Slot machines surrounded me immediately after a rougher-than-expected landing at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. I was cornered, but I didn’t travel four hours for a chance at the big bucks. I flew from Georgia to Nevada because I won a different kind of lottery: the incredible opportunity to visit Henderson, Nev.’s, Green Valley Window Tinting.

The exterior of Green Valley Window Tinting.

I’ve been blessed to visit four shops so far: The Tint Guy in Woodstock, Ga., Pro Window Tinting in McKinney, Texas, Tint Pro in Warner Robins, Ga., and Green Valley Window Tinting in Henderson, Nev. My December visit to Palmetto Protection Films in Myrtle Beach, S.C., is fast approaching, but there’s always time for reflection. Here are three takeaways from my day at Green Valley Window Tinting.

Unique—Every shop is different, not only in size and services but also in layout. Traveling to companies has allowed me to scan your workspaces. Walking in these buildings has given me a first-person perspective of the sources I talk to daily. From the lobby to the offices to the storage room to the tint bays to the laundry room, no layout is alike. Your shops tackle similar jobs in different ways, yet you end up with the same quality results. Your approaches differ, but you strive for excellence all the same.

Kindness—During my visit to Pro Window Tinting in McKinney, Texas, owner Jose Chimal drove me back to my hotel each night to ensure that my Uber receipts didn’t pile too high. I was only at Green Valley Window Tinting for a single workday, but it was enough time for architectural division manager Joshua Miller to drive me—a stranger—through Henderson and treat me to my first time at In-N-Out Burger. Traveling across the United States and visiting your shops hasn’t just given me a glimpse of the industry—it’s reminded me of humanity’s giving spirit in a time of negative headlines.

The shop’s lobby features hardware from past International Window Film Conference and Tint-Off™’s (WFCT)

Ask Away—The beauty of life is that you never know it all, and there is always room for improvement and growth. I take that mentality into every shop I visit, and you have embraced it wholeheartedly. You have allowed my curiosity to morph into understanding and knowledge. Your willingness to share your careers, tips, terms and advice has not gone unnoticed. Thank you for answering all of my questions and for allowing me to improve at my gig.

I also got a chance to cover SEMA while I was in Vegas. More about that in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, here’s some videos highlighting my time at the show:

SEMA is Back

Taking in the Vu in Vegas

Avery Dennison Electrifies with Exotic Demo Car

Eastman Hosts Star Power at SEMA

Johnson Window Films Places PPF at the Forefront

Ceramic Pro’s Kavaca Displayed

Racing Optics is on the Defense

Filink Sparkles in the Desert

Global Window Films Goes For a Personal Touch

Wintech Cools Down the Convention

Stay tuned for more coverage as I travel to Palmetto Protection Films in Myrtle Beach, S.C., this December and feel free to add me on Facebook. I look forward to connecting with you.