Exhibitor Interview: HALO Branded Solutions

Larry Lusky, CAS of HALO Branded Solutions, laughs when asked how long the family-owned, nationwide-known company has been partnering with TMEPA. "How old is Mike (Vinson)?" Lusky jokes. Lusky and his son, David Lusky, were hard at work setting up their both in the Exhibit Area, placing a variety of imprinted items on display – calendars, cups, pens, T-Shirts, lights and so much more. But these items only scratch the surface of what HALO Branded Solutions actually does.

In addition to a longtime partnership with TMEPA, nearly all of the imprinted items that TMEPA has at the Meeting and other events are done by the Luskys’ company. That company has been in business since 1919 and is a true family affair with Larry Lusky’s dad, David’s grandfather, still coming into the office. Larry has a Masters in Business, while David is the creative force in the company, something that started in high school and continued on in college. He says he takes after his great-grandmother, who was artistic. 

HALO is more than just "trinkets and do-dads," Larry says. The company is the largest producer of printed calendars in the U.S., with a large facility in the very small town in Minnesota called Sleepy Eye. HALO employees 900 of the town’s 3,000 residents. The company also works with household-name companies like Regal Cinemas (they recently designed Star Wars marquee posters for theaters); State Farm (for whom they print calendars every year); and the Country Music Awards (for which they make all the crystal awards – the most expensive awards in the industry, with the crystal imported from Florence, Italy). 

But working with TEMPA and coming to the Annual Meeting each year to exhibit, is a high point, as HALO has been involved in the municipal utility industry since the 1940s, when they first started working with TVA. "We know this industry," Larry says. 

As the continue setting up, TMEPA staff come up to the HALO booth and strike up conversations with Larry, who is one year out from a liver transplant after being diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer five years ago and given only one month to live. After going through such a life-changing event, Larry says that his belief in family, fairness and mutual respect has only grown. "Everyday is a blessing," he says. As Larry and David set up their booth, they both say they are blessed to work where they do and to be able to partner with TMEPA each year. Larry says the best part of the Meeting is the chance to get to talk with people, many of whom are now old friends, in a relaxed and fun environment. He says the cost to attend the conference is invaluable compared to the personal connections made each year. "There is nothing like talking with people away from their offices and normal routine," he says. "Seeing people here, in this setting, that connection is worth a million dollars."