Fred Bauer, Chairman and CEO of Gentex Named Master Entrepreneur of the Year
19 June 1998
Fred Bauer, Chairman and CEO of Gentex Named Master Entrepreneur of the Year
ZEELAND, Mich., June 19 -- Fred Bauer, chairman and CEO of
Gentex Corporation , the Zeeland, Michigan-based manufacturer of
automatic-dimming mirrors and fire protection products, has received
Michigan's Ernst & Young Master Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The honor was
bestowed last night at a formal awards ceremony in Dearborn, Michigan.
Michigan's Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award(R) is one of 47
regional programs sponsored by Ernst & Young, the Entrepreneur of the Year
Institute, the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, The Nasdaq
Stock Market and USA TODAY. The award honors outstanding leaders of growing
businesses who have also demonstrated excellence and extraordinary success in
innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses
and community. The Master Entrepreneur of the Year award recognizes
individuals who have sustained management excellence over a substantial period
of time.
Bauer was recognized for his role in revolutionizing two industries and
literally inventing a third. His business career began in the heating and
cooling industry when he founded Simicon, a manufacturer of sophisticated
electronic furnace control units that was snapped up by Fortune 500 giant
Robertshaw Controls in the early '70s. He then went on to found Gentex
Corporation, revolutionizing the fire protection industry with the invention
of the world's first photoelectric smoke detector. Gentex is perhaps best
known today for inventing the world's first automatic-dimming rearview mirror
for automobiles.
Gentex Night Vision Safety(TM) (NVS(R)) automatic-dimming mirrors are
based on the science of electrochromics, which is the process of reversibly
darkening materials by applying electricity. During nighttime driving, the
mirrors use a combination of sophisticated sensors and electronic circuitry to
detect glare from rearward approaching vehicles and darken accordingly to
eliminate the glare and protect driver vision. Gentex sells its mirrors to
nearly every major automotive manufacturer, helping make nighttime driving
safer around the world.
"I'm humbled by this award because I can't take all the credit," said
Bauer. "I consider this to be a tribute not just to me, but to all the
individuals who have helped make Gentex what it is today.
"If I've done anything over the years, it's to ensure that the philosophy
of 'meaningful innovation' is infused throughout the organization. I believe
innovation needs to meet a specific customer need in a way that's never been
done before. Equally important, however, is that we leverage those things
that set us apart from the competition -- the technology, skills and resources
in which we have expertise. Gentex is a success today because we continually
reinvent ourselves and our products while exploring new ways to employ
meaningful innovation.
"What I take pride in the most is seeing this philosophy not only bring
value to the customer, but also to consumers, stockholders, employees and the
community. Knowing that Gentex helps support so many people is a great source
of personal satisfaction."
Bauer was one of 10 businesspeople statewide honored from a field of more
than 40 finalists. He is now eligible for the national Entrepreneur of the
Year Award competition in Palm Springs, California, which takes place in
November.
Gentex Corporation is an international company that provides high-quality
products to the worldwide automotive industry and North American fire
protection market. The Company develops, manufactures and markets proprietary
electro-optic products, including interior and exterior electrochromic,
automatic-dimming Night Vision Safety (NVS(R)) automotive rearview mirrors
that dim in proportion to the amount of headlight glare from trailing vehicle
headlamps, and an extensive line of fire protection products for commercial
applications.
Gentex was the first company in the world to successfully develop and
produce a commercial electrochromic mirror for the motor vehicle industry.
The Company is the leading supplier of these mirrors to the worldwide
automotive industry. Gentex customers include Audi, Bentley, BMW, Chrysler,
Daewoo, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Gulf States Toyota, Honda, Hyundai,
Infiniti, Kia Motors, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Porsche,
Rolls Royce and Southeast Toyota Distributors.
Founded in 1974, Gentex operates out of three facilities in Zeeland,
Michigan; an automotive sales office in Livonia, Michigan; automotive sales
and engineering subsidiaries in Germany and Japan; and five regional U.S.
sales offices for the Fire Protection Products Group. The Company is
recognized for its quality products, its application of world class
manufacturing principles, for its commitment to developing and maintaining a
highly skilled workforce, and for encouraging employee ownership of the
Company's stock.