Today at Blessing we are employing 100 craftsmen, who take a great deal of pride in the products that they manufacture. In fact, our workforce is really one big corporate family. Blessing workers are producing in three manufacturing buildings on West Beardsley Avenue, on Elkhart's northwest side.

Our main factory building houses our soldering department, machine shop, buffing room, final assembly department, shipping and receiving and also our corporate offices. Next door, in plant 2, our bell making department is in full operation. Down the street we have our recently relocated flute operation. Yes, we also make flutes, along with the complete line of brasswind musical instruments that we offer. In coming months we will feature actual manufacturing operations on our web page. It's truly amazing what we do to brass, nickel silver, and other metals. rve been around this business all my life, and rm still in awe of just how much skill our workers exhibit when they spin, form, polish, solder, mill, strap, hone, bend, engrave, lacquer, and on and on...

Being a closely held company has its advantages. We aren't burdened with ownership that has interests other than the music industry. Consequently we're able to focus on bringing products to market that offer exceptional value. Our Elkhart quality, when combined with an extremely favorable pricing structure, makes for a winning combination. I played trumpet through high school, and definitely feel that instrumental music is a vital part of today's education scene. Our aim is to provide products that enhance a student's ability to succeed in school music. And, this experience is made all the better if their instrument is price friendly.

Blessing is proud to be a part of the Elkhart manufacturing environment. Elkhart has long been considered the band instrument capital of the world, and Blessing would be Elkhart's oldest family owned musical instrument company. I guess you could say we're the best kept secret in the music industry. We strive to take care of our customers without a lot of fanfare. Friends of our company like the style in which we do business. It's honest and straightforward This is especially refreshing in today's fast paced business world

Grandpa Blessing would be proud of our company today as we enter our 99th year of manufacturing. His dream lives on, and rm honored to be able to carry on in his footsteps.

Sincerely,
Randall A. Johnson
President