INT (interviewer): Hello, Mr. Reis. We’d like to ask you to please introduce yourself to our readers.
WRE (Werner Reis): My name is Werner Reis and I’m 50 years old. I’ve been working for CODICO since February 2008. I have two key responsibilities at CODICO: For one, I’m a sales engineer supporting our major telecom customers in Germany; and, second, I’m also a product line manager for one of our key active component suppliers – MINDSPEED. 
I’ve been married for 28 years and have two grown kids who have both already moved out. My wife and I live in our own town house in Fürstenfeldbruck, west of Munich, which is also where I work from.

INT: What is important to you, Mr. Reis?
WRE: On the job, good team work with my colleagues is very important to me, as is taking good care of our customers and suppliers alike, and keeping them fully satisfied. When I’m not working, I like to stay fit – both physically and mentally.

INT: Tell us about your hobbies?
WRE: I made my first childhood hobby – tinkering with electronics – into my profession, and I still like to keep up with the rapid technological advances even in my free time. As a “byproduct” of this interest, it’s also been my habit to repair all the electrical and electronic appliances around the house, and I’m always searching for better technical solutions. I also like to travel – as far away as possible, since I’m sure I’ll still be able to visit the closer destinations in the Mediterranean when I’m older. By then I will probably also want to avoid sitting in a plane for hours on end! In summer, I like to ride my bicycle a lot to stay fit. In fall, I like to go hiking in the mountains on sunny days. And I always need to spend a few days on the ski slopes in winter. I usually take my camera along for free-time activities, since I like to document everything.

INT: What is your motto in life?
WRE: To live and let live.

INT: And what are your key goals, Mr. Reis?
WRE: One of my biggest goals in life has been, and still is, to own a house with my wife. We still don’t own our current one entirely, but we’re getting there. That also brings me to my second big goal, which is to gain financial independence for my retirement years, so that I’ll still be able to freely pursue my hobbies and leisure activities.

INT: What could you never do without?
WRE: My camera on vacations!

INT: What could you never forgive?
WRE: There is nothing that I couldn’t forgive somehow. Some things may take longer to pardon, but I believe that forgiving is very important to maintaining one’s own personal satisfaction.

INT: What is your biggest wish?
WRE: To one day travel through the southwestern USA. In addition to the Grand Canyon, I’d like to see some of the other national parks in that area, like Arches, Bryce Canyon and Monument Valley. Two other big wishes of mine recently came true for my 50th birthday: One was to visit the city of Edinburgh and the other was to see at least one live performance by my favorite band, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. I managed to fulfill both on July 11, 2009!

INT: With whom would you like to trade places for a day?
WRE: In truth, with no one.

INT: What do you need to optimally start the day?
WRE: A good coffee – despite the fact that my Austrian colleagues tell me good coffee doesn’t exist in Germany!

INT: Is there anything you get upset about?
WRE: Poor communication and documentation, as well as bad teamwork.

INT: Name some of your typical traits?
WRE: I’m reliable, meticulous and well organized, as well as open and honest.

INT: Thanks for the interview!
WRE: Thank you!

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