Mike Loftus is an entrepreneur who founded Elk Grove Village, Illinois' MLE Merchandising & Sign Solutions in 2002 and has since led the company past the $25 million revenue mark with more than 100 people employed in 14 states. Outside of his responsibilities with MLE, Mike Loftus is a passionate sports fan who counts the Chicago Cubs as his favorite Major League Baseball (MLB) team.The 2018 MLB Amateur Draft was held in early June and the Cubs added 42 players, 28 of which were out of college, while the remaining 14 players were drafted out of high school. With its first-round pick, the team selected Stanford shortstop Nico Hoerner, who is regarded as a contact hitter with good patience at the plate. In his last season with the team, Hoerner recorded a .345 batting average to go along with 2 home runs and 40 runs batted in. He also had 17 doubles and 6 triples to go along with 20 walks and 22 strikeouts.Chicago used its next two picks to add high school players Brennen Davis, an outfielder from Basha High School in Arizona, and Cole Roederer, an outfielder from Hart High School in California. The team rounded out its top five selections with University of San Diego right-handed pitcher Paul Richan and Duke outfielder Jimmy Herron.
For over 15 years, Mike Loftus has served as the president of MLE Merchandising and Sign Solutions (dba MLE, Inc.), a brand-services company based in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Outside of work, Mike Loftus enjoys boating, grilling, and watching sports. He roots for several professional and college teams, including the Chicago Cubs. The Chicago Cubs have added some pitching depth to their 2018 lineup by signing Brandon Morrow to a two-year deal. Morrow, who played for the Dodgers in 2017, had an impressive showing against the Chicago Cubs when the two teams met for the 2017 National League Championship Series. He finished the 2017 season with a 2.06 earned-run average in 45 games. The 33-year-old Morrow is entering his 12th season in the majors. In college, he played at the University of California, Berkley, before debuting in his first major league game with the Seattle Mariners. Morrow later pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays and the San Diego Padres prior to his one-year stint in Los Angeles. The right-handed reliever boasts a career ERA of 4.05 in 299 appearances.
The recipient of a bachelor's degree in business administration from Winona State University, Mike Loftus founded MLE Merchandising & Sign Solutions in 2002 with $40,000 and has since grown it into a comprehensive branding company with annual revenue exceeding $25 million. When he isn't working to further grow MLE, Mike Loftus enjoys following his favorite Major League Baseball (MLB) team, the Chicago Cubs.The Cubs' relief pitchers combined last season to post a 3.80 earned run average (ERA), which was sixth-best in the 30-team MLB, but the team is already attempting to improve its depth for the 2018 season. On December 1, the team signed left-handed relief pitcher Dario Alvarez to a one-year contract. A 28-year-old native of the Dominican Republic, Alvarez recorded an impressive 2.76 ERA in 16.33 innings last season with the Texas Rangers. He also registered 17 strikeouts, but displayed pitch location issues with his slider that led to 14 walks. Despite being atop the ERA leader board last season, the Cubs relievers allowed a combined 264 walks, which was fifth-most in the league.The hope is that Alvarez's struggles with pitch location in 2017 were just a blip as he has had good command of his pitches in the past. Prior to the 2017 season, he pitched in a combined 31.66 innings with the Rangers, New York Mets, and Atlanta Braves and allowed only 8 walks.
As president of MLE Merchandising & Sign Solutions Inc. in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, Mike Loftus oversees the various departments responsible for the marketing, production, and installation of interior and exterior signage. Outside of his work with with MLE Merchandising, Mike Loftus is also an avid sports enthusiast who follows, the Chicago Bears, his favorite NFL team.As a way of giving back to their fans, the Chicago Bears have created a fan zone on the team’s website that provides fans of the football team with special promotions and information to keep them updated on team activities, such as the Ultimate Fan Packages.The Chicago Bears Ultimate Fan Packages allow fans to select a package that best fits their needs. Fans have a variety of packages to choose from, including the Hospitality Package, which provides exclusive VIP access to the Midway at Soldier Field, giving fans a unique game-day environment to enjoy.
