Strack & Van Til employees hit milestones, and continue to share their passion with the people they serve

At Strack & Van Til, employees are hitting major milestones in their careers. Some are celebrating over 40 years of working with the business, and they are continuing to share the love and passion that they have for their work to the customers they serve daily.

Strack & Van Til was where Michael “Mike” Nisevich submitted his first job application when he first turned 16 years old, and he has never looked back.

“I am deeply grateful for the opportunities I have been provided by the organization throughout the years. This is a great place to work,” Nisevich said.

Nisevich has had several positions within the company during his 45-year tenure, but he currently works as the center stores sales manager at the corporate office.

He begins his day early, around 6:30 a.m., with reviewing any opportunities presenting itself for the day. He is responsible for any product categories including pricing, advertising, merchandising, and procurement.

“This job is important to me. It helps fill my life with meaning and purpose,” Nisevich said.

Nisevich enjoys doing his part in making customers’ lives easier, and appreciates the family he has helped build at Strack & Van Til. Similarly for Debbie Standish, Strack & Van Til has long held a special place in her heart.

Standish has been working at Strack & Van Til for 53 years, starting when she was 21 years old. She has switched positions several times, but has remained a dedicated employee with the business.

“I’ve been here so long, it’s like my second family,” Standish said.

Standish first started working as a cashier, and later moved to service center and cash office. After working in these positions, she continued to move up in ranks and began managing payroll for over 20 years. She managed two store locations, the Merrillville and Portage stores, until her position was ultimately phased out.

Now, she works with Strack & Van Til’s online shopping department in Portage. Standish takes pride in her job, and has enjoyed getting to know co-workers and customers over the years. When Standish first had children, being part of a company who worked with her and her husband’s schedule was important to her, and Strack & Van Til did just that.

Similarly for Kathy Poby, cash office supervisor, Strack & Van Til worked with her family’s schedule as she and her husband raised their children. Poby was 19 years old when she first began working for Strack & Van Til, and she has continued now for 40 years.

“I had originally worked for another grocery store as a cashier and I was going to school at the time, and because I was only 19, I stayed around my hometown going to school,” Poby said. “I just needed something different and they offered me a position. They were opening up a store at that time, and they needed the CFMs, which were our customer service managers. I figured I would go ahead and do that.”

Originally going to school to be a beautician, Poby switched career paths once she began working at Strack & Van Til and raising her family. Poby’s family is her first priority, and she was able to work different hours and coordinate with her husband’s schedule, while being there for her children.

By the time her children grew up, a position at Strack & Van Til’s corporate office opened up.

As cash office supervisor, Poby oversees all the cash offices, which includes 23 stores. Poby loves working with numbers and problem solving, and she enjoys finding ways to make things better for those she serves.

Over the years, Poby has grown both personally and professionally. Initially, she was more reserved, but a former supervisor trained her in public speaking, resulting in her becoming more confident and growing into both her position and herself. Now, Poby acts as a mentor to younger workers as well.

“I like showing people that you may not always have your best day, but you can get there. It can be corrected, and there’s nothing wrong with saying you need help, because there’s been several times I haven’t known how to do things,” Poby said. “It’s reaching out and knowing to ask for help at that point and not feel like you’re being a burden on anyone. I like to let them know that I’m always here.”

Poby didn’t expect the career position she is in now, but feeling appreciated has made her continue to stay all these years. Strack & Van Til has continued to support her and she has been with them through many changes; She continues to show this same support to others through her role.

To learn more about Strack & Van Til, visit strackandvantil.com.