Jon Hersey - Fly Fisherman | Page 8

Holstein, Great Ed Books owner, unlike
some accounting types, he is looking for something "fresh, new, exciting,
different, and interesting." Great Ed Books has grown 4% a year for past 10
years. Gary is the author of the original plan that received a beating yesterday
morning, but Gary does not care about the beating - "it was a plan that started
the discussion." He is "ready to go" : - his $2M startup cash is "set aside", -
Internet addition "sealed the deal" for him, - getting the right assembly /
distribution company is important, - wants to be the "accounting and finance guy"
because he can "watch out for his money", - not interested in CEO / President
position, - worked with Janice at American Sports Equipment, a fortune 500
company, where she was VP of Operations and he was VP of Finance, - thinks
Janice is the CEO type because of the "growth she has orchestrated" with her
company. His grandpa taught him fly fishing.

Janice Anderson, Home Testing Labs owner, is "in this deal for the payout when
we sell the company." If this deal "falls apart" then she will "start a fly fishing
school for women in the Jackson Hole area." Her experience is: - working at the
family appliance store, - manufacturing and distribution at American Sports
Equipment, - a custom wood mantle shop that was a start-up with a boy friend, -
then purchased Home Testing Labs from her father's retiring army buddy. She
wants to oversee the operations and distribution so she can "manage the costs /
waste" through some manufacturing system. Jon asked how she would manage
costs ... She pulled two sheets of paper out of her backpack titled "Operations
Plan for FFWG" ... 20 minutes later Jon asked if she would be interested in the
CEO position; Janice's response - "under the right conditions." Her $2M is in
investments and would take a few weeks to "gather it all together." "I love the
Internet addition!" Janice knows Howie, who was a "fishing buddy of the mantle
boy friend." Her dad taught her to fly fish at age nine.

Carl Walden, owner and founder of CW Manufacturers Imports, is the oldest
member of FFWG. He enjoys the teasing when called "Dad" or "the old guy".
Despite his age Carl is the most active, has the highest energy, and probably in
the best physical condition of the group. Carl is an ex-Marine and had asked if
Jon was a veteran. His love for cooking inspired him to import kitchen utensils,
then kitchen ware, and later added housewares. Carl likes to "solve the
impossible". He will need to sell some property and investments to "anty up" his
portion of the start-up money. Thinks his contribution to FFWG is "watching
inventory to make sure we buy the right stuff at the right time." Carl learned of
FFWG from his banker, whose brother was the banker for Gary. He was the first
kid in his scout troop to earn a fly fishing merit badge.

Carl met Mark "about 15 years ago at a power services convention" - Mark
worked for Indiana Power Resources - Carl worked for Ohio Energy and Water -
met at the American Power Grid conference in Chicago. They were in the
QuickWedge booth signing up for a fly rod drawing. Mark started joking with Carl
about bribing the exhibitor to rig the drawing. After a couple minutes of trying to

out-joke the other, they sat down at a hospitality booth for some coffee. An
instant friendship sparked their annual fly fishing trips, Christmas cards, birthday
cards, and an occasional conference. Carl had drifted off subject to discuss his
concern about Mark - Jon let him continue for a while then said they needed to
get back to FFWG. [Jon now understood why "Dad" was looking after Mark].

Howard Jones, "Howie, to his friends", is the group's comedian and owner of
Howie Rentals. Howie has a knack for saying the right punch-line at the most
stressful moment. He thinks of himself as a "people person", and has "no
problem being the first cowboy through the pass to sign up new shops". He and
Janice's mantel boyfriend, Allen, bought the rental company together. Allen had
died in a boating accident in Alaska about three years after they bought the
company. The life insurance payment paid-off their business loan and bought the
first Track-hoe. Howie always enjoyed talking to Janice about politics,
technology, and business. Her perspective was always a unique spin that
challenged one's thoughts. Howie has his money ready and is ready to start -
tomorrow. He enjoys computer projects and would like to be involved in the
Internet portion. Janice taught him to fly fish.