Emerence and Stan Sajdak in front of the original Stan’s Bootery.
The world has all types of people. Our founder, Stan, was the witty, charming and entertaining type.
“He could handle a store full of people like no one I know,” recalled his son and Stan’s Fit For Your Feet and New Balance Milwaukee’s president/CEO Jim Sajdak in a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article. “It was like he was juggling plates.”
But Stan’s Fit For Your Feet would not have become what it is today without the quiet leadership of Stan’s wife and Jim’s mother, Emerence. As the article said, “He [Stan] was the public face of the business. She [Emerence] was the busy silent partner, handling the books and other work.”
“You talked to her, and your life just sparkled after that,” remembered Jim. “She was always that strong person who had that vision for the growth of the business.”
While mothers are, of course, not all quiet, their work is often unsung. The days, months and years spend raising and rearing children include countless seemingly small but heroic acts of selfless love.
As a third generation family-owned local business, mothers have a very special place in our hearts. We are keenly aware that without them, we would not be the people or company we are today.
This Mother’s Day, we honor Emerence, the other mothers in our company and all mothers whose tireless and often unnoticed efforts have immeasurably shaped our business and lives.
The Sajdaks (L to R): Stan, Sue, Jim and Emerence.
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