This article appeared in The Parkersburg News on Sunday, August 26, 2007

By CONNIE CARTMELL, Special to The News

WILLIAMSTOWN — While Ohio and West Virginia job counselors and displaced worker agencies met with the company’s 150 factory employees Thursday to talk options, Fenton Art Glass President George W. Fenton said that because of renewed interest, the 100-year-old Williamstown company may remain open longer than first projected.

“We’ve been pleased at the evidence of support from the community and from our collectors,” Fenton said. “We have been very busy.”

When the closing announcement was made Aug. 9, Fenton projected glass production and decorating would be completing operations in two to three months.

Glassmaking was due to shut down between now and the end of October and decorating and packing would follow as those jobs were completed.

“What we are looking at now is that the dates will more likely be extended because of current high demand,” Fenton said.

But he said it is “unlikely” operations at the company, other than the gift shop and museum, would remain in place after December.

The brief extension of time is not likely to help the 150 employees due to lose their jobs by January 2008. About 25 workers were laid off immediately after the announcement earlier this month of the plant closing.

Others are due to be let go in the next three months the hot metal workers first, then the decorating and packing departments.

Fenton said since earlier projections, the pace at the company has not slowed, but in fact increased. The reality of what will ultimately happen has not been easy, from the top down, he said.

“It’s been very difficult for everybody involved,” he said.

Job and career counselors came to the plant Thursday for what was billed an “informational meeting” and “an overview” said the atmosphere was, as might be expected, somber.

Employees listened quietly and asked questions, said Bill Monterosso, director of Workforce West Virginia.

Training options and opportunities, re-training, skill upgrades, work opportunities elsewhere and educational opportunities were discussed and information distributed.

“You can have doom and gloom or the opportunity to do something you have always wanted to do,” Monterosso said. “It’s never easy to lose a job, but it is an opportunity to do something different to start fresh.”

All displaced workers have the option of unemployment from West Virginia, since that’s where they worked. More than 40 Ohio employees may look at both sides of the river for help and training options, Monterosso said.

Kathy Gramkow, career counselor with the Washington/Morgan Community Action One-Stop Employment Service, 218 Putnam St., was there to support Ohio workers.

“We can help West Virginia with the basic services, registration, resumes and interviews,” she said. “We can help people assess and find out what skill areas they have.”

One issue that will help Fenton employees is that their displacement is, in part, due to overseas competition qualifying them for the federal Trade Readjustment Act, a program offering extended benefits and opportunities for additional educational options.

“One thing that is important,” Gramkow said, “is make sure everyone you know knows that you are looking for employment.”

Fenton has been struggling with financial problems for years and in June announced efforts of financial restructuring.

The increase in activity in the visitors parking lot the past week or so hasn’t escaped Diane Gessel, a neighbor and retired Fenton employee.

“There are quite a few cars over there in the visitors lot and I saw a tour bus there a few days ago,” said Gessel, who lives directly across the street. “People have been carrying out boxes like crazy. My husband and I have been commenting about that.”

The promise is that the gift shop and museum will remain open and the company plans to explore options to offer the glassmaking experience to future visitors and shoppers.

“We continue to look at options for our business,” Fenton said. “Our plan is to keep the gift shop open.”

Kelly Blazosky, executive director of the Marietta/Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said Thursday that Fenton group tour coordinator Jena Lane Blair accompanied local tourism bureau staff to an annual travel show in Chicago.

“They went with us to explain the current situation to travel agencies and professionals, and to assure that opportunities still exist here for some kind of experience with glass,” Blazosky said.