February 25, 2009
The Program will be Chef Benjamin Grice & Colleen Hatten speaking on Mahomet’s Newest Business.“. Jay Yost will have the Thought for the Day & Stephen Philbrook is the Greeter! As the newest member this is an opportunity for him to get up early and meet all of the members!
LAST WEEKS PROGRAM—DOUG POE OF BAREFOOT LIZARD INC & LEGENDARY INNOVATIONS!”
Doug Poe—Mahomet Entrepreneur
Liz Jones introduced Doug & Angie Poe, local entrepreneurs who own Barefoot Lizard (A Product Development Consulting Firm) and Legendary Innovations (Motorcycle Trailers). Liz explained that entrepreneurs are people that do things we don’t know about, yet they are always working and always thinking….making things happen!
Doug & Angie Poe are both from Gibson City and were high school sweethearts. They are both University of Illinois graduates and have two daughters…Courtney at Illinois State University and Ashley at the University of Illinois. They have lived in Mahomet for the past ten years.
Early in their careers they had several life goals and although they may have seemed impossible at the time…..all have been met:
1. Work for themselves
2. Gain Millionaire status
3. Own a log cabin
4. Live on a mountain
5. Retire at 40
6. Pay for the kid’s college
“Why am I here?” And “What am I going to talk about?” These were the first two questions from Doug Poe. He did some research to find out more about Rotary and he was at our meeting because of a diabolical plot between Angie and Liz. Although he claimed not to be a professional speaker, he led us through his career moves and he told us “what makes him ‘tick’”.
His emphasis at the University of Illinois was Product Design & Development. A major challenge on graduation was to give up his college job at Kraft of $12/hr and benefits to work in his field for $6.75! This first job was in designing automotive accessories with Flex-n-Gate. After getting his feet wet in this industry, it led to further jobs in the design of plastic containers and helmets.
One of his employers was Pro-Tec who was a market innovation leader, but not a market leader in helmets. The first thing he learned when he joined the company was that they had no suppliers and they were trying to downsize to become more attractive for being an IPO. He was asked to develop a business plan for success. After repeated lack of success in selling the company, he was asked to buy it at a “ridiculously low price”. He did that and through a lot of hard work and too many trips to China, brought the company from sales of about $200,000 to $18,000,000. He was given an offer from a cash rich competitor to sell in 2002 for a “ridiculously high price”!
This was the start of a short lived retirement to the banks of the Sangamon River, so the Poe’s developed their Product Development and Design consulting operations.
Another opportunity came in the chance to buy Legendary Innovations that produces American Legend motorcycle trailers. This business is located just south of the Hideaway at the corner of I-74 and Prairieview Road. They build these trailers from components manufactured by several suppliers. The factory is for assembly and shipping to dealers and customers from all over the world.
A review of the Poe’s six goals is in order. They definitely work for themselves and early in life gained millionaire status. They do have a log home on the banks of the Sangamon River (This is as close as you can get to a mountain in Champaign County!). He did retire by 40….but it did not “stick” and that goal was revised to be “retire at 60”. (Busy minds like his never really can retire!). The last goal is not complete since the Poe girls are still in college, but they are following the guidelines of the parents to work while studying.
Many thanks to the Poe’s for an interesting success story! Now….one or both should be stopping to share “Service Above Self” with us each Wednesday morning!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST WEEKS MEETING
Cynthia Halverson—In Charge!
President-elect Cynthia Halverson filled in as President today and received the praise of all the members for her leadership….she forgot the “song for the day”!
Stephen Philbrook was at the meeting earlier than usual to be our greeter. Steve Ziegler’s Thought for the Day was
“It has long been a grave question whether any government, not too strong for the liberties of its people, can be strong enough to maintain its own excellence in great emergencies! A. Lincoln after Re-election Nov. 10, 1864
Angie & Doug Poe
Our guests for the day were Angie & Doug Poe.
Future Programs
Monthly program chairs, please let President Debra and Ken Ingold know when you have identified programs.
Announcements
· Cynthia Halverson announced that our club received a Cardinal Grant for the Helping Hands.
· She is also working with Mary Vita Rosmarino in executing the District Simplified Grant to develop a reading center at the Mahomet Area Youth Club!
Bucket Bucks
Bucket Bucks for this month are slated for Helping Hands. Mark Kesler gave us a reading from the Gospel According to St. Titleist. Stephen Philbrook came through with his best joke yet! Cindy Guthrie is presenting a business development workshop at Parkland College tomorrow. Lynn Schmit celebrated Pete’s birthday this week. Mary Weisiger says that a web cam is a fantastic way to communicate. Nancy Domagala read a note from Ron where he once again is pushing for “Bob Morrison for Senator”. Mell Smigielski was in Wisconsin last weekend. Just as it looked like the snow was gone…..it snowed again!
Program Chairs
March--- Cynthia Halverson & June Holmes
April—Lisa Keating & Debe Williams
May-- Mark Kesler &
June---Mell Smigielski & Jeff Fago
Meeting Assignments
Date Thought Greeting
Mar 4 M. Smigielski R. O’Malley
Mar 11 Lisa Keating R. O’Malley
Mar 18 John Alumbaugh C. Born
Mar 25 Camille. Born D. Bosworth
Apr 1 Doug Bosworth N. Domagala
LIVE THE ROTARY FOUR WAY TEST EVERY DAY!
Rotary Meeting Opportunities—Did you miss a meeting of Mahomet Rotary? It is always a great experience to visit one of the Rotary clubs around the world. Here are some local Rotary clubs where they will be happy to welcome you!
Monday— Danville, Days Inn, 12:00 noon • Decatur, Decatur Club, 12:00 noon Champaign, Hawthorn Suites, Vang, Norway, 6 pm Scandic Hotel, Hamar
Tuesday — Bloomington-Normal Sunrise, Eastland Suites, 6:45 a.m. • 12:00 noon • Rantoul, Caddyshack/Willow Pond Banquet Center, 7:00 a.m. • Tuscola, Jarman Center, 12:00 noon • Urbana, Urbana Country Club, 12:00 noon; Pella, Iowa, Noon, Pella Country Club
Wednesday — Bloomington-Normal Sunset, National City Bank, Normal), 5:00 p.m. Champaign West, Round Barn Center, 12:00 noon • Gibson City, Percfection Coffee House, Monticello, Community Building, 12:05 p.m. • Normal, Bone Student Center, ISU, 12:00 noon; Catanduvas, Brazil, 8 pm, Casa da Amizade
Thursday — Arcola, Dutch Kitchen, 7:15 a.m. • Bloomington, Elks Club, 12:00 noon Champaign—Illini After 5, Kennedy’s, 5:15 p.m. • Champaign-Urbana Sunrise, Hawthorne Suites 6:45 a.m. • Danville Sunrise, Days Inn, 7:00 a.m. • Decatur Metropolitan, Decatur Club • Jax, 12:00 noon • Savoy, Windsor of Savoy, 12:00 noon; Port Adelaide, Australia, Port Dock Brewery Hotel, Noon
Friday Best, The Netherlands, Friday Best Hotel Noon
DON’T WORRY ABOUT YOUR INVESTMENTS!