Only 96 Days Until Crazylegs

Mark your calendars for April 28th!

Returning and new Team Supreme members, in celebration of our 20th Anniversary in business, we’re planning to run harder and kick-up the post-race celebration this year.

Stay tuned for more details and training tips coming your way soon.

Dan

Team Supreme – healthy business, healthy community

A Living Legacy

Thysse Printing Service’s roots run deep in this area.  With over 70 years of printing experience, this third generation family-owned business broke ground for a new foundation in the Village of Oregon’s Alpine Business Park.

Tight timelines, limited budgets and a difficult economy motivated owner Jason Thysse, grandson of Thysse Printing founder John J. Thysse, to think differently about customer service, and the company is growing because of it.

Taking a very active role in maintaining their current customer relationships, while reaching out to potential new clients, has kept the business growing.  With the expansion to the Village of Oregon, they will more-than triple the size of their current headquarters.

“The goal for us is to keep as much in-house as we can and send very little out,” Thysse said.  To accomplish that, Thysse Printing will add room for finishing work like binding, gluing and folding.  This allows for more control over timelines, budgets and quality.

(l to r) Steve Peotter, President/CEO of Oregon Community Bank, Dan Bertler, Owner Supreme Structures and Jason Thysse

Like Thysse we understand the challenges of building a local, multi-generational, family-owned business and we share their ties to the Oregon community.  Ties that recently helped our team complete a renovation of the high school concessions stand through our community giving initiative.

Our community is strong and we’re committed to helping bring quality commercial development to the village.

Village officials actively recruited for Thysse to build in Oregon and the new headquarters is scheduled to open this spring with 19 employees, including three or four new jobs.

Bright Lights, Big City

The New York City Marathon showcases the global running community.

On November 6th, my brothers and I ran in honor of our parents, Eugene and Leila Bertler to benefit the Thomas G. Labrecque Foundation, which funds cancer research worldwide.

Both my parents lost battles with lung cancer at an early age. The foundation and their research partners are working toward early detection methods that will diagnose lung cancer in Stage I or Stage II, when the five-year survival rate is 70% to 80%!

Today, the American Cancer Society is marking the 36th Great American Smokeout by encouraging smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit smoking.  While my mother never smoked a day in her life, we want to encourage everyone to take the first step to eliminating lung cancer.

I’ve said this before but it is amazing when people from all walks of life come together to encourage others to achieve the same goal.

Thank you to all my friends and partners in business that helped by supporting the foundation.  It was an exceptional experience that I’m proud to have been a part of.

Based on our family experience, I’ve come to appreciate the moment and want to encourage everyone to get out there.  Now is the time, whether you want to start building your physical strength or business, life is short.  Get started today.

All the best,

Dan

The Mini-Apprentice

Sarah Solomon of Madison took her first steps toward a potential career in construction at the Madison Children’s Museum this week when she helped Dennis Wildes, Supreme Structures Field Superintendent, build a new playhouse.

She might be a little young but our nation needs more skilled workers.  According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 6.9 million Americans are in construction and by 2012, it is estimated that the construction industry is expected to reach an employment level of nearly 7.8 million people.

This week, the Children’s Museum celebrates Careers in Construction Week sponsored by Supreme Structures with hands-on experiences. The special occasion is dedicated to the men and women who help build our future and features big equipment, concrete creations and pint-sized wood construction projects.

Events run all week with additional details available at www.madisonchildrensmuseum.org.

The spark of excitement I saw when Maddov Boado got to hold the tools of our trade reminded me of all the best reasons why we work in this industry.

Dan

Top 3 Signs of Quality

Quality in our industry starts simply with:

1.      Communication.  Returning phone calls and fully understanding the scope of work and owner expectations upfront is fundamental.

2.      Discipline.  The demands of project management, job safety and controlling costs require a disciplined approach with built-in checks.

3.      Selection.  Working with time-tested subcontractors and materials that stand-up to the demands of commercial use are essential.

Tell us how you define quality and what businesses in our community really measure-up in your eyes?

Our greatest measure of success comes from knowing the quality we put in upfront repeatedly offers owners a return on investment over the life of a successful commercial business.

Watch for more details coming soon on the newly completed VA build featured here.  We’re proud to have the opportunity to work on such mission critical projects.

Sincerely,

Dan

Congratulations to our Facebook Photo Contest Winner!

From Vatersay, Scotland to the Eastern coast of South Korea, Glacier National Park, Stone Mountain Georgia, Challenge Roth in Germany to our own backyards Team Supremer’s got it done this summer.

I thank everyone that took part in our Facebook photo contest.  We challenged you to get out there and you did.

 Congratulations Karen Trieloff.  You’ve won an iPod Touch.

This fall, I’ll be sporting my Team Supreme shirt while running in the 2011 New York City Marathon.  If you reach a personal best or exceed a professional milestone share it on our Facebook page.  Team Supreme represents the best in work and play.

Health, happiness and hard work,

Dan

Watch for more details coming soon on the next big Team Supreme challenge.

One “Thank You” at a Time

With the help of one small bit of advice, I completed my first Ironman last week.

Right before the event, when nerves run high, Scott Yeomans said to me, “Enjoy every moment and thank every volunteer.”  Little did I know how that would lead me to the finish line.

The swim literally kicked off my quest.  When I rounded the second buoy of the 2.4 mile leg, I got nailed in the face by the kick of another swimmer.

As soon as I emerged from the water two dynamite volunteers started helping me out of my wetsuit.  I said, “Thank you.” And the girl looked me straight in the eye and said, “No, thank you for letting me be a part of helping you become an Ironman today.”  I was truly taken back by her sincere commitment to helping me achieve my goal.  And that was just the beginning.

Two words, 140.6 miles and an experience of a lifetime.

My time?

13:00.52

Would I do it again?

Absolutely, in a heartbeat.

Lessons learned?

It is amazing when people from all walks of life come together to encourage others to achieve the same goal.  I’ve also come to appreciate the moment and want to encourage everyone to get out there.

So start small…consider joining Team Supreme at the Make-A-Wish Walk/Run for Wishes next Sunday (September 25th).  You can register on the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin site.

One last thing…remember the Team Supreme photo contest to win an Apple iPod Touch ends next Sunday, September 25th.

Whether walking the mall, hiking, camping, biking, running a marathon or competing in a triathlon, I challenge all of you to get out there in your current or vintage Team Supreme shirt and upload or tag your photos to our Facebook page.

Thank you,

Dan

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