Thank you to everyone who donated to our Toys For Tots drive in 2011. We had another year of incredible generosity. Count on us to be a drop-off site for the 2012 holiday season as well.
Wishing you a Happy New Year from all of us at Sunrise Packaging!
Sunrise Packaging would like to welcome Jessica Erickson, our new Marketing/Client Relations intern. Jessica is currently a Marketing student at St. Cloud who will be graduating this December. At Sunrise, Jessica will use her hard work ethic to gain experience from the marketing and customer service departments. So lets get to know a little more about the newest member of our team!
Do you have a nickname? My mom calls me JJ
Last book you read? Book number 11 in the Janet Evanovich mystery series
If you could meet anyone dead or alive, who would it be? Travis Pastrana; I love motocross and have always wanted to learn how to ride a dirt bike. He seems like such a fun and crazy guy.
Favorite hobby? Fishing and reading
If you could have a superpower, what would it be? Why? I would want to be able to fly. It would be exciting to be able to go to different places I couldn’t in my car. Plus it would save on gas.
What attracted you most to working at Sunrise? The ability to gain real world experience and learn about the marketing industry.
Do you have a nickname?
No
Last book you read?
Meditation, Eknath Easwaran
If you could meet anyone dead or alive, who would it be?
Mother Teresa
Favorite hobby?
Writing/playing music and hanging out with my wonderful wife Jenny and my lovely daughter Leona.
If you could have a superpower, what would it be? Why?
That’s a toss up. Teleportation because I love to travel. Saving time and money on airline tickets would increase my probability of seeing the world! Superhuman Vision would be nice too. I was born with very poor vision and cannot get lasik in my right eye. Waking up in the morning able to see would be a treat!
What attracted you most to working at Sunrise?
The opportunity to learn more about marketing and make an impact towards the company’s goals.
Do you have a nickname?
No
Last book you read?
1984, George Orwell
If you could meet anyone dead or alive, who would it be?
Leonardo Da Vinci- He was an amazing artist and had a great mind.
Favorite Hobby?
Music – playing violin/piano. Oil painting & Drawing
If you could have a superpower, what would it be? Why?
Not needing sleep- I’m not sure if that can be claimed as a superpower but I would be able to get everything I wanted to done!
What attracted you most to working at Sunrise?
The opportunity and the work experience.
Meet Yonca, New Accountant and Avid Scrapbooker!
Do you have a nickname?
I don’t have a nickname. I just go by my first name.
Last book you read?
The last book I read was actually a book on finance.
If you could meet anyone dead or alive, who would it be? Why?
If I could meet anyone it would be Ghandi. I just think that he would be a really interesting person.
Favorite hobby?
My favorite hobby is scrapbooking!
If you could have a superpower, what would it be? Why?
If I could be a superhero I would be Phoenix from X-men because she has the best power out of all of them.
What attracted you most to working at Sunrise?
I was attracted to all of the opportunities that Sunrise was able to offer me.
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Meet Ali Torborg, Intern and Future Kayak Guru
Do you have a nickname?
I think it’s more likely for me to be called by one of my nicknames that by my given name. The majority of my friends call my Torbs or Torby.
Last book you read?
“The Time Traveler’s Wife”
If you could meet anyone dead or alive, who would it be? Why?
I would want to meet John Wooden, perhaps I could celebrate his 100th birthday with him in the upcoming months. I’ve read several of his books and I think his life and accomplishments are incredible.
Favorite hobby?
I don’t have a specific hobby that I love. I’m extremely competitive so I tend to like sports. I want to take up kayaking this summer and I have a feeling that will become my new love.
If you could have a superpower, what would it be? Why?
I would choose teleporting. There are a lot of amazing places around the world. Imagine the travel time it would cut down on if you could teleport.
What attracted you most to working at Sunrise?
The friendly people and the job description is what attracted me most to working at Sunrise.
Name: Jason Lowe
Length of time working at Sunrise: 4-1/2 years
Last book you read: One Month to Live — 30 Days to a No-Regrets Life by Kerry and Chris Shook
Favorite hobby: Traveling with my wife and two little boys
If you could meet anyone dead or alive, who would it be? Why? Abraham Lincoln. He demonstrated amazing dedication to his morals and beliefs by standing up to enormous opposition in order to establish freedom for all Americans, regardless of race. At a time when it could have been much easier to relent, Lincoln stood his ground, risking his reputation and ultimately giving his very life.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Why? I would be WeatherMan! With my powers to alter the climate, I would make frozen and god-forsaken Minnesota habitable for more than 6 months of the year. Minnesota invites global warming with open arms! 
)
What do you like most about working at Sunrise? I most appreciate the constant variety of incoming projects, as well as the creative people I work with, both customers and co-workers. I’ve also learned to “expect the unexpected,” which keeps my professional life exciting and new.
Name: Nicholas Michael Rude
Nicknames: Nick
Length of time working at Sunrise: 5 years
Last book you read: Rolling Stone Magazine
Favorite hobby: Golf, jamming guitar.
If you could meet anyone dead or alive, who would it be? Why? A Jedi Knight. Because Jedi Knight’s are the protectors of democracy and the good side of the force and they fight the dark side of the force. Who wouldn’t want to meet a Jedi Knight?
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Why? I would like to fly. I could fly somewhere warm and go anywhere in the world at any time.
What do you like most about working at Sunrise? Working with customers and really custom, creative projects that stand out.
“I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.”
-Maya Angelou
With the holidays fast approaching our instinctive response it to kick into high gear, running from store to store taking care of all of our holiday related errands. But before the Holiday buzz sweeps you away, stop for a second to help those less fortunate than yourself. Not only will helping out in the community make you feel better during the holidays it will truly benefit someone who is experiencing difficulties. Too often kids seem to be the most affected. Sunrise wants to give needy children hope this year by donating toys to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program.
Marines picking up toys at Sunrise Packaging
The goal of this program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during the months from October to December and to distribute the toys as a holiday gift to needy children in the surrounding community. The U. S. Marine Corp states that the mission of their program is to “spread the message of hope to needy youngsters that will motivate them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens, and community leaders.”
Over the 58 years of this programs existence, Toys for Tots has collect over 332 million toys and helped over 158 million needy children. This program has been fortunate to help many children throughout their years of service but their overall goal is to help 14 million needy children each year. This year, in our area they are especially in need of children’s toys for ages 0-2 and 15-17, although toys for all ages are encouraged and welcomed.
Today is the last day to drop off toys at Sunrise. So far, we have collected more than one-and-a-half containers. If you’re in the area this morning, please stop by with an unwrapped toy for those kids whose holidays may need a little extra cheer. Every little bit helps!
It is in small efforts that we help one another. We want to than the Sunrise employees and surrounding businesses for their generous contributions to give back and to help the children in your community.
Have a happy holiday season.
Name: Steve Sandahl
Nicknames: none
Length of time working at Sunrise: 21 years
Last book you read: Cat in the Hat – to my granddaughter
Favorite hobby: golf, travel, hot rods
If you could meet anyone dead or alive, who would it be? Why? Leonardo Da Vinci. Aside from his artistic genius he made numerous other contributions to the world. His discoveries and theories were in engineering, mathematics, physics, mechanics, philosophy, and many other fields. It would be interesting to get insight into his vision and creativity.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be? why? Invisibility. I would seek out, infiltrate, and foil the plans of bad people throughout the world without detection. Besides, it would be fun. You could go anywhere, attend any function at no cost.
Favorite part of working at Sunrise: Working with my customers as a resource to provide solutions to new projects. Many of the customer relationships I’ve developed over the years have turned into friendships. Helping a friend is fun, not work.