ET sighting – and he’s not phoning home

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SJF’s very own November inside sales champ Eric Thovson (right) shown here with classmate Mark Karsten talking some smack & posing for photos this past weekend. Eric and Mark posted times of 27.84 & 27.95 respectfully. Not bad for 2 of the oldest swimmers at the meet.

Eric has long been very passionate about promoting the local swim team and has been instrumental in the success of the current program. When he’s not promoting swimming, Eric can be found at SJF Material Handling in Winsted, MN. There he works as a inside sales & solutions specialist. No stranger to success, November was a record sales month for Eric and good enough to secure the #1 rank honors among his peers.

So what’s next for Eric “ET” Thovson?
Could an Eric Moen swim challenge be in the cards for 2015?

SJF Presents Rusty Iron Chef – French Toast

Rusty Iron Chef - Part 3

Our Friday morning cooking crew has returned with yet another gripping episode of Rusty Iron Chef. This time, Master Chef Vance Haugen and Sous Chef Jim Sinz put their talents to work making french toast and bacon for the hungry SJF office team.  As a bonus – Vance shares his special homemade syrup, and Jim teaches us how to make another delicious topping.  Will they pull it off?

SJF Presents – Rusty Iron Chef – Part I

Rusty Iron Chef - Part 1

We recently thought it’d be fun to show you how our sales staff stays motivated on a Friday.  Our very own “Rusty Iron Chef” Vance Haugen hows us how to keep the troops happy and well-fed with his take on scrambled eggs.

This Friday tradition has been happening now for some time, and Vance, Jason and Jim decided to give it the “Iron Chef” treatment.  Watch now, as Vance begins to whip up some delicious breakfast for the SJF staff.

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SJF Takes the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge!

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Yesterday, Sam Sterner accepted the ALS #IceBucketChallenge.  He subsequently challenged the SJF Sales Staff, and being as there are so many of them involved, we had to break out the skid loader to make sure everybody got a piece of the action.

Check out the video after the jump.

Employee Spotlight – Vance Haugen

Vance HaugenWell, it’s finally happened – our employee spotlight has shone its beam into the deep and dark world of our sales department. No matter the risk to body and soul, your intrepid reporter will brave this chasm of depravity and malfeasance* to bring you ever closer to understanding the people who make SJF tick.

Today, we get to meet Vance Haugen. Vance would be considered one of the elder statesmen of the sales department, having been here since 2007. Let’s learn a little more about Vance Haugen and what drives him to be one of SJF’s top-notch solutions specialists.

*It has been brought to my attention that not everybody would take this as the joke that it is. I truly like and admire all of my coworkers, but it’s always fun to give them a bit of a hard time – especially the sales guys.


Name: Vance Haugen

When did you start working at SJF? April, 2007

What do you like most about working at SJF? Working with my associates.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at work? Golfing and spending time with my grandchildren.

What’s your favorite day of the week? Friday.

Biggest pet peeve? When I’m supposed to be somewhere and other people are holding me up.

What is something about you that people would be surprised to know? I enjoy cooking.

After Work Trap Shooting

Jason Deiter Trapshooting

Atlas Clay Pigeon ThrowerSJF just acquired an Olympic quality clay pigeon launcher so that we could offer employees the opportunity to burn off some stress after work by doing a little target shooting.  The idea originally came about when a group of employees expressed in interest in shooting clays. Recently, SJF had the opportunity to purchase this high quality clay thrower and decided to start a friendly bi-weekly target shooting club.

Loading Clay PigeonsThis past week saw SJF’s employees getting together after hours to break in the new Atlas clay pigeon machine. Needless to say, there was no lack of verbal taunting during the inaugural event. By the time the sun started to set, several challenges were made and accepted which will (of course) need to be settled in the weeks ahead. Stay tuned for more updates and photos.

Shown left, Dave Kieper brings more clay targets for the new Atlas thrower.

SJF Hires Three New Solutions Specialists

Eric Thovson, James Sinz, Thomas Moore

After an exhaustive search, SJF Material Handling (Winsted, MN) has hired three new solutions specialists (sales staff).  These three are stepping into some pretty big shoes that were recently vacated by a couple of other very prolific sales staff.  We sincerely wish them all the best and are looking forward to seeing what new skills and talents they can add to our growing family at SJF.

Eric Thovson comes to us with an auto sales and marketing background, and is very active in his community.

Thomas Moore has previous experience selling Skid Loaders and Compact Mini Skid Loaders and enjoys working with his cattle on his farm.

If you call in and talk w/one of these gentlemen, please welcome them, and wish them luck in this new endeavor.