Petters Group Magazine

:: T A B L E

of CONTENTS

: :: :: :: ::: :: :: :: ::: :: :: :: features 28 : :

Making A Difference: Michael Phelps Entrepreneurs move fast. This lawyer makes sure it is done efficiently too

30 : :

Executive Profile: Stan Gadek Setting the flight pattern for Sun Country Airlines

32 : :

Inside Glance: Minnesota Teen Challenge Reaching out to provide love and support to people who have lost their direction in life

galleries

34

20 : :

John T. Petters Foundation 1st annual polo cup scores!

24 : :

Charitable Giving Gallery University partnerships updates

48 : :

People & Places Tradeshows: Connecting people around the world

ON THE COVER

Instant Photography Continues

Polaroid PoGo™ debuts this summer

12 IN

4

every

ISSUE

letter from tom

:: 6

letter from andrea

:: 8

around the companies

: : 26

connecting points

::

::: :: :::::::::::::::::: ::: :: :: :: ::: :: ::

20

32 departments 40 ::

The Learning Center Polaroid and Sun Country Foundations support the quest for higher education

42 ::

Cornerstones Strategy – A sneak peak at the new Petters Group Worldwide

46 ::

Core Values Execution – The renovation is complete

:: 53

the petters group matrix

50 : : 54

reality bytes

30

SUMMER

2008

::

LETTER from TOM

You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late. —RALPH WALDO EMERSON

Dear Friends, Often in my letter I talk about the Petters Group Worldwide core values: innovation, agility, integrity, execution, humility and caring. While all are important, I think caring stands out as one we can all relate to.

Throughout my travels I have learned of many acts of caring and unselfish giving. One story which stands out the most to me took place at the Hubert H. Humphrey airport last year. A group of 120 WWII veterans were returning to Minneapolis on a Sun Country flight from Washington DC. When two ticket agents learned of a high school choir waiting to board that plane upon arrival into Minneapolis for a flight to San Francisco they asked the choir director if they would sing the national anthem as the vets deplaned. In a basically unrehearsed and spontaneous moment, these students welcomed home the vets.

I understand there were a lot of tears from everyone in the gate area.

What a moment that must have been. It is amazing how such a simple act could mean so much.

Giving of one’s time is just as important as a monetary gift. At Petters Group, we give employees opportunities throughout the year to donate their time and skills to help make a difference in our communities.

Habitat for Humanity was one of the recipients of this gift. Teams from different entities worked along side the future homeowner, which gave each of them insight into what this new home meant to this family.

4

:: P E T T E R S G R O U P

Summer brings another opportunity of giving as the John T. Petters Foundation announces the scholarship recipients. This is particularly close to my heart as I hear how excited these students are, knowing their dreams to travel abroad are a reality. Read more about this exciting August 9th event on page 23. Experiencing cultures around the world and learning from these experiences was a dream my son John wanted to share with fellow students, and through the Foundation, we are keeping his dream alive.

I know, through the support that Petters Group and many of the portfolio companies give to organizations, great work is being done. My life has been blessed in many ways, and I truly believe in giving back to others. Imagine if we could all do one act of kindness each day to someone who least expects it, how much better this world would be?

Everyone measures this in there own way. Truly this underscores caring as a core value.

Best Wishes,

TOM PETTERS

LETTER from ANDREA

Kindness in words creates confidence.

Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.

Kindness in giving creates love.

—LAO TZU

No Small Gifts

E

ach spring the staff at my children’s daycare participates in the March of Dimes walk and plans activities in the weeks leading up to it to raise money. This year they asked the kids to participate in a mini-walk at the daycare where they did activities at different stations. Each child was given an envelope to collect pledges and after the event, the children were given prizes like stickers, t-shirts and teddy bears. My three-year-old beamed with excitement as she gave her teachers her envelope with pledges from mom, dad and the grandparents, because she knew this was going to help little babies grow into strong kids.

I recently read an article by Enid Ablowitz, author of Making Money Matter: Eight Steps to Thoughtful Giving, where she said giving is part of a family’s core values, but because it is often transparent to the children, we are missing our opportunities to teach them. How often do we drive down to a charity’s headquarters and hand them the money? Most of the time, the check goes in the mail. Ablowitz goes on to suggest we actively engage

our children through volunteering, helping to sort through toys and clothes for charity or bringing food to food shelf drop-offs in order to introduce them to the world of philanthropy.

At Petters Group Worldwide, caring is one of our core values.

In 2007, the Petters Group Foundation gave either money or products to over one hundred organizations. We were not alone.

Polaroid, Sun Country, uBid and many more of our portfolio companies have programs to give back to their communities.

In this issue of the Petters Group magazine, you will read about scholarship recipients whose “dreams are coming true,” Minnesota Teen Challenge, an organization which helps give hope to those in the darkest hours of their lives, and how universities we have partnered with are reaching out into the international education community.

I have seen the joy that collecting $20 for a walk or thousands of dollars for an event sponsorship can bring to the giver as well as the receiver. I guess the old saying is true—there is no such thing as a small gift.

ANDREA MILLER

6

:: P E T T E R S G R O U P

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1 PUBLISHER Thomas J. Petters

EDITORIAL EDITOR Andrea Miller

andrea.miller@pettersgroup.com ASSISTANT EDITOR & WRITER

Tiffany Nash Heidi Bausch, Marlene Earll, Bud Fisher, Tristan Galvan, Tom Gilgenbach, Mollie O’Brien, Liz Orenstein, Lorrie Parent, Sharleen Reyes, Matthew Volkman, Rachel Walker CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

ART PRODUCTION MANAGER Yola Hartmann CREATIVE COORDINATOR Sarah Sucansky LEAD ASSOCIATE DESIGNER Dana Oelfke CONTRIBUTING DESIGNERS

Emily Bretzel, Courtney Williamson CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Todd Buchanan, Tate Carlson, Dave Koehler CIRCULATION CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Corey McMahon CIRCULATION ASSISTANT Jessica French

ADVISORY BOARD Bill Dunlap, Patty Hamm, Mary Jeffries Special thank-you to the staff of Metropolitan Media Group for all their assistance in producing the Petters Group magazine.

—————————————————————————— HOW TO REACH US ADDRESS >

Petters Group Worldwide

4400 Baker Rd., Minnetonka, MN 55343 Provide feedback, story ideas and events to magazine@pettersgroup.com REPRINTS >

Contact Tiffany Nash at

tiffany.nash@pettersgroup.com —————————————————————————— © Copyright 2008 Petters Group Worldwide, LLC, all rights reserved. The opinions of the columnists are their own.

PMS 187 VERITCAL

PMS 187 HORIZONTAL

Petters Group is published by Metropolitan Media Group exclusively for Petters Group Worldwide.

CMYK VERTICAL

CYMK HORIZONTAL

::

UPFRONT

around the companies

Flaps Up

Petters Aviation Hangar Opens

I

n March, Petters Aviation finished remodeling their new facility and aircraft hangar located at 2005 Cargo Road on the west side of the Minneapolis - St. Paul International Airport. Petters Aviation can accommodate private and corporate aircraft travelers coming to the Twin Cities area to do business with any Petters Group Worldwide company, as well as assist in arranging corporate charter travel for Petters Group companies through the facility. The facility boasts a 40,000 square foot hangar which allows the company to offer a variety of aircraft services including fueling, catering and overnight aircraft hangaring. The guest and office facilities have three lounges with flat screen televisions, a fireplace, free Wi-Fi and complimentary beverages and snacks. Conference rooms are also available, as are private “quiet offices�, shower rooms and concierge services for guests and crew members.

For more information, email susan.geitzenauer@pettersaviation.com.

8

:: P E T T E R S G R O U P

Polaroid Spotlighted on CBS Sunday Morning CBS Sunday Morning reached out to Weber-Shandwick, Polaroid’s Minneapolis-based public relations firm, with the plan of creating a “then, now and the future” segment around Polaroid. In addition to gathering television commercials and other historical pieces, producers conducted interviews with individuals who could speak to the different parts of the company’s history and future. The piece aired on national TV on February 17.

To capture the future of Polaroid, a film crew came to the Minnetonka office showroom just days before the air date to tape demos of the latest Polaroid products and conduct an interview with Tom Petters, Chairman of Polaroid. Along with discussing Dr. Land’s legacy of innovation, Petters shared his excitement for the reinven-

KEY MANAGEMENT NEWS

tion of the company through existing and future technologies like the Polaroid Pogo™ Instant Mobile Printer with ZINK™ Technology.

“I think what interested me most about the company, was the famous Polaroid Pixel: the logo, the icon,” Petters said. “We’re reinventing and having to change with the times so we’re bringing something else to the table that carries that rich legacy of Dr. Land and Polaroid to the next generation,” he added.

The piece ended with a question, “Is this the start of something new or the end of an era … you decide.” With the Polaroid PoGo™ Instant Mobile Printer debuting at Best Buy and Target this summer, we’re pretty sure this is the start of something … big.

::

DEB BAUMAN JOINS SUN COUNTRY One of the new faces at Sun Country Airlines is Deb Bauman, their Chief Information Officer. Bauman joined the company in December after hearing Tom Petters’ vision for the airline and feeling she could contribute. “I love Sun Country and was a member of the Ufly Rewards Plus (formerly VIP) program, so the opportunity to work here seemed like a good fit,” she said.

Over the last 25 years, Bauman worked for Minnesota Mutual Life, Fingerhut, Target and Deluxe in executive positions, including responsibility for the build of Target.com.

“Technology is constantly changing and improving. We need to evaluate our applications and figure out our best go forward tools,” Bauman said.

The rising fuel costs are affecting all the areas of Sun Country, including IT. Bauman’s team is currently evaluating how to make Sun Country’s systems more flexible at a lower cost. “My IT team is truly loyal and passionate about making Sun Country successful,” she said.

Now that summer is here, Bauman is looking forward to spending time with her husband and 14 year old daughter golfing or boating around Minnesota.

Contributing Writers to Around the Companies Heidi Bausch Bud Fisher Tristan Galvan Tom Gilgenbach Liz Orenstein Lorrie Parent Sharleen Reyes Matthew Volkman Rachel Walker

SUMMER 2008

::

UPFRONT

around the companies

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT : :

Digital Cameras Pass Tough Test Against Nikon

The i835 and the i1035 are ready to compete

Polaroid i835 digital camera was recently tested by Product Analyst, Nic Younghans and Quality Assurance Analyst, Jay Moniz, against a Tier 1 brand that sells at a noticeably higher retail price. Younghans and Moniz chose the Nikon CoolPix L18 as the ideal benchmark to test against, as it is highly regarded as a solid digital camera performer by many of the big box

retailers. “I tested the i835 in six different categories for speed, product quality, and performance, and it came out equal or ahead of the Nikon in every category,” Moniz said.

The results also bode well for the i1035 which uses the same platform as the i835. “I was pleased but not surprised by the results,” Zak Kroschel, Polaroid Product Management Director said.

“Our factory partner Flextronics put forth huge efforts to not only include better features, but to improve product quality.”

The new features Kroschel mentioned include anti-shake, face tracking, dynamic contrast enhancer, and 20 scene modes.

The i835 and i1035 are available in a variety of colors at Wal-Mart and Target this summer, where Kroschel said initial sales volumes are positive.

Polaroid Makes Print in NY Times

O

n Sunday, April 13, The New York Times’ readers and visitors of nytimes.com got a better look at the Polaroid PoGo™ Instant Mobile Printer. With a Sunday print circulation of 1.7 million and 14.5 million online visitors per month, The New York Times featured the new Polaroid PoGo™ Instant Mobile Printer and highlighted how it redefines instant photography for the digital age.

The New York Times columnist Anne Eisenberg intimately and favorably described all of the technology behind the new Polaroid PoGo™ Instant Mobile Printer and ZINK paper in the article entitled “Instant Digital Prints (and Polaroid Nostalgia)”. Eisenberg authors the “Novelties” column, a bi-weekly look at gadgets and technology that provides a meaningful impact in consumer lives.

Jim Alviani, Polaroid Director of Product Development, and Tony Saucier of Weber Shandwick met with Eisenberg for an in-person interview and demonstration of the Polaroid PoGo™ Instant Mobile Printer.

Over the course of an hour, Jim demonstrated the Polaroid PoGo™ Instant Mobile Printer with solid messaging around “introducing the magic of Polaroid to the digital generation” and “defining a whole new category”.

10

:: P E T T E R S G R O U P

Eisenberg not only gathered details from the demonstration, but also interviewed a market research analyst from Lyra Research, Steve Hoffenberg, who explained, “The potential market for instant printing of photos captured by phones and digital cameras is vast and largely untapped.”¹ With all of the potential to create a new, profitable market for digital instant photo printing, the Polaroid PoGo™ Instant Mobile Printer is sure to continue making headlines. Keep an eye out for this amazing new product as it starts to impact the digital market and international media. ¹Anne Eisenberg. “Instant Digital Prints (and Polaroid Nostalgia).”

The New York Times. 13 April 2008: BU4.

uBid New Business Focus uBid.com Holdings, Inc.

helping financial institutions liquidate

uBid.com—one of the leading business-

the retail facilities of brands such as

to-consumer and

Appliance Electronics Depot, Laminate

business-to-business online auction

Store International and Hollywood

companies, is changing its business

Video with offline brick and mortar

strategy to focus solely on liquidating

sales, uBid.com Holdings will continue

excess inventories for top-brand

to scale its facilities liquidation model

manufacturers. This new direction

with a new uLive channel.

meets the growing demand among

uBiz — To accommodate the large

major manufacturers, distributors, and retailers for a streamlined asset recovery solution and builds on the company’s solid foundation, having liquidated more than $2 billion of

volume transactions commonly associated with business-to-business sales, uBid.com Holdings has created the uBiz wholesale/ business-to-business channel.

excess inventory for over 7,000 sellers

uSaaS — Using the emerging

in the last 10 years.

Software-as-a-Service model, trusted

“The excess inventory problem

partners will have the ability to leverage

exists across every vertical. Because no

uBid’s technology platform to conduct

manufacturer, retailer or distributor can

both charity-based auctions and

predict the future, there are going to be

private, invite-only auctions.

supply-chain inefficiencies and a need

“With the uncertain near-term

for uBid.com Holdings’ services,” Jeffrey

outlook on the economy, uBid.com

Hoffman, Chief Executive Officer said.

is better positioned than ever to take

Unlike most of its competitors that

advantage of the growing multi-billion

have a single-channel sales model,

dollar liquidation industry. Our strong

uBid.com will augment its existing

relationships with manufacturers,

auction platform with an additional

distributors and retailers on the asset

four channels to better serve its sellers’

recovery side allow us to help them

asset-recovery efforts. The additional

liquidate their excess inventory and to

four sales channels include:

offer today’s price-sensitive consumer

uBuy — Many online shoppers

great deals on excess inventory from top

prefer the instant gratification of a traditional ecommerce purchase. This new website will offer top brand name excess inventory at fixed prices.

uLive — Building on its success

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT : :

brands,” Hoffman said. “With this new strategy, we are streamlining our internal processes to better assist our selling partners and we are making significant changes to our product focus.”

For more information, visit ubid.com.

YesVideo Launches Video Transfer Program at Costco

Y

esVideo expanded distribution to a new retail partner with its launch at Costco’s 384 U.S. stores in April. Costco members can now drop off their videotapes, movie film reels and slides at the Costco 1-Hour Photo counter. YesVideo digitizes their memories and writes them a durable archive-quality gold DVDs. YesVideo is a leader in automated digital media authoring by developing and utilizing best-in-class video engineering and state-of-the-art software technology to enable top-quality, on-demand DVD publishing.

Costco joins Walgreens, Ritz Camera, CVS Pharmacy and Rite Aid as YesVideo’s major retail partners.

For more information, visit yesvideo.com.

SUMMER 2008

UPFRONT

around the companies

Polaroid Team Makes Pilgrimage

to Bristol Speedway 1 2

T

he best way to keep an eye on Polaroid’s presence on NASCAR and IndyCar tracks this summer is to keep an eye on polaroid.com/ racing. To help get the inside scoop on and off the track, the Polaroid marketing duo of Dan Hemken and Tom Gilgenbach traveled to Bristol, TN for the Sharpie Mini 300 and Food City 500. The team worked closely with the Target Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) team at Bristol to gather images, stories, and insights you won’t find anywhere else on the Internet.

Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains in Northeast Tennessee, Bristol is known as the “World’s Fastest Half-

3 4 1. Bryan Clauson gives some insight to driving at speeds up to 200 MPH 2. Lug nuts are glued to the rim to save time and error 3. Inside the cockpit of the #41 Dodge Charger 4. The pit crew refuels the car and changes tires in seconds, not minutes

12

:: P E T T E R S G R O U P

5. Reed Sorenson makes his move at Bristol Motor Speedway 6. Exact measurements are taken by NASCAR before and after every race to ensure fairness 7. Driver Reed Sorenson

PHOTO CREDIT: DAN HEMKEN, TOM GILGENBACH AND GANASSI RACING

::

PHOTO CREDIT: DAN HEMKEN, TOM GILGENBACH AND GANASSI RACING

5

6

Mile” and one of NASCAR’s most storied tracks; the perfect venue for meeting Reed Sorenson and Bryan Clauson, two CGR drivers who sit behind the wheels of the Polaroid-sponsored Dodge Chargers. Hemken and Gilgenbach interviewed the drivers, took pictures and video of the teams’ spacious “hauler”, and spent time interviewing members of the pit crew and taking more pictures.

They also learned some tricks of the track trade from tire changer Doug Riete, an integral member of the pit crew, “To win in the pits, one thing you need to do is change tires in seconds, not minutes,” Riete said. “So before each race, we glue lug nuts in

place, on all the spare tires. The glue breaks loose as soon as I put my impact wrench to it so it saves a ton of time and possible error.”

While the weekend was a great way to build content for Polaroid’s racing website, it wasn’t good for either driver as Clauson, who drove on Saturday, complete with the Polaroid paint scheme designed by Hemken, crashed just 60 laps into the race. Sorenson, driving the Polaroid-sponsored #41 car on Sunday, had car problems that led to too many pit stops and a 31st place finish.

For more pictures and news from the track, view polaroid.com/racing.

Polaroid Eyewear Shades Tampa Mall

7

T

he International Mall in Tampa, FL is home to a new Polaroid Eyewear Pavilion. The Pavilion, more commonly known as a kiosk, will be used not only to sell Polaroid eyewear, but also to interface directly with consumers and better determine what people are looking for in sunglasses. Sunglasses at the Tampa Pavilion cost between $50 and $110, depending on features and style. All sunglasses include the Polaroid-exclusive lens manufactured in The Vale of Leven, Scotland, some with Italian-made frames. The Pavilion will also help to expand and modify the product eyewear portfolio, pricing and marketing mix to tailor to the target customer.

“The Tampa Pavilion is the first of a potential ten units in various cities around the United States this year,” Andrew Suszko, Polaroid Eyewear President said. Other cities high on the priority list for Pavilions are Austin, Boston, and Chicago. “The learning process has already begun,” Suszko added. “We have found that currently less than 5% of the women’s sunglass market is polarized. Providing polarized/UV400 sunglasses to this segment of the population is a huge unmet need.”

For more information, visit polaroideyewear.com.

SUMMER 2008

::

UPFRONT

around the companies

DID YOU KNOW?

::

Sun Country Airlines Features

MINNESOTA ARTISTS!

M

innesota’s hometown airline supports the local music scene. Sun Country Airlines began featuring Minnesotabased artists and musicians for their In-flight music offerings. These eight locally/nationally recognized bands—Tim Mahoney, Quietdrive, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Scarlet Haze, Corey Stevens, Chris Hawkey, Peter Mayer, and The Splatter Sisters—were selected to release their latest music on Sun Country!

The airline commenced the In-flight entertainment program with live performances by Tim Mahoney and Quietdrive at the Humphrey Terminal. Also, Sun Country recently launched their Minnesota Music Concert Series at the Mall of America with Chris Hawkey, Scarlet Haze and Tim Mahoney.

“As a Minnesota-based company, it is important that we utilize Minnesota products at every opportunity,” Wendy Williams Blackshaw, Sun Country’s Vice President of Marketing said. “Featuring Minnesota musicians is an innovative way in which we can show our support for the local community.”

As passengers board the plane, they are treated to an array of music from each of the eight local musicians. For their listening pleasure during the flight, they can tune into these great artists as each are given a channel in the on-board audio programming. Additionally, the musicians are featured in Sun Country’s In-flight magazine, Escape.

“Minnesota has a phenomenal music scene and we decided it would be yet another wonderful feature we could provide for our Sun Country customers. Our passengers have come Minnesota artist Tim Mahoney

14

:: P E T T E R S G R O U P

to expect a great experience on our flights – listening to artists like Tim Mahoney, Scarlet Haze and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra will enhance the experience even more.” Blackshaw said.

For more information, visit suncountry.com.

Tim Mahoney Tim (timmahoney.com) continues to make his mark on the Midwest music scene. Mahoney has released five solo albums distributed regionally in Target. Mahoney was recently featured in Rolling Stone Magazine’s 40th Anniversary issue after winning the Ray-Ban “Never Hide” contest.

Quietdrive Quietdrive (quietdrivemusic.com) is a young, Twin Cities band consisting of Matt Kirby, Brandon Lanier, Droo Hastings, Justin Bonhiver and Kevin Truckenmiller.

A deal with Epic Records and a heavy tour schedule has helped propel them to national stardom.

The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (theSPCO.org) is widely regarded as one of the finest chamber orchestras in the world.

Scarlet Haze Scarlet Haze’s (scarlethaze.com) debut CD “Out of the Dark” won the 2006 Minnesota Music Award for “Best Hard Rock Recording” and a nomination for “Best Artist Group of the Year.”

Corey Stevens Likened to Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan is Corey Stevens (coreystevens.com), along with Norm Steffen (drums), Mark Johnson (bass), Jim Stark (rhythm guitar and harmonica) and Paul Testa Hammond organ).

Chris Hawkey Band This American guitardriven rock band, led by Chris Hawkey (chrishawkey.com), producer/ co-host of the KFAN Powertrip Morning Show, has opened for acts such as Collective Soul, Counting Crows, Cheap Trick, Molly Hatchet, Quiet Riot and more.

Peter Mayer Minnesota native Peter Mayer (petermayer.net) writes songs for a small planet—songs about interconnectedness and the human journey; songs about the beauty and the mystery of the world.

Splatter Sisters The Splatter Sisters’ (splattersisters.com) sassy-folk and jazz-based vocals and upbeat, interactive act have made them a favorite Twin Cities show band among families and children.

And the Winner is...

Metropolitan Media Group At the Minnesota Magazine and Publishers Association’s (MMPA) 12th annual Minnesota Publishing Excellence Awards, Metropolitan Media Group took home 10 awards for their lifestyle publications and MinnesotaBusiness Magazine. As a non-profit trade association, the MMPA is a forum for the top companies involved in the Minnesota magazine publishing arena.

GOLD: Overall Design, City South Magazine Single-Topic Issue, Woodbury Magazine Use of Visuals/Illustration, Burnsville Magazine

SILVER: Best Use of Visuals/Photography, Woodbury Magazine Overall Excellence, Downtown Minneapolis Magazine Best Visuals/Photography, MinnesotaBusiness Magazine Best Single-Topic Issue, Chanhassen Magazine

BRONZE: Best Single Cover, Saint Paul Illustrated Best Regular Column, Eden Prairie Magazine Overall Design, Saint Paul Illustrated Petters Group invests in Metropolitan Media Group which publishes 18 community publications and MinnesotaBusiness Magazine.

For more information, visit metmediagroup.com

SUMMER 2008

UPFRONT

around the companies

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

::

UK LAUNCHES POLAROID DEFINIA™ HIGH-END SMALL SCREEN TVS

W

ith European countries in the midst of an all-digital TV signal conversion, Polaroid is set to launch a line of high-end digital small screen (15”, 19”, 22”) LCD TVs under the Polaroid Definia™ brand. Hitting stores this summer, the new Polaroid Definia™ digital small screen LCD TVs, available in all-black or all-white bezel color options, combine stunning picture and high quality connectivity, while being Polaroid’s thinnest ID to date, the “Lift ID”.

“The exciting new Lift ID is the perfect foundation for our Polaroid Definia™ digital LCD TVs,” Mike Petersen, Polaroid EMEA Products and Operations said. “The super thin bezel design brings the crystal clear, digital picture to the forefront, giving the customer an unsurpassed viewing experience. Our

16

:: P E T T E R S G R O U P

retail partners are very eager to start selling these new Polaroid Definia™ TVs because the sophisticated look and features are anticipated to make them very popular,” he added.

The sophisticated look of the Polaroid Definia™ LCD TVs will draw even more interest in-store because it will be complimented by new ultra-stylish packaging. Eye-catching icons promote the TV’s important features and eliminate the need for excessive translations, making the new packaging clean and inviting.

The newest Polaroid Definia™ digital LCD TVs with the Lift ID will not be limited to small screens. In fact, there are plans to launch 26”, 32”, 37”, and 40” large screen Polaroid Definia™ digital LCD TVs with the Lift ID in major European retailers in the near future.

PHOTO BY DAN DELANEY

::

Sun County Goes Green!

T

he environmental movement has built momentum over the past few years, and with a positive reception from consumers, it has become a trend that companies cannot ignore. Airlines in particular have worked to find ways to make a notoriously polluting industry reduce its impact on the environment.

At Sun Country, ‘going green’ is not a trend that is just catching on. While the airline is implementing new ways to reduce our environmental impact, Sun Country has also been utilizing ‘green’ practices for many years.

The Sun Country fleet is comprised of newer aircrafts, something which immediately reduces environmental impact when compared to older aircraft of the same type. More important than age, however, is that Sun Country operates exclusively with Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft. As the most fuel-efficient aircraft in its category, the 737-800 is

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

recognized as a ‘green’ aircraft. In fact, the 737-800 emits 83% less CO2 when compared to DC-9’s - a similarly sized aircraft that makes up a substantial portion of Northwest Airline’s fleet.

To further reduce the environmental impact of flying, Sun Country has also implemented advanced technologies and design features onto the aircraft, including blended winglets, highly efficient engines, and increased navigational precision. All of these features result in maximum fuel efficiency as well as reduced noise.

Many airlines funnel traffic from smaller airports into larger hubs using connecting flights. While economical, this practice dramatically increases the amount of fuel required to take passengers to their destination. Sun Country flies primarily direct flights, eliminating the fuel wasted on taking off and landing at multiple stops along the route.

The aircraft and flying techniques are not the only ‘green’ activities at Sun Country. The Ground Operations team uses air and water for deicing instead of harmful chemicals. Recycling is a focus throughout the company, as is paper and energy conservation. Taken all together, Sun Country passengers can definitely go green by flying blue and orange!

To celebrate its environmental friendliness, Sun Country will launch a “Going Green” campaign in June through a variety of initiatives. The airline intends to plant a tree for every passenger carried in June at a local farm. In partership with the Airport Foundation, Sun Country will have local artists create a ‘Green’ mural at Hubert Humphrey Terminal.

They also plan to team up with the Minneapolis Airport Commision to ‘greenify’ Hubert H. Humphrey Terminal through plants, gardens, recyclables, cleaning materials, lighting, and much more.

::

PHOTO BY DAN DELANEY

New Camera Packaging Hits Store Shelves Polaroid digital camera packaging will look a bit different on shelves this year as new camera models begin to hit retailers.

The new digital camera packaging has been designed to cater to ever-changing customer needs which are placing greater attention on the “eco-footprint” products leave on the environment. The new packaging design minimizes materials used to create the packaging, while providing maximum use of space on retailer’s shelves. The new packaging design actually takes up around 60% less space than designs last year. While the packaging may be smaller, Polaroid is ultimately able to enhance shelf presence by increasing the number of packages that fit on a shelf.

Along with a new, sleek design, the packaging also provides a superior out-of-box experience for the consumer. Upon opening the box the customer is immediately greeted with an easy-to-understand quick start guide and manual. These items are then lifted out of the box to unveil the neatly arranged camera and its many accessories.

The unique easy-to-open design ensures consumers will easily find

instructions and guides for setting up their camera, letting consumers start shooting perfect pictures immediately.

The new packaging is already on store shelves at retailers like Wal-Mart, Target, and Circuit City along with all other vendors where Polaroid cameras are sold.

SUMMER 2008

::

UPFRONT

around the companies

caption here

ON THE MOVE

::

BroadSign Targets the World

S

ince January 1, BroadSign has accomplished 3 major tradeshow sponsorships, 9 press releases, 1 published whitepaper, 17 media interviews, 11 blog posts, 9 webinars, 25 conference speaker introductions, 4 major speaking engagements, and 6 byline/case studies that are currently in progress.

During the first quarter tradeshows, BroadSign kicked things off as the Exclusive Headline Sponsor for Screen Expo Europe 2008 in London, England.

The two-day show (February 5-6) featured BroadSign’s double-decker booth, complete with demo stations, meeting rooms and a lounge area. Rick Engels, Broadsign President and CEO, was featured on a panel addressing digital signage within the banking industry, and Brian Dusho,

18

:: P E T T E R S G R O U P

Chief Strategy Officer for BroadSign, delivered a speech in the Thought Leadership Pavilion which focused on cutting-edge trends and ideas in the screen-media sector. Screen Expo Europe was very successful for BroadSign, giving them tremendous industry exposure and creating numerous quality leads for new clients.

Just three weeks later (February 2728), in Las Vegas, NV, BroadSign was the Conference Sponsor for Digital Signage Expo 2008. Here, they displayed a similar double-decker structure with over 20 employees manning the booth. Digital Signage Expo was equally successful, and included a BroadSign hosted “Exclusive Night at the Palms” party for industry professionals. Over 300 guests attended the party, extending the “buzz” about

BroadSign and expanding the networking opportunities.

Less than 1 month later (March 20), BroadSign was Co-Title Sponsor at Screen Media India, in Mumbai, India. This allowed BroadSign to extend its reach to another continent and a whole new customer base. Brian Dusho delivered a resonating speech entitled “Digital Out-of-Home 2.0 How Do We Get There?”

The success of all three of these tradeshow opportunities allowed BroadSign to leverage their industry knowledge and increase their leadership stance in the booming digital signage market. As the industry grows, BroadSign is proving to be the #1 brand in digital signage software.

See page 49 for pictures and for more information, visit broadsign.com.

DID YOU KNOW?

::

A Partnership for

Innovative

A

n idea is not an opportunity unless it is real. This is an overriding philosophy of the entrepreneurship program at Miami University of Ohio. And what better way to make it real than creating strategic partnerships through which our students explore the pillars of successful entrepreneurship--opportunity recognition, risk and reward, value creation—in real-world situations.

For the past four years, the Miami Institute for Entrepreneurship has partnered with Petters Group to ensure student experiences are more than academic exercises. Sometimes these activities involve Miami students working directly on opportunities associated with products or companies under the Petters Group umbrella. For example, during the spring 2008 semester, student teams recommended several market opportunities and marketing strategies for new Polaroid products based on an emerging technology in the digital photography field.

However, the Miami/Petters partnership has the most potential when it expands beyond the boundaries of the two primary organi-

Jay Kayne, Cintas Chair in Entrepreneurship Miami University (Ohio)

zations. In 2007, Miami alumnus Gerard Lopez, managing partner of Mangrove Capital Partners, the largest venture fund in Europe, contracted with the Institute for Entrepreneurship to design and execute a beta test in the college market of a new on-line concept.

With a goal of engaging over 2,000 students at 50 campuses across the United States, the faculty and student team recognized the need for incentives.

Petters Group provided Polaroid products—digital cameras and DVD players—to the winners in each round of the beta test. They also provided a 36” LCD television as the grand prize for the student with the best performance in the intercollegiate challenge, part of the beta test. With Petters Group’s support, Miami University exceeded the participation goal and provided valuable feedback to Mangrove as a result of the beta test.

On behalf of the Miami Institute for Entrepreneurship and the Farmer School of Business, I want to thank Petters Group for their continuing support of innovation and relevant educational opportunities.

Ufly Rewards Continues to Grow Sun Country’s frequent flyer program, Ufly Rewards, was launched in July 2007 after much anticipation in the marketplace. Positioned as a rewards program that actually rewards, Ufly members are able to use the points they earn without the difficulty associated with other programs.

The program is less than one year old but continues to gain momentum. In fact, a Ufly Rewards credit card co-branded with Chase is

anticipated to launch this summer.

Other program enhancements have been made over the past few months to retain current members and gain new ones. Hertz and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts were added as partners, allowing members additional ways to earn points. The functionality for members to buy or gift points was also added and has since proven to be a popular option.

Other back-end enhance-

ments have also been made to ensure the program is as user-friendly and easilymaintained as possible.

The rapid acquisition of Ufly members showed how unique this program is. In fact, the goal of reaching 100,000 members by the end of 2007 was passed after just one month (the 100,000th member was given two free roundtrip tickets to celebrate the landmark). Public interest in the program has remained strong, and Ufly

Rewards now has over 210,000 members.

As the program continues to grow, Sun Country will continue to add features so that Ufly membership continues its healthy growth.

Sun Country is looking forward to the continued success of the program and the consumer loyalty generated by a program that is positively distinguished in the marketplace!

For more information, visit suncountry.com.

SUMMER 2008

::

GALLERY

john t. petters foundation

A

Tim Gannon playing for the Sun Country Airlines polo team

(l to r) Justin Tuck, Jennifer Petters, Tom Petters, Richard “Big Daddy” Salgado, Steve Hutchinson, Michael Strahan

A Fabulous Weekend for a Wonderful Cause The John T. Petters Foundation Cup, Wellington, Florida

Joe and Laura Schmit

ABOVE: (l to r) Marlon Quan, Tom Petters, Florene and Caroline Quan BELOW: (l to r) Paul Traub, Bill Dunlap, JoAnne Pastel, Peter and Linda Vogt

WEARY OF THE LONG, COLD WINTER, friends of the John T. Petters Foundation (johntpettersfoundation.org) were delighted to fly to West Palm Beach for a long weekend of polo, sunshine and socializing.

After a welcome reception at the Ritz-Carlton, everyone gathered at International Polo Club in Wellington for an authentic Argentine asado barbecue dinner with special guests Michael Strahan and Justin Tuck of the New York Giants and Pro-Bowler Steve Hutchinson from the Minnesota Vikings.

After dinner, Tom Petters spoke about his son John, who was tragically killed in 2004 at the age of 21. Jennifer Petters, John’s sister, talked eloquently about the mission of the Foundation, which honors John’s short but remarkable life by providing scholarships to college students in financial need so that they can study international business overseas.

Comedian Wil Shriner entertained guests as he raised the gavel on an array of distinctive auction items. The evening concluded with dancing to the sounds of Virginia Coalition, a band from blu hammock music. The next day, guests convened at Outback Polo Club to watch two electrifying polo matches, followed by dinner at the Petters home in Manalapan.

On Sunday, the two winning teams competed for the John T. Petters Foundation Cup. Sunday night found everyone dancing at the blu party at Tavern on the Green.

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF FRED PETTERS

Polo matches highlighted the weekend

20

:: P E T T E R S G R O U P

N

Ali Charles of Investors Capital and the Investors Capital-sponsored team Kim Honig, Juan Salinas-Bentley and Jennifer Petters

Nichole Murphy and Michael Strahan

Mary Coleman, Dawn and Tommy Lee Jones

Fred Petters and Wendy Woodley

Carol and Mark Moeller

David Baer and Drew Levin

Sun Country Airlines-sponsored polo players and friends

Friends from blu hammock music and blu horse clothing

Comedian Wil Shriner

Argentine asado barbecue

Wendy Woodley and the Polaroid-sponsored polo team

Mollie O’Brien and Dick Gross

Dean Vlahos and Mike Wood

::

GALLERY

john t. petters foundation

THANK YOU Dear John T. Petters Foundation: Thank you so much for selecting me as a recipient of the John T. Petters Scholarship!

Words cannot describe how thankful I am for receiving such an award. Studying in Greece will be such an amazing experience and I am grateful to have the opportunity. I am more than happy to assist the Foundation with anything because of the generous financial contribution you have made toward one of my dreams.

Thank you!!!

Lindsey Updike Ohio University, Athens, OH; Greece Dear John T. Petters Foundation, Thank you very much for awarding me the $5,000 scholarship. This award has relieved me of the greatest of my worries for my study abroad trip. I am now fully confident and excited for the experience ahead of me this summer. I am hopeful to return adequately prepared for the business world and more certain about the direction for my post-college future. Thank you for your dedication and support for students like myself.

Sincerely, Claire Parker Grove City College, Grove City, PA; Europe

To the John T. Petters Foundation: When you educate one child it is as though you have educated all of humanity. Each child is born with a potential, which no other has, to enhance the stock of human knowledge.

Knowledge is essential in unifying people, bringing peace and prosperity. Thank you for your Foundation to further advance human knowledge, understanding and peace by enabling us to travel across the seas to bond with our brothers and sisters on the other side of the world. You are the true soldiers of humanity. I will always remember what you have done for me and what you stood for, so that the legacy which began with your lost son will forever continue. Thank you again.

Sincerely, Bibi Abdalla College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, MN; China Dear John T. Petters Foundation: Thank you for providing and opening the doors to explore, learn and enjoy the incredible cultures within our global economy. My best wishes to the Petters Family.

Sincerely, Mai Her Lee St. Cloud State, St. Cloud, MN: Germany

Dear John T. Petters Foundation Scholarship Committee: I want to sincerely thank you for your generous gift of $8,000 to my study abroad program at the Copenhagen Business School in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Studying at an international school of business will give me the experience and knowledge necessary to truly impact the business world with revolutionary and innovative ideas that incorporate the perspectives of people all over the world. With generous support of people like you, I look forward to bringing back significant knowledge and experience to share with the Fort Lewis College community.

This knowledge will enable me to work toward a brighter future with businesses and environmental policies that can change the world.

Thank you again, Elizabeth K. Stone Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO; Denmark

A NIGHT IN BARCELONA 2008 Legacy Gala August 9th

F

eel what it’s like to step onto the festive streets of Barcelona, Spain just by entering the newly renovated ballroom of the Minneapolis Marriott City Center on Saturday, August 9th. The John T. Petters Foundation is proud to invite you to its third annual Legacy Gala, “A Night in Barcelona”, and whisk you away to another world, if only just for the night.

Guests will enjoy mouth watering tapas, Spanish guitar players, and a heart pounding flamenco performance from the Zorongo troupe. To cap off the evening with side splitting laughter will be a comedic performance by hit Showtime series Weeds star and former SNL cast mate Kevin Nealon. Be prepared for some surprises throughout the night; you never know who may show up to support the John T. Petters Foundation!

We are excited to recognize our Co-Honorary Chairs for the evening 22

:: P E T T E R S G R O U P

Gregory Bell and Ralph Burnet. Mr. Bell along with his wife Inna Goldman, has provided both financial backing and moral support for the Foundation since its inception in 2004. Mr. Burnet is also a supporter of the JTP Foundation and has been involved in many philanthropic campaigns in Minnesota. We are pleased to have them as an integral part of the gala.

Our committee co-chairs for the event are two individuals who are very passionate about the Foundation and keep John’s legacy going. We are extremely lucky to welcome back Deanna Coleman as a committee chair and we are happy to have Steve Ratliff, Polaroid EVP of sales, as a first time chair.

We hope you can all join us in August to celebrate John and help send more students overseas!

For more information, visit johntpettersfoundation.org.

Learning Goes Global

Foundation Scholarships Awarded

T

wenty-seven college students will begin study programs across the globe this summer and fall thanks to the generous donors of the John T. Petters Foundation.

This year’s recipients included students from twenty-two schools across the US who will be traveling out of their comfort zone to countries as far away as Tanzania and Japan. These students are all in hot pursuit of a life altering experience that will expand their horizons and make them begin to understand the global economy we are living in today.

Each of our recipients completed a five part application that gauges their motivation to study abroad and their need for funding from the Foundation. Those receiving the highest scores were propelled onto the next round which awarded them an interview.

After the interview process, the final recipients were chosen and given a call that ended their weeks of suspense. We are excited and proud to add these students to the elite group that can call themselves John T. Petters Foundation Scholars!

Foundation History

T

he John T. Petters Foundation honors the short and remarkable life of John Petters. John was a gregarious, 21-year-old student who was one of the most vibrant individuals you’d ever want to meet. As a student at Miami University in Oxford, OH, he tragically lost his life while on spring break in Florence, Italy, in March 2004. John had a desire to help deserving students study abroad and his family and friends made sure this would not end with his passing. Scholarships are awarded on a need-basis to students who display John’s characters of leadership, motivation, and the overall passion to study international business. The Foundation awards scholarships on an annual basis.

For more information, visit johntpettersfoundation.org or email mollie.obrien@johntpettersfoundation.org

SUMMER 2008

::

GALLERY

charitable

Professor Profile Dr. Linda Sprague at Rollins College

D

r. Linda G. Sprague joined Rollins College in September 2007 as the first Thomas J. Petters Distinguished Professor of International Business, a position created through the $12-million endowment given to Rollins by Tom Petters in 2006.

Sprague is taking a leadership role in developing and supporting the Rollins China Center by engaging the global academic and local business communities in the current Chinese business environment.

“We are delighted that Linda Sprague has joined us,” Roger Casey, Rollins College Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, said.

“Linda is one of the international leaders in operations management education and her wealth of knowledge about Chinese business will benefit Rollins immensely.”

Sprague previously served for ten years as Professor of Manufacturing and Operations Management at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) in Shanghai and is now Professor Emerita at CEIBS. She has served on the faculties of Cranfield University (UK), the University of New Hampshire, Stanford University, IMD (Switzerland), the Amos Tuck School and IESE (Spain). In 1980, Dr. Sprague was selected as a Founding Professor at the National Center for Industrial Science and Technology Management Development at Dalian, China – the first western management program in China’s history. She received her Doctorate in Business Administration from the Harvard Business School and her MBA from Boston University. Her bachelor’s degree is from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Sprague’s current research focuses on international manufacturing, distribution and supply systems, small- to medium-sized manufacturers and China’s developing supply chain infrastructure. Her publications include works on developments in China’s supply chain platforms,

24

:: P E T T E R S G R O U P

inventory management and control, manufacturing and operations information systems, strategic analysis for global manufacturing, industrial history and more.

Dr. Sprague is the current President of the International Society for Inventory Research (ISIR) based in Budapest. She is a past President and Fellow of the Decision Sciences Institute, a Fellow of the Institute of Operations

Management (UK) and a Distinguished Scholar of the Operations Management Division of the Academy of Management.

“At Rollins, I am looking forward to developing and bringing to MBA and undergraduate students information about China’s economic development and political evolution as it increases its interactions with the West,” Sprague said. PG

UNIVERSITY ENDOWMENTS RECAP

Thank You!

Miami University – Oxford, OH

Dear Petters Group: You donated digital cameras to our district in the fall of 2007, and I want you to know how much this support is needed and appreciated.

Thank you for investing in our children and youth to help make this difference in their lives.

The Farmer School of Business at Miami University is making rapid progress on its journey from good to great. This year marks two especially significant milestones: the establishment of the Miami University Shanghai Semester Program as part of the Petters EducAsian Shanghai Program and the hiring of David C. Yen as the Jennifer J. Petters Chair in Asian Business.

In the fall of 2008, about 25 students from Miami University, Rollins College and several other US universities will be taking classes at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Some of these students will also have internships with local Shanghai businesses. Professor Yen will be teaching and in residence during the inaugural semester of the Shanghai Program. In addition, student and faculty exchange programs have been established at top flight Chinese universities in cities such as Beijing, Hong Kong, Nanjing, and Xian, thanks to the work of Professor Yen. As in past years, a few Miami students will be traveling to Asia and Europe this summer through scholarships from the John T. Petters Foundation. Two students will also be working as interns for Petters Group Worldwide.

We continue to look forward to having new faculty and new facilities. We hope to fill the John T. Petters Chair in Leadership during the next academic year and plan to be moving into our brand new business building in the summer of 2009. One of the featured spaces in the new building will be the John T. Petters Center for Ethics, Leadership, and Professional Skills Development.

This wing of the new building will house all three Petters Chairs along with the Director of the Petters Center.

For more information, visit muohio.edu

ISD 279 Osseo Area Schools

Dear Friend, We appreciate your generous donation of food products. Your donation helps ICA to provide food to those who are in economic distress in our communities. Thank you for “Making a Difference”.

Intercongregation Communities Association

Dear Petters Group, Thank you for your donation to the Taste of Eatin’ Prairie event held on February 23rd. Your donation was very generous and proved to be integral to the event’s success. The Foundation’s work would not be possible without your generosity.

Rollins College – Winter Park, FL Now nearing the end of its second year, the Petters Internationalization Initiative has allowed Rollins College professors to travel the world to enrich their teaching.

Approximately 100 faculty and teaching staff members have already participated in this unparalleled effort to internationalize Rollins College. The objective is for teachers to bring what they learn into their classrooms, expanding perspectives and encouraging connections across cultures and disciplines.

Two chairs were also created with this endowment. Dr. Ilan Alon, the Jennifer J. Petters Professor of International Business and Executive Director of the Rollins China Center, has held the position for almost two years. He said, “Having an endowed chair means that I have a higher responsibility to achieve leadership in research, teaching and/or service.

It is also my responsibility to raise the international profile of the school.”

The first appointee to the Thomas J. Petters Distinguished Chair of International Business is Dr. Linda Sprague. She has a leadership role in developing and supporting the Rollins China Center by engaging the global academic and local business communities in Chinese business.

For more information, visit rollins.edu

Foundation for Eden Prairie Schools

Dear Petters Group, We sincerely appreciate the donation of the digital camera to our 2008 Unlock the Silence Benefit. It is wonderful companies like you that make a big difference to our cause. Thank you for your support!

RAINN

SUMMER 2008

::

CONNECTING POINTS

a word from mary

Go with the Flow

I

All change is not growth; all movement is not forward.

— ELLEN GLASSGOW

26

:: P E T T E R S G R O U P

n an entrepreneurial environment such as Petters Group Worldwide, change is a constant. Work on projects start, stop, shift, grow and shrink sometimes on an hourly basis. Some may interpret this to mean a lack of direction but I would argue it means all aspects are being taken into account in real time. Not all change is the same. One company may be looking at strategic moves while another is building out business plans. Work within our dynamic collection of companies does not stop while these evaluations are being done. Just as the economic environment in which we operate does not hold steady either. For Sun Country, a shift as small as $1 per barrel in the price of oil, has a large ramification on their budget. During this strategic assessment period, the planes and crews cannot sit on the ground and wait. The company is making changes in real-time.

This quality of being able to operate in an environment where uncertainty is around us each day speaks volumes about the people within the Petters Group portfolio of companies. Polaroid is going through a transformation from the instant film company, they have been known for during the last 50 years, to a consumer electronics and digital imaging printing company. Multiple business plans are being developed concurrently and input from vendors, manufacturers and even media coverage have influenced the process of this change.

Change is often not easy but we are confident we have the right strategy and all will be successful.

One change which will be more visible to you soon will be a big identity change for Petters Group Worldwide, as we roll out our new website, logo and collateral. Through a partnership with Miami University of Ohio during the last five months we examined “Who is Petters Group Worldwide” and what is the message we are putting out to the world. There were hours of debate on the “change” – which parts needed to change and how was this change going to be perceived. In the end that last question will be answered by you individually. We hope you like the vibrant new colors and imagery which we feel reflects the dynamic culture of Petters Group and Tom Petters.

As our companies continue to grow and change, it could be viewed as a wall to climb or a door to open. The employees of our companies have shown year after year they are willing to search for the key to open the door to their companies next phase and we appreciate them! PG

28

:: P E T T E R S G R O U P

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

::

michael PHELPS

The Balancing Act Michael Phelps Helps Entrepreneurs Play By the Rules

BY ANDREA MILLER

T

he Entrepreneurs’ Playbook has a rule: “Don’t take no for an answer”. With Petters Group Worldwide being led by the quintessential entrepreneur, and almost every company within the Petters Group portfolio being run by an entrepreneur “No” cannot be part of the lexicon. When Michael Phelps, Deputy Chief Legal Officer, came to Petters Group over four years ago he learned quickly that “no” was not an option. “I had to approach it from a yes we’re going to do it attitude and how we’re going to do it rather than all the ways we can’t do it, which is the law firm mentality,” Phelps said. He has discovered that discussing the merits of the alternatives and keeping an open dialogue going between the parties involved often creates the best solutions.

Initially, the biggest challenge was getting people to understand that I am on their side —MICHAEL PHELPS

When Phelps was doing his undergraduate studies at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN he did not realize his course work in sociology would be put to so much use. After graduation from law school at William Mitchell College of Law, Phelps went to work at Leonard, Street and Deinard (LS and D), a large Minneapolis-based law firm whose mission is “to provide wise counsel and practical advice that will help their clients achieve their objectives.” It was at LS and D that Phelps gained his first practical exposure to smaller entrepreneurial companies and that experience enhanced his interest in being more than just outside legal counsel.

“To truly be an asset to a company, we need to really understand their business objectives which in turn allow us to give legal and business advice

that helps them develop,” Phelps said. “The opportunity to take a more active role as a business lead is what drew me to Petters Group,” he added.

With so many companies within the Petters Group portfolio, Phelps can be engaged in a diverse set of businesses, from contract negotiations one hour to reviewing term sheets the next for someone else. Being flexible with his time and focused in the moment are key attributes for Phelps. “I know I can count on Mike to thoroughly evaluate the situation and give me a concise overview of the possible outcomes so we can keep the project moving forward,” Mary Jeffries, COO/President of Petters Group said.

“The way the legal team is viewed has drastically changed in the time I have been here,” Phelps said. When he came to Petters Group the legal department was just beginning to grow and becoming a valuable resource.

In many instances, the guidance the companies were receiving was from outside lawyers they did not know and who did not know them. “Initially, the biggest challenge was getting people to understand that I am on their side. It is through a good partnership of trust and communication that we will find the right solution for their business,” he said.

The Petters Group legal team is led by Chief Legal Officer, David Baer.

“The key contributions Mike makes to Petters Group are his deep understanding of law and business, his devotion to the clients and the welfare of their business and being able to creatively find the best ideas,” he said.

When Phelps is not on a plane for business you may find him on a plane with his wife, Brenda, and their 6 year old son, Caeden. “Traveling is a family passion. It is our time to get away and connect,” Phelps said.

Their best vacation so far was a cruise in the Mediterranean which stopped in Greece, Italy and Turkey. He once was an avid golfer and said if he could do anything (else) for a career, professional golfer would be at the top of his list.

For right now Tiger Woods is safe, Phelp’s clubs are currently for weekend enjoyment, as he is focusing on gaining experience in all aspects of the operations of Petters Group companies with an eye toward running one of his own someday. Phelps said, “In today’s world, every aspect of a business is a moving target and you need to stay focused on your path yet open to new opportunities as they arise and make the right choice.” PG

SUMMER 2008

30

:: P E T T E R S G R O U P

EXECUTIVE PROFILE

::

stan GADEK

Piloting Turbulent Skies Stan Gadek takes the helm at Sun Country Airlines

BY ANDREA MILLER

S

tan Gadek, the new CEO of Sun Country Airlines, has been on the job for forty-five days and during this time the price of oil has risen from $104 to over $120 per barrel. “For every $1 increase in oil prices, we see another $850,000 in fuel expense on an annual basis,” Gadek said. “If you do the math, our fuel bill has increased by $13.6 million and we need to find a way to offset that,” he added.

Coming onboard a company which uses significant amounts of fuel in an environment of rapidly escalating fuel prices would be daunting to most people. However, Gadek takes it in stride and notes that the airline industry has seen significant challenges before and has always bounced back. In fact, he views Sun Country as a clear winner because of three key attributes: a great reputation with customers, enthusiastic and dedicated employees and the ability to be nimble in a tough environment.

Stan, who prefers to be called by his first name, has 35 years of experience in the industry ranging from baggage handler to ticket agent to executive. After leaving the military and getting an accounting degree he went into the Northwest Airlines management training program. During his first year at Northwest, Stan worked on the ramp at O’Hare Airport in Chicago, IL and in customer service in Anchorage, AK. “No one comes to lost and found to thank you for a great flight. The only customers I saw were the ones who were missing luggage. I quickly learned that showing genuine interest and concern for the customer’s plight went a long way toward resolving an unacceptable situation,” he said.

From Alaska, Stan moved to Minnesota and was assigned to work in the accounting department. While at Northwest headquarters he met his wife, Kate, who worked in the reservations department. Eventually, they got married and started their family in the Twin Cities.

After 15 years at cost conscious and conservative Northwest Airlines, Gadek went to the “wild wild west” of Continental Airlines. During his four years there the company went through multiple mergers and a bankruptcy, after which he was laid off. Wanting to remain in the industry, he worked for SunAir Express, a commuter carrier in the U.S. Virgin Islands, before moving to Atlanta Coast Airlines in Dulles, VA. His next stop was with Atlas Air, a cargo carrier in Denver, CO, where he worked for Michael Chowdry, the founder of the company and a great personal mentor to him. Stan applies many of the lessons he learned from Chowdry, including Michael’s view of risk: Every day you have to face risk. You can use it as a force to achieve your goals or you can close your eyes and hope for the best. As Stan is fond of saying, “hope is not a strategy”.

When you have a great brand and outstanding people, anything is possible.

—STAN GADEK

Moving on from Atlas, Stan went to work for AirTran in 2000 at a time when it was struggling. Through strong leadership and a clear vision for success, Stan and his colleagues were able to turn the airline around and grow it from a fleet of 34-DC9s to 141 new 737 and 717’s. He sees much of the same potential at Sun Country as he saw in AirTran but with the added benefit of having a great customer reputation.

Stan views the move from AirTran to Sun Country a lot like coming home. His wife’s family still lives in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area and he has a brother and sister in the Twin Cities as well. His three adult children attend college in Florida but he will eventually relocate to Minnesota.

“Family is important to who I am,” he said. “They help keep my feet on the ground and remind me that success is not about one person.”

In the first few months with Stan at the helm, Sun Country has had to make some tough decisions, including a reduction in force. Nevertheless, Stan is committed to seeing Sun Country achieve success regardless of the challenges. Commenting on Stan’s arrival at Sun Country, Tom Petters, Chairman of Sun Country said, “Stan brings to Sun Country extensive airline experience with a low cost carrier and a disciplined leadership style which will be key to executing on our long and short term strategies.”

The first of those strategies includes going after the “low hanging fruit” to generate revenues through fuel surcharges, overweight and extra bag fees, and military charters. For the long term, Stan and the Sun Country team will focus on revenue growth and maintaining the high level of customer service that Sun Country is known for. “This is the first airline I have been with which receives fan mail from the customers. That tells me we have very special people working for us,” Gadek said. “When you have a great brand and outstanding people, anything is possible,” he concluded. PG

For more information, visit www.suncountry.com.

SUMMER 2008

FEATURE

inside glance

Pastor Rich Scherber 32

:: P E T T E R S G R O U P

RICH SCHERBER AND TEEN CHALLENGE WOMEN PHOTOS BY SILAS CREWS

::

Minnesota Teen Challenge

The Minnesota Teen Challenge choir

Helping teens and adults conquer addiction and create new lives

BY MELINDA NELSON First location on Clinton Ave.

J

ust the other day, a friend told me a harrowing tale about a family friend trapped in a Dante’s inferno of drugs and alcohol. At the age of 21, this former A-student dropped out of college and was living on the streets until his grieving, devastated parents checked him into yet another halfway house. Most frightening is the fact that the young man is showing signs of bipolar disorder, most likely a result of the chemicals he’s been abusing.

Upon hearing this story, I immediately suggested Minnesota Teen Challenge (MnTC). Part of the world’s largest and most successful network of drug recovery programs, MnTC is one of the state’s largest residential programs for

teens and adults. Led by Pastor Rich Scherber, MnTC has 400 residents, 170 employees and six facilities in Minneapolis and Duluth, and a new Men’s Center in Brainerd, opening in June.

MnTC receives most of their support from private donations. Petters Group Worldwide has been a contributor for nearly 10 years.

A recent Wilder Foundation study shows that MnTC has some of the highest outcomes in the industry; approximately 74% of residents become graduates. After just six months in the MnTC Minneapolis public school-affiliated academy, 80% of teens are on the honor roll and many complete almost two full years of high school in 14-16 months.

Scherber attributes MnTC’s success to its unique approach. Unlike Hazelden’s 28-day program, MnTC offers a 60-day and a yearlong program.

“Our model succeeds because of its length and structure,” Scherber said.

“We are a non-denominational, faith-based program, because for us, it’s not just about chemical dependency. We work on attitude, integrity and character development.

We’re really trying to help people develop traits to help them be successful when they leave here.”

“We believe that there is a God and he can change lives, and there is hope.”

—RICH SCHERBER Scherber is living proof that a person can conquer addiction. “I’m an old drug addict myself, but I changed my life,” he said. “After about seven years of addiction, I went to college and graduate school and received a master’s degree in psychology and counseling.

After working as a missionary in the black townships of South Africa, I was asked to take over Teen Challenge. I started with an old, condemned house on Lake Street and Clinton Avenue, otherwise known as Crack Alley, which I bought for a dollar and renovated myself. When I look back at all the challenges that we’ve faced along the way—no ministry, no budget and no resources—it’s a miracle what we’ve accomplished. Clearly, God wanted us to do this.” PG

For more information, visit www.mntc.org.

Three young women from the Minnesota Teen Challenge program SUMMER 2008

::

P O LG AOR O I D P o G o ™

TOM PETTERS PHOTO BY TODD BUCHANAN

COVER STORY

34

:: P E T T E R S G R O U P

d i o r a l o P defining Instant Re

e h t r fo y h p a r g o t Pho

Digital Age

™

Polaroid launches Polaroid PoGo™ Instant Mobile Printer, Digital Instant Product Line

BY LIZ ORENSTEIN

P

olaroid introduced the world to instant photography 70 years ago. Today, generations of people hold a special sentiment for the magic of Polaroid instant photography – the simplicity and instant gratification. However, with the popularity and commoditization of digital photography, Polaroid will once again reinvent instant photography, this time for the digital age.

“For decades, the name Polaroid has been synonymous with white-bordered pictures, although change and innovation have always been, and will continue to be, an integral part of this company,” explained Tom Petters,

Chairman and Owner of Polaroid. Building on its innovation and success in instant photography, this summer Polaroid will launch a line of digital instant products featuring the Polaroid PoGo™ Instant Mobile Printer.

“Dr. Edwin Land, the founder of Polaroid, reinvented this company many times through its 70-year history – from polarized lenses to eyewear to the iconic instant camera,” Petters said. “With the Instant Mobile Printer, Polaroid is revolutionizing the magic of instant printed pictures for the 21st century, and helping ensure the rich legacy of Polaroid lives for another 70 years and beyond.”

SUMMER 2008

COVER STORY

::

POLAROID PoGo™

Polaroid magic from your camera cell phone or digital camera.

The Polaroid PoGo™ Instant Mobile Printer introduces a new way to instantly and spontaneously share printed photos in social settings, anytime, anywhere. “This printer is unlike any other printer in the market place,” Andy Mitchelides, Polaroid Senior Marketing Associate and Global Product Planner said.

Pocket-sized and battery operated for ultimate mobility, the paper tray is seamlessly integrated in the printer and easily opened with the push of a button. Using the photo printer is as easy as send, print, and share. A built-in Bluetooth antenna receives images from Bluetooth-enabled camera cell phones or via USB port from PictBridge-enabled digital cameras. “Printing itself is a commodity and not exciting, but to develop an inkless printer designed for ultimate mobility makes the Polaroid printer truly innovative and unique,” Mitchelides added.

The magic behind the Instant Mobile Printer is embedded inside the printer using ZINK™ Zero Ink™ Printing Technology from ZINK Imaging. More than a decade in the making, ZINK™ Zero Ink™ Printing Technology originally hatched within the walls of Polaroid, before spinning out as a separate company, ZINK Imaging, Inc. Last fall, Petters Group invested $25 million into ZINK Imaging, Inc. ZINK™ stands for Zero Ink - a new way to print and experience full-color digital images without the need for ink cartridges or ribbons – technology not too unfamiliar to Polaroid. As the Polaroid instant photography innovation reaches the digital age, it’s only fitting that it will pioneer this inkless printing technology through the new Instant Mobile Printer.

36

:: P E T T E R S G R O U P

“This inkless technology will truly change the way people view color printing,” Petters said. “As we develop and release additional products in the digital instant line, I see great potential for inkless printing to become an industry standard.”

The key to ZINK Technology is the patented ZINK Photo Paper™, an advanced composite material with cyan, yellow, and magenta dye crystals embedded inside and a protective polymer overcoat layer. A ZINK™ Enabled device uses heat to activate and colorize these dye crystals to achieve any color under the rainbow. The properties of each dye crystal were finely tuned to achieve the color palette and image stability required for beautiful, full-color digital prints.

Alongside the Instant Mobile Printer, Polaroid will launch Polaroid PoGo™, specific to digital instant products using ZINK Technology. Focused mainly on spirited youth and young adults, the Polaroid PoGo™ products combine the sleek, stylish look of the product, the new innovative printing technology, and the

“This inkless technolo gy will truly change the way people view color printing.”

— TO M PE TT ER S CH AI RM AN AN D OW NE R PO LA RO ID

classic Polaroid heritage. “Polaroid PoGo™ is more than a brand to our team and organization, it will be a statement for years to come” says Petters. “For 70 years Polaroid has been perceived as iconic company for innovation and instant experiences. With the introduction of Polaroid PoGo™, Polaroid will reclaim its brand Recognized as a brand of innovation, Polaroid continues attributes and create the positive buzz it deserves.” this reputation in the digital technology era, making global Marketing initiatives are already underway. “We are evalu- headlines with the Polaroid PoGo™ Instant Mobile Printer ating creative, new, and fun marketing strategies to reach the and other digital instant products using ZINK™ Zero Ink™ teen and young adult demographic,” Cheryl Mau, Polaroid Printing Technology. The 2008 International Consumer VP of Marketing said. “We had a Street Team at the Talladega Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January proved very sucNASCAR race April 25-27, armed with Instant Mobile Printers, cessful for the Instant Mobile Printer. Polaroid generated snapping and printing hundreds of photos of fans with the more than 600 print, broadcast, and online hits, totaling more #41 car. We have specialty end caps with retailers featuring than 78 million media impressions. Coverage including cool uses of the product and an interactive website with a top consumer and industry news outlets swept the globe. compatibility tool and videos.” In addition to these marketing “Polaroid launches instant photos for the Digital Age,” writes initiatives, students have presented go-to-market plans for the CameraTown. “Best in show,” the Pioneer Press TwinCities.

Instant Mobile Printer at Miami University of Ohio’s Institute com of the printer said. “Gadget of the day. Polaroid has of Entrepreneurship and Carlson School of Management at the rediscovered its mojo,” from the LA Times. “Product I’m most University of Minnesota. likely to buy,” writes the Orlando Sentinel. “Polaroid’s pocket

SUMMER 2008

COVER STORY

::

POLAROID PoGo™

“Now you’ll see Polaroid in places you’ve never seen it before.”

— JO N PO LL OC K, PO LA RO ID VP AN D GM OF NE W PR OD UC T DE VE LO PM EN T

printer thermal technology opens the way for new era or instant photos,” from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

“It is very fulfilling to receive such positive feedback on the product,” Mitchelides said. “The printer’s ability to raise international interest is a step in the right direction towards reclaiming Polaroid as an innovative company.”

This summer Polaroid will gear up for a major retail launch of the Polaroid PoGo™ Instant Mobile Printer with Best Buy and Target. “After a year and a half engagement with Best Buy, we found the magic their team was looking for and won them over,” Jon Pollock, Polaroid VP and GM of New Product Development said. “We married what the printer would do for the customer with market research and

PRINT AND SHARE. 2x3” borderless, color images in under a minute.

INSTANT MAGIC. Prints without ink using ZINK™ Zero Ink™ Printing Technology from ZINK Imaging.

AS MOBILE AS YOU ARE. Pocket-size, sleek, stylish design.

SEND, PRINT, SHARE. No computer connections needed.

all the buzz from CES and blew them away. Shortly after CES, Best Buy was ready and really excited about the product, noting the new Instant Mobile Printer is exactly what Polaroid means and stands for.” With all the excitement the printer caused at Best Buy, Polaroid will be featured on a year-long end-cap, something unheard of to most products, two training sessions with Best Buy sales associated, as well as unlimited presence online and in the weekly circulars.

Interest has also spawned around featuring the printer in cell phone carrier shops such as T-Mobile and Verizon.

“Traditionally Polaroid has marketed product through major consumer electronics outlets such as Target, Wal-Mart, and Circuit City. Now we are building relationships with cell phone carriers, representing new channels of distribution for Polaroid,” Pollock said. “Now you’ll see Polaroid in places you’ve never seen it before.”

Not only will the digital instant line of products be featured in retailers globally, but it will also play a role in commercial use. “Much of our instant photography revenue over the past decade has been from commercial applications,” explained Pollock. “We will continue to evolve our new digital instant product line to meet the requirements of specific commercial market segments as well.”

Satisfying the needs of consumers and commercial applications alike, the Polaroid PoGo™ Instant Mobile Printer will redefine instant photography for the digital age. Mobile and easy-to-use, the Polaroid PoGo™ Instant Mobile Printer and line of digital instant products will provide a new, innovative way to share photos instantly. The Polaroid Way. PG

For more information, visit www.polaroid.com/pogo.

38

:: P E T T E R S G R O U P

::

LEARNING CENTER

scholarships

The Learning Continues Sun Country and Polaroid Award Scholarships

I

t’s hard to place a price tag on the value of a good education, unless of course you are a parent and then some real numbers impacting the family budget readily come to mind. Sun Country and Polaroid have created foundations to help the children and grandchildren of their employees with

scholarships to support their higher education studies.

Sun Country Foundation In 2004, the Sun Country Foundation was started with a modest goal of funding 5-6 yearly scholarships intended for the children of Sun Country employees. The application clearly indicated need was an important factor but scholastic achievement and community service would also be considered in the award. IRS approval mandated that a committee independent of Sun Country

40

:: P E T T E R S G R O U P

Airlines evaluate the applications, and the first scholarship committee included local Twin Cities professionals from education and ministry. It was intended that funding for the Foundation would come from company profits embellished by an annual golf tournament as the primary fund raiser. The first year, Sun Country Airlines owners primarily funded the Scholarships which were awarded to 6 deserving candidates. Each year since, Sun Country

Foundation has provided between eight to ten $3,000 scholarships annually with total distributions exceeding $100,000.

The 2008 scholarship recipients are: Adam Bledsoe, son of Don Bledsoe, attending Dartmouth College and majoring in Anthropology and Romance Languages; Melissa Buntjer, daughter of Deb Buntjer, attending Concordia College and majoring in Elementary Education; Stephanie Crock,

1. Sun Country recipient Ashley James 2. Sun Country recipient Stephanie Crock 3. Elliott Guetzlaff, Sun Country recipient all 3 years 4. Sun Country recipients Kerstin Hartzler – 2008 winner, Alexis Hartzler – 2006 winner, Vanessa Hartzler – 2007 winner 5. The Sun Country scholarship program introduced Aaron Guetzlaff - 2005 & 2006 winner - to his girlfriend, Alexis Hartzler – 2006 winner 1

3

2

4

daughter of Brad Crock, attending St. Cloud State University and majoring in Broadcast Journalism; Elliott Guetzlaff, son of Marti Guetzlaff, attending University of Minnesota and majoring in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics; Kerstin Hartzler, daughter of Kent Hartzler, attending University of Minnesota and majoring in Pharmacy; Ashley James, daughter of Richard James, attending University of New Hampshire and majoring in Resource Economics and Political Science; David Krieger, son of Paige Krieger, attending St. Mary’s University and majoring in Business English and Journalism; Colleen Krmpotich, daughter of Maureen Krmpotich, attending Holy Cross and majoring in Pre-Med; Emily VanOrt, daughter of Jean VanOrt, attending University of St. Thomas and majoring in Pre-Med and Ryan Wickard, son of Denise Bynes, attending University of St. Thomas and majoring in Marketing Communications.

Polaroid Fund The Polaroid Fund Scholarship Program was established in 1991 in memory of the company’s founder, Edwin H. Land. The program assists the children or grandchildren of Polaroid employees who plan to pursue postsecondary education in college and vocational programs. These scholarships are supported by grants from the Polaroid Fund at the Boston Foundation.

The program is administered by Scholarship Management Services, a department of Scholarship America.

Applicants to the program must be children of Polaroid Corporation employees who are active employees as of the application deadline date. Applicants must also be high school seniors who plan to enroll in a full-time undergraduate course of study at an accredited twoor four-year college, university, or vocationaltechnical school.

5

Applicants are evaluated on several criteria, including academic record, potential to succeed, leadership and participation in school and community activities, honors, work experience, a statement of educational and career goals, and an outside appraisal.

Financial need is not considered. Each year, Scholarship America reviews and selects the scholarship recipients.

The 2008 recipients are – Mary Tino, the daughter of Rick Tino, Manufacturing Director in Enschede, will be attending Bryant & Stratton College to study Paralegal. Daniel Keches, the son of Steve Keches, Shared Services in Concord, will be attending Tufts University to study Engineering.

It is hard to place a price tag on the value of a good education, but through these Foundations the work toward the goal to support the children of employees continues so they may obtain the education of their dreams. PG

SUMMER 2008

::

CORNERSTONES

strategy

The New

Petters Group Worldwide

Miami University Students Work on New Brand

Students Cole Johnston and Anna Rody

PARTNERSHIP REDEFINED As Director of Corporate Communications for Petters Group Worldwide, many of our tools of communication fall under my watch, including the Petters Group website. In September 2007, Tom Petters posed the question: is Petters Group accurately reflected by our website and collateral? As an entrepreneurial company, we are ever changing and, while our website is constantly being updated, it does not completely convey our current message.

Many of the companies within the Petters Group portfolio have utilized our university partners for projects and Petters

42

:: P E T T E R S G R O U P

suggested pursuing a student source with the help of Patty Hamm, EVP of Human Capital and Learning and Penny Locey, Director of Learning and Organizational Development, to find us the right fit for the project. Miami University was the answer and in October, we held our first discussion with the professors, Glenn Platt, Peg Faimon and Michael McCarthy.

The trio decided, for the first time, to combine two classes— Armstrong Interactive and Highwire Brand Studio—to work on the rebranding of Petters Group and to build out a new website and collateral.

Miami University professors Michael McCarthy, Peg Faimon, and Glenn Platt

STUDENT VIEW POINT

BY ALYSSA MAYER When registering for my final senior class at Miami University (Ohio) I knew we were undertaking a redesign of the Petters Group Worldwide website.

I was ecstatic after hearing Tom Petters explain the charge of also re-branding Petters Group Worldwide. Branding is a topic that I am very interested in pursuing after graduation this May, so the opportunity to work with an established company with a strong reputation seemed to be a perfect opportunity to get real world experience while still in the classroom.

The first step our class took was to fully research and understand the Petters Group brand and industry. Research was collected from interviews with internal Petters Group employees and personnel from companies which they partner. With our research, we developed an entirely new brand platform for Petters Group Worldwide. Andrea Miller, Director of Corporate Communications for Petters Group, was available to our class every step of the way, always eager to provide us with any help or tool we needed. Colleen Sarenpa, Intellectual Property Manager for Petters Group, was also very informative by explaining legal issues in branding and development, which we

Daniel Goodwin works with Jordan Lewis

would need in order to understand as we developed and branded the new website.

After developing a new platform, we presented our research and work to Tom Petters and the committee. They gave us feedback and some other ideas before we began working on a tagline. After brainstorming a number of tagline and logo ideas, we finally narrowed our ideas to three logos and two taglines. After more positive feedback, I began to realize that a group of college students could produce work just like a consulting agency.

This project helped me to learn more about myself as a communicator. In classes throughout college, students are taught in large lecture halls, as well as focused classrooms. Along the way, a lot can be lost in learning how to communicate well with classmates. As marketing lead of this project, it was necessary for me to stay in close communication with all of my team members. At times, tasks may have needed to be completed right away, and by remaining in close communication, I never had a problem rallying the troops to complete a task.

Working on the project for Petters Group really helped me improve my communication skills and in turn, my leadership abilities. Opportunities like this consulting project with Petters Group do not come around too often, and working with Petters

Group employees has really put the “real world� into perspective for me.

STUDENT VIEW POINT

BY DANIEL GOODWIN I was excited from the first time I learned about the Petters Group Worldwide project. The more I learned more about the company, the more I realized this company was larger than any of us had imagined, and it was going to be a lot of work. However, we were definitely up to the challenge.

Being in charge of our development team was an interesting experience for me. In the past, I have done similar work but never from a consulting point of view. I typically do these sorts of projects for myself, for a class, or for an employer, but never for a client. To me, the most interesting part about being a consultant (while still being a student) is you get a different kind of respect and responsibility while working on the project.

Petters Group wanted the project to succeed as much as we did, both as a class and as students, and everyone was willing to help out and support us in any way we needed and they respected our ideas. It was also interesting from a consultant point of view that instead of just refreshing the

SUMMER 2008

::

CORNERSTONES

strategy

“Realizing value by providing guidance to strategically relevant partners” —PETTERS GROUP NEW BRAND PLATFORM

website and giving new colors to the existing logo, we were challenged to come up with new, fresh ideas. As long as we were able to back up and justify those ideas, Petters Group was 100% behind what we did.

Another thing I found extremely interesting was actually having a review process for the website design. In the past, I have created websites for my own personal use. As part of the development team and not the design team, I was able to view the review process for the website from a different angle. Instead of looking at the website from a functional perspective, and whether a particular idea was possible, I could look at the designs and really think about how a concept would actually be developed. It was an interesting experience while also being quite challenging and it pushed our development capabilities to new levels.

Lastly, I learned what it was like to be a true leader. In most group projects I have been involved in, there may be a defined “team leader”,

44

:: P E T T E R S G R O U P

but that student was usually in charge of compiling the documents and setting up meeting times.

This project taught me a lot about managing a team, making sure people are getting the necessary resources, keeping people on task, and not just being a bookkeeper. It taught me a lot about my own leadership style as well, and it showed me that I have the capabilities to manage a team effectively to accomplish a set task.

This will definitely be something that I will look back upon in my future and be glad I was apart of it, and glad that I gained these valuable experiences.

PETTERS GROUP WORLDWIDE VIEW POINT BY ANDREA MILLER Even before classes started in January I, had my homework assignments and began gathering information to help the students understand Petters Group. In January, Tom Petters challenged the class to define, “Who is Petters Group?” Marketing,

IT and Graphics teams were created as well as a schedule to accomplish this task by May 1. I could always tell when the students were in class as the emails flew back and forth. It was fun to see their energy building as the completion date drew near.

Thank goodness for video conference and multi-line conference calls, as the technology was extremely helpful in expediting the information al flow. The students gave us great options for a new brand platform, tagline, logo and web design. The challenge on the Petters Group side was to get the decision makers in one place for a discussion in order to give them concise feedback.

For the final presentation, a few of us traveled to Miami University in Oxford, OH, with more joining via video conference in Minnesota. The students definitely had the “wow” factor to their presentation and gave us a very thorough toolkit to move the new Petters Group brand forward.

Pictured above are the new Petters Group logo and home page of our website. You will see the new

::

CORE VALUES

46

:: P E T T E R S G R O U P

execution

Last Brick Placed Petters Group Building Completed

T

he final touches were put on the lobby of the Petters Group Worldwide building in Minnetonka in early May, completing the renovation project

of 4400 Baker Road. The new lobby is over 700 sq. ft. with a 22 foot ceiling height. Two “clouds” over the desk and waiting area hold lighting and sprinklers and soften the sound. Innovative BroadSign technology will be used on a

46” Polaroid LCD television to show videos and news clips

level of the building that was torn down. Over 1000 cubic

about various Petters Group companies. The windows are

yards of dirt were removed in order to make the new entrance

reflective glass that will promote efficiency for cooling. The

and parking lot,” he said. A two level stairway and retaining

floor will be heated with hot water which will make a very

wall attached to the north end of the building was also

comfortable entry.

removed. “Once that was removed a brick fascia was installed

The new conference room on the 3rd floor is also over 700

to cover the exposed surfaces to match the new building. This

sq. ft. and has glass on 3 walls. The 20 foot conference table

also left the outside fire departments, water connection on the

will allow for large groups. Both levels have powered shades

2nd level so we had to lower them to 3 feet from ground level

on the east and west walls.

along with other utilities.” The entrance on the south side of

Tucked underneath the first level is the new record retention room which is accessible from the lower level.

According to John Jordan, Vice President of Facilities, the exterior was a challenge. “The actual entry is on the lower

the building will remain open as an employee only entrance and the temporary reception area will be turned into an office.

Thank you to everyone for being agile during the execution of this last phase of the construction.

PG

SUMMER 2008

::

GALLERY

people and places

1

A Night at the Xcel: Minnesota Offices Skate the Night Away March 12 was a quiet night for the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, but not for the Xcel Energy Center ice. While the Xcel was virtually empty, the ice was open exclusively to Polaroid and Petters Group Worldwide employees and their friends and families for two hours of skate time.

The night melded together two Minnesota staples: hockey and the state fair. Behind the zamboni door, Wildside Catering put together a delicious Minnesota State Fair foods bar including cheese curds, chicken fingers, soft pretzels, hand-spun cotton candy, and warm mini-chocolate chip cookies and milk.

With Polaroid instant cameras in hand, members of the Petters Group Fun Committee slid around the ice snapping instant photos for skaters to keep.

Polaroid generously donated five digital cameras to the Polaroid Puck Hunt – a contest to find five Polaroid hockey pucks around the arena. The zamboni driver even raffled off a ride on the zamboni, won by Jared Danielson’s niece, Bailey Heidleburger.

“It was really cool to skate on the MN Wild ice and sit in the penalty box,” Tyler Danielson, Jared’s son, said. “And the cotton candy was delicious!”

The night at the Xcel was great fun for everyone involved, where the Wild’s rink was home ice to smiles, laughter, prizes, and Minnesota’s brand of winter exercise. And, as hockey fans young and old set skate on the Wild’s home ice, it brought employees from several Petters Group companies together for a night of camaraderie.

Special thanks to the Xcel Energy Center staff and the Petters Group Fun Committee for making the evening’s skating event a frosty success.

[1] Friends and family hit the ice at the Xcel [2] DeAnne Anderson, Executive Assistant to Tom Petters, and her family support the Wild [3] Britt Moore, Polaroid Consumer Electronics Product Service Manager, and his wife skated the night away

48

:: P E T T E R S G R O U P

2

3

1

2

3

BroadSign Dazzles in UK and Vegas

4

February was a very busy month for BroadSign.

First, BroadSign traveled across the pond to London, February 5-6, where they were the Exclusive Headline Sponsor for Screen Expo Europe 2008. Then, they made their way to Las Vegas as a Conference Sponsor for Digital Signage Expo 2008, February 27-28.

For more information on BroadSign and all of their recent events, visit broadsign.com.

[1] Screen Expo Europe 2008; From left to right: Rick Engels, Marie Elamar, Jerome Moeri, Rachel Walker, Veronique Duboit, David Womeldorf, Brian Dusho, Nurlan Urazbaev, Bernard Cadieux [2] BroadSign’s double-decker booth in Olympia National Hall, London [3] 20 employees manned this double-decker structure in the Las Vegas Convention Center [4] The ribbon cutting ceremony at the Digital Signage Expo in Las Vegas

SUMMER 2008

::

GALLERY

people and places

1

2

Polaroid Wins Big in Las Vegas The International Consumer Electronics Show is America’s largest annual tradeshow and the world’s largest annual tradeshow for consumer technology and Polaroid was there to showcase new technology products and enhanced offerings for 2008.

[1] The main entrance to the Polaroid booth [2] Jon Pollock gives an interview showcasing Freescape products [3] The digital imaging area (L to R: Todd Buelow, Zak Kroschel, Michelle Montazeri) [4] A demonstration of the My Memories Suite software by Polaroid [5] The Freescape display with TV, DEC, and Wireless Photo Frame [6] An assortment of new LCD TV packaging

50

:: P E T T E R S G R O U P

3

4

The Media: There was a notable buzz surrounding Polaroid for all four days at CES. Over 35 product demonstrations were given for the Freescape Digital Media Exchange and over 75 for the Digital Mobile Printer. Polaroid also showcased the complete digital assortment from SD cards to 50” HD LCD TVs. Media coverage included top consumer and industry news outlets like MSNBC, Fox News, ABC, CNN, USA Today, the San Francisco Chronicle, LA Times, CNET, Newsweek, Popular Science and many more. Polaroid garnered more than 600 print, broadcast and online hits, totaling more than 78 million impressions.

5

About International CES 2008:

Highlights:

January 7-11 at the Las Vegas Convention Center

“Polaroid launches instant photos for the Digital Age” –CameraTown

1.8 million square feet

“Best in show.”

–Pioneer Press TwinCities.com

of exhibit space showcases products from

2700 companies

More than 140,000 people attend the show and represent

140 countries

300 expert speakers present on hot industry trends and topics

The Polaroid Booth: 7,000 square feet 9 conference rooms 3 Private NDA rooms

“Gadget of the day. Polaroid has rediscovered its mojo.” –LA Times

6

“Product I’m most likely to buy.”

–Orlando Sentinel “Polaroid’s pocket printer thermal technology opens the way for new era of instant photos.”

–South Florida Sun-Sentinel

SUMMER 2008

AD

THE PETTERS GROUP MATRIX BROADSIGN 4400 Baker Road Minnetonka, MN 55343 1055 Beaver Hall, Suite 200 Montreal, Quebec H2Z 1S8 Canada www.broadsign.com BUSINESS IMPACT MARKETING GROUP 18760 Lake Drive East Chanhassen, MN 55317 www.impactgroup.us COLLEGEVILLE DEVELOPMENT GROUP 1015 West St. Germain Suite 340 St. Cloud, MN 56301 www.collegevillecommunities.com ELEMENT ELECTRONICS 4400 Baker Road Minnetonka, MN 55343 www.elementelectronics. com FINGERHUT DIRECT MARKETING 7777 Golden Triangle Drive Eden Prairie, MN 55344 www.fingerhut.com FINGERHUT FULFILLMENT 6250 Ridgewood Road St. Cloud, MN 56303 www.fingerhut.com INFINITE POWER SOLUTIONS 14998 West Sixth Avenue Building E, Suite 600 Golden, CO 80401 www.infinitepowersolutions.com JOHN T. PETTERS FOUNDATION 4400 Baker Road Minnetonka, MN 55343 www.johntpettersfoundation.org

JUICE MEDIA GROUP 7860 Mission Center Court Suite 201 San Diego, CA 92108 www.juicemetriqs.com METROPOLITAN MEDIA GROUP 5001 American Blvd. W. Suite 400 Bloomington, MN 55437 www.metmediagroup.com PETTERS AVIATION 2005 Cargo Road Minneapolis, MN 55450 www.pettersgroup.com PETTERS CAPITAL Flagler Center Tower 505 S. Flagler Drive Suite 700 West Palm Beach, FL 33401 www.pettersgroup.com PETTERS GLOBAL LEARNING AND PETTERS EDUCASION 4400 Baker Road Minnetonka, MN 55343 655 3rd Avenue at 42nd Street 20th Floor New York, NY 10017 www.petterslearning.com PETTERS MEDIA AND MARKETING GROUP 4400 Baker Road Minnetonka, MN 55343 www.pettersgroup.com PETTERS REAL ESTATE GROUP 4400 Baker Road Minnetonka, MN 55343 Flagler Center Tower 505 S. Flagler Drive Suite 700 West Palm Beach, FL 33401 www.pettersrealestate.com

PETTERS WAREHOUSE DIRECT (CORPORATE) 4400 Baker Road Minnetonka, MN 55343 www.petterswarehouse. com

WIDEBLUE Vale of Leven Industrial Estate Dumbarton, Scotland G82 3PW www.wide-blue.com

PETTERS WAREHOUSE (STORES) Mall of America North Garden Level 3 (N356) Bloomington, MN 55425

YES VIDEO 3281 Scott Blvd.

Santa Clara, CA 95054 www.yesvideo.com

Moundsview Square 2537 Hwy 10 West Moundsview, MN 55112 Waite Park / St. Cloud 306 2nd Street Quad Waite Park, MN 56387 www.petterswarehouse. com POLAROID 4400 Baker Road Minnetonka, MN 55343

YFLY 4400 Baker Road Minnetonka, MN 55343 www.yfly.com ZINK IMAGING 16 Crosby Drive Bedford, MA 01730 6900 Konica Drive Whitsett, NC 27377 www.zink.com Companies Petters Group invests or owns

300 Baker Avenue Concord, MA 01742 www.polaroid.com SUN COUNTRY AIRLINES 1300 Mendota Heights Rd Mendota Heights, MN 55120 www.suncountry.com TAM O’SHANTER LODGE & CONFERENCE CENTER 89405 Jack Pine Trail Cornucopia, WI 54827 www.tamoshanterlodge. com TRIO MARKETING 4400 Baker Road Minnetonka, MN 55343 www.tmimn.com UBID 8725 W. Higgins 9th Floor Chicago, IL 60631 www.ubid.com

SUMMER 2008

::

REALITY BYTES

adam arthur

Adam Arthur COO – Petters EducAsian

WHAT IS YOUR BEST PETTERS GROUP MEMORY?

A Focus group with summer interns discussing their study abroad experiences from around the world. They were young, energetic, and very engaging with well-grounded global perspectives.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ELECTRONIC GADGET? I’m pretty in love with my HTC Dopod PDA cell phone! It’s like my third arm! Good luck trying to pry my Nano and new GPS out of my hands too!

WHAT WAS THE LATEST DESTINATION ON YOUR VACATION LIST? Last actual vacation was with my wife backpacking over land from southwest China into Laos. After some pretty rough travel through Laos, we chilled for a couple of weeks in Bali. (Did I mention how awesome the spas in Ubud are?)

WHAT WOULD YOUR WIFE SAY IS YOUR WORST HABIT? Because I’m just SO smart, I always know what she’s going to say so I finish her sentences (and I’m always wrong because that’s NOT what she was going to say)!

For more information, visit petterslearning.com

54

:: P E T T E R S G R O U P

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEAL? Corned-beef on rye from Katz’s Deli on New York’s Lower East Side with mustard, a side of coleslaw and pickles, and don’t forget the cream soda!

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM CAR AND WHY? The 1975-77 International Scout II! It’s the original 4x4 SUV; doors and top all came off. Add a bit of a lift, some nice tires, crank up the Hendrix and Led Zeppelin and i’ts just too cool for words!

IF YOU COULD DO ANYTHING FOR A JOB, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I think I’m doing it right now! I do see bookstore/coffee house in the future though.

HOW DO YOUR FRIENDS DESCRIBE YOU? Idea Man! Too many ideas all the time and 99.9% of them are REALLY stupid!