Crystal Window & Door Systems hosted New York Federal Reserve Bank executive vice president Joseph Tracy and other bank executives for a visit of the Crystal facility and headquarters on March 11. As part of its outreach efforts, the New York Federal Reserve Bank met that day with businesses and trade associations in Queens to discuss economic issues. As one of the largest manufacturers in New York, Crystal was a top destination in Queens. "We were very excited that Mr. Tracy and the New York Federal Reserve visited Crystal, toured our operations here and talked with our employees," said Steve Chen, Crystal's executive vice president. "Our business is directly tied to the economy of the region in terms of construction and real estate, especially in the residential and commercial sectors. This meeting was a great opportunity to discuss critical economic issues such as credit availability and interest rates with this prominent policymaking institution." Steve Chen is a member of the New York Federal Reserve Bank's Advisory Council on Small Business and Agriculture. Tracy and other members of the New York Federal Reserve Bank toured Crystal's 225,000 s/f headquarters and main factory, and viewed the fabrication and assembly of Crystal's insulated glass units and aluminum and vinyl windows, including Energy Star and advanced R-5 products. Following the tour, Mr. Tracy met with a diverse cross-section of Crystal employees to discuss a variety of topics including the economy, interest rates, business and consumer credit, tax incentives, the real estate market and Federal Reserve activities.