Milestone moments
From our founding in 1960, JELD-WEN’s leadership focused on growth. What started with 15 employees, JELD-WEN has grown to be a $4.5 billion company selling more than 25 million windows and doors annually.
JELD-WEN was founded by Richard “Dick” Wendt, an entrepreneur who learned the art of managing a manufacturing company from his father, Lester Wendt. Lester was an executive at Caradco, an Iowa-based company with a long track record in manufacturing wooden windows and patio doors.
In 1957, Caradco sent Dick to Oregon to help run the company’s millwork plant in Klamath Falls. Caradco decided to sell the plant at auction. Dick and four business partners, Larry Wetter, John Biehn, Gerry Wickersham and Bill Taylor, bought many of the assets on October 25, 1960 and named the new company JELD-WEN.
The name is an acronym for the names of the Wendt immediate family. “J” is for Jewel, Dick’s sister; “E” is for Evelyn, his mother; “L” is for Lester; and finally “D” for Dick. The “Wen” is a shortened version of Wendt.
With just 15 employees, JELD-WEN quickly gained the reputation of producing a reliable product. After just two years, the company became successful enough to begin acquiring new manufacturing facilities and expand its product offering.
Today, we employ more than 18,000 people across North America and Europe. Our products are offered under a global family of market-leading brands including JELD-WEN® (global), LaCANTINA® Doors (United States), VPI™ Quality Windows (United States), Swedoor® (Europe), and DANA® Doors (Europe).
The JELD-WEN story
Discover why we are one of the world’s leading and largest manufacturers of high-quality, energy-efficient windows and doors.
We design, produce and distribute an extensive range of interior and exterior doors, windows, and related building products.