Happy Birthday to The Custom Companies, Inc. QUALITY QUALITY QUALITY It was a typical Tuesday afternoon for Mr. Perry Mandera or at least I assumed as much having spoken with his assistant Rosemary several times. He was much in demand and running slightly behind. I’m not complaining, such time constraints are to be expected with the president of a thriv- ing company in addition to his role as husband, father and involved member of the community. I learned all of this before uttering a word to him. All you have to do is sit in the lobby of The Custom Companies office to learn some basic background Information. The coffee table offers you photo albums that span several years of company events. The walls feature plaques given to his com- pany for participating in fundraising events and charities. I must admit, even the gumball machine looked appealing to me. It was not too long before I was informed about his latest undertaking. “I’m sorry to have kept you waiting,” he said “I was in a meeting regarding a facility we are considering for this years move.” The issue here is space to grow. He then forged right ahead and started to speak about image. “We are very concerned with appearance, which you probably would not expect from a Transportation Company.” No, I admitted I was surprised and impressed with the offices. “Quality is the image that we hope to convey with our black and gold theme. Most trucks on the road don’t look like ours.” I questioned custom- ers interpretation of this look; didn’t it appear expensive? “Our prices speak for themselves,” he replied, “and every dollar of profit goes back into the company.” For instance, a new half million dollar computer system. We will keep you informed about it in an upcoming issue. I then asked about his business philosophy. He said, “I believe in a ‘Yes We Can’ and ‘A Make It Happen Attitude.’ As far as a goal, it is to provide 100 percent quality transportation at competitive pricing.” The competition is fierce, with more than 104,000 Transportation Companies nationwide and 21,000 in the Chicago area. So how does Mr. Mandera keep the edge on his competitors? “The dawn of a new era in transportation has deemed The Custom Companies as an industry leader. We are poised and ready to provide uncompromising service as well as competitive pricing. We provide the ultimate value for our customer’s transportation dollars.” Considering that he ex- pects the company to more than double its sales in the next four to five years, I would say he has some attitude. M.K. Staten, Freelance Writer If you’ve just finished reading the article above, the first thought you may have pondered was that this could have been written last week. Despite the explosive growth in the 18 years since the first Custom Newsletter, The Carrier, was published, our core beliefs and values have not changed. “Quality 1st,” “Make it Happen,” “Do it Right the First Time.” These beliefs are on the walls and in the hearts of every Custom Associate. It would not be too much of a stretch to believe that as technologies continue to improve and as The Custom Companies remain at the forefront of an increas- ingly competitive Industry that the Newsletter in 2028 will not be very different than the one you are reading now. Happy Birthday to The Custom Companies Inc. VOL III No. 6 February 2010 / March 2010 Page 2 NEW HIRES Eli Azzo Erik Goff Martin Lemus Nichole Michael Jason Miner Borislav Savic ASSOCIATES AT WORK 24 Gregorio Montoya CHI Dock Associate Efrain Serrano CHI Dock Associate The Custom Companies, Inc. - 317 W Lake Street Northlake, IL 60164 - www.customco.com 010 b. 2010 / Mar. 2 VOL III No. 6 Fe Did You Know??? The Custom Companies and its affiliate’s support the: 15% of U.S. women send flowers to themselves on Valentine’s Day. Teachers receive the most Valentine cards, followed Hope For Haiti Now: A Global Benefit For Earthquake Relief closely by children. If you can help you can make a donation click here www.hopeforhaitinow.org . Thank you. In 1866, candy manufac- turer NECCO made the first “Conversation Hello Readers, Hearts”. Another fine year has ended and we survived through our perpetual cost-cutting and cost-saving means. HAPPY Almost 50% of all Valen- ANNIVERSARY CUSTOM - 24 years strong!! We continue to look for ways to improve and economize, always striv- tine’s cards are sold 48 ing for excellence, in all aspects of our company. We look to you, our family, for your input, opinions and feed- hours before the 14th. back. Over 110 million roses Please don’t forget to “Find Perry’s Moustache” hidden somewhere within the Newsletter and submit your entry to (mostly red) will be sold [email protected]. (And it’s not Perry’s picture this time.) If you find the moustache within the allotted time, and delivered within a your name will entered in a drawing to win a $50.00 gift card. Please forward your answer to Tom Mroz no later three-day time period of than Friday, February 5th. Valentine’s Day. So good luck Readers and hope you enjoy this edition! Thank you, NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE The lowly groundhog, often called a woodchuck, is the only mammal to Black, Gold and Green by Tom Kennedy, Carol Guarino and Bruce Lenau have a day named in his honor. There has never been a better time than now to tap into a laundry list of tax credits, rebates and other The first St. Patrick’s Day in America was cele- financial incentives designed to encourage individuals and businesses to go the greener mile. At the brated in Boston in 1737. federal level in the U.S., individuals can reap rewards of no less than eight different financial incentives ranging from tax credits and home loans for replacing windows and installing insulation around the house to tax rebates for purchasing a hybrid car or hooking up a solar hot water heater. Tribute to 24 Years 2 Besides these federal incentives, nearly every U.S. state has additional state or local incentives avail- Welcome 3 able. Many require utilities to rebate customers who save electricity. Some utilities even offer “net me- tering” whereby consumers who generate some of their power through rooftop solar panels or other Receptionists 4 technologies can sell electricity back to the utility, thus reducing or zeroing out their electricity bill – St Patrick’s Day 5 even earning money. Fill In… 6, 7 The best place to look for what’s available is to steer your web browser to the free on-line database of State Incentives for Renewable and Efficiency (DSIRE), a comprehensive source of information on Quality Management 8 state, local, utility and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency. DSIRE Hunter’s Safety 9 is a federally funded project of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, whose membership includes state and local government agencies, national laboratories, renewable energy companies and advo- MVP Answers 10 cacy groups. President’s Day 11 We all are affected by the economy and tight money, but right now is a great time for making the Easiest Exercise 12 move to green up and possibly save some green immediately via, incentive, rebate or long term en- Sport’s Corner 13 ergy savings. Go to www.dsireusa.org/incentives/index and look what’s available for Illinois or Califor- nia residents. Recipe’s 14 Indianapolis 15 Advertisements 16 The Custom Companies, Inc. - 317 W Lake Street Northlake, IL 60164 - www.customco.com VOL III No. 6 February 2010 / March 2010 Page 4 The Custom Companies, Inc. Receptionist Ever wonder who is on the other end? 1st Impression Here to greet and guide February Anniversaries The Custom Companies 24 Perry Mandera 24 Elaine Heppe, Claudia Mendoza Gail Abdallah 10 Custom - Receptionist CDN - Receptionist Pedro Antunes 9 Martin Magana 9 Andrzej Kolodziejczyk 8 Victor Gurrola 8 Karl Mozina 8 Waclaw Jarzabek 6 Christina Paramo, RJ Lazaro 5 Accounts Receivable & Receptionist Coverage Rob Catanese 4 Danielle Pitsenbargaer, Chad Preston 4 Consuelo Bernado, Customer Service & Re- Alfredo Rodriguez 4 Accounts Payable & ceptionist Coverage Efrain Rivera 3 Receptionist Coverage Ericson Domingo 3 Adam Gonzales 3 Steve Holowka 2 Jayne Pakosta, James Mazeika 2 Accounts Receivable & Danielle Pitsenbarger 2 Receptionist Coverage Angel Rodriguez 2 Odeta Aleski 2 Vicente Sanchez 2 Edith Ron, Laura Montanez, Don Weiner 2 Accounts Payable & Accounts Payable & Receptionist Coverage Alfredo Calero 1 Receptionist Coverage Denys Vilchynskyy 1 Millie Rodriguez, City Dispatch & Receptionist Coverage Odeta Aleksi, Shirley Bandaly, Accounts Payable & Accounts Receivable & Receptionist Coverage Receptionist Coverage Claudia Molina, Phillis Wardiani, Outbound OS&D & POD, Customer Service Receptionist Coverage & Receptionist Coverage The Custom Companies, Inc. - 317 W Lake Street Northlake, IL 60164 - www.customco.com VOL III No. 6 February 2010 / March 2010 Page 5 ST. PATRICK’S DAY LIVES IN 2010; HE ONLY DIED ON THE SOUTH SIDE by George Smith Perhaps it went a little unnoticed during the events of 2009, but the South Side Irish Parade in Evergreen Park, IL is no more as of this writing. The city fathers of that Chicago suburb decided that the additional business brought in by the additional crowds to local restaurants and watering holes was not worth the civic expense of police protection, crowd control, and emergency services stand-by. BUT DO NOT DESPAIR…ST. PATRICK IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL…in downtown Chicago. The river will still be dyed green (even if the locks are closed to Asian Carp), and Chicago’s Irish (as well as wannabe’s) will still be March at least able to paint the Loop Area red….all on behalf of Ireland’s Patron Saint.