Some Old and Some New
By Debra Levy
This issue of AGRR goes to press in mid-February, so we are undoubtedly the last to wish you a Happy New Year full of peace, joy, health and happiness. Though it seems long ago, a new year is always a time for reflection and prediction. So it seems an appropriate time to introduce you to the new AGRR magazine team.
Some of us have been with you for years (or, in my case, decades), and others are relatively new. Still, each has the same goal: providing you with the most important and relevant information about your industry—adding insightful analysis throughout. So here’s a brief look at your 2023 AGRR content team:
Ellen Rogers
Editorial and content director Ellen Rogers has been a quiet force behind all of KMR’s publications for 23 years. A North Carolina native, Rogers now lives in Ohio. Many of the story ideas, issue arcs and special coverage begin with Rogers. She is the winner of numerous journalism awards, including the “Neal” award for outstanding technical writing. You may never have heard of the Neal, but the best way to describe it is as the Pulitzer Prize for business-to-business (B2B) journalism. She met her husband while covering the glass industry, and their family includes a 12-year-old son, a 2-year-old golden doodle, and 6-year old cat. She not only runs marathons outside, but she also runs the deadline marathon every day.
Travis Rains
Assistant editor Travis Rains currently lives out West, in Kingman, Ariz., though he hopes to return East one day. Rains has been writing for AGRR for about a year and says he’s learned a ton about the auto glass industry and how crucial proper work is to vehicle occupant safety. He plans to become an AGSC-certified auto glass tech and is busy visiting shops around the country. Rains is also the editor of AGRR’s daily e-newsletter, glassBYTEs, which he says “is like a newspaper of record for the industry—only delivered digitally.” In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, reading and taking LSAT practice tests in the hopes of obtaining a law degree to go with his journalism degree from the University of Kentucky.
Chris Collier
Also writing for AGRR is Chris Collier, who hails from suburban Atlanta. Collier is an award-winning journalist best known for his storytelling abilities. Collier also edits KMR’s Window Film and PPF magazines and their newsletters. Collier is also quite the sports fan, especially partial to his Atlanta Falcons. He is fearless in his pursuit of a story and loves connecting with readers.
About Me
I will bring up the rear. I have been involved with the auto glass industry going back to the days when butyl was considered the new technology. I go all the way back to PTI and Essex, long before Dow. I remember when NAGS numbers were only available in print, and a guy named Bill Chase ran a company called Shatterproof. It is my honor to be a part of the AGRR industry and report on both its slow evolution and cataclysmic change.
The purpose is more important than longevity, though. My career has been dedicated to advancing the professionalism and prosperity of the auto glass industry and the safety of its customers. It’s a goal I take very seriously and advance every day. I love the industry and its people. It is always an honor to work for you.
To view the laid-in version of this article in our digital edition, CLICK HERE.
