Big Red

When Al Carlson and other Sun Hydraulics executives sought engineers for their new China office, they refused to compromise on five qualifications.

The right employees were so vital, Carlson jokes he's glad China has 2 billion people from which the company could choose.

The list of skills: a mechanical engineer; a deep, college-level understanding of fluid power; fluent in English; ability to travel to the United States for up to three months at a time; and, not insignificantly, a sense of humor. The company looked at a few hundred resumes, met with a few dozen applicants, and eventually, hired two people.