HISTORICAL BRIEF

A small scientific company, now known as Stranaska LLC, was founded in 1993 by Dr. Jerry D. Messman in the basement of his townhome located in Gaithersburg, MD. Originally structured as a sole proprietorship doing business as SpectroStandards Analytical, the new company was established with the bold vision of becoming the leading science-based commercial laboratory supplier of certified reference materials and calibration measurement services for analytical spectrophotometry. In 1996, Dr. Messman relocated the company to Fort Collins, CO. With its entire production team now in place, the company soon launched its reputable series of solid neutral-density glass and metal-on-quartz photometric reference materials based on the pioneering work, publications, and mentorship of Dr. Radu Mavrodineanu of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), formerly the National Bureau of Standards (NBS). In January 2001, the company formed a new business entity and officially changed its name to Stranaska LLC. At the beginning of 2003, following a decade of uninterrupted business growth and technical market leadership, Stranaska divested its commercial calibration laboratory operation so it could focus fulltime on establishing its new corporate identity and visionary leadership role in helping promote and advance the emerging field of analytical metrology.

PRESENT AND FUTURE

In January 2003, Stranaska began an exciting new era by formulating a unique private-based strategic initiative in applied research and educational outreach to facilitate the understanding, acceptance, and application of analytical metrology worldwide for scientific, technological, and consumer benefit. In conjunction with the introduction of this new era and entrepreneurial mission was the unveiling of Stranaska's core organizational unit, the Lowell W. Messman Center for Research and Education in Analytical Metrology (CREAM), which carries the name in honor of Dr. Messman's father. The company's current focus within the Center is on the design and development of innovative products and services that will facilitate the global harmonization of efficient and productive laboratory practices in analytical spectrophotometry and related measurement techniques. A primary objective of the initiative within the Center is to promote global awareness of the advantages and benefits of analytical metrology through education, and also how it can facilitate analytical measurement efficiency, traceability, and acceptance on a global scale. A secondary objective is to promote professional awareness and appreciation of the vital role of technicians in laboratory analysis and metrology, and to recognize and reward their important contributions and accomplishments. Efforts within the Center address the critical need to facilitate the career growth and development of technicians in laboratory analysis and metrology worldwide.

COMPANY NAME AND LOGO

The origin of the company name, pronounced Stran'●a●ska, can be traced to the family roots of the company's founder, Dr. Jerry D. Messman. Fabricated as a unique hybrid name, Stranaska is derived from two geographical names, Strang and Nebraska, the small rural town and state in the United States where he was born and raised. In Stranaska's phonetic-style logo, the snow-capped mountainous "A" emphasizes the business theme of Analytics which is central to the company's corporate vision and business mission, and it also proudly symbolizes the connection between the founder's formative years and humble beginnings in Nebraska and the company's present and future professional stature in its current Colorado location.