Melissa Dirksen was working for a glass company for five years when she saw that things weren’t going well and that the business would probably close.  She decided to start her own business and did so out of the back of her truck, a year before the previous business she worked for closed its doors.  Interior Glass is now twenty years old and has a beautiful showroom located at 20212 Roberts Street in Elkhorn.  Interior Glass prides itself on owning the only beveling machine in the state of Nebraska and does mirrors, glass table table tops, stained and leaded glass, glass countertops, room dividers and shower doors.  They work with retail customers, designers, builders, remodelers, architects and tile layers.

Tell us a little about your family – I have been married to my husband Bruce for 14 years.  He is a farmer in North Central Iowa. Bruce commutes and lives in Iowa during planting and harvest time. We have a blended family.  I have four children and my husband has three.  They range in ages from 20-31 years old.  Two of my daughters live in Arizona with their husbands. My youngest daughter and her husband live in Omaha, and my son is in college at UNO. My husband’s daughter lives in Maryland with her husband and is in the Army. My husband’s two sons live in Iowa. We are also blessed to have four grandchildren. We are empty nesters now!

What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life?  – Starting my own business.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – Ride my Harley or my horse.  Another perfect day is going boating great friends.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? – My father was a pilot in the Air Force and we lived in Okinawa,
(Japan) for 4 years.  It was a great experience.  The next place he was stationed was Offutt Air Force Base.  At this point all of my family lives in other states with the exception of one cousin.  I chose to live in this great city called OMAHA!

What are you most proud of? –  Raising 7 very successful children. All of our children are very self sufficient and very successful.  I guess they did listen…

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – Do what you know how to do to the best of your ability.  I have never asked an employee to do anything that I haven’t done.  When it gets tough, keep putting one foot in front of the other one.

What are your plans for retirement? – To semi-retire, so that I could help my husband more on the farm in Iowa. Also to enjoy my grandchildren both here and in Arizona.

What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life? – Teaching children to ride horses. I currently do this, but not as much as I would like. I have been riding, shown and training Quarter Horses for 45 years.

Which talent would you most like to have? – Playing the guitar.

What is your favorite book or last good book you read? – Heaven is for Real.

What is your favorite movie? – Titanic

What is your favorite TV show? – Modern Family

What is your favorite local restaurant? – Hero’s or in Waterloo, El Bee’s

If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? – Warren Buffet

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – Email me at dbevels@aol.com (402)-289-2257