Chicago Bears Fan Zone - Ultimate Fan Packages

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.

Chicago Bears Make Change at Quarterback in Free Agency

Mike Loftus created MLE Merchandising & Sign Solutions in 2002, and under his leadership the company now generates more than $25 million in annual revenues. When he isn't assisting MLE's clients with the company's portfolio of branding services, Mike Loftus enjoys watching his favorite NFL football team, the Chicago Bears.

After eight seasons with Jay Cutler as the team's starting quarterback, the Bears will begin the 2017 National Football League (NFL) season with a fresh look under center. Chicago released Cutler on March 9 and, the following day, signed free agent Mike Glennon to a three-year, $43.5 million contract. A third round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2013, Glennon has a career 5-13 record through his first three seasons in the league. He started 13 games for Tampa Bay in 2013, but appeared in just eight games over the next two seasons. He has thrown 30 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

Though Cutler failed to lead the Bears to a Super Bowl, he finishes his career with Chicago as the team's all-time leader in nearly every passing category, including touchdowns (154), passing yards (23,443), and completions (2,020).

Director James Mangold Wants to Make a Bruce Springsteen Biopic

In 2002, Mike Loftus established MLE Merchandising & Sign Solutions, Inc., a middle-market brand services company specializing in branding, signage, retail construction, and printing. Now, MLE has a presence in 14 states with over 100 employees. When Mike Loftus is not working, he enjoys listening to Bruce Springsteen, whom he considers one of his favorite musicians. 

Film director James Mangold has expressed interest in potentially making a Bruce Springsteen biopic focusing on a tumultuous period early in the Boss’ career. Mangold directed 2005’s Johnny Cash biopic, Walk the Line. More recently, he directed Fox’s superhero film Logan, part of the X-Men franchise. 

Mangold envisions a Springsteen film concentrating on the E Street Band’s mid-70s legal struggles with Mike Appel, the band’s former manager. The drama, which prevented the band from recording any new songs for a two-year period, came soon after the success of their 1975 album, Born to Run. 

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Mangold professed himself as a “lifetime Springsteen fan,” though it’s uncertain whether the director’s enthusiasm for the musician will be enough. In a 2016 interview with BBC 6 Music, Springsteen said that his ideal director for his biopic would be legendary director Martin Scorsese.

Bruce Springsteen's Make-or-Break Third Album

As the founder and president of MLE Merchandising & Sign Solutions, Mike Loftus has grown the company from an Illinois startup to a 14-state company that employs more than 100 people. When he isn't focused on overseeing all divisions of MLE, Mike Loftus enjoys listening to one of his favorite musicians, Bruce Springsteen.

It's hard to remember Springsteen as anything but a rock legend, but in fact he didn't attain that status until his third album, Born to Run. Though the New Jersey singer and songwriter was hailed as the next Bob Dylan by Columbia Records' John Hammond, Springsteen's first two albums - Greetings From Ashbury Park, NJ and The Wild, The Innocent and The E Street Shuffle - didn't sell enough to convince the company that he was going to be the massive star he eventually became. However, Springsteen changed the narrative with Born to Run and his incredibly-reviewed live shows, which were lauded by Rolling Stone magazine. One of the magazine's contributors, Jon Landau, wrote: "I have seen rock n’ roll future and its name is Bruce Springsteen."

He debuted the album's title track at a live show in June of 1974 and it played on a Philadelphia radio station in November of that year, nine months before the album's official release. After a 14-month recording period, Springsteen released the album in August of 1975 and it subsequently made him the star Columbia thought he would become, as he landed on the covers of Newsweek and Time. The album reached triple-platinum status in 1986.

Jack Russell Terrier Spreads Holiday Cheer at California Hospital

As the head of MLE Merchandising Signs & Solutions Inc., Mike Loftus is responsible for making the final decisions that will lead to the company’s success. When he is not working at MLE, Mike Loftus enjoys time at home with his family and dogs, one of which is a Jack Russell Terrier.

During the 2016 holidays, a 10-year-old Jack Russell Terrier named Sancho spread some holiday cheer at the San Gabriel Valley Medical Center in California. Sancho, whose owner brings him each week to the hospital to entertain the patients, rode around in a toy Volkswagen bus all over the medical institution, dressed in a Christmas outfit. The hospital has a pet therapy program to help patients with anxiety. 

Photos of Sancho during his run on his VW bus immediately went viral. In a week’s time, the images had netted more than 8,000 retweets and more than 11,000 likes on social media.

Large-Scale MLE Sign Installations for Chase Bank

Mike Loftus is a respected entrepreneur who guides MLE Merchandising & Sign Solutions, Inc., and focuses on meeting the brand promotion and servicing needs of diverse corporate clients. Emphasizing turnkey solutions, Mike Loftus and his MLE team members have undertaken a number of high-profile “brandvironments” projects. 

One recent high-profile engagement with Chase Bank involved setting in place a coordinated Serena Williams graphic rollout spanning 10 states and nearly 80 locations. Timed to coincide with the start of the U.S. Open tennis competition, the advertisements required site-specific placement and a truly custom approach to installation. Veteran professionals oversaw all assignment details, including printing, production, design, and site surveys that enabled seamless installation over a one-month period. 

MLE has also undertaken a recently completed Chase Bank graphic change-out project throughout the New York and New Jersey region. This special project focused on the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular and involved replacing Serena Williams graphics for ones that anticipate the holiday season.

The Cub Scouts of America

MLE president Mike Loftus leads the company in providing large-scale signage, renovation, and installation turnkey solutions from its headquarters in Elk Grove, Illinois. Outside his responsibilities with MLE, Mike Loftus serves as a den leader for the Cub Scouts of America.

 

Cub Scouts encourages young boys to learn through direct participation and teaches a plethora of camping and outdoor skills, such as tent pitching, tying knots, and cooking over a campfire. Scouts can participate in a wide variety of activities, from camping and hiking to field trips and service projects benefiting the community.

Cub Scouts is a scouting branch of the Boy Scouts of America for boys in first through fifth grade that value include helping others, social responsibility, and good citizenship. Scouting troops are called packs, which are divided into smaller groups known as dens. Dens consist of six to eight boys in the same grade, who in many circumstances attend the same school.

For more information on the Cub Scouts of America and scouting activities, visit scouting.org/Home/CubScouts.

A Look at the History of the Great Dane

Mike Loftus founded MLE Merchandising and Sign Solutions in 2002 and led the company to pass the $10 million mark within eight years of its launch. Mike Loftus enjoys spending time with his family outside of MLE. His family owns several pets, including two Great Danes. 

Despite its name, the Great Dane’s origins trace back to Germany and England, although canine historians hypothesize it may also have roots in Asia and Africa. Depictions of dogs resembling Great Danes appear as early as 2000 and 3000 BC on Egyptian monuments and Babylonian artifacts, and some zoologists believe the Great Dane’s lineage goes back to the highlands of Tibet due to its similarities to the Tibetan mastiff and the hypothesis that all mastiff-like breeds originated in Asia. Additionally, zoologists believe that mastiffs and Great Danes share a common ancestor in the Molossian dog, an ancient breed thought to guard livestock and people. 

Most of the breed’s known history occurs in Europe around the 14th century, with much of its primary development taking place in England and Germany. Previously known as boar hounds, Great Danes were once highly capable hunting dogs used to hunt boar. Hunters combined the speed of the greyhound with the musculature and physical prowess of the mastiff to create powerful dogs capable of taking down boars, which were among the Continent’s most powerful and savage big game. 

Breed developments toward the modern Great Dane started around the 1600s, during which time German noblemen began keeping the largest and most intimidating dogs at their estates. Fitted with velvet-lined collars, these dogs enjoyed the spoils of noble life, and their temperaments shifted over time from fierce hunter to loyal companion. They became a distinctive breed in 1880 and were originally named Deutsche Dogge, or “German Dog.” Credit for the title of Great Dane goes to French naturalist Comte de Buffon, who came upon the breed while traveling through Denmark. 

The Great Dane Club of America formed in 1889, although canine historians cannot pinpoint the date at which the breed first entered the United States.

Classifying the Dachshund Breed

Back in 2002, Mike Loftus founded Illinois-based middle market company MLE Merchandising & Sign Solutions with $40,000 of capital. By 2015, MLE had already reached the $25-million revenue mark. One of Mike Loftus’ other interests outside of work include pets. He and his family have a horse and several dogs, including a Dachshund.

The Dachshund is an interesting dog breed which was fittingly described by journalist H.L. Mencken as "half a dog high and a dog and a half long," a physical description which makes it distinct from other breeds. Despite its rather miniature size, it is also known for its tough personality. In fact, its name literally translates to "badger dog," as it has been known to be able to hunt badgers.

As with other breeds, the Dachshund breed also features different varieties. One way to categorize Dachshunds are based on their hair; they are either smooth (shorthaired), wirehaired, or longhaired. Different countries also have different ways of identifying varieties. In the United States, for example, Dachshunds can either be miniature (when they are under 11 pounds as an adult) or standard (when their adult weight falls between 16 and 32 pounds). Meanwhile, in Germany, the breed's country of origin, Dachshunds have their chest measurements taken at the age of fifteen months in order to be classified as either Standard, Miniature, or Kaninchenteckel.

Target and Starbucks - A Partnership in the Retail Space

Mike Loftus is a respected Illinois entrepreneur who guides MLE Merchandising & Sign Solutions, Inc., and offers a full range of brand solutions. His firm focuses on the installation and production of signage for retail and corporate interior and exteriors. Mike Loftus and the MLE team also take on space refresh projects. 

An ongoing MLE project spans Target stores across the country and involves Starbucks in-store remodels. Remodels are completed within a four- or five-day timeframe, and the firm has completed more than 70 locations up to the present. Remodels span all cabinetry, plumbing, drywall, lighting, and coffee bar countertops. 

Starbucks has partnered with Target in providing an in-store coffee shop experience for the past several years and maintains a close relationship with the nationwide big-box retailer. As reported in Fortune Magazine, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz presented before Target team members in an April 2016 event designed to rally a company that has weathered demographic-led turbulence following the recession. 

Having successfully rebounded through an innovative sales platform emphasizing e-commerce and collaborative branding through companies such as Lilly and Marimekko, Target is poised for growth once more. Mr. Schultz emphasized the importance of getting the basics and details right, with a focus on reminding customers of what they “fell in love with in the first place,” one cup at a time.

Introducing a New Dog to the Resident Dog

For more than 10 years, Mike Loftus has been serving as the president of MLE Merchandising & Sign Solutions, Inc., in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. In this capacity, Mr. Loftus oversees the growth of MLE as the company provides a full range of signage design, production, and installation. A dedicated family man, Mike Loftus enjoys spending time with his wife, children, and four dogs.

The process of introducing a new dog to a resident dog should be done carefully. At first, use cages or small rooms to keep the dogs separated. This provides the dogs with a sense of security and gives them a chance to smell each other before they actually see each other.



To promote familiarity with the smell of the other dog, switch toys or blankets periodically so their smells can be transferred from one dog’s space to the other. After some time, allow the new dog to roam the house while the resident dog is still confined. Next, the resident dog should be allowed to roam freely and explore the new dog's scent.

When introducing the dogs face-to-face, take them to a neutral area so their territorial instincts do not cause aggression. The dogs should be on leashes, but the leashes should be kept loose to reduce tension and allow the dogs to approach each other. 

Alternatively, have a friend walk the new dog while the owner and resident dog walk in front. Over time, the dogs will get used to each other and can be brought together. 

If the dogs show no signs of aggression after they have been brought together, they can be moved to an enclosed area. The dogs should be allowed to establish their own pack hierarchy, but extreme aggression by one or both dogs should be discouraged.

Wisconsin’s Great River Road - A Beautiful Way to Take a Road Trip

Illinois-based Mike Loftus and his MLE, Inc., branding and signage firm completed in excess of 15,000 client projects every year for the past three years. He started the company in 2002 and directed its growth to more than $10 million in revenue in 2010. Mike Loftus and his firm are committed to providing a wide range of high-quality digital graphics, interior and exterior signage, merchandising, and product roll-out services to their customers.

In his spare time, Mr. Loftus enjoys boating, sports, and travel, with road trips to Wisconsin a family favorite. The state offers plenty to do for visitors who love outdoor activities, including opportunities for camping, biking, fishing, and adventure sports.

Wisconsin’s Great River Road, a national scenic byway, opens out along the Mississippi River. The byway’s 250 miles in the state wind through 33 distinct communities set against high mountain bluffs, orchards, and farms. Travelers along its length can stop and enjoy fresh produce at the many local farmers’ markets or a taste of the products of the region’s fine wineries. They can tour historical museums and hike through protected natural areas, perhaps even spotting a bald eagle while doing so. 

The entire 3,000-mile expanse of the Great River Road, opened during the Great Depression in the late 1930s, runs through a total of 10 states.

A Glimpse of Three of the Best Caribbean Islands for Sailors

 


Through his own business at MLE, Inc., in Elk Grove, Illinois, Mike Loftus provides jobs for more than 100 employees. He started the signage and graphics branding operation more than a decade ago while still in his 20s, and since then, he has grown it exponentially. Even after bringing in more than $25 million in revenue in 2015, Mike Loftus is setting his sights on retirement, when he plans to live on a boat among the world’s islands.

A number of travel guides and websites have listed the best Caribbean islands for sailing. These include the British Virgin Islands, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Sailors love the British Virgin Islands, one of the world’s most popular yachting destinations. The 25-island chain extends along spectacular natural features such as out-of-the-way coves and bays. Experienced deckhands praise the steady, predictable winds, as well as the ease of hopping from one island to the next.

St. Lucia forms a natural midpoint for sailors navigating between the warmth of Caribbean waters on one coast and the depths of the Atlantic Ocean on the other. Sailors on a budget have found it very affordable and have loved the striking views of the island’s twin Piton mountains against the sea.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines offer plenty of tranquility. Only nine of the 32 Grenadines are populated, and the islands’ soft trade winds have beckoned travelers for centuries. Bequia, once a pirate metropolis, offers golden-toned beaches, shopping, and restaurants as a favorite port of call.