By Paul Devine
On June 10-12, 31 Pentair, Inc. employees and friends took part in the 2011 Bike MS: C.H. Robinson Worldwide MS 150. The MS 150 is a 150-mile bicycle ride from Duluth to White Bear Lake, MN. The ride was held over two days and the team rode 75 miles each day. In total, approximately 3,500 riders raised $2.7 million (USD). The contribution by the Pentair team amounted to more than $35,000, which will be used to help against the fight to eliminate MS.
The weekend kicked off in Duluth, MN, where team jerseys were handed out, introductions were made and plans for the following days were set. The goal was to challenge the company participants, build teamwork and, most of all, have fun. In the end, all the goals were met, and everyone walked away with great memories that will last a lifetime.
Mike Schrock, Pentair, Inc. President and COO and team captain, when asked about the event said, “The team spirit was incredible. The sight of Team Pentair traveling together was inspiring. Representatives from the Residential Flow, Residential Filtration, Filtration Solutions, Tech Products business units and Pentair Corporate pulled together and raised more than $35,000 for the MS society.” He added, “By the end of the ride, if there was a person among the 3,500 riders who didn’t know who team Pentair was, I’d be shocked. While there were larger teams, none were more spirited, more cohesive or more ambitious than our team.”
Pentair, Inc. also handed out branded squeeze water bottles, which allowed the MS 150 organizers to eliminate paper cups at rest stops, helping to keep a green environmental theme. These water bottles proved invaluable to riders. “Thanks for the water bottle!” was heard time and time again from other MS 150 riders along the way.
About the author
Paul Devine is Manager, North American Marketing for Pentair Residential Filtration; he joined the company in July of 2010. Prior to that, Devine held executive sales and marketing positions with Fujifilm and Harley-Davidson Motor Company. He is an active member of the Milwaukee Water Council and is also active in the Water Quality Association as a member of the Convention Committee.
About the company
Pentair, Inc., (www.pentair.com) is a global diversified industrial company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its Water Group is a global leader in providing innovative products and systems used worldwide in the movement, treatment, storage and enjoyment of water. With 2010 revenues of $3 billion, Pentair, Inc. employs approximately 15,000 people worldwide. Pentair Residential Filtration, a division of Pentair, Inc., provides clean, safe and aesthetically-pleasing water to residences through long-standing partnerships around the world leveraging innovative, environmentally-focused and energy-saving technologies. Its distribution partners have access to the industry’s widest range of high quality products available to meet all global residential water market needs. Under strong brands and product names such as GE, Homespring by GE, Everpure, PENTEK, Fleck, Autotrol, WellMate, AquaMatic, Structural, American Plumber and OMNIFilter, Pentair Residential Filtration offers a broad product portfolio ranging from filter housings, filter cartridges, drinking water systems, softeners, pressure vessels and control valves, so that partners can carry the best products to meet all residential water needs.