Today we’d like to introduce you to Rick & Ron Bertolami.
The JB Sash & Door Company, Inc. was founded and incorporated in May 1940 by Joseph Bertolami, John Bertolami and John McAllister. Joseph Bertolami was the company’s first president and was the motivating force in making JB Sash & Door a specialty mill for the reproduction of custom-made windows and doors. Many of JB Sash & Door’s custom products can be found in historically significant buildings in and around the City of Boston.
With the 1950’s and 1960’s came the retirement of both John Bertolami and John McAllister. The sons of Joseph Bertolami began to take a more active role in the business. Carmelo, Ugo and Sal Bertolami realized that the company needed to expand beyond supplying the building industry with custom window and door products. They began making inroads by supplying standard and stock window and door items. Dealing more with contractors and homeowners opened a new phase for the company. JB Sash & Door was now able to continue on a path of supplying custom wood window and door products, while offering many fine standard building materials.
Upon the passing of Joseph Bertolami and the retirement of Carmelo Bertolami, it became critical that JB Sash & Door acquire a new product to compete with the ever changing window business. In 1982, Ugo Bertolami became instrumental in developing a vinyl clad replacement window. Ugo and Sal patented this unique extruded vinyl covering with the natural beauty of wood on the interior. The product became an instant hit by featuring insulating glass, weather-stripping and tilt action for ease of cleaning.
To promote the replacement windows and the company itself, Sal Bertolami contracted the services of former Boston Red Sox Great Johnny Pesky. Through the medium of radio and television, the two – Pesky and Bertolami – became known as the “Window Boys.”
It was through these media promotions and the implementation of new products that the company outgrew its factory and warehouse.
In December 1985, JB Sash & Door expanded to a modern, 50,000 square foot showroom and manufacturing facility on Second Street in Chelsea. It was shortly before this move that current owners and cousins Rick & Ron Bertolami joined the company. The focus of the company changed with the move to Chelsea from primarily supplying products manufactured by JB Sash to providing national brands such as Marvin and Andersen. The new facility established JB Sash as one of the area’s largest stocking dealer of Andersen products. It also is the home to JB Sash’s Marvin & Integrity Windows and Doors Showcase. Here, architects, builders and homeowners are able to view full size displays, in real home settings, to help them visualize how these products will complement their new home or home improvement project. This state-of-the-art Showroom along with their knowledgeable and dedicated sales force has helped make JB Sash the #1 Marvin & Integrity dealer in Massachusetts.
JB Sash also continues to manufacture custom doors and windows in our Chelsea location. Their manufactured products are seen primarily in the historic neighborhoods of Boston where they have been approved as an accepted product by the Boston Historic Commission. JB Sash & Door offers a turnkey installation program for both the historic products as well as the Marvin and Andersen lines, giving homeowner customers a one-stop solution for their door & window needs.
Although Rick and Ron Bertolami are very proud of the past accomplishments of JB Sash, they continue to look for new ways to stay ahead of the curve in the Greater Boston Door and Window market. They have recently installed a state-of-the-art paint facility allowing JB Sash to offer prefinished door and window products to their customer base. JB Sash is also in the midst of a major showroom renovation for all their products that will enable them to provide customers with a world class experience for all their window & door needs.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There are always challenges running a business. The industry continues to demand more energy efficient products, laws and regulations change which makes it difficult at times to keep on top of the changes but we have managed to find ways to meet these challenges through the hard work and dedication of our employees.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
We owe a lot to our previous owners who established such a solid foundation for our company. Our grandfather and founder, Joseph Bertolami, as well as his partner John McAllister, established JB Sash as an important player in the custom window market of Boston. Our uncle, Carmen Bertolami, was an important contributor before sickness forced his early retirement. Our true mentors were our fathers, second generation owners Ugo (Ron’s father) and Sal (Rick’s father) Bertolami. Aside from the talent and foresight with which they ran JB Sash, they taught us both valuable lessons on how to treat our customers, our suppliers and most importantly our employees. We also owe a huge debt of gratitude to Johnny Pesky, former Boston Red Sox great, who represented our company on our radio and television ads so well for so many years, as well as all our past and present employees who have given so much to JB Sash.
Contact Info:
- Address: 280 2nd Street,
Chelsea, MA, 02150 - Website: www.jbsash.com
- Phone: 617-884-8940
- Email: info@jbsash.com
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