The Custom Communicator

October, 2007 Hi Readers, We hope you are continuing to enjoy The Custom Communicator as much as The Custom Companies, Inc. we continue to enjoy producing it. (Really!) We encourage each and every one 317 W. Lake Street of you to offer information; whether it is an interesting article or a suggestion Northlake, IL 60164 for improvement, we want your involvement! Please do not hesitate to submit a www.customco.com thought or tidbit of info, you might be pleasantly surprised at just how interesting others might find your idea. Nothing helps shape this Newsletter more than YOUR feedback. Send your e-mails to [email protected] We are looking forward to hearing from you. Did you know? Respectfully, The first ballpoint The Newsletter Committee pens were sold in 1945 for $12.00 a Words From the Wise... piece. Rocky/George: Thank you, Mr. Mandera for taking the time to tell us In Ancient Rome, about The Custom Companies. We understand that you started the soldiers wore sprigs company over twenty years ago on a shoestring and through the years of thyme to keep you have created a company with a reputation for integrity, innovation, their spirits and energy up. and honesty. Mr. Mandera: I am both pleased and gratified to know The Custom Recent studies by Companies continues to occupy the position of leadership and is known Wrigley show that for its innovation in today’s changing Transportation Industry. chewing gum before Rocky/George: Would you tell us a little about the origins of The Custom Companies? or during a stressful Mr. Mandera: In 1986, after my service with the United States Marine Corps I started The Cus‐ event can improve memory and tom Companies using my experiences and what I learned in numerous entry level positions that concentration and I held in the transportation industry. Coming from a traditional, strong, family‐oriented home I ease anxiety. had already learned the values of honesty, fair dealing and good, old fashioned hard work. Watching my father, who worked briefly in the air freight industry, I learned about the interac‐ tions and skills necessary to be successful in the world of business. It was here that I learned the values of networking, self‐dedication to accomplishment of new transportation initiatives combined with a desire to both win and lead with like minded associates that has led to contin‐ ued success. Rocky/George: How did you first become involved in the Transportation Industry? Mr. Mandera: My father was a sales representative with Associated Air Freight. I started in the industry in 1978 as a local airfreight pick‐up and delivery driver. I drove a 1966 Chevy Van for Fed‐X and ABC Air Freight in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Then at night, after my 12‐hour day driv‐ Inside this issue: ing the van, I would take my car, an old Plymouth Duster, on a nightly pick‐up and delivery Re-Certified 2 route from Oak Brook, Illinois to Dwight, Illinois to both drop‐off and pick up envelopes and return packages back to Oak Brook. I did this each and every evening and most Saturdays as Custom Global Logistics 3 well. C.A.R. vs. P.A.R. 4 Rocky/George: What was your first business in the transportation industry? Mr. Mandera: In 1982 with a couple of partners, I began my own Air Freight forwarding Com‐ Security Improvements 5 pany and called it Accurate Air Express. Support Our Troops 6 Rocky/George: Why did you move from air freight to trucking? Mr. Mandera: I discovered very early on, after deregulation in 1980, that there were literally Getting to know… 7 - 8 hundreds of “Air Freight forwarders” located in the Chicago‐land area. I became very interested Halloween Time 9 at that point in the LTL and Truckload market. I learned everything that I could about it, as fast Autumn Holidays 10 as I could. Monthly Events 11 Rocky/George: How did you go about learning about LTL and Truckload markets? Mr. Mandera: People may think it’s funny today, but I began by introducing myself to the In‐ Toy Drop 12 dustry Leaders and associating only with the “Giants” of the LTL, airfreight, and truckload indus‐ Cartoons 13 try, people who were both leaders and winners, on a daily basis. I would introduce myself to Trivia Answers 14 these leaders not as a competitor, but as an admirer of the manner in which they con‐ Computer Tips… 15 ducted and built their businesses. Coupons 16 [Cont. on page 2] The Custom Communicator Page 2 Words from the Wise (Continued) Rocky/George: How did contacting these leaders help you? Mr. Mandera: It helped me form a vision of what would become The Custom Companies, Inc., the industries first New Hires full service Transportation provider that is customer friendly and success driven that provides full multi‐task Alejandro Garcia trucking services in Air Freight, Local Cartage, LTL, and Truckload delivery systems. When I was beginning to cre‐ ate this vision, I presented my new ideas to these mentors for their opinion and evaluation. Bill Sweet Rocky/George: What did your mentors think of your ideas? Brian Teofilo Mr. Mandera: Everyone I talked to told me that the “one stop shop” concept would absolutely not work. Based Carlos Castaneda on their response, I knew that I was onto something,, At that time I was 28 years old and not adverse to taking knowledgeable risks in a good cause. I knew that I would have to risk everything that I had financially to make it Christina Paramo happen. I recruited two people who also believed in me and my idea and vision, Kurt Dellaquilla and Dianna Ryan. Christopher Moran Both of these people helped me form The Custom Companies Dianna continues to be with our Company to this Jason Dragos day. Jim Raymond Reyes Rocky/George: And how did you first market The Custom Companies? Mr. Mandera: I would contact and assemble potential customers at sporting events that I knew they were inter‐ Jose Hernandez ested in, primarily Bulls, Cubs, Sox, Bears, Blackhawks. I would load a bus full of potential customers and talk with Juan Salazar them both on the way to and from the games. I would discuss my ideas of service and seek out our common Luis Santizo interests and goals, find out what they were interested in and concerned about and use the interaction to discuss Manuel Miramontes my ideas. While others were playing or going to entertainment venues as a diversion, I used these diversions to make inroads in developing a customer base. I worked sixteen hours a day, every day. It is this same work ethic Marcelo Garcia that I continue to employ today, together with the same beliefs and commitment to honesty, fair dealing, and Maribel Baeza putting each and every customer first. Michael Cruz Rocky/George: Is there anything else that you believe has contributed to your success and the continued achieve‐ Michael Smolik ments of The Custom Companies? Mr. Mandera: On a personal basis, the main ingredients for the success of our company has been both hard work Moises Hernandez and dedication to our initial founding principles as well as a very strong and supportive wife and great children. Paul Trippett Within our Company success has resulted from the outstanding good fortune that I have had in recruiting my Ray Molino Senior and Mid‐level Managers and Associates. Their belief in my vision and ideas, and their implementation of Rebecca Barry my desire for a full‐service customer based Company has been the driving force for our success. Rocky/George: Where do you see the company going in the future? Sidney Chung Mr. Mandera: We may research the Truckload interaction with different forms of Intermodal transportation. I Thomas Keegan would also like to expand our Refrigerated Division, perhaps up to as many as 50 additional “Reefers”. I am also Tine Petrovic gratified by the continued expansion and success of our LAX facility, and I believe the growth there will also con‐ tinue. Rocky/George: Thank You for sharing the history of the Custom Companies and your vision for the company.

NOVEMBER Re-Certified!

November comes Congratulations! During the month of August 2007 we successfully passed our ISO Recertification Au- And November dits. Thank you for the contribution, support and commitment you displayed dur- Goes, With the ing the audit process. You can find the results of the audits in G>Audit Re- last red berries And the first sults>Survellience Audits. Although we were not perfect, we are well on our way white snows. to a Quality Management System that works, where we have continuous improvement and are achieving our goals. With night coming early, And Don’t stop now…we encourage your daily participation working within the dawn coming Quality Management System. Make sure Quality is a top priority in everything late, And ice in you do everyday. If something is not in compliance, log it in the Recordable Issues Log. Each Manager the bucket And is responsible to review the Recordable Issues Log at a minimum of every two (2) weeks for tracking and frost by the gate. trending analysis. CAR’s (Corrective Action Reports) will be completed for issues that are non- conforming. Using the 5-Whys or Fishbone method we will be able to determine root cause and take The fires burn corrective action measures, which will make it easier for everyone and fosters continuous improvement. And the kettles sing, And earth sinks to rest Un- Let’s start preparing now for our next Surveillance Audit, which is scheduled for January 9-11, 2008 til next spring. -Terry Klonowski Clyde Watson October, 2007 Page 3 October About Custom Global Logistics Anniversaries One of the great aspects of being on the Custom Communicator Committee is that I really get a “hands on” experience with each department I write an article about. I am amazed how many different features and entities in Terry Klonowski 18 transportation there are in The Custom Companies Network which again reminds me of our continuing mindset of a Tom Kolzow 18 “Full Service Transportation Company”. I had the opportunity this time to meet with Bob Boyle, Vice President of CGL Ramone Dino 17 Operations and I was surprised on the many processes CGL and its’ associates manage on a daily basis. Matt Zdych 13 CGL is a full service domestic and international air freight forwarder. Over the course of the last two years, Robert Modes 13 CGL has continued to grow by improving on-time delivery performance and implementing industry leading technology Elaine Heppe 12 to service our customers. Bruce Lenau 11 In 2007, CGL established a monthly ISO Quality Goal of 97% on-time delivery performance. Year to date Tom Mroz 10 CGL has met or exceeded this goal on a monthly basis. Two factors have contributed to the improvement in on-time Ramir Sison 10 performance. Through robust data available in our operating system we have been able to manage carrier performance Jon DuJardin 8 and take corrective actions with carriers when needed. The most important factor contributing to on-time performance Robert Heinz, Sr. 8 has been the great staff of CGL which makes on-time deliveries every day. Mary Holowicki 7 Over a year ago, CGL implemented a new operating system with complete web visibility of shipment status Jaroslaw Odziemiec 7 for our customers. Through this industry leading technology we are able to send our customer’s e-mail shipment status notifications along with the entire web based tools to allow the customer complete visibility to all facets of their account. Jose Cedeno 6 CGL’s web application has POD, Shipment Status, Manifest Reports and on-line order entry. Customers also have George Maciel 5 access to the complete history of all invoice payments and cash applications. Marie Huff 5 Bob Boyle is the Vice President of Operations for CGL and manages the following associates that make Robert Deneen 5 CGL an ever growing part of The Custom Companies. Anderson Santos 5 ORD Jose Fabian 5 Junior Tinajero manages the tracing function for Oscar De La Cruz 4 the East Coast, Lorna Voth manages the tracing for the Mid- Ron Pearce 4 west, Sid Chung traces for the West Coast and Terri Mcgrath Malgorzata Kokoszka 4 is responsible for over-seeing the tracing department. All four Cristina Piegzik 4 associates also provide Customer Service support. Eddie Alejandro De Leon 4 Rivera is responsible for Customer Service and the CGL Tom Kurtzer 3 International shipping programs. Eddie also oversees all com- Maria Cortez 3 pliance for CGL with the Transportation Security Administra- Matthew Foley 2 tion (TSA) and internal ISO initiatives. Laura Montanez per- Jason Esser 2 forms all Accounts Payable functions for CGL. Cris Piegzik is Luis Sanchez 2 responsible for all the billing functions for CGL, from customer Joel Locklear 2 rates to generating invoices. Cris has also been managing and assisting the accounts receivable and collection proc- Enrique Melchor 2 (l to r back first)Sara Lopez, Marie Podolak, Lorna Voth, Junior Tinajero, Kenneth Jordan 2 ess for CGL. Eddie Rivera, Bob, Boyle, Terri McGrath, Sidney Chung, Cris Piegzik. Terri McGrath 2 Sara Lopez and Marie Podolak handle the evening operations of CGL. Sara Lopez is responsible for the Milton Ayala 1 data entry process and the coordination of the CGL Chicago pick up activities. Sara and Marie coordinate the flow of Anthony Stram 1 the inbound freight to the dock and status of when drivers are arriving back to our facility. Marie is also responsible for the overall function of the evening outbound shipping activity. Marie also prioritizes carrier lockouts, dispatches trucks to the airport, does follow up on shipment status along with providing a written turnover on high priority shipments for next day delivery. LAX The air freight division is a fast paced high energy group committed to helping grow sales in the Los Angeles market. CGL in Carson, CA dedicates providing quality and customized customer service to our time sensitive, time critical customers. CGL associ- QMS Winner! ates are as follows: Managing the CGL Division in Carson, CA is Jose’ Melchor, a three year veteran with The Custom Companies. Erwin Ancheta has been with The Custom Companies for two years and manages Customer Service and daily operations along with Tony Cruz. Franklin Ibarra runs the evening operations and Marcos Solorio manages the air freight dock operations and also assists with overall dock support. (l to r back first)Marco Solorio, Jose Melchor, Erwin Ancheta, Franklin Ibarra, Tony Cruz QMS Winner Tim BNA Gowin accepting his Nancy Reed coordinates all the customer activity for a major apparel company in Lawrenceburg, TN. This award from Jeff account ships a large volume of clothing to high end retailers across the country. Guthman. PHL Jeff Doney and Irene Baker manage the Philadelphia CGL facility coor- dinating the shipping activity along with Customer Service for all the other clothing apparel locations while also supporting Nancy Reed in the Nashville operation. -Jason Montgomery November The Custom Communicator Page 4 Anniversaries Corrective Action Versus Preventive Action

James Campbell 15 We have completed our audits and we are moving forward integrating our Quality Manage- John Valente 13 ment System into the Custom culture. Team QMS has received inquiries about what is the dif- John Dembowski 11 ference between a C.A.R. (Corrective Action Report) and a P.A.R. (Preventive Action Report). George Barney 8 Both of these are important tools used to achieve Custom’s goal of exceeding customer expec- Lisa Ludwikowski 7 tations. We need to have a clear understanding of when each action is needed. Think of these Antonio Pantoja 4 tools this way: Alonso Blanco 4 James Nuckles 3 Corrective Action: Putting out a house fire after it has started. Hugo Sarmiento 3 Aracelo Arballo 3 These problems exist in the here and now and require corrective action to prevent their reoc- Timothy Sienko 3 currence. Three major questions should be resolved: Saul DeLuna 3 Hector Nery 3 Phyllis Wardiani 4 • What do you do to correct the issues? Thomas Kennedy 2 Serefino Arias 2 • How do you document what you did? Angel Kitov 2 Steven Carnana 2 • Did it work (i.e. close the loop)? Frederico Medina 2 Tina Velez 2 Irene Goetz 2 Preventive Action: Identifying conditions that may start a house fire and removing them from Jose Reyes 1 the system. Patrick Walsh 1 Anthony Cruz 1 Preventive Action is a more difficult idea to grasp for many (maybe because there is a ten- Jose Garcia 1 dency to put out fires rather than prevent them) and can be accomplished in a variety of ways: Abraham Rodriguez 1 • If a process or system is working, does a problem exist? Sometimes, but not always. There are natural variations in any process or system, but the output may not achieve our de- sired expectations

• A process not meeting our expectations may need refining, but not necessarily correcting. We often think something “must” be wrong when we don't get the results we hoped for. Before you send that e-mail… There is a significant difference in a process not meeting expectations and a process not pro- Count to 10, then read it ducing to specification. This misunderstanding of system output usually leads to a landslide of again. Better yet, wait issuing Corrective Actions for every problem encountered. However, not all problems are Cor- 24 hours, suggests rective Action opportunities. Some are Preventive Action opportunities. Jennifer Cochrane Ph.D., a communica- We all do small and large preventive actions every day in our jobs. It's great to have a paper tions expert at Indiana trail to track and fix mistakes. It's much better to have a form that helps fix the process so mis- University. “Because we takes don't get made in the first place. We have developed both forms and they can be found don’t have eye contact, on the ISO drive (G), or the link on your Desktop. tone of voice and facial expressions to help Your Team QMS members are here to help. convey the intended message, it’s easy for Team QMS an e-mail to be misinter- preted, leading to hurt Jeff Guthman, Chair feelings,” she explains. Dianna Ryan Your best bet: Keep e- Carol Guarino messages brief and to the point and save really Clete Janik emotional content for Larry Wolf face-to-face or tele- Walter Gustafson phone conversations. Dorland Henderson Rocky Caylor Jason Montgomery Terry Klonowski Bruce Lenau October, 2007 Page 5 CHI IN ACTION Security Improvements and Upgrades It is three thirty in the morning on Sunday, and a telephone is consistently ringing in the bedroom of a Manager/Associate of The Custom Companies, Inc. Perhaps it is the home of Vice President of Operations Rocky Caylor, Vice President of Human Resources Tom Kennedy, CDN Safety Manager Antonio Crespo, or Security Manager George Smith; for all have previously received similar calls at similar hours.

The Manager/Associate picks up the telephone, it is an off-shore consultant for ADT Alarm Ser- vices, announcing that again, either high wind, stormy weather, driver miscalculation, or possible unauthorized entry has oc- Terry Klonowski curred on one of the docks or warehouses of The Custom Compa- VP Quality Management nies, Inc. and Compliance

Being mindful of the high value customer owned property being stored at our facility, and the large Corporate investment on our property in both equipment, parts, and technology, the Manager/ Associate dresses and leaves to inspect the facility while contact- Pedro Antunes in all photos. ing the trained Custom Associate that is serving as Security Officer.

Once again, it is found to be a false alarm. Hopefully, the offshore ADT operator has not sum- moned the local police again, resulting in an additional $200 “false alarm” expense to the Com- pany. Jason Esser The existing alarm equipment at The Custom Companies is both Dispatch Manager antiquated, in a state of continuing disrepair, and in dire need of improvement. Over thirty years ago, Wells Fargo Security Services installed the existing alarm system on our facility. On our dock/warehouse, this consisted of “door contacts” on each of our overhead doors and pedestrian entrances. Over the years, these contacts have, through many independent causes, become misaligned and in a poor state of repair, requiring constant “fixes” to remain operable.

Twenty years ago, ADT Security Services purchased the assets, customer accounts, and business facilities of Wells Fargo. In many instances (ours included), they merely continued to operate Clete Janik the equipment of Wells Fargo and bill for, what is now, off-shore monitoring services which Controller currently, at best, can be described as marginal in providing adequate facility security.

In recognition of this reduced efficiency and the need for improvement, the ownership and senior management of The Custom Companies, Inc. has undertaken the task of modernizing and improving the security of both our physical plant, the property of our valued customers, and the personal security of each individual Associate. Some of the upcoming innovations that Associates and Visitors can expect to find are: 1. Electric eye beams on each interior dock, making “door contacts” obsolete and triggering on any unauthorized entry. 2. Motion Detection alarm systems with an eighty Constantino Ramirez pound alarm threshold around sensitive Corporate Dock Associate operations in and around the vicinity of Airfreight, Maintenance, the US Customs bonded area, and other high value Corporate assets. 3. Camera Installation with a motion detection capability at pre-selected areas selected by ownership and senior management. 4. Improved and expanded security card reader access to sensitive Corporate areas, insuring that only those Associates with a direct responsibility for the area are granted access. As you observe the ongoing modernization of these systems, remember that it is the visible commitment of ownership and senior management to your personal security and the security of our valued customers, again proving that Together, We Can Make it Happen. Ruben Caluo - George Smith Dock Associate The Custom Communicator Page 6 Support Our Troops... Let’s give a salute to the following associates’ relatives currently serving in the armed services and thank them for protecting us: October Birthdays Bobby Heinz, Jr. 10/1 Jennifer Rueda (LAX Gold team) has a brother, Private Santana Rueda currently Terry Klonowski 10/3 serving in Afghanistan. Rocky Caylor 10/4 Alejandro Garcia 10/5 George Smith 10/5 Alison Crossley (LAX Gold team) has two son-in-laws Robert Dotson 10/5 in the Marines. Lance Corporal Sean Wilkey, pictured be- Carlos Castaneda 10/6 low receiving his promotion to Lance Corporal and Corp- Juan Avina 10/6 oral Kevin McDougal pictured on the right next to a pretty Javier Martinez 10/8 mean looking weapon. Benito Sanchez 10/13 PERRY MANDERA 10/17 Christina Paramo 10/19 Ramone Dino 10/20 Nancy Reed 10/20 Rachel Bustamante 10/20 Timothy Hogan 10/20 Alan Wojdak 10/21 Jose Espinosa 10/21 Cristina Piegzik 10/21 Adam Gonzalez 10/23 Edison Sharaxhija 10/24 Anderson Santos 10/25 Jose Rentas 10/26 Geraldo Lopez (ORD TL CSR) has a nephew, 1st Lt. Gabriel Diaz who is a Marine Herbert Aquino 10/26 jet fighter pilot serving in Iraq. Rafael Ibarra 10/26 Earl Hahn 10/28 Sigfredo Acosta 10/31 Linda Godinez (LAX CSR) has a godson who recently enlisted in the Marine Corps. Private E1 Shaun Godinez is currently going through boot camp in San Diego. Recipe: Pumpkin Apple Thank you to everyone in the United States Armed forces. Butter Ingredients: 1 can (15 oz.) LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin 1 medium apple, peeled and grated 1 cup Apple NESTLÉ® JUICY JUICE® All Natural 100% Juice 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar 3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice Directions: COMBINE pumpkin, apple, apple juice, sugar and pumpkin pie spice in me‐ dium, heavy‐ duty sauce‐ pan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 1/2 hours. Serve with butter‐ milk biscuits, breads, corn muffins or hot cereal. Store in airtight container Please keep our associates’ family members in your prayers. in refrigerator for up to 2 months. Recipe makes 3 cups. October, 2007 Page 7 Getting To Know You….20 Questions for Adam Johnson by Jason Esser

TCC - What is your full name? AJ - Adam Wesley Johnson TCC - Where are you from? Where do you live November now? AJ - I was born in River Grove, when I was young Birthdays we moved to Hawthorn Woods, and then to Buffalo Grove. I now live near downtown Karl Mozina 11/2 Chicago in the University Village Neighbor- Ognian Satchanov 11/3 hood. TCC - How long have you worked for The Custom Bradford Woodbury 11/3 Companies? Mark Dannhauser 11/4 What is your position? Adam Johnson 11/8 AJ - It’s four years this month. I spent the better part of a year training. I have three years Robert Deneen 11/10 into my current position, which is Territory Mariusz Pieniazek 11/10 Manager. Charles Cecconi 11/10 TCC - Where do you see Custom in 5, 10, 15 Ernesto Montoya 11/11 years? AJ - We truly have unlimited potential. We are doing a number of things that gives us an edge in Scott Talanoa 11/12 the market place. Along with a strong ambition to grow from the executive level, we have Tom Boyle 11/13 spent a great amount of time, research and dollars spent in creating/implementation of Tim Ronga 11/14 technology that allows for processes to flow smoothly through our system..for both our internal support and our customers. Coupled with that the ‘personal’ attention we choose to German Delgado 11/16 provide to our customers really puts us in a good place. I’m excited to be a part of it. Anthony Stram 11/17 TCC - Now that football season has started what will be the Bears record? Will they beat the Salvador Marmolejo 11/18 Packers this year? Jim Raymond Reyes 11/19 AJ - Bears should finish around 98-6. Packer fans should stay home when they play the Bears. TCC - Where is your favorite place to eat dinner? Saul DeLuna 11/20 AJ - There’s a ton of restaurants that I’m a big fan of, but I really enjoy cooking a good meal or Moe Skuja 11/20 grabbing takeout and relaxing on the couch. Steven Paxton 11/20 TCC - What did you do before your career at Custom? AJ - After graduating college I was bartending for 2 years. I was looking for a job but waiting for Shiela Ann Pajarillo 11/20 the right opportunity to inspire me. While I was working, I met Mr. Mandera and his family Bruce Schaller 11/21 as they enjoyed the restaurant I used to work at. We got to know each other there..and the Donna Robinson 11/21 rest is history! TCC - If you had a boat, would it be a speed boat or pontoon? Joseph Wiencek 11/22 AJ - It would be the boat from the T.V. show Miami Vice with the theme song from the show Dorland Henderson 11/24 playing at all times, I would also be wearing a white linen suit. Alternatively, I would have a John Angelopoulos 11/24 pontoon boat that was out of gas in the middle of a lake with Bob Z at the helm wearing a Frederico Medina 11/25 blue sports coat and captains hat. TCC - Do you have it built into your budget to buy lunch for Gail Abdallah 11/25 Bob Z? What is the annual expense? Rebecca Barry 11/26 AJ - Lets do the math: ($1.99 * 3) for 3 winking dogs/day. 5 times a week, over 52 Susan Hicks 11/27 weeks….probably isn’t going to happen. TCC - What is the most challenging part of your position? Jay Blumenthal 11/27 AJ - Sometimes there aren’t enough hours in the day. Sherri Gribble 11/28 TCC - Tell us one thing about yourself that we might not know. Hugo Sarmiento 11/29 AJ - I cried when I saw ‘Titanic’ for the first time. Millie Rodriguez 11/30 TCC - Outside of work, what do you do in your leisure? AJ - I play as much Golf as I can. I have also been heavily into music since I was a kid. I’ve been playing guitar in bands up through my college years. I just put together a new band this past year, we just cut a demo cd in June. TCC - Do you enjoy Chicago Pubs, for example Friar Tucks? AJ - Friar Tucks was one of my favorite places to go for a while. I had a good buddy that worked there, all our friends would wind up there at some point through the night. I still haven’t been to a pub that I didn’t enjoy. TCC - What is one life lesson you have learned? AJ - Don’t be afraid to take chances and make mistakes. This is what makes a person stronger/ wiser in the long run. TCC - Do you have any fears in life? AJ - I’m afraid of birds... Seriously. “There is no TCC - Describe yourself in 3 words? AJ - Super…Awesome………….Super Great. such thing in TCC - If you won a million dollars what would you do with it? life as an AJ - I would buy a race car and a fire truck. unimportant TCC - Do you have a favorite food that stems from childhood? AJ - Pasta. Every Sunday it was pasta dinner at Nana and Papa’s. day.” TCC: What kind of music do you like? AJ - As a kid I got hold of my parent’s record collection, and got into a ton of different music, Led Zeppelin was my favorite band as a kid and got me playing. I truly listen to every type - Alexander of music I can expose myself to and incorporate it into my own writing and playing. Woollcott TCC - What steps do you take to remedy an adverse situation? AJ - Find a scapegoat and point fingers..just kidding. I first make sure that I stay calm and keep emotions out. From there I simply figure out a reasonable solution or compromise and make sure it is carried through. The Custom Communicator Page 8 Getting To Know You….23 Questions For Jim Welsh by Adam Johnson and Mike Wexler

TCC ‐ Since we know your first and last name, help us finish the equation, what’s your middle name? JW ‐ Edward TCC ‐ How long have you been a member of the Custom community? May MVP JW ‐ Let me think about it. Since 2002 so around 5 years. TCC ‐ Prior to working at Custom, you spent a good amount of time in Lake Winners Tahoe, is it true you were training for the US Olympic Ski Jump team? JW ‐ I signed a waiver, can’t answer that without a lawyer present. What were you doing there? I was working as a dealer in a casino. The best Dock thing about working there was the excitement, the action. Always some‐ Stephen Coffey thing going on. TCC ‐ True or false, you always double down on 11? JW ‐ True. TCC ‐ What made you leave Lake Tahoe and come out to Los Angeles? JW ‐ After 911, they let us all go. They let anyone with 10 years or less go. 911 really affected my family and our future. I also wanted to move my family to a better environment; somewhere I could raise a family. TCC ‐ Was it an easy transition or did it take some time getting used to? JW ‐ Once I left I never looked back. I decided to make a new life for my family and that was that. TCC ‐ In the time you’ve been here you’ve been busy raising a family and building a successful career, how has one helped the other? JW ‐ Having a successful career enables me to do a lot with my family, experience a lot of new things that some people don’t get to do. Driver Plus, without the support of my family, I couldn’t be as successful as I’ve been. I want my kids to do the things I never got to do. Earl Hahn TCC ‐ Along with your wife Sarah and daughter Maggie, you’ve recently had a new addition to the team. Tell us a little bit about the little guy; name, height, bill count… JW ‐ He’s already up to 5 bills a day. Leo was named after my grandfather; he was born April 12, 2007. I have this amazing effect on him, I can always calm him down, make him laugh, get him to stop crying. It’s crazy. TCC ‐ When he is of age, will you be teaching him to high five or give the pound? JW ‐ Probably go low two with him. TCC ‐ Your father worked hard in this business, you work hard in this business, what kind of values do you see yourself instilling in your children to help them succeed in life? JW ‐ I think I was raised with the mentality if you work hard, good things will come to you. I like teaching them to work hard and do the right thing and good things will happen. TCC ‐ You’ve always told me no matter what happens, keep working hard and it will happen. What would you say is the secret to suc‐ Office cess in this particular business? Julie Lubrin JW ‐ The secret to success in this business is you can’t let it get to you. Tomorrow is a new day. This is transportation, things happen, you’ve got to move on. Find the right mix, have fun with it and work hard. It’s more than just a job, it’s an adventure. TCC ‐ Do you see yourself as a “truck is half full” or “truck is half empty” kind of guy? JW ‐ I’d like to say I’m a Full Truckload kind of guy. Kidding, I’m a Truck is Half Full kind of guy. TCC ‐ In the movie Spiderman, Peter Parker’s grandfather told him that “with great power comes great responsibility”. With 7 million as your revenue mark this year, would you say you’re feeling like Spidey to “Make It Happen”? JW ‐ Whatever it takes buddy! I’ll wear the suit if it gets me to 7 million. TCC ‐ After going to the Bears / Chargers game last Sunday, on my way out after the game I was hit in the head with a couple peanuts. When I regained consciousness and was picked up by fellow Bears fans I looked up I thought I saw a faint vision of you holding a bag of peanuts. Can you explain? JW ‐ Well, it was Chargers 14 Bears 3. Chargers are my team. And I have good aim with peanuts being a season ticket holder. TCC ‐ As a real estate enthusiast, would you say the bubble has burst? JW ‐ In Los Angeles yes. TCC ‐ I know you’ve invested in some properties, what are your thoughts on people looking to do this? JW ‐ If you never try you’ll never know. And also, if you don’t try you won’t succeed, you’ll always wonder. TCC ‐ You make work fun for me and you push me everyday to do the best I can, who pushed you? JW ‐ Moment of Silence for “The Whale”, Gene Tanaka. He wanted to see me succeed. He took me under his wing and always wanted to see me do well. Words of advice from Tanaka? Tanaka don’t work in the rain. TCC ‐ With Steve Matlock taking over the Bob Heinz role in Los Angeles, who would you say does it better? JW ‐ Let’s get this straight; Bob Heinz is just not replaceable. The eye TCC ‐ Like me I know you came to Custom from a different industry. You’ve had help along the way, is there anyone you would like to thank or give a shout out to? makes JW ‐ In all seriousness, I couldn’t have gotten to where I’m at without the help of everyone I’ve worked with along the way. Everyone at Custom has made me successful. movements TCC ‐ What was your proudest moment here at Custom? 50 times JW ‐ Well I started my territory with no business in it when no one was here. Getting that first shipment meant I was doing the right thing and people were willing to give me a chance. every TCC ‐ Do you remember your first sales call? JW ‐ Absolutely. It was crazy, I kept forgetting what to ask so I ended the call about 3 times but every time I went to my car I remem‐ second. bered something I forgot to ask. So I walked back in and asked the questions and they were cool about it. They wanted to help me so it was great. TCC ‐ What was the best advice your dad ever gave you? JW ‐ Don’t stare at the sun. Seriously though, just make your calls, do your work and you’ll be successful. TCC ‐ One last question and of the utmost importance. With your territory near his old stomping grounds, with so much drama in the L ‐B‐C is it kind of hard being Snoop D‐O double G? JW ‐ Not sure, but it is crazy down there. October, 2007 Page 9 LAX IN ACTION HALLOWEEN TIME!

Get out your pumpkins, witches and inner-ghouls and start preparing for The Custom Companies’ Annual Halloween Costume and Decorating Contest! And remember this contest is not only about you; it is also about your department. This contest is loads Gabe Mireles of fun for the entire Company so get creative with your associ- Dock Supervisor ates and try to win one of the fabulous prizes offered! More details will be forthcoming from Human Resources but here are the winners from last year to get your blood flowing:

Hugo Sarmiento Dock Associate

Daniela Trevino Stacey Carillo

Mary Reich

Seferino Arias Dock Associate

Hugo Sarmiento Dock Associate

Eddie Rivera Claims/POD Phyllis Wardiani

Collections - ORD Collections - ORD Billing - ORD The Custom Communicator Page 10 Recipe: Libby’s® Famous Autumn Holidays

Pumpkin Pie Halloween, which has become every child’s favorite holiday, has a deep and storied past Ingredients: dating back to ancient Rome. In ancient times, “All Hallows” was observed as a tribute to those who 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinna‐ had passed from the earth into the afterlife. Chiefly recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, this mon day is also recognized by most protestant sects, including Episcopalians and Lutherans. All Hallows 1/2 teaspoon salt was celebrated on February 21, the last day of the Roman calendar until the 7th century A.D. when 1/2 teaspoon ground gin‐ Pope Boniface IV transformed this celebration into “All Saints Day” to eliminate the pagan connota‐ ger 1/4 teaspoon ground tions, shortly thereafter settling on November 1 for missionary reasons. cloves The celebration that has so popularized itself in 2 large eggs America owes itself to a combination of the celebration of 1 can (15 oz. LIBBY'S® “All Hallows Eve,” and an ancient Celtic harvest celebrated in 100% Pure Pumpkin 1 can (12 fl. oz.) NESTLÉ® Scotland, Ireland and Wales. In Ireland, this celebration was CARNATION® Evaporated known as “Samhain,” the festival of the Sun. In Scotland, this Milk celebration was recognized as “Halloween,” the name that 1 unbaked 9‐inch (4‐cup followed it to the New World in the 1840’s during the Irish volume) deep‐dish pie shell potato famine. This feast celebrated the end of the summer, Whipped cream (optional) the close of the harvest, and the initiation of winter. In Old Directions: England, these persons would go door to door for “Soul MIX sugar, cinnamon, salt, Cakes,” in Scotland it was for food and drink. It was once ginger and cloves in small bowl. Beat eggs in large believed that the souls passing that night would be placated bowl. Stir in pumpkin and by the offerings left on the doorstep. The eclectic combination of these groups in New England sugar‐spice mixture. brought together the Samhain tradition of carving pumpkins and the Halloween tradition of dressing Gradually stir in evapo‐ in costumes and roaming from door to door into our modern tradition of “Trick or Treating” with the rated milk. POUR into pie shell. influence of a Mardi Gras style masquerade. BAKE in preheated 425° F Dating back to the Pilgrim days of America, Thanksgiving has oven for 15 minutes. Re‐ become an equally celebrated tradition. After a very hard and devas‐ duce temperature to 350° tating first year in the New World, the Pilgrims enlisted assistance from F; bake for 40 to 50 min‐ utes or until knife inserted the Native Americans to help them cultivate the unfamiliar terrain. In near center comes out 1621, a particularly bountiful fall harvest led the Pilgrims to declare a clean. Cool on wire rack for day of “thanksgiving.” In terms of biblical beliefs, these Separatist Puri‐ 2 hours. Serve immediately tans maintained a decidedly more devout interpretation than their or refrigerate. Top with whipped cream before Roman Catholic brethren. The pilgrims believed the Bible recognized serving. only three holidays, the Sabbath, celebrated each week and two days NOTES: recognized more intermittently, days of fast and days of thanksgiving. 1 3/4 teaspoons pumpkin As this was a particularly kind year in comparison to the previous har‐ spice may be substituted for the cinnamon, ginger vest, William Bradford, the Governor of Plymouth determined it would and cloves; however, the be a day of “thanksgiving.” taste will be slightly differ‐ This day continued annually to celebrate the harvest, and was first officially recognized by ent. Do not freeze, as this will cause the crust to New York State in 1817. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln first recognized Thanksgiving as a Na‐ separate from the filling. tional holiday, designating the fourth Thursday of November. While Harvest celebrations are nearly FOR 2 SHALLOW PIES: substitute two 9‐inch (2‐ universal, recognized by Ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt, and China for over 3000 years; our harvest cup volume) pie shells. celebration contains more patriotic undertones. This Bake in preheated 425° F. was the day that brought together the Mayflower oven for 15 minutes. Re‐ duce temperature to 350° voyage of the Pilgrims to the New World and the F.; bake for 20 to 30 min‐ undeniable assistance extended to them by the Na‐ utes or until pies test done. tive Americans, without which we likely would not be FOR HIGH ALTITUDE BAK‐ here to share this great land together. It is the ING (3,500 to 6,000 ft.): Deep‐dish pie‐extend fourth Thursday of each November that we take time second bake time to 55 to to reflect not only on the good fortune bestowed 60 minutes. Shallow pies‐ upon the Pilgrims and Native Americans but that no change. which we recognize individually and give thanks for personally, our health and happiness and that of family, friends and loved ones. October, 2007 Page 11 Events for October and November Oct 8 Columbus Day Hispanic Heritage Month Oct 20 Sweetest Day Kitchen & Bath Month Oct 24 United Nations Day Liver Awareness Month Oct 31 Halloween Lupus Awareness Month Nov 6 Election Day Magazine Month Nov 11 Veterans Day (Observed Nov 12) Pasta Month June MVP Nov 22 Thanksgiving Day Pastor Appreciation Month Winners Pickled Pepper Month Nov 23 Super Shopping Day Friday Pizza Month Dock (just kidding) Polish American Heritage Month Popcorn Poppin' Month Stephen Coffey October is also known as: Pretzel Month Adopt a Shelter Dog Month Rollerskating Month AIDS Awareness Month Seafood Month Auto Battery Safety Month SIDS Awareness Month Blindness Awareness Month Stamp Collecting Month Breast Cancer Awareness Month UNICEF Month Car Care Month Vegetarian Month Carmel Month Youth Against Tobacco Month Driver Computer Learning Month Pete Grau Country Music Month November is also known as: Dental Hygiene Month Adoption Awareness Month Dessert Month Alzheimer's Disease Month Energy Awareness Month Christmas Seals Month Family History Month Epilepsy Month Family Sexuality Education Month Hospice Month Fire Prevention Month Native American Heritage Month German American Heritage Month Office Irene Goetz Autumn Humor "October. This is one of the peculiarly dangerous months to speculate in stocks in. The others are July, January, September, April, November, May, March, June, December, August and February"...... Mark Twain

What do you get when you cross a turkey with a banjo? A turkey that can pluck himself!

What do you get if you divide the circumference of a pumpkin by its diameter? Pumpkin pi.

If someone is hooked on eating Thanksgiving dinner leftovers... Can that person quit "cold turkey?" One study revealed that Learning the Business there is 400 times more A special thanks to Chicago Dock Operations for bacteria on a the tremendous job done Thursday night, Septem- ber 20th, with 17 Sales People working and ob- desk and serving on the dock during crunch time. I am cer- keyboard than tain each of them benefited from the experience. on a toilet seat. - Bob Heinz, Sr. The Custom Communicator Page 12

July MVP Winners

Dock German Delgado

Driver Orlando Roldan

Office Ron Boyles

Letter from Mrs. Connie Payton

Happy Holidays in advance to you! Thank you for your help last year in collecting new toys for Which Cities abused children in the Chicago-land area! As of July 2007, we will also be providing for children in Have the Least the Springfield, Peoria and Rockford areas. To make this year’s toy drive a success we need your help Road Rage? in a simple, yet very significant way. By purchasing a new toy to donate to the Walter & Connie Head for a small Payton Foundation 2007 Holiday Toy Drive you will take part in making a child who has virtually the city‐drivers in the bare minimum in life, smile this Holiday Season! Toys must be new, unwrapped (for safety purposes) metro areas have and for girls or boys ages newborn to 21 years old. the worst man‐ ners, according to Walter started his foundation, The Walter Payton Foundation, many years ago when he saw a need a new survey. among the children in the state of Illinois who were neglected and abused. He initiated his Holiday The top reasons? Giving program, which provides gifts during the holiday season for these thousands of children. He Being late or believed that by giving them new toys they would feel special and it would inspire hope in their very impatient. fragile lives. As Walter is no longer with us, my children and I have established the Walter & Connie Most courteous: Payton Foundation to keep his spirit of generosity among us. Helping these children was his passion. Minneapolis, This is my passion as I continue on with the work Walter began, through his foundation. Nashville, St. Louis, Seattle, Sincerely, Atlanta.

Connie Payton Founder, the Walter & Connie Payton Foundation October, 2007 Page 13 Cartoons!

Who ordered the TOE Truck for poor Tom Kolzow?

Letter from a Reader. I am Mickey's youngest sister, Alice. Probably his closest, yet I had no idea that he had been honored with this award until after our sister & her husband left after an 11 day visit with us here in Florida. She left a copy of your newsletter by my computer, sure that I would find it after they were well of their way back to Illinois. I saw it, read it in it's entirety (I might say I am impressed) and called our Addison sister who was home by then. She only found out by seeing the newsletter at his home in Lombard and recognizing his photo! To say that Mickey isn't a braggart is an understatement! You know him only as Earl, I imagine. That was our father's name, also. As a tiny baby, he picked up the nickname Mitty because of a sailor suit that one of his aunts had gotten for him and later that went from Mitty to Mickey. Anyway, the reason I am compelled to write to you is because of the answer to one of his questions. The last one. His answer just touched me so much that I felt I had to let you in on his rea- soning. Our two older sisters have both had open-heart surgery and I have recently had stents inserted in my heart. Our middle sister has the worse of all of us, she only has limited use of her heart as so PERRY DID! much damage has been done. She hasn't been able to find a doctor who seems to be willing to help her, thus the strange answer to the question he was asked. He's a very humble person who doesn't like to attract attention. He'll do anything for you. He'll do his job to perfection. But I'm sure you already know all this. He speaks so very highly of your company and is proud to be a part of it. I believe you made a good choice for your MVP and I want to personally thank you for honoring him. Of course, he already was an MVP to me :) . Cordially, Alice A Schroeder (My husband has been on the road since 1955 & is still going strong - wish you had a terminal near Tampa)(editor’s note….maybe some day?) The Custom Communicator Page 14 Strange Laws across the U.S.A

Alabama It is illegal to play Dominos on Sunday. It is illegal to wear a fake moustache that causes laughter in a church. Putting salt on a railroad track may be punishable by death. Alaska In Fairbanks, it is illegal to feed alcoholic beverages to a moose. New Arrivals It is illegal to wake a bear for the purpose of photography, although it is legal to shoot a sleeping bear. Arizona Congratulations In Tucson, it is illegal for women to wear pants. go out to: In Globe, it is illegal to play cards in the street with a Native American. In Glendale, it is illegal to drive a car in reverse. In Nogales, it is illegal to wear suspenders. Jose Fabian Arkansas In Fayetteville, it is illegal to kill any living creature, including insects. and his wife Maria In Little Rock, if a man and a woman flirt with each other in the streets, they could be jailed for 30 days. on the birth of California It is a misdemeanor to shoot at any kind of game from a moving vehicle, unless it's a whale. their son In Pacific Grove, "molesting" butterflies can result in a $500 fine. In Pasadena, it is illegal for a secretary to be alone in a room with her boss. Raul It is illegal to set a mousetrap without a hunting license. 8/23, 5lbs, 14 oz. In San Francisco, it is illegal to wipe one's car with used underwear. It is illegal to cry on the witness stand in Los Angeles. 19” long. It is illegal to eat oranges in a bathtub. Colorado In Durango, it is illegal to go out in public dressed in clothing unbecoming to one's gender. Steven Lamczyk In Logan County, it is illegal for a man to kiss a woman while she is asleep. and his wife Re‐ In Pueblo, it is illegal to let a dandelion grow within city limits. Connecticut becca on the birth In Hartford, it is illegal to educate a dog. of their twins, It is illegal to dispose of used razor blades. In New Britain, the speed limit for fire trucks is 25 mph, even when going to a fire. George John In Hartford, it is illegal for a man to kiss his wife on a Sunday. 8/24, 6lbs, 5 oz. Delaware In Lewes, it is illegal to wear pants that are form-fitting around the waist. 19.5” long. It is illegal to fly over a body of water unless sufficient supplies of food and water are on board. Ann Marie Florida In Miami, it is illegal for a man to wear any kind of strapless gown. 8/24, 6lbs, 4 oz. Unmarried women who parachute on Sundays may be jailed. 19” long. In Sarasota, it is illegal to sing while wearing a bathing suit. Georgia All males in the state between the ages of 16 and 50 are required to work on public roads. Riahd Hamdan In Columbus, it is illegal to sit on one's porch in an indecent position. In Quitman, it is illegal for a chicken to cross the road. and his wife Emily It is illegal to change the clothes on a storefront mannequin unless the shades are down. on the birth of Hawaii It is illegal to appear in public wearing only swimming trunks. their daughter It is illegal to own a mongoose without a permit. Remy Hamdan Idaho In Pocatello, the carrying of concealed weapons is forbidden, unless they’re exhibited to public view. Also in the latter town, it is prohibited for pedestrians and motorists to display frowns, grimaces, scowls, threatening and glower- ing looks, gloomy and depressed facial appearances, generally all of which reflect unfavorably upon the city's reputation. Boxes of candy given as romantic gifts must weigh more than 50 pounds. Put ICE on your Illinois Cell Phone In Chicago, it is illegal to fish in pajamas. One more in Chicago, it is illegal to take a French poodle to the opera. It is illegal to speak English, the officially recognized language is "American." Emergency workers In Gurnee, it is illegal for women weighing more than 200 pounds to ride horses in shorts. are now trained to In Joliet, it is illegal to mispronounce the name Joliet. look at the contacts in your cell phone. Correct answers to the August 1st edition ICE stands for 1. The Beatles song “Martha My Dear” was written 4. Flotsam, jetsam, ligam are what? “In Case of by Paul McCartney about…. a) His sheepdog Martha c) Floating wreckage or cargo, goods deliberately Emergency”. Put 2. What percentage of American households buy thrown overboard and goods tied to a buoy for later retrieval ICE in your contacts ice cream each year? d) 98% and the phone num- 5. What does Interpol mean? d) The International 3. The space age was launched in 1957 with what Criminal Police Organization. ber you want the vehicle? a) Sputnik 1 emergency workers to contact should We put all those who had the correct answers in a hat and pulled a winner. He is Rommel Camahalan you not be able to who won $50.00. Congratulations! contact the person Joel Locklear was the only entrant to point out that the answer to Number 4 should be spelled ligam not lagan as I listed. (I guess there really is some incorrect information on the Internet!) yourself. When Unfortunately, I am temporarily stopping the trivia contest due to lack of response from most of you. If every minute counts, the majority wants it back, email [email protected] and let me know. So you, the readers, tell me this can be a life- if you want it or not. saver. Tom Mroz x5219 October, 2007 Page 15 August Correction! Tom Wier – CDN Dispatch You can't build a reputation on The last Custom Communicator I left out a very important person that is part of CDN Dispatch Team. Tom Wier has been an what you're associate of CDN for the last two years and is the backbone of going to do.... the evening operation. Tom covers every aspect of CDN and some Custom Transportation issues from the moment he walks in at 3 PM until he leaves, usually AFTER 1 AM. Tom ‐ Henry Ford tracks freight, issues comchecks, relays trucking issues, e- mails the appropriate department for updates the following morning and I personally call on Tom throughout the evening for phone numbers, confirmation numbers or anything I need. Tom also checks the Custom yard occasionally for empty trailers, assists the dock if necessary and his attention to detail is nothing but above what is required. Tom, thanks for everything you do. - Jason Montgomery

Good to Know…. PIN NUMBER REVERSAL Recipe: Pumpkin Carrot Swirl If you should ever be forced by a robber to withdraw money from an ATM machine, you can Ingredients: notify the police by entering your Pin # in reverse. 2 cups all‐purpose flour 2 1/4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice For example, if your pin number is 1234 then you would put in 4321. The ATM recognizes 2 teaspoons baking pow‐ that your pin number is backwards from the ATM card you placed in the machine. der 1 teaspoon baking soda The machine will still give you the money you requested, but unknown to the robber, the 1 cup granulated sugar police will be immediately dispatched to help you. 1/3 cup butter or marga‐ rine, softened 1/2 cup firmly packed This information was recently broadcast on TV and it states that it is seldom used because brown sugar people don't know it exists. 2 large eggs 2 large egg whites Please pass this along to everyone possible. 1 can (15 oz.) LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin 1 cup finely shredded Computer Tips by Tom Mroz carrot Cut, Copy, and Paste. The "Edit" menu selection in Excel can be used to copy, cut, and paste any cell Directions: on a sheet. Better yet, there’s a series of keys that can do it without touching the mouse. Control-C PREHEAT oven to 350° F. copies the cell’s contents, while Control-X cuts it. After figuring out where it should go, type Control-V Grease 15 x 10‐inch jelly‐ and the cell's contents are automatically pasted into the new spot. The best part is that these key- roll pan. COMBINE flour, pumpkin board shortcuts work in any Microsoft Office application and are the most used. pie spice, baking powder

and baking soda in small Next Cell, No Waiting. Need to copy a cell’s contents to a new cell? It can be time-consuming and awk- bowl. Beat granulated ward to highlight the cell, go to the "Edit" menu at the top of the screen, select "Copy," point the cursor sugar, butter and brown at the new position, and use the "Edit" menu to paste it in place. Fortunately, Excel can quickly copy sugar in large mixer bowl content. After highlighting the cell you want to copy, carefully move the pointer to the small black until crumbly. Add eggs, square at the cell’s lower right-hand corner. It’s called the "fill handle," and you can drag it anywhere. egg whites, pumpkin and The cell’s contents will go with it. carrot; beat until well blended. Add flour mix‐ Saving, Printing, Opening. If you spend a lot of time opening, closing, and printing spreadsheets – and ture; mix well. Spread into who doesn’t – the F12 key could become your best friend. On its own, the F12 key will open up the prepared pan. Drop tea‐ "Save As" dialog box. But add the Shift key to it, and Excel will automatically save the current sheet. spoonfuls of Cream Cheese You can also save a file by CTRL-S. Type "Control" and F12 together and Excel will provide a fresh Topping over batter; swirl spreadsheet. CTRL-N also will bring up a fresh spreadsheet. mixture with spoon. BAKE for 25 to 30 minutes Selecting Cells. To grab a bunch of Excel cells, you can run the mouse over an entire region to highlight or until wooden pick in‐ them. But that takes time, and with large spreadsheets, it’s hard to do. Let the program do the heavy serted in center comes out work by highlighting the first cell, typing Control-Shift, and then typing the down arrow to fill in the col- clean. Cool completely in umn, or the right or left arrows to fill in rows. pan on wire rack. . The Custom Companies, Inc.

317 W. Lake Street Northlake, IL

60164 CUSTOMER SERVICE, SUPPORT AND CARE Phone: 708-338-8888

Fax: 708-338-9550 At The Custom Companies, our main objective is to deliver your goods on time and in perfect condition. We understand the importance of a great E-mail: [email protected] customer/vendor relationship. Our customer service center is just a phone call away to provide a rate quote, track a shipment, schedule a pickup or access accurate documentation. In today’s fast paced environment, we work to provide transportation solutions that fit every economic situation. Your full service transportation company Our “Customer First” program ensures that your shipments will be deliv- ered on time, and with the highest degree of care. In order to maintain these standards, we measure performance levels on every shipment. As a result, our internal operational systems are constantly improving to provide www.customco.com better, more accurate service, allowing our transportation specialists to meet your growing needs.

Newsletter Committee Members

Rocky Caylor Claudia Molina

Jason Esser Jason Montgomery Matt Foley Tom Mroz

Carol Guarino Eric Pocius Adam Johnson George Smith

Steven Lamczyk Mike Wexler Bruce Lenau Larry Wolf

Newsletter Contributors bring your Work ID in for great discounts. Cold Cut Combo for $4.00 Terry Klonowski Bob Heinz, Sr. Coffee 12oz –20oz just $1.00 Valid Anytime at 162 E. North Ave No coupon necessary!