K. "Gynger" Connolly - Owner and President
Gynger graduated from Union College in Schenectady with a BS in Mechanical Engineering, and began an 18 year career with General Electric holding management positions in Sales and Marketing of Power Systems in the US and Europe. She also achieved the status of "Master Black Belt" in GE's Six Sigma Quality Program. During her tenure at GE, she acquired her Juris Doctrate degree, focusing primarily on contract and business law.
When her second child was born in 1998, she decided to join her father in his business, and, in time, formed "Blinds Shades & More". In addition to overseeing all company operations, she primarily focuses on marketing and sales of commercial window treatments. She lives in Niskayuna, and loves tennis, pickleball, boating, and painting.
Anthony Valente - Lead Installer and Window Treatment Specialist
Anthony graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with a degree in Fine Arts/Woodworking/Furniture Making. He spent over 10 years at Drapery Industries in Rochester as a window treatment installer, before joining Blinds Shades & More as our lead window treatment installer and window treatment specialist.
He lives in Niskayuna with his wife, Melissa, and their three children.
Julie Mercoglan - Interior Designer and Project Manager
Julie has a bachelor in fine arts from Sage College of Albany, and has worked in Commercial Design for many years. She oversees many of our commercial projects, from bidding to order entry to install.
Gemma DiVirgilio - Window Treatment Specialist
Gemma's love for design and decorating shows in everything she does. She works with customers to find the right products to fit their application and budget, and pays constant attention to the details that ensure the projects get completed to satisfaction.
In 1953, Clem and Marty Rand started Rand Manufacturing to manufacture sheet metal products such as radiator enclosures and metal venetian blinds. Their factory in Schenectady moved several times, and moved to it's current location at 1602 Van Vranken Avenue in 1970.
In 1974, the Rand brothers sold the business to Henry Frick and Gene Knopf, who set out to expand the business, and, in 1977, they began sales and installations of residential and commercial window treatments. They grew this business and at one time had two retail showrooms, and were one of the largest window decorating businesses in Upstate NY.
Mrs. Frick's daughter, Gynger Connolly, joined the business in 1998, becoming president and owner in early 2000, and soon wanted to further expand the business as her dad had done years before. She decided to open a new division of Rand Manufacturing, doing business as "Blinds Shades & More.
Henry remained involved in the business until his death in 2016. Gynger remains President, and focuses on window treatment marketing, sales and customer service primarily in the commercial market.
Blinds Shades & More offers a large showroom at our Van Vranken Avenue facility, as well as shop-at-home service, and installations of window treatments.
As a family-owned business, we are always open to suggestions and feedback, and only hire employees that meet or exceed our personal standards for excellence and customer service.
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