Mike Miller of Turbana is our Milestone feature this month! Mike has been selling bananas for 30 years, 21 of those years he has been an OffiCenters client. At Turbana they grow more than fruit; they grow businesses, farms and communities. Since its inception in 1970, they have recognized that their success depends on the well-being of the workers and their families, making the development of the farming community their main objective. We are proud to celebrate Mike’s milestone career with Turbana. Visit www.turbana.com to learn more about what they do and read on to learn more about Mike!

1)    What would you like people to know about you and your business? I actually work for growers in Colombia and Costa Rica. My headquarters is based in Medellin, Colombia.

2)    Where did you get the idea for your business? I got into this industry right out of college. I must like it, since I haven’t looked for something else to do in 30 years.

3)    What makes your business unique? How many people do you know that sell bananas? Very unique!

4)    What is your ‘elevator speech’? “Good morning. Boy, it sure is nice out, isn’t it?”

5)    What are the keys to your success? The ability to develop relationships with people that I have never actually met and persistence.

6)    How long have you been at OffiCenters? Which location? It will be 21 years this August. I started at City West and moved to the Bloomington office when City West closed.

7)    How has your relationship with OffiCenters changed your business? OffiCenters has brought me stability and efficiency, along with an extremely professional staff. I don’t look for change as much as I relish consistency.

8)    If you could work from anywhere under the sun, where would you choose? Palm Desert, California in the winter and right here in the summer. Not many better places in the US than Minnesota during the summer and fall months.

9)    Tweet, Blog, LinkedIn, Facebook? No. No. No. No.

10)  What piece of technology can you not live without? My Laptop and my iPhone.

11)  What is one of your favorite quotes? “Be the hammer, not the nail.”

12)  Who has been an inspiration in your life? My father, who just recently passed.

13)  When you have 30 minutes of free time, how do you use it? I watch the golf channel or take a power nap.

14)  If you had a long weekend with unlimited funds, where would you go? Bandon Dunes – golf, golf, golf…

15)  If you could be any fictional character, whom would you choose and why? I am not a big fiction guy. I deal in reality.

16)  What is your favorite restaurant in Minnesota? Chris & Rob’s Chicago Hot Dogs on 42nd street in Minneapolis.

17)  What songs are included on the soundtrack to your life? Any Frank Sinatra tune and probably another 1,000 songs. Pick any genre, other than Country.

18)  If you could paint a picture what would you paint and why? A solitary boat on a calm lake – serenity…

19)  What is the best way for people to find out more about you and your business? Go on www.turbana.com. Thanks!!