Bill Sullivan, President & CEO Brin Glass Company
Bill Sullivan, President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board for Brin Glass Company, has spent 37 years building into Brin’s legacy, a midwestern leader in the glass and glazing industry. Bill cares deeply for his employees and the customers they serve. His commitment and passion for developing people and growing the company, led him to adopt EOS in 2020, changing the operating mindset of the entire company and preparing the leadership across all five entities of Brin Glass for maximum growth and impact. How Bill turned his first job into a 37-year opportunity made Scouts Talent curious to learn more…
If you could try a different job for a day, what would you choose?
I have the best job in the world so that’s hard for me. If I had the talent, I would have been lead singer in a rock band.
What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry?
This would go for anyone and any industry. It’s the same advice I shared with my children when they started their careers. Find a skill that gives you energy and then find a job or career that provides you the opportunity to leverage that skill. Your work life cup will be “full”. Also, become an active listener. Becoming a good listener allows you to “hear” what is creating the heartburn which leads to better decisions. It has served me well in all of my roles at Brin.
What is your mantra?
Everyone in our organization is a “salesperson” regardless of the role. This includes traditional customer facing roles as well as field installers and shop fabricators. How we perform for each job has a direct correlation to how our clients view our company.
How do you get yourself out of a slump?
I like to stay active, so finding success from a workout or a round of golf usually gets me out of a funk. It doesn’t take much, so my slumps don’t last long.
What companies or leaders do you admire?
I admire anyone who has built a successful business and has done it with integrity and the respect of their employees. I get inspiration from leaders in my peer groups, and the leaders within our company.
What has been the biggest shift you’ve noticed in your industry in the last decade?
Automation. The lack of skilled tradespeople has forced us to automate to address having fewer skilled people to accomplish certain tasks. I don’t see this trend reversing itself, and we need to motivate young people to join the trades.
Who has been most instrumental in your career?
I would say my former partner, Doug Nelson. He hired me right out of college and presented many opportunities to advance my career. I learned the importance of building relationships and surrounding myself with successful people.
What is your go-to celebration meal, drink or tradition?
A charbroiled steak and a bottle of red wine. Finish it off with a slice of carrot cake.
