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Chris Anderson |
In 1996, my friend and colleague, Marc Trueb and I were discussing the recent career choice I had made to collect barn owl pellets for income. The story, really, could end here with a laugh, but it doesn't.
After I formed a small company named QuadradixNW to buy and sell barn owl pellets, Marc and I formed a small online retail business that could become involved in creating lesson plans and dissection labs that would engage young science students in a hands-on approach to learning. That lab would include dissecting barn owl pellets and matching the bones up to bone charts that were specifically created to demonstrate the most common prey that Barn Owls consume. The company was Owl Brand Kits.
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Leadership Summit 2009 |
It's now been 13 years since that cup of coffee that prompted our soiree into educational products and QuadradixNW & Owl Brand Kits combined to form a Wyoming based business I now call Owl Brand Supply Company that boasts a mailing list of more than 20,000 schools and receives about 10,000 internet hits each month. Recognized by two of the most popular resources online for their focus on owls, Kidwings.com and OwlPages.com both gave kudos to OBDK for our innovative and affordable products and commitment to bringing value to the classroom. In 2005, National Geographic Canada named OBDK as one of the Best Resources for Science Teachers. Additionally, in 2009, OBDK received a recommendation from the National Science Teacher's Association.
One of the more profound results of the Owl Brand mission is to serve others through the business. Whether it is through developing websites and educational tools and products, or promoting humanitarian and educational outreach, Owl Brand's identity is found in its ability to help others through the success of the company. Since it's inception, Owl Brand has been able to help Bloodwater Mission dig wells in Africa, promote higher education in Asia through Co-Serve International, build cement foundations for poor people in Mexico with Mission Oaxaca, and participate in leadership development in the United States through the Marshall Christensen Foundation. None of this could have been done without two things: an others oriented vision and customers who have confidence in our service and products. Together, the experience has been a blessing to almost everyone who has been a part of the Owl Brand team.
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Afghanistan 2008 |
Pimpollo 2003 |
Oaxaca 2009 |
In addition, Owl Brand is fortunate to deal with three national accounts that comprise more than 70% of our revenue, providing more than 200,000 barn owl pellets in many years and in one year approached 400,000! Today, Owl Brand continues focusing on annual revisions and additions to our material and providing the best service and quality product possible.
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Marc Trueb |
Marc Trueb played an instrumental role in the formation of this vision. He was a constant source of encouragement and faith that something could be created that could do a lot of good. Marc remains involved through the collection and supply of "product" to Owl Brand Supply Company, the parent company that created OBDK and is solely responsible for the conservation efforts that run core to the company's success, installing dozens of nesting boxes each month throughout the Pacific Northwest.
If you're reading "About Us" it's because you wanted to know a little more about this little business. I look forward to serving you in 2010 with the same integrity and service you know and recognize Owl Brand for. Thank you for your confidence.
Kind Regards,
Chris Anderson, President
Owl Brand Supply Company
