Sandra Lowe

2.  What was the timeframe you worked at Microware?

2/1987 to 9/1998

3.  What was your job title(s) and what did you do at Microware?

Accounts Payable/Accounts Receivable Clerk, Payroll Clerk, Asst. Accounting Manager, Admin Asst to CFO

4. What is your most interesting or vivid memory of Microware?

My daughter Mallory standing on the Japanese glass table in the large conference room to close the blinds, tipping it over & breaking it in two, while I was working one Saturday.  We were getting ready for the upcoming audit & heard this loud crash from the conference room.  I thought I was done right then & there.

I forgot to pick up my son Michael at the Science Center Day Camp on the last day of the month.  The marketing dept was trying to run up the sales numbers, as usual, with beta copies of software.  I was attempting to manage the a/p, a/r & p/r functions at the time, Darla Wicks was a no show that day, so I was trying to get as many orders shipped as possible.  About one hour after I was supposed to have Michael picked up, it hit me.  It was one of the lowest points in my life as a Mom.

As I was typing a document for my H/R file regarding my upcoming short-term disability leave for having my 1st baby, my water broke.  I ran across the building to the bathroom where I sat until my husband drove from Panora to take me to the hospital.  Of course, he took the time to take a shower before driving to Des Moines to pick me up.

Chain-saw Denny … no need to explain that one.

Dave Davis having one blue & one green eye. - very strange  (I think Julie Krammersmeier may have had the same thing.

One Saturday as the accounting department was putting in OT, one of the employees' cars was repossessed.  (I won't say whose car it was.)

Before the no-smoking laws we finally passed, almost everybody smoked at Microware except me.  It was like working in a cloud.

When we had a dutch-door in accounting (or "sandyland" as it was sometimes referred to in the newsletter) people would come to the window and want to check out gym equipment for P.E. or place a McDonald's order.

5.  What were some of your favorite times at Microware?

Ken Kaplan setting off fireworks next to I-35 (by the kitchen patio) during lunch.

The Chinese Christmas Exchange & the cow tongue gift that kept on giving year after year after year…..  It was even spray painted once to be presented to Peter Dibble as the "Silver Tongue" Award.

FREE LUNCH!!! - Salad Bar EVERY day & especially TACO Friday!

The Flood of '93 - We had the only bathrooms in town thanks to Mark Hawkins & Rick Grewell! 

Getting my 10 yr anniversary watch.

Ken Kaplan making Microware one of the most employee-oriented companies that I have ever worked for, and probably ever will!  I remember one Christmas when I thought there would be no way we would get a year-end bonus, Ken found a way to make it happen.  Going public took those kind of decisions away from Ken & that was too bad.  If you worked hard for Ken Kaplan, he would make sure that you were rewarded!

6.  Have any experiences, skills, or habits that you picked up at Microware made an impact on your life?  Please share them with us. 

I learned more Excel short-cuts from Kent Kelderman and Carrie Voss than any class I could have ever taken.

7.  What was your reason for leaving Microware? 

By the summer of 1998 most everyone that I had been close to had already left, or was about to be laid off.  I had already been through a period of depression and thought that a change in my life may help keep me from getting so depressed again.  Plus, as more people were laid off, my workload increased. 

8.  What have you been doing career-wise since Microware? 

I worked for an Agricultural Based Financial Consultant in Jefferson, IA for about 3 years.  Then, I was the Deputy City Clerk/Finance Administrator for the City of Panora for exactly one year & one week (I hated that job.)  Now I am in the accounting department at Brokers International Ltd, also in Panora.  It is an insurance marketing organization that is privately owned.

9. Tell us about your family: spouse, significant others, kids, pets, etc. 

Mike is still in business for himself in construction.  Mainly does framing, drywall, trim & concrete work.  He stills spends much of his free time playing golf.

Michael Jr will be beginning his junior year in high school by Aug 04.  He will be the quarterback for the Panorama Football team.  He is has been the starting Center for the basketball team.  He is 6' 4", scored an average of 15 points per game and was the 3rd in his conference in scoring for the 2003-2004 season.  Michael also runs track & is planning to go out for golf at the same time as track.  He is also a very good student & carries a 3.79 GPA.

Mallory will be entering her freshman year of high school by Aug 04.  She is also tall 5'9" & likes to play volleyball and basketball.  She spends much of her free time babysitting unless she is chatting online with her friends.  Mallory is also a very good student.  She carries a 3.67 GPA.

11.  Do you ever see other former Microware employees and do you have their email addresses?  I talk to Sandee Cook & Kent Kelderman from time to time, mostly via email.  Kent & his wife Barb did come to the Des Moines Christian basketball game to see my son Michael play basketball in Jan 2004.  Kent's kids go to High School at Des Moines Christian.