Before they made futons, what did they do?

The futon business is still young, so itÕs a safe bet that most of us started out doing something else. You know what you used to do for a living... but did you ever wonder about the others?

Here’s a look at the previous careers of some notable futoneers. See if you can match up each person with their old job. See the answers at the bottom of the table of contents.

Alan Bowden, Knockdown Frameworks
Ed Elsaesser, Ocean Imports
Buzz Farlow, Sticky Fingers
Bob Glade, Big Tree
Nikita Grigoriev, Nikea Futon
Shari Hammer, SIS Covers
Steve Leichter, Harlee International
Jim Martin, Cotton Works
Tom Meade, Collegiate Furnishings
Bob Naboicheck, Gold Bond
Mark Schlichter, August Lotz
Nancy Taylor, Dream On Futon
Mitch Wapen, Lofa Sales
Tony Wolf, Wolf Corporation

A. “I worked two years as a project engineer for a petrochemical equipment manufacturer.”
B. “I was an office manager at Western Washington University, in the Office of Academic Advisement.”
C. “I was a high school history teacher, and I still have a tendency to give lectures. Just ask anybody from my staff or my family!”
D. “I’m chronically unemployed. I had a hippie leather shop where I sold hats, clothing, and bags. Three businesses later, I stumbled backwards into the futon business.”
E. “I sold life insurance stock in Africa, sports cars in Germany, and then I went to New York to sell for Xerox in Manhattan. After four years with Xerox, I realized that I had no future with them.”
F. “I was the maitre d’ at an exclusive restaurant. Almost everything was carved or served flambé at the table. The signature dish was our flaming spinach salad, which I once served to Dan Rather.”
G. “I was a traffic officer with the California State Police for seven years. I still have my uniform, my service revolver and my handcuffs.”
H. “I was a carpenter. I did residential remodeling, and I started making futon frames in the garage. It think it was an excuse to buy some shop tools.”
I. “I was sales manager for a concrete pipe manufacturer.”
J. “I managed the furniture department at JC Penney in Stamford, Connecticut.”
K. “I was an airline pilot for United Emirates Airways in Abu Dhabi.”
L. “Believe it or not, I have never worked anyplace else. I started here when I was a kid.”
M. “I was in graduate school, planning to become an art teacher, and waitressing. My sister persuaded me to take a semester off to help her start a business. I never went back to school.”
N. “I sold resort properties in Virginia.”FL