Awake by the Numbers: 5 years of Building, Learning, Leading
Five years ago, Awake was just an idea. A business built on the belief that second chances, hard work, and humanity could shape an entirely new industry standard. Today, we’re five years in, still learning, still growing, and still committed to showing what’s possible when people lead with purpose. As we mark this milestone, here are five numbers and five lessons that tell our story.
1. 100 – The Number of Employees on Our Team
When we launched Awake 5 years ago, a team of 6 used to meet in the living room of our co-founders. Now our incredible team has grown to 100 employees! It’s crazy to think about the growth and expansion, but even more so is the critical realization of just how important every member of our team is. Whether it’s building windows, coordinating shipping, ordering glass, developing software, facilitating sales, procuring raw materials, or designing new products, our exceptional team members are every bit as impressive as our products. They all do incredible work, and they do it with 100% commitment to our social mission focused on reducing recidivism by providing gainful employment to those who have been formerly incarcerated.
2. 56% – The % of our Staff with a Justice-Involved Background
Our goal when we started Awake was that 40% of our staff would have a justice-involved background. We wanted to make our mission real by challenging ourselves to be part of the solution when it comes to the stigma around hiring practices for individuals with a criminal record. We wanted to prove that we could build some of the most innovative window and door products on the market while also building a thriving employee culture where a large % of the staff just needed an opportunity. As we celebrate our 5-year anniversary, not only have we crushed our goal of 40%, but the number has grown to 56% of our staff having a record. The main reason why this number has been able to grow higher is that our model is proving that it works. So many of our early hires from 3-4 years ago are still at Awake and are thriving in their personal lives. They’ve moved from vulnerable new staff to excellent mentors helping train, tutor, and shape new employees to follow their path to success and continue to push that % even higher.
3. 5 – The # of Core Values That Still Guide Us
Even as we grow, our roots remain the same. Our commitment to learning, loving, challenging, owning, and having gratitude isn’t just a poster on the wall; it’s in how we make decisions every day. Our core values are discussed with our staff every month in his or her 1 on 1 with their manager. They are celebrated in our all-hands monthly lunches, and each “employee of the month” is recognized for how they live out those core values. They are the structure of every employee review. The lesson? Culture isn’t what you say. It’s what you practice.
4. $80 Million – The Amount of Product we have Shipped into the Market in (5) Years
While we are still a very young company, our customers have pushed our growth substantially in the past 5) years, which has resulted in $80 million worth of windows and doors being shipped to luxury job sites throughout North America. The end result is getting to see the incredible ways that architects, builders, and homeowners have incorporated our products into their stunning homes. Check out our inspiration gallery on our website to see how good our customers make our products look.
5. Too Many to Count – Lives Touched Beyond the Shop Floor
From families reuniting to people buying their first homes, to coworkers becoming lifelong friends, some things can’t be measured. The impact of fair chance work ripples far beyond the workplace. The lesson : We’re not just building windows. We’re helping frame futures. As we reflect on the past five years, we’re grounded in gratitude and energized by what’s ahead. Awake exists because people believed in each other, and that belief continues to shape everything we do. Here’s to the next five years, to deeper impact, bolder growth, and continuing to prove that when you lead with heart, there’s no limit to what’s possible for yourself or for the person next to you.