By Cynthia Koons
Now the advice that brought him to his position as president of Crystal Window and Door Systems, based in College Point, will be publicized nationally in entrepreneur and reality-TV star Donald Trump's new book, “The Way to the Top.” “New York City has lots and lots of buildings, many windows,” Chen said. “I thought I could make windows for all of New York City.”He has used that spirit to build a manufacturing company that employes 300 workers, 70 percent of whom are Chinese immigrants from the surrounding Flushing neighborhood.”My parents told me to remember my roots,” Chen writes in his chapter in the book, “And over the past 15 years this has proved to be much more than a lesson in humbleness. It is a very sound way of conducting business and managing people.”In his office building, there are traditional ornate Chinese windows and doors lining the stairways. A signs by the lunch room encourages workers to “be determined to find a way to succeed.””I think most important is how they treat people, how they deal with people,” he said of teaching his sons about his business. His two sons, Steven, just three years out of college and currently working in the company, and Johnson, still in college, could potentially assume responsibility for the business someday.”Like the book said, we always need to remember who's helping us and who's important for the business,” Chen said.Crystal Window and Door Systems is not just located in Queens, there are arms of the business in Missouri, New Jersey and Shanghai.”Efficiency is the most important,” Chen said. And then correcting himself, “efficiency and quality is most important.”Chen works 12 hours a day, every day, putting a few less hours in on Sunday. His interests outside of windows and doors are reflected in a small art gallery the company houses. “I like art and many people in Crystal, they like art, too,” Chen said. “Local artists, especially if they come from China, they don't have a place to show, so we let them exhibit here.”The gallery is open to the public on Saturday and Sunday. Currently photography is on display.Chen's connection to the Chinese and Taiwanese community in Flushing is strong. A farmer's son who grew up in rice fields and has no formal education beyond high school in Taiwan, Chen offers on-site English classes to his employees. In the lunchroom, the scent of homemade Chinese food is strong, and the most common, if only, languages heard are dialects of Chinese.He said language and cultural barriers stand in the way of immigrants' business careers in the United States. For Chen, the title of his chapter in Trump's book is “Remember Your Roots.””I am certain that remembering old roots has made putting down new roots here in America all the more meaningful and more successful,” his chapter concludes.Reach reporter Cynthia Koons by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 141.
