This really nice article about our very own vice-president, Ray Luna, appeared in a San Antonio newspaper. Of course, we already knew what a great guy he is and what a fine family they are. We are fortunate to have them as owners at Kontiki.
Inspiration is a tricky emotion. We can almost always describe the manner in which we decide to act on it, but far too often, we have a difficult time describing the feeling itself.
Paradoxically, its complicated principles actually accentuate its value to us. Not only is the idea of being inspired ever so mysterious and enlightening, but inherently just as empowering and strengthening.
That “flash” of influence can be imparted in many forms and fashions – through art, people, experiences and religion. But regardless of the source, we can always rely upon the end result being significantly impactful, allowing for the capture of the fortitude necessary to reach even the highest of personal and professional goals.
Ray Luna is, and has every right to be, proud of a great many things. But he is probably more proud to be able to say that for him, that “tricky emotion” is not so tricky. For him, inspiration is much more about the enablement and less about the mystery.
Luna is one who knows about the strength and empowerment that can be summoned when inspiration – or in his case, the multiple sources of inspiration – is the primary driver of success.
Having parents who are members of the Greatest Generation unquestionably is an immeasurable benefit. And that’s exactly the way Luna sees it. Regrettably, few are even familiar with the term, “Greatest Generation,” much less have had his connection to and upbringing from parents who are members of the iconic group.
Growing up the youngest of six children, all of whom attended Catholic grade schools and high schools, Luna remembers relying upon every ounce of character and virtuosity his parents had to offer.
After serving in World War II, Luna’s father, Armando, began working for a local glass company in San Antonio to support his family. It took significant sacrifice, dedication, resilience and unmatched work ethic in order to provide everything the elder Luna felt was necessary for his wife and children – and that included the spiritual and religious foundation that went part and parcel with Catholic schooling.
It was during those early, impressionable years when Luna remembers first feeling that motivating sensibility of being inspired.
“I remember my father always being strong and really working hard,” he says. “I think all my brothers think of him like that. We watched how hard he worked and believed that was the way to be. I got a lot out of that in my dad.”
Luna, along with his three brothers, went to Central Catholic High School, while his two sisters attended Providence High School. All excelled academically, as well as athletically. Luna focusing on and lettering in football.
After graduation, Luna enrolled at St. Mary’s University. His older brothers, however, felt compelled to follow in the footsteps of their father and joined him at the glass company – undoubtedly as a result of the profound impression their father made on them as they witnessed the hard work and allegiance he had given to the glass company over those many years.
Luna, on the other hand, wanted to involve himself in something different at the time – something a college degree could offer.
But after a brief, yet “satisfying” experience in college, Luna became clearly aware that the type of hard work best suited for him may not be academic, but rather, the more challenging type inspired by his father: the type that took significant sacrifice, dedication, resilience and an unmatched work ethic.
Immediately after Luna’s discovery, he began working with two of his brothers, Joe and David, at the glass company where they were employed. But without any glass experience, Luna had to accept an entry-level position.
The year was 1993. Luna was newly employed. And fortunately for him at that particular time, he was beginning to feel that motivating sensibility of being inspired again. And Luna definitely parlayed that sensation beyond moving up within his new company.
Soon after his hire, he and his high school sweetheart, Debbie, got engaged and then married. At that time, their life was humble, as they lived in a modestly sized apartment and were conscientious with their finances.
But that humbleness didn’t apply to Luna’s career aspirations. He felt committed and obligated to move himself up the company ladder sooner rather than later. He worked hard, learned even quicker and soon found himself, along with Joe and David, ostensibly running the glass company.
After being married for several years and having significant corporate years under his belt, Luna and his wife found themselves blessed two times over, as they became the parents of a daughter, Solei, and a son, Esai (middle name, Armando – after Luna Sr.).
Luna now remembers “that commitment to achieve inspiring me to want more – for myself and for Debbie, Solei and Esai.”
His confidence as an experienced company supervisor soon evolved into an appetite to go it alone as the owner of his own glass company. Luna and his brothers knew wholeheartedly that they were the engine that drove the company and kept it running.
In the beginning, they made the sacrifice, and had the dedication, resilience and unmatched work ethic to make it happen.
In December 2003, the decision was made. Management was furnished the requisite two weeks immediately after. Joe and David needed a slight nudge and a smidgeon of prodding, but on March 1, 2004, Champion Glass, LLC formally became the product of the hard work of the Lunas – in both generations.
Today, Champion Glass has 50-plus employees and a fleet of 20 trucks, and it sits on 1.5 acres of real estate on the city’s South Side.
“I’ve always been motivated by certain famous quotes,” Luna says. For example, “The danger is not to set your goal too high and fail to reach it; it’s to set your goal too low and reach it” – that is one of many he says he looks to from time to time.
I think a lot of people can appreciate the value of an inspirational saying. But I believe Luna, along with his brothers, will say there’s motivation that’s received from the people immediately around you.
“We take a lot of pride in that we are brothers working together,” Joe Luna says, “and we learned a lot about everything from our dad.”
Getting any business to the point of success – particularly when you started from scratch – is extremely challenging and arduous. But “no goal is too high” when we’re routinely pushed forward by that “flash” that’s neither complicated nor tricky, but rather, the inspiration that is familiar and close.
Motivational quotes are great, but I believe Luna and his brothers are gracious and proud to have received inspiration from the source that, in the end, they look to as the one that gave them that “flash” from the beginning.
Inspiration is a tricky emotion. We can almost always describe the manner in which we decide to act on it, but far too often, we have a difficult time describing the feeling itself.
Paradoxically, its complicated principles actually accentuate its value to us. Not only is the idea of being inspired ever so mysterious and enlightening, but inherently just as empowering and strengthening.
That “flash” of influence can be imparted in many forms and fashions – through art, people, experiences and religion. But regardless of the source, we can always rely upon the end result being significantly impactful, allowing for the capture of the fortitude necessary to reach even the highest of personal and professional goals.
Ray Luna is, and has every right to be, proud of a great many things. But he is probably more proud to be able to say that for him, that “tricky emotion” is not so tricky. For him, inspiration is much more about the enablement and less about the mystery.
Luna is one who knows about the strength and empowerment that can be summoned when inspiration – or in his case, the multiple sources of inspiration – is the primary driver of success.
Having parents who are members of the Greatest Generation unquestionably is an immeasurable benefit. And that’s exactly the way Luna sees it. Regrettably, few are even familiar with the term, “Greatest Generation,” much less have had his connection to and upbringing from parents who are members of the iconic group.
Growing up the youngest of six children, all of whom attended Catholic grade schools and high schools, Luna remembers relying upon every ounce of character and virtuosity his parents had to offer.
After serving in World War II, Luna’s father, Armando, began working for a local glass company in San Antonio to support his family. It took significant sacrifice, dedication, resilience and unmatched work ethic in order to provide everything the elder Luna felt was necessary for his wife and children – and that included the spiritual and religious foundation that went part and parcel with Catholic schooling.
It was during those early, impressionable years when Luna remembers first feeling that motivating sensibility of being inspired.
“I remember my father always being strong and really working hard,” he says. “I think all my brothers think of him like that. We watched how hard he worked and believed that was the way to be. I got a lot out of that in my dad.”
Luna, along with his three brothers, went to Central Catholic High School, while his two sisters attended Providence High School. All excelled academically, as well as athletically. Luna focusing on and lettering in football.
After graduation, Luna enrolled at St. Mary’s University. His older brothers, however, felt compelled to follow in the footsteps of their father and joined him at the glass company – undoubtedly as a result of the profound impression their father made on them as they witnessed the hard work and allegiance he had given to the glass company over those many years.
Luna, on the other hand, wanted to involve himself in something different at the time – something a college degree could offer.
But after a brief, yet “satisfying” experience in college, Luna became clearly aware that the type of hard work best suited for him may not be academic, but rather, the more challenging type inspired by his father: the type that took significant sacrifice, dedication, resilience and an unmatched work ethic.
Immediately after Luna’s discovery, he began working with two of his brothers, Joe and David, at the glass company where they were employed. But without any glass experience, Luna had to accept an entry-level position.
The year was 1993. Luna was newly employed. And fortunately for him at that particular time, he was beginning to feel that motivating sensibility of being inspired again. And Luna definitely parlayed that sensation beyond moving up within his new company.
Soon after his hire, he and his high school sweetheart, Debbie, got engaged and then married. At that time, their life was humble, as they lived in a modestly sized apartment and were conscientious with their finances.
But that humbleness didn’t apply to Luna’s career aspirations. He felt committed and obligated to move himself up the company ladder sooner rather than later. He worked hard, learned even quicker and soon found himself, along with Joe and David, ostensibly running the glass company.
After being married for several years and having significant corporate years under his belt, Luna and his wife found themselves blessed two times over, as they became the parents of a daughter, Solei, and a son, Esai (middle name, Armando – after Luna Sr.).
Luna now remembers “that commitment to achieve inspiring me to want more – for myself and for Debbie, Solei and Esai.”
His confidence as an experienced company supervisor soon evolved into an appetite to go it alone as the owner of his own glass company. Luna and his brothers knew wholeheartedly that they were the engine that drove the company and kept it running.
In the beginning, they made the sacrifice, and had the dedication, resilience and unmatched work ethic to make it happen.
In December 2003, the decision was made. Management was furnished the requisite two weeks immediately after. Joe and David needed a slight nudge and a smidgeon of prodding, but on March 1, 2004, Champion Glass, LLC formally became the product of the hard work of the Lunas – in both generations.
Today, Champion Glass has 50-plus employees and a fleet of 20 trucks, and it sits on 1.5 acres of real estate on the city’s South Side.
“I’ve always been motivated by certain famous quotes,” Luna says. For example, “The danger is not to set your goal too high and fail to reach it; it’s to set your goal too low and reach it” – that is one of many he says he looks to from time to time.
I think a lot of people can appreciate the value of an inspirational saying. But I believe Luna, along with his brothers, will say there’s motivation that’s received from the people immediately around you.
“We take a lot of pride in that we are brothers working together,” Joe Luna says, “and we learned a lot about everything from our dad.”
Getting any business to the point of success – particularly when you started from scratch – is extremely challenging and arduous. But “no goal is too high” when we’re routinely pushed forward by that “flash” that’s neither complicated nor tricky, but rather, the inspiration that is familiar and close.
Motivational quotes are great, but I believe Luna and his brothers are gracious and proud to have received inspiration from the source that, in the end, they look to as the one that gave them that “flash” from the beginning.
posted by Kontiki at 8:50 PM
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