The history of Mountain Window Specialties is one of a local-family-owned-small business ‘American Dream’ type of tale . . .
Rod’s Kindschuh’s construction experience goes all the way back to high school. He moved to Colorado from a small Nebraskan town, and found a job at a lumber yard which supplied windows. He has been selling windows ever since.
Rod sold many different window brands over the years, and has served in every position from loading and delivery, to service and sales. Over the years, Rod held just about every job related to window installation, from loading and delivery, to service and sales. His thorough experience was the launchpad for starting his own window company, and in 2007, MWS opened its doors.
His son, Tyler, was studying Construction Management at CSU, and worked with Rod to gain construction knowledge. With a fresh education and a flair for entrepreneurship, Tyler jumped straight into his career at MWS.
Their first showroom was a small 1500 sq.ft. warehouse, which they rented in Denver. After Tyler’s graduation in 2010, MWS really picked up momentum. They stepped up their service by investing in a large delivery truck with a trailer, and continued winning new clients and earning a solid reputation with existing ones. They were soon able to purchase a much larger space in Lakewood, with enough room to expand their showroom and keep more on-hand inventory.
As the business grew, so did their needs. The MWS team expanded with a variety of roles filled by new employees. And, as someone was needed to help keep the office and warehouse running smoothly, Rod’s wife and Tyler’s Mom, Kristi, quit her job to jump aboard, making MWS a truly family owned and operated business.
Their mid-western roots and dedication to a local-family-owned-small business through their interest in serving their customers with honesty, courtesy and superior service, and a knack for knowing really great products, continues to shape the business as it grows in its Denver home.
Tyler worked with his father every summer and during breaks from school, which propelled him through his Construction Management studies at Colorado State University. Since graduating, Tyler has been in charge of managing the warehouse and general marketing, and even does installations, service work, and produces estimates with clients. Tyler is eager to become an expert in every aspect of the window industry, as keep the family business thriving for years to come. Tyler is certified by the EPA for lead based paint activities, and is OSHA safety certified.^2 He lives with his wife Heidi in Littleton, Colorado. Tyler is an avid Rockies, Broncos, Nuggets, and Avalanche fan. He also loves everything Colorado; snowboarding, hiking, camping, golfing, and generally being outdoors.
Kristi is the wife of Rod, mother of Tyler, and a manager at MWS. She is a miracle worker when it comes to multi-tasking and knocking out a hefty to-do list. Kristi is critical in warehouse and office management, bookkeeping, organization, and anything and everything in between. Her years as a household manager now make the office feel home-like for customers visiting the showroom. Though born in Kansas, Kristi soon moved to Colorado and has been here ever since. She and Rod met in Lakewood, not far from the MWS headquarters. Kristi loves old movies, spending time with family, dogs, and of course, little granddaughter Katelyn.
Malibu is the shop dog at MWS, and is in charge of curing every case of the Mondays. Malibu is a very gentle soul, and loves to greet every visitor when she’s not patrolling the warehouse and chasing the occasional fly. Malibu is a multi-mix shelter dog that Tyler rescued when he was a Sophomore at CSU, and she couldn’t be any better of a dog and couldn’t be anymore loved. A step-cat named Sammy was welcomed into the family when Tyler married, which gave Malibu her four-legged best friend. Malibu enjoys fetching then getting chased, lounging in the sun, and eating as much cheese as she can get.