March 2009

Monthly Archive

Fri 20 Mar 2009

“Fast” Eddy Nicholson – A Living Legend

Posted by shoff under Culture , Michigan , Tigers
[5] Comments 

 

Ed Nicholson Jr. (John T. Greilick / The Detroit News)

Ed Nicholson Jr. (John T. Greilick / The Detroit News)

Shortly before the 1965 baseball season, “Fast” Eddy Nicholson used a connection to get a job as an usher for the Tigers. His first day on the job was opening day, April 21, 1965. The Tigers defeated the Kansas City A’s 1-0 behind the stellar pitching of Hank Aguirre.

Since 1996, Eddy’s affiliation with the Tigers has not been limited to Comerica Park. When Eddy retired from his full time job at Grand Trunk Railway, he and his wife started wintering in Florida and Eddy started working the third base gate at Joker Marchant Stadium during the Tiger’s spring training.

He has many fond memories of his 45 years with the Tigers including 2 All Star Games (1971 and 2005), 2 World Championships (1968 and 1984) and the improbable 2006 Pennant.  His favorite and most emotional memory came on September 27, 1999 when the Tigers said good bye to Tiger Stadium, their home since 1912. Eddy revealed that he could not hold back the tears when the former players took the field during the post game tribute.

I have had the pleasure of sitting in Fast Eddy’s section 132 for the past eight seasons. One particularly hot day, a young girl near us suffered a heat stroke. Eddy went into action and handle the situation flawlessly.

I am sure that his wife, five sons, and fourteen grand children are quite proud of Eddy’s class service to the Tigers. Eddy will regrettably become the Sr. Usher for the Tiger’s this year, as his friend and fellow usher, Dennis Kilpatrick, passed away in February. When you come to Comerica Park this summer, stop by and say hi to Eddy.

 

Thu 12 Mar 2009

Write up in Metro Mode Media

Posted by shoff under Business , Michigan , Patti Engineering
No Comments 

 Always nice to get a little postitive press.

http://www.metromodemedia.com/innovationnews/pattiengineering0107.aspx

Patti Engineering goes from 25 to 33 people in 2 years

metromode, 3/12/2009
The partnership behind Patti Engineering is a little stronger than the average business partnership.Husband-and-wife team Patti and Sam Hoff started the Auburn Hills-based firm in 1991 after Sam left his job and had trouble finding another. One colleague didn’t have room for Sam on his business’ staff, but offered to use Sam’s services if he started his own company.Almost 20 years later, Sam serves as the president of the firm and Patti as the vice president of finance. They oversee a staff of 33 people, a couple of independent contractors and four co-op students (think interns who are paid). That’s up from 25 people two years ago.

In that same time, Patti Engineering has diversified its client list from a mainly automotive base to the waste water, energy, food and distribution industries.

“I think we’re looking fairly good for 2009,” Sam says.

In this economy, the company is holding its own for this year and the beginning of next. He expects the economy to come back strong late in 2010 and his company to have a few more employees by then.

Source: Sam Hoff, president of Patti Engineering
Writer: Jon Zemke