SAJDAK NAMED NSRA RETAILER OF THE YEAR

SAJDAK NAMED NSRA RETAILER OF THE YEAR

Tucson, AZ –  (December 4, 2013) The National Shoe Retailers Association honored Jim Sajdak, C.Ped., as its Retailer of the Year 2013 during NSRA's annual leadership conference held Nov. 13-15 in Boston.

Sajdak owns Stan's Fit for Your Feet/New Balance Milwaukee, a five-location business headquartered in Brookfield, WI. He joined the company, founded by his grandfather and father, during the 1970s, and served as vice president for 16 years before becoming president and CEO in 1989. Under his leadership, Stan's Fit for Your Feet expanded from one store to its current multiple locations.

His company has been a member of NSRA since its opening in 1950. Sajdak was elected to the NSRA Board of Directors in 1995, and has served the Association as a conference speaker/panelist, an Education Committee member and head of several committees before being elected Chairman of the Board in 2001. As a past chairperson, Sajdak headed NSRA's NextGen initiative, which launched in 2009 and which, in partnership with the Family Business Center at Chicago's Loyola University, works with NSRA members on managing the complexities involved in bringing new generations into a business.

Sajdak is a past recipient of NSRA's Al Singer Award, which recognizes innovation, creativity and perseverance in retailing; and of New Balance Athletic Shoe Company's Riley Award, which honors stores both for providing an outstanding in-store experience and for being an active partner in the community they serve. When he received the Riley Award, Sajdak was cited for his company's Share-A-Pair Shoe Drive, which has collected more than 140,000 pairs of new and gently used shoes, distributing them through Father Gene's Help Center, Repairers of the Breach Homeless Day Shelters in the Milwaukee region, and Soles4Souls internationally; for involvement locally in Race for the Cure, Girls on the Run, Brigg's & Al's Run and Walk for Children's Hospital of Wisconsin; and for funding school supplies for the school located within Children's Hospital.

Sajdak's family – wife Susan; sons Andrew, David and Ben; and daughter Megan – were on hand for the award presentation, during which Susan remarked, "It's a testament to who you are as a father and businessman that all our kids have decided to work in the business with you.”

Sajdak himself noted that his grandfather was a tanner and shoemaker and that following his father into retailing taught him many lessons. He also expressed gratitude that his children have elected to enter in the family business, adding, "It's humbling to receive this award, I thank you.”

In presenting the Award, Alan Miklofsky, head of Alan's Shoe House and also a past chairman of NSRA's Board of Directors, said, "Jim is a great business man because he is also a leader that allows other people to shine [including] his four children who are now in his business. He has managed to balance being a great father, husband and business owner – and that is a reputation that we can all support. I am personally very proud to call you my friend.”

Rick Ravel, chairman of NSRA's Board of Directors, commended Sajdak for his many contributions to NSRA and to the footwear industry, as well as to his community. NSRA president Chuck Schuyler added, "Jim Sajdak truly believes that the biggest returns come from giving of one's time, energy and heart to others. He has demonstrated that belief in many ways over several decades, and it's a real pleasure to recognize him on behalf of his many colleagues and friends within NSRA.”

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Website Acknowledgement: http://www.nsra.org/?page=Retailer_of_the_Year