No More Mr. New Guy

By Chris Collier

I test drove the window film industry before my official start date of April 26, 2021. Window Film magazine publisher and colleague Debra Levy allowed me to interview
Rachel Schabroni of Solar Solutions Window Tinting in Mentor, Ohio, as a freelancer. The interview was for a Film Stars article in the May/June issue.

The 20-something Rachel lost her job as a roofer on Saturday, August 30, 2014. She got the jarring news via text while visiting her father on Labor Day weekend. Rachel immediately sat on the couch with her father and together, they plotted her next move. The former roofer had suddenly slipped into limbo. But her father, window tinter Rick Schabroni, was there to pull her out and
get her moving forward again. “I said listen, this is what happened, and he just said, ‘Well, we’ll figure something out. Just come in one day. We’ll make it work, [and] we’ll find something you
can do,’” Rachel shared.

Fast forward to 2023 and Rachel is now the manager of the company that her father founded. She now looks back on Labor Day weekend in 2014 with gratitude.

I was searching for my first journalism job when I interviewed Rachel, and her story gave me hope. I had just graduated from Georgia College and State University with a degree in mass
communication in December 2020— right in the middle of COVID-19. I had applied to dozens of positions from January to April, but no dice. That was until Debra Levy and co. gave me a
shot. I never looked back.

Finding, hiring and retaining quality labor is a massive issue in the window film industry. But I implore you to keep fighting for quality film installers. Take a chance on a quality person with a chip on their shoulder, a strong work ethic and a can-do attitude. Much like Rachel, all they need is a test drive.

I celebrated two years at Window Film magazine this spring, all because someone offered me the opportunity to prove myself. I am humbled to have been recognized with an award for journalism excellence in my first year. Most important of all, I now have an army of industry friends—YOU.

Chris Collier is the editor for Window Film magazine.
ccollier@glass.com

To view the laid-in version of this article in our digital edition, CLICK HERE.