GARY DAKE:
A FAMILY WORK ETHIC IN ACTION It might be fair to say that being born with the last name of Dake is synonymous with possessing an exceptional work ethic.
learning everything about it, from manufacturing and distribution, to farmer relations and accounting. Today, when Gary talks about the company and its partners, he talks about “goal congruence,” or, more simply put, “all of us pulling on the same side of the rope.” A visitor can see evidence of this theory in action in every corner of the company: whether you’re visiting the ice cream plant, the shipping and receiving area, or when you walk into any one of our over 330 Shops. The ESOP, or employee shared ownership plan, is one of the key factors that fuel the success of goal congruence.
President of Stewart’s Corporation and son of William P. Dake, Gary Dake is true to his family’s name. He took over as President in 2003. But his career really began when he was eight, riding along in a delivery truck “to help out” his two older cousins. At age twelve, Gary was working in the plant, doing a variety of jobs ranging from janitor to lawn mower. By the time he was 16, he was working in the dairy and learning everything from processing, to bottling, to packaging and preparing for shipment. Later, while attending college at St. Lawrence University, he spent his summers working as foreman in the company’s ice operation. After college graduation, Gary complied with the family rule – set down by his father, Bill and his uncle, Charlie – which said that you had to work elsewhere before making the decision to come to work for the family business. Gary got a job with Agway, working in their farm credit department. While he was there, he began nurturing the relationships with farmers and gaining a deep understanding of the unique economic challenges they face on a routine basis. He developed a deep empathy and rapport with his farmer clients that continues to serve him well today in his role at Stewart’s. (See what the farmers say about Gary in “Fresh and Local: Come Take a Farm Tour” on page 62.) “When I decided to come back to work for Stewart’s, my dad asked me to join the dairy operation. He knew that my time at Agway gave me the understanding and experience with our local farmers that would enable me to continue the excellent relationships that Stewart’s already enjoys with them.” That was in 1985, and Gary’s first official title – as an adult – working for Stewart’s was “market coordinator.” For the next several years, Gary immersed himself in the dairy operation, 92 | STEWART’S SHOPS 70 th ANNIVERSARY 2016
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