I often refer to myself as the âillegitimateâ third generation of Ostbye & Anderson, the Minneapolis jewelry manufacturer founded by my wifeâs family in 1920. My father-in-law never liked being a part of the company and discouraged me from joining. Yet after 12 years in other jobs and industries, I brought my experience and skills into the family business in 1978.
As an only child, I naturally became self-sufficient, which developed into independent thinking and a do-it-yourself (DIY) attitude in business. These character traits continued to serve me well as I became company president and majority stockholder in 1988. I built a new factory, made a significant acquisition in 1993 and grew the company from a regional to national player.