By Richard Smith
Ernest Nevarez
Special to Independent Newsmedia
Milam Glass has been in Arizona since 1969, but on Monday the company took a major step toward making Surprise its new home.
Milam Glass Co. President Alex Nevarez Sr. speaks during a ground breaking event for Milam Glass Co. Monday, April 17, at the future site of the glass company near Peoria Avenue and 132nd Avenue in Surprise. (Jacob Stanek/Independent Newsmedia)
The company broke ground on a 22,000-square-foot office/warehouse in the city's Skyway Business Park, 10801 N. 132
nd Ave. Currently, Milam Glass is based in southwest Phoenix. With the Partnership of LGE Design Build, the company's new headquarters will be faced almost completely in glass.
State legislator Tony Rivero (District 21) and Surprise councilmen Skip Hall, Ken Remley and Todd Tande were among those in attendance.
Originally started as a three-man residential glass company by founder Bill Milam it slowly transitioned into a commercial glass and storefront company by 1977 when Frank Hagan purchased the Business.
“At the time professionalism and customer satisfaction were something construction companies didn’t have in their core values it was who can get the job done the fastest and cheapest; here at Milam Glass we wanted to change that,” Mr. Hagan stated in a press release.
Soon he hired Eli Nevarez Sr. as an employee. Mr. Nevarez is and now the company's owner/president following Mr. Hagan's retirement in 2014.
The company has provided the glass facades from several buildings in Scottsdale and Phoenix.
“It was that very same relationship that Frank and I formed that cemented Milam’s third value; relationship building. What do construction companies do? We build, but we can’t do that without the partnership of our contractors, subcontractors, architects and owners. So, our relationships have to be stronger than our buildings," Mr. Nevarez stated in a press release.
Editor's Note: Ernest Nevarez is the HR Director and Business development manager for Milam Glass.
