Minority firms in Minority communities. It is 20% Spanish-speaking, 75% Chinese and 5% Black, Indian and White. Crystal also advertise in a lot of the ethnic newspapers, and foreign language newspapers.
On September 11, New York and the nation received a terrible blow. We will survive it because of the resiliency of citizens, like Thomas Chen and his associates. We need to appreciate such individuals and we need to remember that we possess the important human resources because we have appreciated diversity and opportunity for all."
