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an eager Barry was at the loading
dock. Snyder became his teacher and
mentor. Barry became Snyder's "right-
hand man." Barry was promoted every
time Snyder was promoted.
While Snyder was president, he con-
vinced the company owners to sell
BrassCraft to Masco. That was 1983.
"I was tough," Snyder said from his
home in south Florida. "Alan was
good. Real good. He was the complete
opposite of me — soft but firm. He
had a great style and was not trying to
put on a show for anyone. I don't
think he had any idea how great he
was."
With Barry at Snyder's side,
BrassCraft continued to grow. Barry
continued to take on additional
responsibilities, even overseeing the
company newsletter, golf team and
birthday announcements.
By 1988, after Snyder retired, Barry
was named president. In 1996, he was
named a Masco group president.
"I never even imagined being presi-
dent of BrassCraft or a group presi-
dent," Barry said. "Taking the job at
BrassCraft was the best decision I
made for my career. If I could go
back, I wouldn't do anything different-
ly. It's been great."
Those who know Barry describe
him as serious, unassuming, quiet and
gentle. They said he doesn't like to
draw attention to himself In fact, if
someone asks Barry what he does for a
living, he simply tells them he works
for. Masco.
Karen, who has known her husband
since eighth grade, said being quiet
has served Alan well. "He is a good lis-
tener, conservative and very organ-
ized," she said. "And he has a good
sense of humor. He is like his dad."
Added family friend Elizabeth
Walters, an administrator at Temple
Israel, "Alan's mind is always going.
He is thinking all the time. If you did-
n't know Alan, you would never know
what kind of job he has. Nothing has
gone to his head."
In his spare time, Barry likes to golf,
spend time with his wife and family,
especially his grandchildren, and catch
up on work reading. His travels from
his Commerce Township home to a
vacation home in Scottsdale, Ariz., are
generally working trips.
But last summer, he let his hair
down. The Barrys and five couples
spent 10 days vacationing on an
Alaskan cruise to celebrate the Barrys'
38th wedding anniversary. Alan didn't
have much access to phones, though
he was able to check his e-mail.
"Alan was in total relaxation mode

ehe W;31-7 Wc)/y ,Days

for 10 days," said Walters, who joined
the trip with her husband, Jerry, one
of Barry's golf buddies. "He knows
how to relax when he needs to."
Barry is dedicated to charity, espe-
cially City of Hope, B'nai B'rith and
the American Cancer Society. He is a
strong supporter of Israel and for the
past eight years has been active with
the Israel Democracy Institute, an
Israeli think tank that does research
for members of the Knessett.
City of Hope, the cancer research
and pilot medical center, is the benefi-
ciary of Masco's annual golf tourna-
ment. City of Hope honored Ray
Kennedy with its Spirit of Life award,
and that "got my wife and me
involved," Barry said.

When they left the

High Holy Day services

their children were

delighted. They under-

stood. They were

accepted. They felt

part of something big.

At Temple Beth El,

our Children's Services

are designed with kids

Big Plans

"In our industry, Masco is well
known," Barry said. "As a building
products company, we are largest in
terms of sales volume. The challenge is
how to continue to grow and create
shareholder value.
"We haven't done everything we can
for shareholder value," he said. "We
need to do more installing where we
do manufacturing. The challenge is
that as we grow our companies, how
do we get their products installed?"
It is a question he, Kennedy and the
executive management team were pon-
dering when Kennedy suffered a fatal
heart attack last February. As a group
president, Barry was hard at work
designing a strategy to grow Masco
Contractor Services. Today, the unit
has 400 branch offices, 50 distribution
centers and 12,000 installers who
work directly for Masco.
With an accounting and finance
background, Barry's focus always has
been on cost reduction and improved
returns. Now that he is at the helm, he
hopes to shift the company's focus
from an acquisition mode to internal
growth and cost reduction programs.
After taking the new position, Barry
visited many of Masco's plants. He
wants to improve capacity utilization
by consolidating and converting busi-
ness operations. He also plans to
strengthen cash flow, consolidate and
reduce costs, develop new products
and programs and grow the company
internally by developing coordinated
products for consumers.
To the customer, this means offering
a market basket of products, complete
with coordinated faucets, locksets,
cabinets, hardware, door finishes, vani-
ties, paint, bath accessories and hand
showers.

in mind. And even if you're not a member, you and your

children can attend our service at no cost... making the High

Holy Days even more special.

Because at Temple Beth El, your children will learn about

their heritage from Michigan's oldest congregation.

Changing lives. Making an impact. If you want a holiday

service your children will value...

You 6e/on3 at

Beth

temple bath el

For more information on Temple Beth El membership or
other innovative programs call Sue Ellen Simon at 248-865-0600.

Private rooms
I available for Parties
I and Special Occasions,

I (We can accommodate 4
anywhere from
4
1
20 100 guests)

-

• Catering Available

Excludes Pizza 69 Dail, Specials • 2 couNms per table • Expires 9/30/05

......

ASINNWKS.Mk.V.,
', W
,

MMt=4,

20300 Farmin on Road Between 7 & 8 MTh on.,EastSide

MMITiWWW§WWN.Wa.

248.474.2420

9/5

2003