Snapshot ©iStockphoto.com/Tryfonov Ievgenii, nicholas belton
Alex Melnikow Midstate Spring Name: Alex Melnikow. Company name and city: Midstate Spring, Syracuse, New York. Brief history of your company: Our company has its roots in World War II. We recently moved into our third generation of family ownership following my grandfather (Paul H. Bernet) who purchased the company from the founder, and my father (Walter Melnikow) and uncle (Paul S. Bernet) who grew it through the second generation. Job title: President. Family (spouse, children, pets, etc.): My wife, Fanny, and I didn’t know if we could handle a dog, so we decided to have a couple of boys, Elliot, 4 and Oliver, 2, instead.
The Melnikow family (l-to-r): Alex, Elliott, Fanny and Oliver.
Gathering, watching esports and being a self-proclaimed foodie.
What I like most about being a springmaker: Springmaking requires such a wide range of skillsets and personalities that necessitates a team approach. I enjoy being on a team, and trying to maximize my strengths to make the whole team better, while having my weaknesses minimized by the strengths of others.
Favorite places: Home, Barcelona and New York City.
Favorite food: I think food is a great cultural connection to the world. I enjoy many cuisines, though my absolute favorite dishes tend to have a nostalgic connection to my childhood like my grandmother’s borscht, blini and maultaschen.
The one thing I can’t stand is: Not having a reason for doing something a certain way.
Hobbies: Now: Quarantining with the family. Before: Poker, Magic: The
I knew I was an “adult” when: When I delivered a eulogy for a friend my age.
72 / SPRINGS / Spring 2020
Best times of my life: Laying down relaxing outside in sunny and slightly too warm weather. A really great evening to me is: Dinner with my wife at a new restaurant we have looked forward to trying.
My most outstanding qualities are: Loyalty, analytical ability and a wry sense of humor.
If I weren’t working at Midstate, I would like to: Return to playing poker professionally and move to a Spanish speaking country with my kids for a few years. I would like to be remembered in the spring industry for: Having Midstate sustain and be a better company and place to work at 100 years than it was at 75. But people will probably remember me for: Spreadsheets.
