Former AUI employees returning to area

Beacon Promotions

to rise in former

MTS site

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- The lure of starting a new business in a familiar community is strong enough to bring a retired business executive from the warm sands, rolling surf and palm trees of Naples, Fla., back to Brown County.

Former Advertising Unlimited Inc. of Sleepy Eye President and Chief Executive Officer Art Olsen told The Journal Friday that he and several other former AUI executives intend to locate a new business in New Ulm this summer.

Olsen -- who left New Ulm in 1994 for Detroit -- plans to move from the Sunshine State back to New Ulm to help start Beacon Promotions -- which would do imprinting of promotional products. The firm is leasing an office in the former MTS Automation building, 2121 S. Bridge.

Beacon Promotions intends to print logos on merchandise like stainless steel and plastic coffee mugs, calculators, radios, knives and other household products, Olsen said.

The firm initially intends to employ 20-30 people this summer, be in production by August and begin shipping in September.

"Most of us were involved with the printing business in Sleepy Eye," Olsen said. "We built a very successful business there. Our intentions are to do the same in New Ulm."

Olsen was in charge of purchasing and production control at AUI in Sleepy Eye in 1978. The company was bought out by RL Polk & Co. in 1987. Olsen became President and CEO of RL Polk & Co. and moved to Detroit in 1994. He remained there until May 2000 when he retired and moved to Naples, Fla.

Olsen has traded retirement for the working world before. He became president and chief executive officer of Norwood Promotional Products in Austin, Texas in June 2001. Olsen retired for a second time in September 2002.

Joining Olsen in the new venture are former AUI executives Kevin Poirer, Gary Haley and David Paulson. Poirer lives in Red Wing, Haley lives in Austin, Texas and Paulson lives in New Ulm.

Others joining Beacon include Olsen's son Brett, who worked at AUI in Red Wing, and former AUI employee Steve Gehrke who now lives in New Ulm.

Art Olsen is enthusiastic about the prospect of moving to New Ulm and starting a new business.

"We're all looking forward to coming back and working together," Olsen said. "Everybody in New Ulm has been very helpful."