Membership Luncheon - An American Dream

Boris Miksic founded Cortec Corporation out of his garage in Minnesota in 1977. The business now has $100 million plus in annual sales. 

Armed with only an expired passport and cross-country skis, Boris Miksic made a daring escape from his homeland, Croatia, in early 1974. Miksic, who joined fellow college students in anti-communist protests against Yugoslavia, the ruling republic over Croatia, skied his way to freedom in Austria.  Once in Austria, Miksic reunited with his then-pregnant wife, Olga, who also fled Croatia. The couple sold their car for $400 in Austria, and used the money for one-way plane tickets to the United States. They had $37 left after paying for the tickets.

Those were the early days of what has since become a 40-year business odyssey that’s taken Miksic from New York to Minnesota, as well as a run for president for Croatia.