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Borsheims Ike-It Award Winner Embraces Kindness

Senior buyer’s assistant shares her daily inspirations.

Published

5 months ago

May 1, 2023

INSTORE Staff Instore May 2023 Issue

Borsheims Ike-It Award Winner Embraces Kindness

Wendy Johnson, senior buyer’s assistant for Borsheims, has been selected by her colleagues as the winner of the company’s prestigious Ike-It Award, named for Ike Friedman, who owned the company from 1947 to 1989. Johnson, who grew up on a farm outside of Albion, NE, earned a bachelor of science degree in apparel marketing from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She began working at Borsheims in Omaha, NE, in 2007 and was promoted in 2019. “Our staff is grateful for her positive attitude and tremendous work ethic,” said Borsheims CEO and president Karen Goracke. Johnson lives with her husband Matt and sons Andrew, Aaron and Nathan, who all love soccer. “If I’m not working, I’m at one of their sporting events,” she says. “I like to walk a lot, hike, travel with my family, I just love being outside.”

Wilkerson Testimonials

Wilkerson: “They Feel Like Family”

Newton’s Jewelers in Fort Smith, Ark., was a true institution. But after being at the helm for most of his life, owner (and descendent of the original founder) Kelly Newton decided it was time to retire. He chose Wilkerson to handle the sale. “I’ve known the owners of Wilkerson for a long, long time. I felt at home with them,” he says. The final retirement sale was just a “blast” and the Wilkerson sales team made it so very simple and straightforward, says Newton. Would he recommend Wilkerson to others? Absolutely. “They’ve done incredible work,” says Newton. “They feel like family.”