We Are the Factory: Carrie McClung is Wallside’s Cheerleader

If you’ve ever called Wallside Windows with a question on window replacement, chances are you’ve talked with Carrie McClung. On a typical day she may take or make up to 100 calls.

“My phone will start ringing at 7 a.m. when I turn it off ‘Do not Disturb,’” she said.

That might sound like a lot for anyone, but for Carrie it’s no big deal. She’s very personable. Carrie works with the installation department and handles all the job scheduling. In addition to making sure Wallside’s customers have new Wallside Windows installed in on time, her major concern is looking out for the installers.

During the warm months, you can find Wallside’s Carrie McClung fishing on Lake St. Clair.

During the warm months, you can find Wallside’s Carrie McClung fishing on Lake St. Clair.

“That's why I like [the job] so much, it’s because of them,” she said. On days when the weather is poor, when there is rain or snow, she is a source of encouragement.

 “If I could go out there and help those guys on days like that, I would be there in a heartbeat. I just want to make sure they're taken care of that's why I come in early.”

Born and raised in Grosse Pointe, her dad worked as a police officer in Grosse Pointe Farms. Carrie is the second youngest of six children. She was 29 when she first started working at Wallside Windows, at the former Detroit location in 1991.

She returned to Detroit from Buffalo, New York, where she lived just after she served in the Air Force Reserve. Carrie said she came back home to Michigan and saw an ad in the Grosse Pointe News. She applied for it and next thing she knew she had the position with Wallside Windows. She has since worked in every department except Accounting, which is fine with her. She admits she’s not a numbers person. No matter – Carrie is definitely a people person.

She took a moment out of her day to answer a few questions about her job, her military background and her favorite sports teams – and they’re not who you think.

Q: What is a typical day like for you?

A: Every morning when I come in, my desk is full of jobs so I take care of all that. I call customers, answer questions coming in, you know a lot of things that go on every day. We also have a hub in Lansing, so I make sure I have all of the installers' paperwork ready for the day. When it rains or snows work nonstop, but I love it. I wouldn't trade it for anything. It's a fun job. I'm glad the Blancks appreciate and trust me enough to take on the responsibility of this department.

Q: Tell us what else you do when not at Wallside? You have a side business of driving cars to and from Florida?

A: My dad started doing it when we were kids for the snowbirds in Grosse Pointe. They had houses in Grosse Pointe and also had houses down in Florida, like West Palm Beach, Vero Beach, to make extra money. He was a police officer in Grosse Pointe Farms but he also had six kids to raise so he took that on as a side job. I do seven drives a year. Once my dad passed away I kept on taking on his business. Over the years I picked up my own clients. I start in October and November and then I start bringing them back in April and part of May. I'll fly down, pick up the cars and drive them home.

20170905_075929.jpeg

Q. What can you tell us about your time in the military?

A: I was in Honduras training for Desert Storm and then I was in Korea to train Korean pilots to be fighter pilots. I was 23, 24 when I was over there.

Q. What other interests and passions do you have, outside of work?

I love to play softball, love to fish, love to hunt. I have one son and he is married with three kids. I am also a Cubs and Bears fan. My mom lived in Schererville, Ind., and was a Cubs fan so now I’m a full-blown fan.

You’ll find Carrie McClung at Wallside Windows. Have a question for us at Wallside Windows? Call today to ask, or schedule your free estimate.