Quincy Herald-Whig | Illinois & Missouri News, SportsCedar Rapids company prepares for the President

President Barack Obama will speak at Conveyor Engineering & Manufacturing in Cedar Rapids Wednesday afternoon, kicking off a multi-state tour.

"I think they explained it like planning for a wedding in four or five days," Graig Cone, President of Conveyor Engineering and Manufacturing, said.

The company has been in the family since 1977 when Cone's dad started it in his garage in Shueyville.

"We mainly make stainless steel, mixtures, screw conveyors. A lot of different kinds of equipment," Cone said.

It has since then moved to Cedar Rapids and grown to more than 80 employees.

Cone says when his dad found out the President of the United States was speaking at his company, there were mixed emotions.

"My parents are pretty Republican. That made it kind of interesting. My son Brody is 19 and he was the one who spoke up and said this isn't about politics it's really about respecting the position."

Cone got a call Wednesday from the White House about the visit, but didn't really take it seriously.

"Friday, when 17 people with long black coats showed up at our front door, things got quite a bit more serious."

"This is the backdrop for President Obama's speech right here in Cedar Rapids. Graig Cone says it's been a little distracting for his employees leading up to this event. He says it will be all worth it as all 80 of his employees will have an opportunity to have front row seats to his speech."

"Otherwise they would have had a day off and that says something when they want to be here."