Sarah Herrick -Smisek

DLH Clothing

What do you do professionally?

I am co-owner and director of operations and outreach for DLH Clothing

How are you involved in the community? Do you volunteer with any organizations? Through DLH, I place a lot of importance on collaborations with other businesses and organizations. A few times a year, we do bigger fundraisers and donation drives that benefit organizations like Together for Youth and Safe Haven. Throughout the year, we also sponsor and provide donations for organizations whose values align with our giving missions.

I also currently serve on the board of directors for the YWCA Duluth and am chair of the Fundraising and Communications Committee. I’ve done a lot of work over the past 15 months to help restructure events to help make them more inclusive and better align with the mission of the YWCA.

What is important to you?

My relationships with my family, friends and community are really important to me. I’m so happy to have all of my immediate family here in Duluth and until recently, we frequently spent time together as four generations.

I thrive on connection and enjoy being a source for people to find the connections they need. It’s why I’ve always enjoyed volunteering and being involved in community organizations from a very young age. The older I get, the better I am about speaking up about issues that are important to me, racial and gender equality, and mental health awareness being at the top of my list.

How do you spend your free time?

Practicing yoga, hiking, reading, writing, spending time by the lake, and keeping up with our two young children. When my husband and I can sneak away, we enjoy watching live music, seeing a play or going to improv. I also recently purchased a paddle board and am really looking forward to a lot of time out on the lake.

Favorite things about living and working in the Northland?

The easy access to nature — a walk by the lake or a hike in the woods can be achieved with little to no advance planning.

Owning and running a business requires a lot of hard work, even more so during a pandemic, and we’re really fortunate to live in a community filled with so many

From the nominator supportive people. From organizations that provide business services and grant access to neighboring businesses that help promote one another, this community shows me how much they want our business to thrive.

What advice would you give to up and coming professionals?

Try not to lose yourself in a job. It’s important to learn and listen from those that came before you and it’s also important to have a voice.

Favorite moment in life?

Picking just one favorite moment in life is pretty hard, but the day I became a mom is way up there. It has been the most challenging and rewarding position I’ve ever had and has helped me figure out who I want to be for myself and my children.

Who has inspired you or your favorite motivational quote?

My parents, my husband, and my children have been my biggest inspirations; all teaching me something different and equally important.

“Sarah is a born-and-raised Duluthian and lives life by the motto, ‘community over competition.’ She feels deeply connected to this place that she calls home and her ability to share her challenges and victories through openness and vulnerability has served to engage loyal fans and followers of the DLH brand across all the U.S. and beyond, happily shipping orders internationally.”

— Michael Smisek