Calipe Chong was very helpful to me when I joined MTD at their corporate headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio and later specifically worked with him in co-ordinating key strategic international sourcing efforts between the U.S. and China. He was professional, detailed and communicative with me (and suppliers) in my supportive U.S. role with the development of the MTD facility in Suzhou, China. Together we visited a number of potential companies in China that successfully supplied products and materials to the MTD China manufacturing operation. He and I became good business associates due to our strong belief in solid purchasing ethics, cost savings projects, sourcing strategies, quality efforts, and supplier development. He was instrumental in educating me on the Far East cultures and business practices.