This morning we visited Sailor Plastics in Adrian. Sailor Plastics started in 1950 when Bob Sailor moved to Adrian to operate an egg business for Safeway grocery store. Being aware of a need for plastic buckets at Morrell meat processing, Bob ventured in to the plastic packaging business expanding to ice cream pails for Blue Bunny and Schwan's and finally creating water and Honey bear bottles. Today Adrian Plastics creates over 560 products.

In 2014, Lorin Krueger was looking for a new investment business. After many years of starting businesses of control systems including alarm systems for hog confinement building, select bed controls for Sleep Numbers, controls for fishing motors and an indirect purchasing consultant business called Supply Tiger. Lorin reached out to his network to assist in his search. His network included a few people from Adrian who made him aware of Sailor Plastics. Having some knowledge of the packaging business and being impressed by the community, Lorin purchased the business.

Lorin spoke to the group about the importance of working capital, building your network, taking risks, being aware of what is happening in the world, the value of AI in today's society, and making your employees your #1 priority.

Thank you for hosting the SWMN CEO young professionals and sharing your story and knowledge of the business world.