Just under 33 years ago, I started at Universal Display as an enthusiastic 17 year old who wanted a job for the summer.  I never left!  My boss, my father, told me that I had to learn the business from the bottom up and not only to understand but to be able to carry out every aspect of work and role involved in the business functioning correctly.

Nearly 2 weeks ago I furloughed all my staff in the UK, USA & Hungary to preserve their jobs going forward and for the health of the business. My other Director, Adrian Coe, is still by my side, metaphorically speaking from the safety of his own home, working on all aspects of client design and product development.

These last weeks I have unloaded lorries with air freight from our still functioning China joint venture, packed and shipped goods to clients who still need them, 3D printed samples and shipped them, had sales calls, completed tenders, negotiated with landlords and local authorities, run the payroll so everyone still gets paid and kept all of our multiple Company accounts up to date. Plus a few other tasks.

Thanks Dad! It’s times like this where grounding is everything.  

I also understand disaster recovery. In 2008 our London warehouse, archive and production facility burnt to the ground and I have dealt with Black Monday, economic crashes, 9/11 & numerous other external life changing events. All of these events presented challenges that needed to be overcome.  In the same way as my grounding for business helped me through, these events made me think differently and smarter.  These events together have made my business stronger in the long run.

Take the time you have now to learn and educate for when we will be back. As we need to be back stronger and smarter.  

Stay Safe!

Jonathan Berlin - CEO