Business notebook: Shoe shows 'human side'

Red Wing Shoe Co. has released the video “Crafting Sole Molds.” It is the latest in a series of Red Wing brand videos detailing the craftsmanship of company employees and the pride with which Red Wing products are built.

This new video details the precision and expertise that goes into crafting a pair of sole molds for a Red Wing boot.

Craig Holst is a master mold maker as well as a 36-year veteran of the company. Holst oversees the construction of Red Wing sole molds for new and existing boot styles and explains that by developing molds on-site at Red Wing’s own manufacturing facility the company retains control over the entire process.

Bob Hager, Red Wing process engineer, said the video speaks to the human side of Red Wing Shoe and explains why the company continues to rely on its skilled employees.

“I think it’s impressive that Red Wing Shoes still utilizes our craftsmen,” Hager said. “The advantage that we have is the people skills to be able to make a great boot. We want the mold to represent the quality of Red Wing Shoe Company.”

“Crafting Sole Molds” can be found on the Video Series page of The Red Wing Shoe Company’s website at: http://www.redwingshoes.com/red-wing-video-sole-molds

• As a result of its efforts in mutual-aid assistance for power restoration after Hurricane Sandy and other storms during the past year, Xcel Energy received the “Emergency Assistance Award” from Edison Electric Institute.

The award annually recognizes United States-based and foreign-based companies that restore electricity service that had been disrupted by severe weather conditions or natural events.

“Xcel Energy is viewed as a premier partner in mutual-aid events, providing resource deployment of linemen, safety personnel, fleet services and management,” Kent Larson, senior vice president for Xcel Energy Operations, said. “A well-defined and continuously refined process, the ability to mobilize quickly, a professional workforce and the ability to work safely under difficult conditions often result in other utilities specifically requesting assistance from Xcel Energy.”

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Xcel sent more than 230 employees from all of its operating companies, including Northern States Power Co. in Minnesota and Northern States Power Co. in Wisconsin, to New York and West Virginia to assist Long Island Power Authority and American Electric Power in restoring electric service to their customers.

Back in June and July, Xcel sent 72 employees and contractors from Minnesota and Wisconsin to Ohio to help AEP restore power to more than 680,000 customers after violent 80 mph winds destroyed a wide path from Illinois all the way to the East Coast.

A collective total of 30 days of repairs were put into both projects.

• The Wildlife Habitat Council recognized Wisconsin Industrial Sand Company’s Hager City/Bay City mine with a Bat Conservation Action Award, distinguishing the nation’s most outstanding bat habitat enhancement program.

Working with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, team members at the underground mine have developed a series of projects to attract and protect nearly 53,000 bats that hibernate there. The mining process has created a natural habitat that has turned into the state’s third largest bat hibernating location.

“WISC is grateful to the Wildlife Habitat Council for recognizing our efforts to conserve and maintain Wisconsin’s bat population,” said Lauren Evans, sustainable development coordinator for WISC.

One of those efforts was the installation of gates that allow the bats to fly into their home while preventing predators from entering.

Tags: red wing, business, minnesota