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Gentex Corp Founder Receives National Entrepreneur of the Year

17 November 1998

Gentex Corporation Founder Receives National Entrepreneur of the Year Award

    ZEELAND, Mich., Nov. 16 -- Fred Bauer, chairman and CEO of
Gentex Corporation , the Zeeland, Michigan-based manufacturer of
automatic-dimming mirrors and fire protection products, has been named the
1998 National Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year(R) in the Master
Entrepreneur category.  The honor was bestowed Saturday night at the 12th
Annual Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year International Conference in Palm
Springs, California.
    The Entrepreneur of the Year awards program was founded by professional
services firm Ernst & Young LLP in 1986 to honor outstanding entrepreneurs
whose ingenuity and perseverance have created and sustained successful,
growing business ventures.  It is sponsored nationally by Ernst & Young, the
Entrepreneur of the Year Institute, the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneurial
Leadership, The Nasdaq Stock Market and USA TODAY.  Additional support is
provided by Investor's Business Daily.
    Bauer was selected by an independent panel of judges from the finalists in
the Master Entrepreneur category, which recognizes individuals who have
sustained management excellence over a substantial period of time.  In all,
there were 12 Entrepreneur of the Year winners in various categories.  These
individuals were among 36 finalists culled from the 492 winners of the
regional Entrepreneur of the Year awards programs that were held in June.
    Bauer was recognized for his role in revolutionizing two industries and
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 acquired 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 both honored and humbled," said Bauer.  "There have been times when
my entrepreneurial passions seemed more like a curse than a blessing -- times
that were tough, trying and difficult.  But when awards like this affirm
Gentex's continued success, it makes all the hard work worthwhile.
    "It also serves to validate the accomplishments of the 1,400 Gentex
associates around the world.  They're my true source of pride, because they're
the ones developing Gentex's new and emerging technologies.  My role now is to
take a step back and help foster a corporate culture that can drive sustained
innovation."
    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(TM)(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, Southeast Toyota Distributors and Toyota.
    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.