Meet Larry Withrow
Vitro Certified® Network Coordinator, Vitro Architectural Glass
This fall, we’re celebrating a major milestone at Vitro – one of the very best kinds to observe. November 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of Larry Withrow joining Vitro (formerly PPG Glass). Throughout his two decades of incredible work across the organization, Larry has developed expertise in both glass and sealants that serves him well as Process Manager Certified Programs within our outstanding technical services group.
Larry joined the PPG Glass organization as part of its insulating glass sealants team but eventually became an account manager and began to experience face time with glass customers. Then, he joined the solar technology group and was part of the team that helped develop and perfect Starphire® glass.
“By making Starphire® glass a better product for our solar purposes, it ultimately made Starphire® glass a better product on the whole,” Larry says.
These days, Larry’s work within the Technical Services department primarily involves conducting audits of Vitro Certified® Network members’ facilities, including scheduling site visits and providing results and reports so our partner fabricators can access good information about their performance year over year. Larry also offers support in the field, helps to resolve issues at our partner locations and connects them with the Technical Services team’s robust educational resources.
“Our Technical Services team routinely goes through our technical education resources to make sure they’re up to date and useful, from our onsite training programs to virtual offerings for glass handling, washer maintenance and so much more,” says Larry. “We hope our Vitro Certified® Network members will take these resources and customize them to meet their specific needs – it's often as simple as adding in your own imagery, and you’ll have your own tailored resources for your workforce in both English and Spanish.”
Larry believes constantly learning something new is what has been most helpful in a successful career with Vitro.
“I think what’s allowed me as an individual to grow – and for Vitro to grow as it has throughout the industry – is that we get as much out of our audits as our customers do,” he says. “We’re constantly learning and working to improve. We welcome our customers’ feedback. What are we doing well? What do we need to improve on? It’s a two-way street, and those conversations are necessary and important in our efforts to produce better products, services and training.”
In addition to working closely with Vitro Certified® Network members, Larry also plays a role in product development at Vitro – most recently with our new Sungate ThermL™ glass. Designed for use on the interior surface of a typical one-inch insulating glass unit (IGU), Sungate ThermL™ glass is a low-e coating that dramatically improves U-values when paired with a Solarban® solar control low-e glass on the second surface.
Larry and his teammates were instrumental in researching and developing the technology that makes Sungate ThermL™ glass possible, as well as facilitating product testing and producing documentation and data sheets. Perhaps most important, Larry helps with the release of new products by connecting with our customer audience to solicit feedback and make sure that Vitro’s releases meet a specific need and are ready to be taken to market.
“Creating Sungate ThermL™ glass was a great experience,” said Larry. “Our team worked really well together and everyone put in their best effort, from developing the product internally to moving it out into the field and working directly with our customers to address their needs and make the best possible product.”
If there’s one thing to know about Larry, it’s that he’s always happy to chat.
“When I’m onsite with Vitro Certified® Network members, I like to talk through everything to make sure they understand what we covered before I depart,” he explained. “Especially when it comes to probation or potential improvements. We see our relationships with Vitro Certified® Network members as an educational opportunity for all – we go into audit process to help them get better, which in turn helps us get better.”
When Larry isn’t on the road offering support at Vitro Certified® Network member locations, he likes to get outdoors by going camping with his wife and three sons throughout the Pacific Northwest (where he calls home) or catching a University of Washington football game – in fact, he’s been a season ticket holder for 35 years.
He and his family also like visiting Norway, where his wife and her family originated. In 1994, the entire family visited for the XVII Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer, which Larry described as “the most perfect venue,” and witnessed the opening ceremonies along with figure and speed skating events.
If you’ve got a technical question for Larry’s team – or you’re simply interested in chatting about winters in Norway – you can reach out to him at lwithrow@vitro.com.
