Chip "In the News"

The May 2008 issue of Minnesota Technology magazine focuses on manufacturing and high technology businesses. It includes a feature story on the Defense Alliance and Minnesota Wire, for which Paul Wagner (our Chairman & CEO) and myself were interviewed... take a look by clicking HERE.

Memorial Day weekend

It's Memorial Day weekend, and we're still waiting for this place to warm up! Our boating plans are once again on hold... but Jack the lawn-mowing entrepreneur managed to get a couple of customers taken care of - here he is with his very own machine, purchased from last year's profits.

On Luke's part, he was surprised to find his middle name in stone - at the Russian Ortohdox cemetery in St. Anthony. Martin Kostik was Luke's Grandmother Mary's brother, who was killed in action in World War II, in Normandy.

We attended the cemetery's annual Memorial Day program for the church's Veterans lost in America's conflicts since World War I. It was a very nice, moving ceremony, complete with an honor guard firing a salute, a bugler playing Taps, a young Marine giving a keynote speech, and a Russian Orthodox priest to bless the proceedings.

Mark turns 50!

Mark had his 50th birthday party on Sunday at his great new place. There's a pool, so naturally the kids spent most of their time in it. There are a few people we know that are hitting the half-century mark. Don't worry, Mark... we're right behind you!

Naming a Family-owned Business...

OK, this is probably not a very interesting post this time around, but here is our new company logo, for your viewing pleasure! We've been trying to get the company to "re-brand" for over 2 years now, and the best we could do was drop off the "...& Cable Co." from the name... But at least the new logo has a slicker look. We went 'round and 'round, trying to get the name and new logo just right - including the font used, and the colors - which were chosen to look "medical." This experience was like naming a child... worse, I think. If you're hard up for entertainment, click on the logo to see what's going on at the website!

St. Paul Saints: "Fun is Good"

More baseball! This time it's Military Appreciation Night at the minor league St. Paul Saints. Their motto is "Fun is Good," and the night is usually more about everything besides baseball - like the running of the pigs, "Super Fan" (here's his photo, too) and all kinds of crazy contests. The stadium is right next to Minnesota Wire, so there were a lot of folks that I know there, including Paul Wagner, Pat Lawton and others. What a fun night - still cool out, though! Baseball is here, it's May, and it's been raining like crazy... the only thing we need now is our boat on the water! Maybe soon.

Olivia Laingen Sings at Twins Game!

It was 38 degrees and freezing rain outside (in May!) but inside the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome the Minnesota Twins beat the Detroit Tigers 11-1. We think it was in part because they were inspired by our own Libby Laingen singing the National Anthem!

Well, OK, she was joined by her classmates from the Liberty Ridge Elementary 5th grade class... but she was on the jumbo-tron, and we're pretty sure we heard her voice. Libby's Godparents, Gayle and John, had front row seats for the performance, while we were way up high in the stands. It was a fun night - until we went out into the cold again. It made us wonder how the Twins will fare in 2010 when the new (roof-less!) stadium will be ready... (in the group photo, Libby is in the front row, 5th from the right). That's her friend, Ashley. Jack gives a thumbs up to Libby's performance. Luke, apparently, is just stunned...