CHICAGO – Glass America is proud to announce that Chris Hanson, a London, Ohio resident, will be competing in the 4th annual Auto Glass Technician Olympics (AGTO) November 7-8, 2008, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Hanson is the store manager of the Lewis Center, Ohio location of Glass America, a national windshield repair and replacement company.

The Auto Glass Technician Olympics is a competition among the top auto glass technicians from across the US.  This annual event plays an important role in the auto glass replacement and repair industry, and provides technicians with the opportunity to showcase their skills and techniques through a premier competition and educational demonstrations.

Glass America’s Chris Hanson is confident and excited about heading to Las Vegas.  The first-place AGTO winner will receive $10,000, a gold medal, trophy, and bragging rights as the “World’s Best Auto Glass Technician.” The second place winner will receive $1,000 and a silver medal, and the third place winner will receive $500 and a bronze medal.

A second-time competitor, Hanson explains that one of the most important aspects of AGTO is promoting the Auto Glass Replacement Safety Standards, also known as AGRSS.  Hanson also appreciates the competitive nature of AGTO, because it provides auto glass professionals with the opportunity to be observed and critiqued by a technical judge in the industry.

“Each competitor needs to follow the same AGRSS standards that we follow each day at work.  Glass America trains all of their technicians to follow protocol during every repair and windshield installation, so I’m already very comfortable with the process.  The only difference is, on a normal work day, there isn’t a clock running, or a judge following me with a checklist.  I’ve been reviewing the requirements and my score sheet from last year, to see what I can improve on.  You have to keep your nerves at bay, and stay organized with a game plan so that you make good use of your time.  We only have an hour and a half time limit to perform the job, maintain safety, and verbalize the steps of the job to the ‘client’ while demonstrating good customer service,” says Hanson.

Hanson has lived in London, Ohio for ten years with his wife, Aimee, and their two children, Brandon and Nicholas.  Hanson has been in the windshield business for almost 15 years.  The Lewis Center Glass America location has served local customers since 2004 at 9032 Cotter Street.  The shop is conveniently located near the intersection of Route 23 and is within a mile of Polaris Fashion Place Mall.  To schedule a repair, please call (614) 841-0077. 

About AGTO

AGTO is co-sponsored by AGRR magazine and the Independent Glass Association.  IGA members are committed to the professional and ethical installation of glass in a safe and proper manner; members are located in all 50 states and also in ten countries internationally.  Each one of Glass America’s 90 shops is officially a proud member of the IGA. 

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