provided by Cannondale

June 26, 2003 – A six-person TV crew from the Travel Channel visited the Cannondale factory in Bedford, Pennsylvania last week, shooting a segment for a new television series entitled “Made In America.” The resulting 10-12 minute Cannondale segment will air early next year when the series debuts, and is likely to be re-aired periodically in subsequent months.

According to Kathleen Cromley, Travel Channel Executive Producer, Cannondale was selected for the series because of the company's strong brand recognition and reputation for quality. “'Made In America' is a celebration of the best products produced here in the U.S.,” said Cromley. “People sometimes forget that many of the finest products in the world are produced in America, and the series will serve as a wonderful reminder that innovative design and state-of-the-art craftsmanship are still very much alive in the U.S.” Other companies that will be profiled on the series include Harley-Davidson, piano maker Steinway & Sons, and Louisville Slugger.

The TV crew that visited the Cannondale factory included series' host John Ratzenberger, best known for his role as mailman Cliff Clavin from the long-running NBC sitcom “Cheers.” Ratzenberger and the TV crew did on-camera interviews with a number of Cannondale employees, including Troy Clark of the company's engineering department, Mark La Plante, who heads Cannondale's in-house testing facility, and communications director Tom Armstrong.

Chris Ressler of nearby Altoona, Pennsylvania was also featured. Ressler is the owner of eight Cannondales and has the company's “C” logo tattooed on his calf, and he was highlighted to underscore the amazing brand loyalty common among Cannondale owners.

When not shooting scenes for the segment, a warm and gracious Ratzenberger chatted and joked with Cannondale employees, signed autographs, and posed for photos. Besides hosting the “Made In America” series, Ratzenberger recently worked with Ellen DeGeneres, Academy Award-winning actor Geoffrey Rush, and Emmy Award-winning actress Allison Janney providing voices for characters in this summer's animated hit film “Finding Nemo.”