Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1538229
After getting an early start in the family business as a child, helping her father, Soo Parkhurst is now presi- dent and CEO of Augusta- based O&P Glass. In 2013, she returned full-time as part-owner and office manager. Within weeks she had to jump into the role of manager of the residential division after a salesperson fell ill. Parkhurst recalls, "I had no idea what I was doing, I just focused on one piece of paper at a time and dealt with each individual problem. I learned the value of taking action quickly rather than freezing in fear and anxiety." Under her leadership, company revenue grew by 24% last year, to $8.3 million. M VO L . X X X I N O. X V I I A U G U S T 1 1 , 2 0 2 5 18 Soo Parkhurst, president and CEO of O&P Glass, outside the Hyatt Place Portland hotel, which features a "curtain wall" of glass installed by O&P. Soo Parkhurst President, CEO O&P Glass P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY B y T i n a F i s c h e r leader breaks the A family business glass ceiling ainebiz: The glass industry tends to be dominated by men. What has your experience been like in that environment? Soo Parkhurst: I've had to fight with a mix of grit, resilience and confi- dence. When I first started, I wasn't taken seriously. I had male clients who wouldn't make eye contact with me or would ask to speak to "the man in charge." Whenever I encountered a situation like that, I made it a personal goal to get them to trust me. is wasn't a me problem, it was a cultural problem within our industry that I wasn't going to let overshadow our reputation and hard work. ere's a lack of women in con- struction, and that needs to change. I truly believe women can bring something different to the industry — and those strengths deserve a seat at the table. e more we show up and stand our ground, the more we pave the way for the next generation of women in this field. MB: How has the company changed since you've been on the team? SP: Before I joined, our residential division lost money every month. When I first walked into our show- room, we had a large area dedicated to shower displays — but we weren't selling many. I saw potential, so I dove in and learned everything I could