Dianne and Mike opened Rising Sun Martial Arts Supply Ltd in August of 1995. Her previous experience in liquor retail management provided invaluable skill sets when they embarked on this new adventure. Dianne had started to work for the former Alberta Liquor Control Board when she was barely out of high school. Over the years, she worked her way up the corporate ladder from store employee, to manager, and eventually an operations coordinator.
   
Unfortunately, like so many other ALCB employees in 1993, Dianne found out one day through the media that she and her fellow workers had fallen victim to the governments plans for privatization. Ms Cooper was better off than most as her position in management meant that she would be one of the last to go.
Her new role was to go about the Province and close liquor stores which, one fateful day, began with an accident that was to change her life. Dianne met her future business partner and husband after her truck rolled on the highway. Mike was part of the emergency medical services team responding to the call. The day was Friday the 13th.
In her spare time, Dianne manages to ride her mountain bike in the summer time, attend martial arts seminars and tournaments, and assist in the instruction of self defense seminars. She is also a competent marksman. Dianne has completed firearms training with the Gunsite Training Academy in Arizona as well as Tactical Response. She is an avid reader and loves to cook when it can be scheduled in. Her broad smile and infectious good humor welcome all those who come through the door at Rising Sun.
She's really the boss, Mike's just "window dressing" !
|