Star Tribune from Minneapolis, Minnesota • D3

A A When I bought a Windows 10 PC last year, I had all my Word files from Windows 7 transferred to the new com- puter. But I open those files using Word on Win- dows 10, and Word was unable to convert the files to a format that it could read. As a result, I had to use a program called Cool File Viewer that allowed me to open all my old docu- ments, copy them and paste them into new Word files. Then I downloaded the free trial version of Microsoft 365 online version of Micro- soft because I thought it was an update for Windows 10. I use it, but once I agreed to the free trial, I started having trouble with Gmail in the Windows 10 Mail app, and had to use website instead.

Then Cool File Viewer crashed, and has caused prob- lems ever since. I then found that many documents opened with the viewer were stored in the wrong PC location. causing all these Windows 10-related glitches? SUSAN LEE, Winter Haven, Fla. Windows 10 has its prob- lems, but it cause most of these issues. Because Microsoft Word is backward-compatible, it should be able to read any older Word file.

The fact that it read your older documents suggests that those files were actu- ally created by a sound-alike program such as WordPer- fect, Microsoft Works, Lotus WordPro or Abiword. Because Microsoft Word is unable to open files from most of those programs, it suggested converting them to a different format. As you discovered, Cool File Viewer (see tinyurl.com/y3m6dzrs can read documents from all of the programs listed above and more. As a result, it could copy your existing docu- ments and paste them into new Microsoft Word files. Now that converted all your old files, I suggest you stop using Cool File Viewer, which is no longer function- ing properly.

I think that the damaged program, and not Windows 10, is responsible for your files being stored in different places than you expected to find them. If you downloaded Micro- soft 365, which is not a Win- dows 10 upgrade, but use it, the program probably related to your problems with the Windows 10 Mail app. As I wrote previously, that problem was caused by a Microsoft update to either Windows 10 or the Mail app (see tinyurl.com/y2oqyjbt When I downloaded a Win- dows 10 update, the screen dis- play got expanded, and many icons were pushed beyond the edges of the monitor. The same thing happened with web pages. I tried adjusting the screen resolution (which can change the size and sharpness of screen images), but it help.

I checked for updates for my monitor, but there any. I finally gave up and switched back to the pre- vious version of Windows 10 to solve the problem. But worried that future updates will cause this to happen again. What should I do? CONNIE SWEET, Lakeland, Fla. The problem caused by Windows 10, but rather by other PC software that needs to be updated.

That software runs the that controls the screen display. To make the adapter com- patible with the Windows update, download the latest software driver for it. To do that, press the Windows logo key and the key simulta- neously. In the list on the left, click In the next list, click the arrow (looks like next to adapt- to see your own adapter. Right-click your adapter, and click E-mail tech questions to steve.j.alexander@gmail.com or write to Tech 650 3rd Av.

Suite 1300, Minneapolis, MN 55488. Include name, city and telephone number. File problems may not stem from Windows 10 MANAGING Justin Cox Photography Former owner Jim Dow, who retired as CEO at 81, said he did the right thing in selling Diversified Plastics to its 80 employees. OUTSWIMMING THE SHARKS HARVEY MACKAY I know already August, but this summer my thoughts can finally turn to the crack of the bat as I watch my Twins launch dinger after dinger. As much as I love basketball and football, a certain magic about the great national pastime.

For me, baseball is a learning experience, full of life lessons. In one cartoon, Charlie Brown is having a bad day. He strikes out for the third straight time. In disgust, he says, Back in the dugout, he laments to Lucy, never be a big-league ballplayer. All my life, dreamed of playing in the big leagues, but I just know never make Lucy responds, thinking way too far ahead, Charlie Brown.

What you need are more immediate asks Charlie. says Lucy. right now with this next inning. When you go out to pitch, see if you can walk out to the mound without falling Moral: Most importantly, goals need to be realistic: beyond your grasp but within your reach in the foreseeable future. When it comes to getting things done, I have a philoso- phy: a way, or make I tolerate excuses, and you either.

A high school baseball coach was frustrated with his first baseman, who made error after error. At practice, the coach grabbed a glove to show the player how it should be done. The first grounder took a bad hop and clobbered him in the chest. Next came a pop-up that he lost in the sun, and it smashed into his fore- head. Later, a wild throw from the shortstop caused him to stretch, tearing his pants.

Exas- perated, the coach turned to his first baseman and shouted, got this position so messed up, even I do a thing with Moral: The person who wants to do something finds a way; the person who finds an excuse. We all have weaknesses, whether baseball or busi- ness. Baseball great Stan Musial was having a field day against the Chicago pitcher Bobo Newsom. Stan first slammed a single, then a triple and a home run. When he came to bat for the fourth time, the Chicago man- ager decided to yank Bobo and take a chance on a rookie relief pitcher.

The rookie trudged in from the bullpen, took the ball from Bobo, and asked, this guy Musial got any weak- replied Bobo, hit Moral: The greatest of all weaknesses is to be conscious of none. Maintaining a good reputa- tion can help you in bad cir- cumstances by giving you the benefit of the doubt. Rogers Hornsby, consid- ered to be among the greatest righthanded hitters in baseball history, had a lifetime batting average of .358. In 1924, he hit .424 with the St. Louis Cardi- nals.

He also had a reputation for excellence, good judgment and integrity. The story goes that Horn- sby came to bat one day against a flashy rookie pitcher with a blazing fastball. Whoosh went the first pitch to Hornsby, who kept his bat cocked. said the umpire. Second pitch and third pitches, same story.

Angry and frustrated, the young pitcher shouted at the umpire, three pitches were all said the umpire, you throw a strike, Mr. Hornsby will let you Moral: You buy a good reputation; you must earn it. Moral: A person become old until regrets take the place of dreams. Moral: No matter when the season begins, start business so you can win the World Series. Harvey Mackay is a Minneapolis businessman.

Contact him at 612-378- 6202 or e-mail The national pastime is full of lessons for life I A For many business own- ers, a succession plan is about more than creating an exit strategy or profiting from the sale of the company. about preserving a legacy in a way that benefits the company and its employees as well as the business owner(s). One way to do that is by selling the business to your employees through an employee stock ownership plan, or ESOP. Unlike sell- ing to a competitor or private equity group, establishing an ESOP provides a range of ben- efits to all involved. With an ESOP, business owners sell some or all of their shares to a trust that manages the stock.

Employ- ees get an ownership stake in the company and a potentially valuable retirement benefit. The sellers receive a fair price for their shares and have the option to remain involved in the business. The business benefits from continuity and stability. For Mark Gaetz and Jim Burns, former owners of Mulcahy establishing an ESOP was a way to continue to be involved in the operation and growth of their business while rewarding the employees who helped make it a success. Founded in 1929, Mulcahy Co.

represents a variety of man- ufacturers producing products for the heating, cooling and plumbing industries. Gaetz and Burns bought the company in 2009 and under their leader- ship it tripled in size. we hit 60 employ- ees, we had a lot of people wanting a piece of the said Gaetz, Mulcahy Co. CEO. got to concern yourself with how to divide it up every year.

Invariably you do it right; there are too many poli- tics involved. So we started going down the ESOP Setting up an ESOP can be complicated. The right team of experts helps make the process easier and ensures a smooth transition of ownership. meeting with Mulcahy shareholders there were several common said Joe Skorcze- wski, director of Chartwell Financial Advisory. shareholders valued a smooth transition, with continuity in management and the oppor- tunity to work another 15 to 20 years.

Shareholders nearer retirement valued liquidity and limited business disrup- tion. The board sought a tax- efficient way to transition ownership to the next gener- ation and set up Mulcahy to perpetuate itself. In this case, all signs pointed to In order to purchase shares from the sellers for the newly established trust, most ESOPs require some portion of fund- ing through a loan. When financing is involved, work- ing with a lender who under- stands ESOPs and your busi- ness is key to the transition. Our team collaborated with all of advisers to get the deal done as quickly and seamlessly as possible by remaining flexible, giving easy access to decisionmak- ers, and ensuring the funding was structured for success.

remarkably stable financial performance and a wonderful employee-focused culture, Mulcahy was well suited to take the next step in its ownership transition said Skorczewski. benefits are set to increase, management will be even further motivated to drive shareholder value, and the customers and commu- nities Mulcahy serves ulti- mately stand to benefit from transitioning ownership broadly to the For some companies, the journey to becoming an ESOP is not quite as direct. Both tim- ing and company culture play an important role in determin- ing the success of an ESOP. Some questions to consider before pursuing an ESOP Does the current business valuation for the sale of the company meet the financial goals of the Is the right management in place for a smooth transi- tion and company longevity? Will your employees embrace the mind-set of an employee-owner and approach their roles in a way that benefits the company as a whole? Diversified Plastics spent several years considering options for a succession plan before pursuing an ESOP in earnest. Founded in 1977 by Jim Dow, Diversified Plastics is a full-service plastic injec- tion parts manufacturer pro- viding prototyping, manufac- turing and assembly.

not just the owner but the founder of the company, Jim was very concerned about the people that stayed with him, because we had some very long-term said Roger Vang, Diversified Plastics CFO. Becoming an ESOP improved cash flow so dra- matically that the company has been able to finance a lot of its capital equipment internally. It also helped recruitment Today, there are nearly 7,000 ESOPs in the United States, with more than 14 mil- lion employees participating. On average, ESOPs are more likely to stay in business and employee-owners were four times less likely to be laid off during the recent reces- sion. With the right financing and structure in place, becom- ing an ESOP has the ability to improve the financial perfor- mance of your company, keep jobs in your community and help build the overall wealth of your entire workforce.

Jeff Campbell is a senior vice president at Fidelity Bank, Edina. An ESOP can create many winners OV I SkyWater, Bloomington, named John Kent as executive vice president of Technol- ogy Development and Design Enablement. He has had several leadership roles in his more than 40 years of experience in his eld and he was a vice president at Globalfoundries. United Properties, Minneapolis, named Al Petrie as vice president of account- ing. Petrie served as corporate accounting manager at PaR Systems and previ- ously worked as an accounting supervisor at NorthMarq (formerly United Prop- erties).

Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest, St. Paul, named Sara Dziuk as chief executive cer. Dziuk was the chief advancement cer for College Possible. OV Ralco, Marshall, named Jennifer Young as ruminant account manager. Young owns her own consulting business and has nearly 20 years of expertise in ruminant nutrition and research.

OA MinnPost, Minneapolis, named to its board Jay Kiedrowski, a fellow for the Uni- versity of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Stearns Bank, St. Cloud, named to its board: Kathy Persian senior vice president and chief information cer of and Deb Lorenzen, managing director and head of enterprise data governance for State Street Bank in Boston. in a release. is an empa- thetic leader who has passion and perseverance, and he is the right person to take over the leadership of IWCO Ashe is a graduate of Bow- doin College in Brunswick, Maine, where he played hockey.

What are IWCO differentiators? We combine strategy, creative, data and campaign execution all under one roof and that enables cost, perfor- mance, speed and market effi- ciencies that our competitors cannot match. Who are your competi- tors? Traditional direct printers that are developing marketing capabilities, like us, who view that as the path forward. And agency com- petitors that have their roots in traditional direct market- ing finding ways to get into mail as well. We see ourselves as well positioned for growth against both types. Some tra- ditional printers have some challenges in integrating marketing services.

In gen- eral the agency competitors have or offer in-house production and can be overly siloed and fragmented in the services they provide. Most of those companies are owned by one of the huge agency holding companies, which can make it challenging for a client to be supported by a single-source integrated solution like IWCO Direct. Why did you pursue this opportunity? The company has been a leader in direct marketing services for many years and hoping as a group we can start to define where we go from here. The people are a passionate and proud group had a lot of success together and got a lot of strong capabilities or competencies in the mass printing space around digi- tal platforms and also in the expansion of their marketing services, which is very impor- tant for the future. going to get more into data analytics and going to help us to target customers.

Todd Nelson is a freelance writer in Lake Elmo. His e-mail is mac.com. IWCO chief plots a new path for direct marketing MOVER from D1 Dziuk Young Kied- rowski Kent Persian ZSW D3 Monday, Aug. 10, 2020 DAY, AU 1 0 2 0 2 0 I TA I D3.