Wisconsin AFS Regional Milwaukee Day I

One of the great perks of working with Synchro32 is that I get to attend the majority of the trade shows and expos in North America and hopefully Australia this year! I don't mind the occassional travel as it gets me out of the office and these foundry/metalcasting shows are really mini reunions as I get to catch up with my friends and customers in the foundry industry. The foundry and metalcasting industry is a small close knit fraternity. In fact, last night I got to have an outstanding rib dinner with Dave Schmidt of Finite Solutions www.finitesolutions.com at a local brew pub. The meat just fell off the bone. I met Dave last year during the brutally cold expo. What a difference a year makes. Dave won't be at this years show, but caught up with me anyway. It's always nice to have someone to do dinner with. I'll catch up with Dave again next month in Seattle, then Las Vegas, Australia, and Indianapolis. Foundry shows are like a circuit. Normally, Synchro32 has two team members at the show, but business is so good that it's all hands on deck and I'll be doing the shows solo.

Synchro32 customers are finding this economic blip a good time for refresher training, learning new modules, and getting new reports created. Additionally, new customers are coming on board as going with Synchro32 is a natural decision in that it does not require a capitol expenditure and during a slow down there is more time for installation and training. Synchro32 knows metalcasting and is installed worldwide. Metalcasting is all we do and we do it very well. The Synchro32 software is 2nd to none in terms of it's functionality, support, and price.

Last year, it was -14f or -25.6c, and there was a major winter blizzard that literally paralyzed Milwaukee. I was delayed by a full day getting to Milwaukee and ended up in Minneapolis for a night. Burr. The wind was howling and there was a wind chill -40f or -40c. Burr. On top of that, I had a case of bronchitis. The show was pretty much a disaster as Synchro32 only came away with one interested visitor to the booth. This year, things should be much better! Milwaukee is actually in the middle of a heat wave and a record high temp was set yesterday. There is virtually no snow anywhere, except in the shadows, and it is short pant weather.

I'm currently at a local hotel doing Synchro32 work and will go to the Pfister Hotel shortly to beging the process of setting up the booth. Even while on the road, Synchro32 is hard at work supporting our customers and working on landing new customers. It's all a team effort and Synchro32 is the best team around.

I'm going to be updating my blog this week with day-by-day pictures of the show. These pictures are from yesterday, Feb 10th, when I flew from IAH, Houston, to Milwaukee.

This picture is of me driving to the Houston airport. Even though I have logged many miles in the air, there is still excitement about getting to "fly through the air". Even with all the security hassles in the post 9/11 world, it is still enjoyable. Having Continentals Silver Elite status is nice too - priority security boarding, checking two bags for free, and priority seating are nice perks that make travel just a little bit easier. I've also found that always traveling with a passport makes it easier too - plus I never know when I might be beckoned out of the country.

Haven't you ever dreamed about just showing up to the airport with no schedule, looking at the flight board, and say "lets go there" and get your ticket and "come fly away with me".

A sign of the times...

Took a small Embraer ERJ jet to Milwaukee - very cramped inside - fortunately it was only a 1/2 full flight and I had a row to myself. Ended up having to check my laptop bag as it wouldn't fit anywhere.