Monthly Updates & Leaderboard

JUNE 2023

Did you know?

Street addresses don’t exist in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Carmel-by-the-Sea keeps things old-school cool. The village is one square mile, with uneven cobblestone streets and no stoplights. You’d be forgiven if you thought it was plucked straight from a storybook. But it gets better. There are no street addresses, either; instead, the homes are given names. Seabelle, Odyssey, Cypress Song, and Whale’s Tail are just a few of the cottages here, each with enough charm to warrant wandering the lanes and getting lost in what makes this community magical. - Insider's Guide to Monterey

You’re welcome for the veggies.

Even if you’re the type that tries to hide your veggies under cheese or peanut butter, you’ve probably run across a smoothie, salad, or snack made with produce from the Salinas Valley. It’s said 70% of the lettuce produced in the US is grown in the rich, sprawling farmland found here. And with two of the other dominant crops of the region being leaf lettuce and strawberries, not to mention all the artichokes, we’re way into healthy eating. Salinas has thousands of acres of agriculture, making sure it earns its nickname, “The Salad Bowl of the World.” Vegetables aren’t the only produce coming out of our Mediterranean-like climate — we also grow some of the most coveted Chardonnay grapes in California, which means you can get your drink on, and get it on good.- Insider's Guide to Monterey

Eric Long 102
Thomas Seidl 78
Josh Hochgraber 77
Cory Gish 53
Jim McGuire 50
Doug Neely 49
Leslie Sampson 49
Erin VanderVeen Nelson 48
Brady Bruhn 45
Zach McBride 45
Shane Husen 41
Chase Ford 39
Joseph McCollum 39
Paul Schut 38
Ryan Zimmer 35
Chris Meyer 32
David Paalhar 30
Jason Atkinson 30
Michael Schwartz 28
Tausha Manseau 26
Andrew Jensen 24
Fred Kunkel 23
Charlie Seffinga 21
Brady Knettel 19
Jackie Meyer 19
Lisa Trogner 19
Rich Merriman 18
Wade Link 18
Jared Crimando 17
Lee (Roland) Huff 16
Joseph Muniz 16
Gary Winter 16
Darby Barron 15
Glen Dellinger 15
Crystal Piekarski 14
Tom Best 13
John Knipfel 13
Scott Pelishek 13
Rachel Dirks 12
Adam Hoffmann 12
Shawn Benz 11
Thomas Brewers 11
Leroy DePas 11
Brenda Wall 11
Jeremy Hall 10
Matt Hengel 10
Jake Pedersen 10
Mason Schulz 10
Taylor Neaton 9
Jared Cook 8
Katie Dillon 8

Jeremy Anderson 7
Carolyn Teigen 7
Scott Beaton 6
Jordan Heupel 6
Rich Klein 6
Karrie Altringer 5
Lonnie Berg 5
Ellery Bresnahan 5
Sal Cuomo 5
John Degerness 5
Kevin Johnson 5
Grady Bresnahan 4
Colton Kellen 4
Curtis Thompson 4
Andrew Altringer 3
RJ Curran 3
Ben Doty 3
Doug Doyle 3
Ryan Eivins 3
Jennifer LaMere 3
Mark Brandt 2
Christopher Burns 2
Alex Faucher 2
Dale Heilman 2
Jeff Kirchoff 2
Shellie Kunz 2
Brenda Mims 2
Chris Shoenborn 2
Paul Sorensen 2
Dan Beitelshees 1
Joseph Brown 1
Max Clausen 1
Spencer Hulebus 1
Scott Nielsen 1
Ronald Noel 1
Kyle Peterman 1
Ben Quinn 1
Jeremy Ryan 1
Eric Sahly 1
Roy Sellers 1
Trent Steffy 1
Justin Stonacek 1
Paul Trybul 1
Nick Vitale 1
Jason Voigt 1
Stephanie Ward (Lindemann) 1
Heather Wensel 1
Brady Windschitl 1
Gary Wooldridge 1

MAY 2023

Eric Long 101
Cory Gish 49
Jim McGuire 48
Chris Meyer 32
Josh Hochgraber 30
Thomas Seidl 30
Zach McBride 28
Joseph McCollum 28
Michael Schwartz 26
Jason Atkinson 25
Ryan Zimmer 25
Chase Ford 24
Fred Kunkel 23
Doug Neely 22
Charlie Seffinga 20
Erin VanderVeen Nelson 20
Jackie Meyer 19
Wade Link 18
Tausha Manseau 17
David Paalhar 15
Darby Barron 13
Scott Pelishek 13
Paul Schut 13
Gary Winter 13
Glen Dellinger 12
Adam Hoffmann 12
Shane Husen 12
John Knipfel 12
Crystal Piekarski 12
Jared Crimando 11
Leroy DePas 10
Brady Knettel 10
Lisa Trogner 10
Tom Best 9
Matt Hengel 9
Thomas Brewers 8
Brady Bruhn 8
Katie Dillon 8
Mason Schulz 8
Andrew Jensen 7
Jeremy Anderson 6
Shawn Benz 6
Jordan Heupel 6
Joseph Muniz 6
Lonnie Berg 5
Jared Cook 5
Rachel Dirks 5

Scott Beaton 4
John Degerness 4
Kevin Johnson 4
Andrew Altringer 3
Grady Bresnahan 3
Sal Cuomo 3
RJ Curran 3
Ben Doty 3
Doug Doyle 3
Ryan Eivins 3
Rich Klein 3
Jennifer LaMere 3
Taylor Neaton 3
Jake Pedersen 3
Curtis Thompson 3
Karrie Altringer 2
Ellery Bresnahan 2
Christopher Burns 2
Lee (Roland) Huff 2
Colton Kellen 2
Jeff Kirchoff 2
Rich Merriman 2
Leslie Sampson 2
Chris Shoenborn 2
Paul Sorensen 2
Brenda Wall 2
Dan Beitelshees 1
Joseph Brown 1
Max Clausen 1
Alex Faucher 1
Jeremy Hall 1
Dale Heilman 1
Spencer Hulebus 1
Brenda Mims 1
Scott Nielsen 1
Ronald Noel 1
Ben Quinn 1
Jeremy Ryan 1
Eric Sahly 1
Trent Steffy 1
Carolyn Teigen 1
Paul Trybul 1
Stephanie Ward 1
Heather Wensel 1
Gary Wooldridge 1

APRIL 2023

Did you know?

Dennis the Menace has a big but oddly troubled local connection. His creator, Hank Ketcham, was a longtime resident of Monterey County and died there in 2001. The park's original statue was stolen in 2006 and hasn't been found.

Dennis The Menace Playground is a famous playground in the beautiful city of Monterey. The playground is part of the El Estero Park Complex in downtown Monterey. El Estero Park consists of 45 acres that is packed with things to do, including renting a paddle boat for El Estero Lake. In addition to the playground and the lake there is a lighted ball field, a skate park, a youth center, a dance studio, a large group picnic area, and a snack bar.

Dennis The Menace Playground is open from 10 am to dusk and is free. It is closed on Tuesdays from Sept. to May. Seriously, the playground is behind locked gates - we found that out the hard way one year.

Speaking About Playgrounds...

Did you know that Monterey is one of the West Coast's whale-watching meccas? Head to the end of Old Fisherman's Wharf and you'll find loads of outfitters ready and waiting to take you out across the Pacific in search of the giants of the ocean.

Talking of the giants… the whales that frequent this corner of California include humpbacks and – the largest of the lot – blue whales. You'll want to organize your trip for the summer or fall months to be in with a chance of seeing those. In winter, you're more likely to see gray whales. Also, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for dolphins and sea lions – they're both residents of the rich waters near Monterey, too.

Cory Gish 47
Jim McGuire 45
Eric Long 33
Chris Meyer 31
Josh Hochgraber 27
Joseph McCollum 24
Thomas Seidl 24
Michael Schwartz 22
Ryan Zimmer 21
Jason Atkinson 20
Chase Ford 20
Doug Neely 19
Erin VanderVeen Nelson 18
Charlie Seffinga 17
Zach McBride 16
Adam Hoffmann 12
David Paalhar 12
Glen Dellinger 11
Paul Schut 10
Crystal Piekarski 9
Wade Link 9
Thomas Brewers 7
Brady Bruhn 7
Leroy DePas 7
Brady Knettel 7
John Knipfel 7
Darby Barron 6
Jordan Heupel 6
Tausha Manseau 6
Shane Husen 5
Andrew Jensen 5
Jackie Meyer 5
Mason Schulz 5
Jeremy Anderson 4
Jared Cook 4
Jared Crimando 4
Joseph Muniz 4
Scott Pelishek 4
Gary Winter 4

Tom Best 3
Rachel Dirks 3
Doug Doyle 3
Rich Klein 3
RJ Curran 3
Scott Beaton 2
Shawn Benz 2
Grady Bresnahan 2
Christopher Burns 2
Sal Cuomo 2
John Degerness 2
Lee (Roland) Huff 2
Kevin Johnson 2
Jeff Kirchoff 2
Jennifer LaMere 2
Paul Sorensen 2
Brenda Wall 2
Andrew Altringer 1
Karrie Altringer 1
Dan Beitelshees 1
Lonnie Berg 1
Joseph Brown 1
Katie Dillon 1
Ryan Eivins 1
Alex Faucher 1
Jeremy Hall 1
Matt Hengel 1
Colton Kellen 1
Fred Kunkel 1
Rich Merriman 1
Brenda Mims 1
Scott Nielsen 1
Ben Quinn 1
Jeremy Ryan 1
Eric Sahly 1
Carolyn Teigen 1
Paul Trybul 1
Stephanie Ward (Lindemann) 1
Heather Wensel 1
Gary Wooldridge 1

MARCH 2023

Did you know?

Several members of the crew, including the director, visited Monterey Bay Aquarium to study and get inspiration for the Pixar film, "Finding Dory"?
In fact, much of “Finding Dory” is set at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, depicted in the movie as the Monterey Marine Life Institute.

How the Monterey Bay Aquarium Influenced the Movie
On the trips to the aquarium, they captured tons of backstage photos in an effort to make the locations in the film look real. They found the human world is very desaturated and without color, and that the water tanks are full of color in the room. The location also influenced the rectangle and square design of this backstage human world.

While on their research trips to Monterey, they took a lot of photos from the point of view of the characters, so some of the photos are taken from the floor level, to mimic what the octopus' perspective might look like. They didn't recreate rooms from the Monterey Bay Aquarium itself but tried to recreate the feeling of the locations, mimicking the overall look and the color and incorporating little details.

>>for more behind the scenes

Brady Bruhn 2
Sal Cuomo 2
Adam Hoffmann 2
Brady Knettel 2
Crystal Piekarski 2
Charlie Seffinga 2
Erin VanderVeen Nelson 2
Brenda Wall 2
Karrie Altringer 1
Darby Barron 1
Scott Beaton 1
Tom Best 1
Christopher Burns 1
Jared Crimando 1
John Degerness 1
Ryan Eivins 1
Alex Faucher 1
Matt Hengel 1
Lee (Roland) Huff 1
Shane Husen 1
Colton Kellen 1
Fred Kunkel 1
Jennifer LaMere 1
Jackie Meyer 1
Brenda Mims 1
Joseph Muniz 1
Ben Quinn 1
Jeremy Ryan 1
Paul Sorensen 1
Carolyn Teigen 1
Heather Wensel 1

FEBRUARY 2023

We are excited to announce the first Technology Advisors and Sales Managers to be entered into the Monterey CA Leaderboard!

Their points are based on the number of Konica Minolta A3/Production Print units sold and/or attending the Deep Dive/General Session Lunch 'n Learn Zoom Sessions. Remember, the A3 units = 1 pt. and the Production Print = 3 pts. In addition, for each Deep Dive L 'n L you attend in person (once a month), you will receive one point and for attending ONE General Session L 'n L in person during the contest period, you will received one point.

Our January Deep Dive and General Session Lunch 'n Learn Zoom sessions are available for your view on the Monterey website under the Reference Materials Tab ==> Lunch 'n Learn Recordings

Look for your name and points to be added to the Leaderboard...for every Konica Unit you sell from January 1 to June 30, 2023

Monterey Bay Aquarium
Arguably the most famous aquarium in the United States, it continues to inspire visitors and conservationists more than 30 years after opening. Nearly 200 permanent exhibits introduce visitors to 35,000 creatures of over 550 species, a compelling reminder of our profound connection to the oceans. If the depth and quality of information available here aren’t enough to entice you to book a trip, the aquarium’s wildly popular sea otter and penguin feedings may do the trick.

From football-sized giant isopods to transparent jellies that glow, the deep sea is brimming with life. View these mysterious and wonderful animals in their newest exhibit — the largest collection of deep-sea animals in North America.

Only in Carmel-by-the-Sea...

Carmel is famous for some of its quirks and unique traits:

There are at least 41 courtyards and passageways throughout the village. They first debuted nearly 100 years ago, when architect Hugh Comstock began building fairytale houses and shops. Self-guided maps are available at the Carmel Visitor Center and at most inns.
Unwilling to see their village become "citified," Carmel's founding fathers rejected the practice of house-to-house mail delivery in favor of a central post office. To this day, there are still no addresses, parking meters, or streetlights, and no sidewalks outside of Carmel's downtown area. The local post office continues to serve as a social hub for residents, while those seeking directions receive hints such as "fifth house on the east side of Torres Street, blue trim, driftwood fence" or by the legendary names adorning most houses, such as "Periwinkle" or "Sea Urchin."
There are no chain or fast-food restaurants, nor national coffee shops in the village.
A permit is required to wear high heels --anything more than two inches in height or with a base of less than one square inch (don't worry, local police ignore it.) This odd law was authored in October 1963 by the city attorney to defend the city from lawsuits resulting from the irregular pavement distorted by tree roots.
* https://www.carmelcalifornia.com/

JANUARY 2023

"Once you are on this amazing trip that you did not win...but you earned through selling an amazing product like Konica Minolta, you will never want to miss a trip again."
- Crystal

"What a great way to get to know other women in our sales organization on a much more personal level. This was the perfect amount of pampering, wining and dining and comradery...can't wait to do it again."
- Jennifer

"This trip was eye opening for me. Not only was it beautiful with every extravagant detail planned, I had so much fun with the group! From elaborate wine tasting and the best food I’ve ever had, to being handed an envelope with cash for an impromptu shopping spree, It really couldn’t have been a better trip. I’m selling as much KM as I can this year—I REALLY don’t want to miss the next one! Thanks so much to Alison, Laura and Rebecca—memories will last forever!"
- Lisa

"Feeling like a celebrity is amazing! Konica and TMN put so much thought and effort into this trip. A complete expense paid trip. Our rooms were beautiful. The shower, the tub, the wine, drinks, snack, chocolates, patio, everything was first class all the way.

The food. Need I say more! A personal chef for lunches and dinners. The best dessert I have ever had. I am still full! 😊

We have such a small percentage of women in sales, and the majority, if not all, are Moms. We are “expected” to do all the Mom things, along with hitting our goals and taking care of our families. It’s nice to share that with others, and be reminded of the rockstars we truly are! 😊

It’s really hard to put into words how great these trips are. They are good for the soul. That may sound corny but coming back I feel refreshed, focused, and ready to work hard towards another great year! We aren’t seeing any other manufacturers offering these, so it makes it an easy choice of what to sell when you have a first class, all-expense paid trip to work towards."
- Jackie

The year John Steinbeck’s Cannery Row was published in 1945, nearly a quarter million sardines were processed on Cannery Row.
Monterey’s Ocean Avenue was officially renamed Cannery Row in 1958 after the success of John Steinbeck’s novel.
Monterey County’s grape growing districts are classified as Region 1 and 2, ranking them with the famed regions of Napa, Sonoma, and Bordeaux. The grapes produced are the most premium grapes in North America.
Backdrops around the Monterey Peninsula have been used for over 180 films, including Treasure Island, Star Trek: The Voyage Home, Basic Instinct, East of Eden, From Here to Eternity, and Lassie Come Home.

Historical Cannery Row

Few destinations feature as wide an array of historic, cultural and natural experiences as Monterey’s Cannery Row. Situated on California’s scenic Central Coast, Cannery Row is ideally suited for visitors of all kinds. Whether you’re a history buff, shopping enthusiast, food fanatic or nature lover, Cannery Row has a memorable experience just for you.

John Steinbeck plays a role in the history of Cannery Row...

Steinbeck’s strong personal attachment to Monterey was perhaps inevitable. Living in Pacific Grove, in a house owned by his father, Steinbeck wrote stories spiced with the vibrant tales of cannery workers and roughnecks he knew.

Cannery Row (1945), one of Steinbeck’s best and most widely read fictional works, immortalized Cannery Row as a one-of-a-kind neighborhood of fish packing plants, bordellos and flophouses, and made it the most famous street in America.