Her Story
About Melinda Kay
Melinda Kay Silva is the owner of Legends Glass Solutions, a Division 8 commercial glazing contractor based in San Antonio, Texas, serving clients throughout San Antonio, Austin, Dallas, and Houston. Since founding the company in 2023, she has built it into a full-service operation specializing in high-rise glass repair, commercial storefront systems, curtain walls, architectural hardware, and residential glass remodeling. Her path to ownership began decades earlier, in 2003, when she entered the trade as a glazer, steadily working her way from field roles into estimating and business leadership through hands-on experience and industry relationships.
Silva's story is defined as much by personal resilience as professional achievement. Having left home at the age of nine, she taught herself much of what she knows, later earning her GED and currently pursuing an Associates in Estimator through ASPE. As one of a small percentage of women who own businesses in construction, she has had to work to earn credibility in a field long dominated by older, established male contractors, often finding common ground with them through her own background. Guided early on by her mentor Josie, who taught her the importance of balancing her energy and avoiding burnout, Silva has carried that same philosophy forward as she looks to grow her company into new markets, including Corpus Christi, while expanding into residential services and financing options for elderly and low-income clients.
Beyond her business, Silva is active in mentorship and community service. She supports young women entering the construction industry through her involvement with Women Unlimited, and she gives back through regular donations to Sam's Ministry and Haven for Hope, along with volunteer fundraising work for the American Red Cross. Her leadership and community contributions have been recognized through several honors, including a Women in Leadership Acknowledgment and a Leadership & Community Impact Award. Rooted in her Christian faith and a strong sense of resilience, Silva continues to build her business on the same values that carried her through her early struggles: perseverance, service to others, and never forgetting where she came from.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Melinda Kay
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to persistence, self-teaching, and my faith in God. My journey began as a runaway at age nine, and from there I built myself up through hands-on experience in the field since 2003, eventually earning my GED and now working toward my Associates in Estimator at ASPE. I've also leaned heavily on the encouragement of the people around me, including my husband, and on the professional organizations I've been part of along the way.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I ever received came from my mentor, Josie, who taught me to find balance in life and to be intentional about where I put my energy, so I don't burn myself out.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
This industry isn't for the faint of heart — it takes real grit to succeed. My advice is to push through the roadblocks, tune out the naysayers, and trust that if you believe you can do it, you can.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge I've faced is proving myself in a male-dominated, old-school environment among engineers and building owners, especially the older, more traditional business owners. I've found that drawing on a shared background helps me build rapport with them. At the same time, I see real opportunity in expanding into residential glazing and in building out internal financing options to better serve elderly and low-income customers, as well as in growing our footprint into markets like Dallas and Corpus Christi.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My Christian faith, giving back, and paying it forward matter most to me, both personally and professionally. Resilience and never forgetting where I came from ground everything I do, which is part of why supporting organizations like Sam's Ministry and Haven for Hope through monthly donations is so important to me.
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