VEKA Inc - North America
Erik Shay has a diverse range of work experience spanning over three decades. Erik started their career in the U.S. Navy, where they served as a Nuclear Submarine Officer and achieved recognition for their outstanding performance. After leaving the Navy, Erik worked as a Technical Services Manager at Schneider National, where they managed maintenance procedures and developed relationships with key customers. Erik then transitioned to Corning Incorporated, holding various supervisory roles, including Line Leader and Fiber Processing Section Supervisor. Erik later joined CertainTeed Corporation, where they served as Production Manager, Plant Superintendent, Plant Manager, and eventually Product Development Manager. Erik then briefly worked as a Validation Engineer at Commissioning Agents, Inc. Currently, Erik holds the role of VP Operations and COO at Veka Inc, where they oversee all North American operations and manages approximately 500 operations personnel.
Erik Shay earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Naval Academy, where they attended from 1983 to 1987. Later, from 2000 to 2002, they pursued a Master of Science degree in Business Administration from Auburn University.
VEKA Inc - North America
VEKA is a global leader in PVC/vinyl extrusion for the window and door, fence, deck and railing industries. Since 1983, VEKA has been helping fabricators deploy technologically advanced materials for residential and commercial building applications. Founded in 1967 as Vekaplast, VEKA began producing roller shutters out of a fifteen thousand square foot rented facility. Two years later, one of the original employees, Heinrich Laumann purchased the company and began designing window systems, the first of which were unveiled in 1971. Six years later, VEKA was able to build a revolutionary manufacturing site which was hailed as a technological marvel in its time. Today, in addition to this first facility, ten other sister facilities operate in eight countries on three continents. VEKA's U.S. operations also had modest beginnings in 1983. The company quickly outgrew its rented facility, as the demand for its high-quality vinyl products grew rapidly. In 1987, VEKA constructed the industry's first highly automated computer-controlled compounding and extrusion complex dedicated solely to the window and door market. By 1994, that facility had undergone two expansions and seen the addition of a two-story office building., bringing its floorspace total to 465,000 square feet. In 1995, the company built VEKA West, Incorporated, A revolutionary new, highly automated facility near Reno, Nevada which serves Canada, Mexico and the Western U.S. In 2006, VEKA South located in Terrell texas was established to provide the southern United States and Mexico with quality VEKA extrusions.