Community
I’m sure many of you have heard that Don Carlson, founder of Carlson Systems (now SouthernCarlson), and one of the original board members of Sphere 1, has recently passed away.
Don’s contribution to where we are today as Sphere 1 can’t truly be calculated. He brought so much standing and, equally important, respect to a fledgling, unknown organization that afforded us many opportunities, which continue to multiply to this day.
I was elected secretary and treasurer at that first meeting a long time ago. Laptops weren’t common, and no, we didn’t have AI to take our minutes.
Don and I were yellow pad guys. I was taking the minutes, and Don was quietly taking notes with his red pen as the discussion went around the room.
I learned early on that when that red pen stopped, it was time to get ready for some minute highlights! Don would invariably say something like “Have you thought about this approach?” or “Maybe we should consider this.” He was always remarkably on point and brought clarity to so many of those issues we faced when starting this new enterprise.
As treasurer, a few years later, we began to collect significant rebate revenue. Don encouraged me to investigate some investment structures to create more value for our members. We maintain a conservative investment structure that continues to contribute to our rebate percentage payout to date.
Don was a mentor and a trusted advisor. Don and his wife, Lynne, have always been such gracious friends and hosts to our board, my wife and I, and many others in the Sphere 1 family. A life well-lived is often an overused expression, but in this case, a reality.
From operations to opportunities – in memory of Don,
Ron Foltz
Sphere 1 Board Chairman
Cornerstone Tool & Fastener