SAJDAK NAMED NSRA RETAILER OF THE YEAR
Saturday, December 7, 2013
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Posted by: NSRA
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
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