ALL WEATHER WINDOWS’ SANDY VAN SOMEREN Achieving community support and leadership in Alberta's window industry Canadian Design and Construction Report special feature Sandy Van Someren began working in the window in- dustry more than 30 years ago. She built her career through mentorship and a desire to learn and is now business development manager for Southern Alberta for All Weather Windows, Canada’s largest privately-owned window and door manufacturer. Van Someren started out driving a truck and perform- ing service work in Red Deer, Alberta. “I was hired by the manager despite the fact he said ‘girls don’t usually do this kind of work’,” she says. After a year on the road she moved to the order desk, gained a deeper knowledge of products and began net- working with the local builders. Surrounded by ‘great builders’ who taught her about the industry and their own businesses, in her mid-20s she joined management and got involved with the Central Alberta Home Builders Association, serving as director and president. She says the Red Deer community supported her. People were pleased she wanted to learn, were happy to answer questions and took time to teach her about the industry. “I had great success with the builder group and along the way was able to find great mentors to teach me and help me along.” Van Someren moved to Calgary to become the com- pany's international sales manager, later becoming her former employer's branch manager. She then joined All Weather. Van Somersen has noticed more women entering the field, but they share the common challenge of her pioneering experiences – she says she has a sense women have to work harder to be suc- cessful. “It may be an intangible and more of a feeling, but it takes a commitment to hit both business and personal targets,” she says. Van Someren says women must partic- ipate and be engaged in the industry's so- cial community. “If you want to be seen as professional that professionalism has to be maintained through every event, every gathering, and every time you are in the presence of your colleagues.” Sandy Van Someren Van Someren says the industry is vibrant and chal- lenging. “In this industry you need a depth of knowledge of the market, understanding economic indicators…. It is a challenge to stay up on but keeps things interest- ing.” She suggests women align with a company with similar values, such as integrity and family support. She says women often have a keen eye for detail and can multi- task, with different strengths from their male colleagues. “That differ- ence and the value of that differ- ence is now being recognized and sought after by companies so it presents a great deal of opportunity for women in the industry.” For more information about All Weather Windows, visit allweather- windows.com. The Canadian Design and Construction Report — Spring 2014 – 41