The Star Tribune writes, “Industry groups have forecast only modest recovery in window and door sales this year. Marvin has kept its financial house in order, which has helped it survive the downturn and positioned it to benefit when the housing market revives.”

If 2012 is anything like 2011 — a year that saw the company covered by an in-depth feature story from the New York Times and discussed in a major speech from President Obama — it’s sure to be another great year for the Marvin companies.

President Obama’s remarks:

“In the end, rebuilding this economy based on fair play, a fair shot and a fair share will require all of us to see that we have a stake in each others’ success. … American business leaders [must] understand that their obligations don’t just end with their shareholders. …

“I think about a company based in Warroad, Minnesota, called Marvin Windows and Doors. During the recession, Marvin’s competitors closed dozens of plants and let go hundreds of workers. But Marvin did not lay off a single one of their four thousand or so employees. In fact, they’ve only laid off workers once in over a hundred years. Mr. Marvin’s grandfather even kept his eight employees during the Depression.

When times get tough, the workers agree to give up some perks and pay, and so do the owners. As one owner said, ‘You can’t grow if you’re cutting your lifeblood – and that’s the skills and experience your workforce delivers.’ For the CEO, it’s about the community: ‘These are people we went to school with,’ he said. ‘We go to church with them. We see them in the same restaurant. Indeed, a lot of us have married local girls and boys. We could be anywhere. But we are in Warroad.’

“That’s how America was built. That’s why we’re the greatest nation on Earth. That’s what our greatest companies understand. Our success has never just been about survival of the fittest. It’s been about building a nation where we’re all better off. We pull together, we pitch in, and we do our part, believing that hard work will pay off; that responsibility will be rewarded; and that our children will inherit a nation where those values live on.”

As part of the Marvin brands, Integrity from Marvin Windows and Doors maintains the same no-layoffs policy.

Integrity Windows: tougher than his slapshot!

The Fargo Forum also is taking notice of Integrity. Here’s a nice story by reporter Dave Olson on our video shoot featuring the West Fargo High Packers hockey team. The video will be part of Integrity’s upcoming “Restoring Tough” marketing campaign.

“We’re happy to be shooting this video in the Fargo-Moorhead area,” said Becky Felling, director of marketing for Integrity Windows and Doors. “As a family-owned and operated company, Integrity believes in supporting the communities that we’re a part of.”

Felling went on to mention that with North Dakota’s tight job market, Integrity is on the lookout for good job candidates as the company continues to grow.

We were happy to see WDAY-TV in Fargo come out to do a report on a fun event for Integrity Windows. We were filming a new Web video that will be part of our upcoming “Restoring Tough” marketing campaign.

For the video, we got a dozen members of the West Fargo High Packers hockey team to come out and fire pucks at Integrity windows — to show the toughness of our pultruded Ultrex fiberglass and its bonded finish.

They also took time to talk with us about job opportunities with Integrity. The North Dakota job market is really tight, and we’re always looking for good people, so tell your friends.

The president of Marvin Windows and Doors, Susan Marvin, will be on Bloomberg TV’s “Street Smart” program today at 4:10 p.m. Eastern time, discussing the economy and how Marvin has been navigating through the economic downturn.

Susan has become a well-known figure in the national business media through her appearances in the New York Times, CNBC, MSNBC, Fox News, the Associated Press, CNN and other outlets.

Her candid and tough assessment of the business climate is coupled with a refreshing dose of optimism about how Marvin and Integrity are positioning themselves to emerge from the downturn stronger than ever.

If you have a few minutes this afternoon, check out Susan’s interview. To find Bloomberg TV on your local cable system, visit www.bloomberg.com/tv/channel-finder/. And then visit Integrity’s Facebook page and let us know your thoughts.

We’re proud to see this recognition of Integrity’s sister company, Marvin Windows and Doors, by management expert Donald Delves in this great column for Forbes. Delves explores how the bond between Marvin, our hometown of Warroad and our valued workers has resulted in a healthy company and a healthy community.

Here’s an excerpt:

“Aside from the admiration and respect of employees, what has the company received in return for its commitment to employees? Marvin’s reliability as an employer has created a workforce that can be relied on for high-quality craftsmanship and meticulous quality control, sustained by strong esprit de corps stemming from a highly positive plant culture.”

That same positive culture extends across all the Marvin companies and locations. Thanks, Mr. Delves. We’re glad you recognize a culture that has been nurtured for generations — and that we will always work to strengthen.

J. T. Turner Construction Co. led this whirlwind project for Carmen and Jim Simpson and their three children. The family of five had moved to Savannah, GA, so Zoë, their 2-year old born with a usually deadly condition, would be closer to his doctors.

The new home is equipped to fully accommodate their son’s medical needs

To watch the full episode, visit ABC.com. You’ll see Integrity windows around 20:30 to 20:45.

We spoke to designers, architects, builders and others in the home and fashion industries. As we had those conversations, some topics kept cropping up.

So, here’s what the experts are talking about: the top trends for 2011 in home building and design.

Trend #1: New Life for Old Materials

It’s more than merely recycling. It’s finding ways to turn substance into style — by taking raw material from one source and repurposing it in a completely unexpected way.

From metal tiles made of reclaimed airplane parts to countertops and wall panels made of recycled glass bottles, these innovative reworkings are adding creative flair – and sustainable substance — to homes across America.

Americans are staying longer in their homes. With that comes a desire to make their homes fit their lifestyle. People aren’t designing a home to be as bland as possible for the next buyer – they’re designing it for themselves, to be lived in to the fullest.

In keeping with this, architects and designers say there’s a new definition of value. It’s not about the lowest price.

It’s about quality, durability and getting the style and the performance you want from the products in your home, whether that’s a sofa or a picture window.

If it sprouted from the earth, designers are finding a way to use it in homes.

Flooring is one area where you might find a surprising substance under your feet – like palm, for example. How about wallcoverings made of banana trees? Ceiling tiles of jute? And while not as exotic as these other materials, sustainably grown pine can be found in window frames and other structural elements.

These products deliver beauty and durability along with their eco-friendly origins. The use of natural materials is still in its infancy in mainstream housing – but expect to see them more and more in the future.

As the name suggests, these are traditional elements with a modern twist – a little sleeker, a little surprising. Examples include streamlined living and dining room sets, silk chandeliers and casement windows that simulate the look of a classic double hung.

Forget the elaborate outdoor kitchens of a few years ago. Outdoor living is still important to American homeowners, but they’re going for a more relaxed, low-key version. Think fireplaces and fire pits, comfortable outdoor seating and dining areas, interesting lighting and simple counter space.

And to connect indoors and out, energy-efficient patio doors – either sliding or swinging — are a must.

No list of home trends would be complete without these topics – and they only get more important every year. The largest annual study of American homebuying preferences, by AVID Ratings, found that four of the top 10 desired home features involve energy efficiency. So, alongside such features as walk-in closets and kitchen islands, American homebuyers want:

• Energy-efficient windows
• Energy-efficient appliances
• High-efficiency insulation

Sustainability includes conserving water, maximizing natural heat and light, and using low-VOC materials (volatile organic compounds). Quality and durability are also part of the sustainability picture. Well-built, high quality home products last longer — and don’t end up in landfills.

Christine L. Albertsson AIA, CID, NCARB, Albertsson Hansen Architecture, Ltd.

Kurt Gough, A-AIA, Shelter Architecture

Susan Nackers Ludwig, Residential Architect

She explains:

Last year, I stood before more than 1,000 workers at our company’s flagship factory and told them we were reducing their weekly hours from 40 to 32.

They cheered.

Why? Because they were keeping their jobs. With the housing industry in the worst downturn of our lifetimes, our workers feared for their futures. They’d seen others in our business cut jobs and even close plants in response to the prolonged housing slump. When they learned we wouldn’t be following suit, it was an emotional moment.

Read the full piece at the Fargo Forum. The article also ran in the Grand Forks (N.D.) Herald.

The “amazing builder skills” videos — showing incredible tricks executed with a tape measure, a “painting” of the Mona Lisa re-created with a nail gun and other construction-site stunts — are featured on the front page of today’s Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, the daily newspaper in Integrity’s hometown.

An excerpt from the story:

Fargo-based Integrity Windows and Doors has scored big on the Web site YouTube with a series of videos in which construction workers perform amazing feats with tools.

The five videos – one of which features a worker re-creating the “Mona Lisa” with a nail gun – have garnered more than 4 million online viewers, said Laurie Reding, the company’s director of marketing.

She laughed when asked if the tricks are real.

“I’m not going to tell you. That’s part of the fun with it,” she said.

Read the full story here, and you can watch all of the videos on Integrity’s Builder Blog.