Chris Young: Keeping it in the Family

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

CAMPBELL — A third-generation participant of his family’s window and glass company, Chris Young takes pride in continuing the legacy established by his grandfather. “My grandpa started J & M Windows & Glass in 1974, and my dad took over in the mid-1980s,” he recounts. “I first got involved in 2008. I was a couple of years out of high school and the economy had just taken a dive, so I came in to help and ended up staying. I like working for the family business and carrying on my grandpa’s legacy. I think that’s the main motivation for me—to keep it going.”

Today, as sales manager of J & M Windows & Glass, Inc., Chris says his favorite part of his job is the variety. “I like the fact that I get to see a lot of different homes and meet people from different walks of life. When you’re exposed to that kind of variety every day, it certainly keeps things interesting.”

A resident of Saratoga, Chris spends most of his time outside of work on two principal pastimes. “My main hobby is dirt biking, which I do at least a couple of times a month, provided I’m not injured,” he laughs. “I’m also an avid disc golfer and a member of the Silicon Valley Disc Golf Club. As a nonprofit organization, we’ve built three disc golf courses in San Jose, and we’re currently working on another in Cupertino. We also sponsor holes and hold clean-up days at local courses, so it’s a really neat thing to be a part of.”

In regard to his professional career, Chris references a piece of wisdom passed down from his forebears. “One thing I learned from my dad, which he learned from my grandpa, is the importance of doing things right the first time,” he shares. “Even if that means it takes longer, it’s better to invest that time into doing something right than to compromise quality by taking a shortcut. It’s a simple philosophy, but I think it applies to just about every aspect of our business in one sense or another.”

When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Chris says he would invest more time toward his hobbies. “I’d go dirt biking and disc golfing more often, for sure. I’d also travel more. In particular, I think it’d be fun to do a tour of different disc golf courses all over the United States.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What’s your favorite TV show?
A: “The Office.”

Q: Have you ever read a book more than once?
A: “Where the Red Fern Grows,” by Wilson Rawls.

Q: What’s your favorite snack?
A: Trail mix.

Q: If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future?
A: I would go back to the 1970s, because that’s my favorite decade in terms of music.

Q: What’s your favorite band?
A: The Allman Brothers Band.