Jane Skeeter

Jane Skeeter, LEED® AP
Founder and CEO of UltraGlas, Inc.

 

Jane Skeeter is CEO and Founder of UltraGlas, Inc., the world’s leading manufacturer of all facets of designed architectural and high performance glass and glass tile. The company offers a full complement of glass fabrication techniques and innovative processes. Its projects can be large in scale, 125,000 square feet, 5,000 panels of permanently colored, molded, tempered, heat-soak tested, translucent, back-lighted UltraGlas for the exterior façade of an iconic hospital in Kuwait City. A 250’ long by 5’ high molded glass mural of abstract molten lava for the Honolulu International Airport is the focal point for the Delta and American Airlines’ check in lobby. It has a patent on products made from 100% recycled glass and is introducing the production of custom made Building Integrated Photo Voltaic, BIPV, to the US. It has also developed permanent unleaded coloration for use in its tiles and other architectural glass. UltraGlas strives to offer valuable highly sustainable products while utilizing best production and business practices.

In 1973, phasing out of her clothing design and dressmaking business, and her Porsche restoration business, she began Skeeter Studios, an architectural art glass and glazing business. It offered and installed stained and leaded glass, sandblasted and carved glass, showers, mirrors and various art glass works.

In 1987 Skeeter introduced a new brand of architectural glass — and a new company by the same name, UltraGlas, Inc. Today, UltraGlas is the glass of choice among the world’s distinguished architects and designers. The company has evolved into the single source resource for all facets of specialty glass use from flooring to ceilings, inside and out, including walls, windows, curtain-wall, doors, showers, stair treads and balustrades, lighting, art, signage, surfacing, counter/bar tops, flooring, partitions, water features, screens, ceilings, hi-rise cladding for the building’s surfacing and windows that offer heat gain protection and power the building. Capabilities include: glass fabrication, carving, etching, slumping/heat molding, fusing, laminating, encapsulation, tempering, permanent coloration- opaque and translucent, mirroring, switchable glass, heat-soak testing and patented UltraGlas-E made from salvaged glass all diverted from landfill, BIPV and insulated glass.

In 2011, Skeeter expanded the company’s manufacturing capacity and increased its diverse glass product offerings. The company now has a state of the art facility and equipment to create all facets of laminated and encapsulated glass. The most exciting advancement for the company though, is its developing ability to provide BIPV, Building Integrated Photo Voltaic, glass panels that will clad a building, both the vision (windows) and spandrel panels (course of panels between the windows), and create energy from the sun to power the building. An alternative energy source in Europe for several years, UltraGlas is now pioneering this R&D in the US.

Skeeter received her California Lifetime Teaching Credential and taught college and adult-education classes in creative design, rug making, clothing design and construction, and stained glass. She holds licenses as a General and Glazing Contractor, and is a Certified Interior Designer. She is also a graduate of UCLA’s MDE program, the NAWBO-LA Peak Leadership Academy, and is a LEED AP, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional, by the USGBC. She maintains membership in numerous professional trade organizations as well.

Some of Jane’s other accomplishments are: NEWH 2016 Icon of Industry, received LA Chamber of Commerce 2017 Export Achievement Award, Past President of NAWBO-LA- National Association of Women Business Owners, SFVBJ’s Women in Business CEO of the Year and one of ten to win their Business Woman of the Decade award; the L. A. SBA’s Women in Business Champion of the Year; 2012 Small Business of the Year from the 23rd State Senate District,

Pioneer Woman Award from the Los Angeles City Commission on the Status of Women; and the NAWBO/Wells Fargo National Trailblazer Award, along with a variety of others.

Jane is a highly regarded consultant, popular lecturer, community activist an engaged member of many non-profit organizations and boards: the Advisory Board of Woodbury University School of Business, The Valley Economic Alliance, VICA, Val*Pac, The Valley Group, NAWBO-LA Foundation, Promerica Bank Advisory Board, West Hills Hospital Trustee, Valley Pres Hospital Annual Golf Classic and her favorite, The Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley and its Board of Directors.

In 2017 the company was inducted into the VICA Hall of Fame and has won numerous awards for its innovative products, 2 Crystal Achievements Awards from The National Glass Association and Best of Boutique Award from Hospitality Design Magazine.

Jane has been a West Valley resident since 1959. She lives in West Hills with her husband of 40 years, Barron Postmus, who is an award-winning fine artist. They have four children and six grandchildren, who along with her other interests of art/design, athletics/fitness, gardening, fiber arts, fine cuisine, and traveling, keep her very busy.