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Today's Featured Biography

 
Mike J Sanko

After graduation I got my degree in Business Administration and Management and continued to work in the field of furniture and bedding. I had worked for Golden Valley Furniture in Golden Valley since 1959, starting there when I was just 15. They were a great influence and mentor in helping me to learn a trade and avocation that I really enjoyed. They also made it possible for me to work while going to school so that I was able to pay the entire cost of my schooling by myself. In 1967 I left Golden Valley Furniture and went to work with the Spring Air Mattress Company in Minneapolis. I started as the Supervisor in charge of government contracts, which at that time was the making of thousands of mattresses for the US Government for use in the war in Vietnam. From there, I went into sales and was appointed their General Manager in 1973. One of my biggest assignments as the new GM was to manage the building of a new manufacturing plant in Chaska, MN. This was the oldest bedding manufacturing plant in Minnesota, having manufactured in Minneapolis for 100 years. I moved the company into the new facility in 1976, which was coincidentally the same year as the U.S. bicentennial. The company was half as old as the US itself!

In 1979, I left Spring Air to start Minnesota Foam & Products Co., my own manufacturing company in Crystal, MN. There was no company or business that I bought so I had to build everything from the ground up. I was very fortunate to make it work, and this year I will be celebrating my 34th year in business! When I look at all the big companies that are gone and others that have nearly failed, like Chrysler, the Wall Street banks and General Motors, etc., I wonder how we have been able to make it for this many years! The only thing I do know for sure is that Uncle Sam never gave us any “bail out money”. We had to earn ours on our own! This year also marks my 53rd year in the furniture and mattress industry.

In addition to still working, I have managed to keep up playing music and my bass horn with many bands around the state. I stayed with the Robbinsdale City Band for 35 years as a musician, drum major and Marching Director. I have also played in Edina’s First John Philip Sousa Memorial Band for the last 17 years. In addition, for the last 18 years I have been in charge of all the entertainment and music for the Gilfillan Historic Farmstead in Morgan, MN, which hosts the largest Farm Fest Show in the country. Add to that playing in several old time bands, polka masses, October fests, dance bands, etc. – it keeps my lip in good shape!

My wife, Ellen, and I have 4 grown children: Carrie (1971), Douglas (1975), Kimbra (1977) and Krissan (1981). For a while we had only 1 grandchild, but then it seemed to turn into a competition and now we have 10! In more quiet times we also enjoy collecting, going antiquing, traveling with our motor home and volunteering. I think retirement could be getting closer!

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