A Columbus business that has operated for more than 70 years gets the spotlight this week.
John McCormick, owner of Kenny Glass, Inc., will host this month’s SPARK Columbus event Thursday at his business, 5240 U.S. 31 North. The two-hour event begins at 5:30 p.m.
Founded by Kenny and Ann Kimbrough in 1945 near the corner of Seventh and Washington streets, Kenny Glass moved to the area of 6th and Jackson streets in 1947.
Tom and Georgia Webb, who bought the full-line, full-service glass company in 1973, sold in to McCormick when they retired in September 1995.
Three years after McCormick acquired the business, the northeastern Ohio native sold the downtown location. Cummins Inc. now operates a parking garage where the business stood for more than 50 years.
After opening the current location on the north side of the Lowell Addition in 1998, the company experienced significant growth that includes opening new locations in Greenwood and Seymour.
From 2014 to 2015, Kenny Glass experienced a 20 per-cent growth in business, which allowed McCormick to add a full engineering staff and an architect.
That achievement earned the company the Innovation Award from the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce in September 2015.
Awards given to Kenny Glass for community involvement include being honored in 2009 by Turning Point Domestic Violence Services.
The Spark presentations are a partnership of the Chamber of Commerce and the IUPUC Center for Business and Economic Development.
Admission to Thursday’s event is free. People who plan to attend can register right up to the event by either going to the chamber’s website or by calling 812-379-4457.
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SPARK Columbus March event
When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday
Who: John McCormick, owner of Kenny Glass
Where: Kenny Glass, 5240 U.S. 31 North
Cost: Free, but registration is required. To register, go online at columbusareachamber.com or call 812-379-4457.
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