Meet Our Diamond Certified Expert Contributor

Eric Holder: A Clear Perspective

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Program Reporter

SANTA CLARA — With a family background in the glass and window business, Eric Holder always had a clear view of where his career path would ultimately lead him. “My father worked for this company back in the 1950s and eventually bought out the original owners, so I’ve been around it all my life,” he affirms. “After high school, I went to college and majored in business. By the time I graduated, my dad was at a point where he was ready to retire, so at the age of 21, I took over ownership of the company.”

Today, as owner of Able Glass Company, Eric says his favorite part of his job is taking care of customers. “I get the most enjoyment from achieving customer satisfaction. When a customer calls and is hysterical about a broken or leaking window, it’s very gratifying when we’re able to go out there, take care of the issue and leave them happy.”

Born and raised in the Bay Area, Eric resides today in San Jose with his wife, Shandi, and their three sons, Austin, Dylan and Evan. In addition to the Bay Area’s temperate weather, Eric says he appreciates the diversity of the landscape. “There’s an incredible variety of things to do here, especially since we’re so close to everything. Whether you want to go to the beach, the mountains or the city, you’re just a short drive away.”

Outside of work, Eric takes every opportunity to get outdoors and spend time with his family. “We love going to the beach, and we enjoy going fishing when we can,” he says. “Also, the boys are active in sports, so most weekends we’re attending their baseball or soccer games.” In addition to his sons’ sporting events, Eric likes keeping up with local professional sports teams. “I support all of our local teams, but I attend San Jose Sharks games the most, since they’re right here in town.”

In regard to his professional career, Eric believes in the importance of providing every customer with quality, attentive service. “It’s always been a pet peeve of mine to walk into a business and not be greeted or receive service, so I’m always thinking about my own business from that perspective,” he says. “I try to treat every customer with respect, get them the best value for their money and, most importantly, give them the end result they’re looking for. I just want them to be completely satisfied with everything.”

When asked the first thing he’d do if he could retire tomorrow, Eric says he’d take an extended vacation. “I would take my family on a trip and just get away for a while. Running a business keeps me very busy, so it’d be nice to go to Hawaii and just spend a week or two relaxing on the beach.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant?
A: Holder’s Country Inn in San Jose. My cousin owns it, so I’m there quite a lot.

Q: What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
A: Watch a movie.

Q: What’s your favorite movie?
A: It’s a tie between “Scarface” and “The Godfather.”

Q: Are you an early bird or a night owl?
A: An early bird.

Q: What’s your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?
A: Bacon and poached eggs.