Local Villanova Grad Honored

BLUE BELL, PA — (September 26, 2003) — Sam O’Brien, senior project leader at the CertainTeed research facility here, was recently selected to win the Saint-Gobain Corporation “Volunteer Recognition Award.” The award was presented at a special ceremony held recently at a local restaurant.

The award recognizes employees and retirees of Saint-Gobain Corporation (of which CertainTeed is a part) whose volunteer efforts are clearly extraordinary and encourages employees and retirees to help improve their community through volunteerism. While extending recognition to employees, the award also includes a $1,000 contribution to each of the organizations the employees and retirees serve.

“This award recognizes not only our employees’ and retirees’ commitment to volunteerism, but also their enthusiasm and concern,” says Jean-François Phelizon, president and chief executive officer of Saint-Gobain Corporation. “Their contributions demonstrate outstanding public service and serve as a role model for other employees and retirees.”

O’Brien won the award for his eight-year involvement with Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County, for which he currently serves as a member of the building committee.

“In addition to his work with us, Sam also helps to involve his congregation in donating the cost of building one of the homes,” says Anthony DelVecchio, Habitat construction manager. “Anything we ask of him is always performed with confidence and joy.”

A resident of Norristown, O’Brien joined CertainTeed in 1969. He has a degree in electrical engineering from Villanova University.

Saint-Gobain Corporation’s Volunteer Recognition Award is open to all U.S. and Canadian employees and retirees of the company. In all, there were five employee winners and one retiree winner of this year’s award.

The selection committee was comprised of representatives from various Saint-Gobain businesses throughout North America. There were approximately 90 nominations for the 2003 award. The judges made their selection based on each volunteer’s overall contributions to his or her community, leadership abilities, and the number of hours and number of years volunteered to a single organization.

Saint-Gobain Corporation, based in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, is the holding company for the U.S.- and Canadian-based businesses of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain. Saint-Gobain Corporation employs approximately 27,000 people and operates nearly 200 plants throughout North America. The company’s 2002 sales totaled approximately $6.4 billion.

Saint-Gobain’s CertainTeed subsidiary is a leading North American manufacturer of building materials, including roofing, siding, insulation, windows and patio doors, fence, decking, railing, foundations, and pipe. The company is headquartered in Valley Forge, PA, and has approximately 7,000 employees and more than 40 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States. The company had sales of approximately $2.5 billion in 2002. It marks its 100th anniversary in 2004. The web site is www.certainteed.com

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