HOME I am Robin Strasser

By Julie Young |

Robin Strasser has never been afraid to take on a new challenge. As the director of administration and finance for the Fort Wayne – Allen County Airport Authority, she has overseen everything from accounting to purchasing and IT to HR. However, this month, she will become the CFO of Lasting Change, Inc., a faith-based non-profit that serves as a parent company to a family of nonprofits designed to help individuals succeed, families thrive, and communities prosper.

“This [new position] will allow me to be part of a team that is making a difference in our communities by restoring and strengthening individuals and families,” she said.

Strasser has lived in the Fort Wayne area her whole life, growing up just east of the city in Woodburn where she attended Woodlan High School. She earned her degree in business administration from Indiana University – Purdue University Fort Wayne. She received her certified public accountant license, which allowed her to have a varied and interesting career right in her own backyard, so to speak.

“I have literally never left the area,” she said. “My first job out of college was with Baden, Gage & Schroeder on the audit staff, and then I went on to work in CFO positions for a long-term care facility, credit union, communications tower start-up, nonprofits, and local governmental units. I also worked in the financial services industry for several years. It’s been fun and has provided a journey of life-long learning.”

Strasser said that Fort Wayne has been a great place to live and work because the people are friendly, and there are several entrepreneurs who run successful businesses and add jobs to the local economy. With safe neighborhoods and an affordable cost of living, Fort Wayne is family-friendly and continues to expand the entertainment and activity options for those who call it home.

“When I am at home, I enjoy relaxing on my covered patio when the weather is warm, often with a good book or a knitting project,” she said. “Around town, my husband Mark and I enjoy live music and a good cocktail. One of our favorite places is The Club Room at the Clyde, but I also enjoy getting out on the trails for a long walk or a leisurely bike ride.”

Of course, family time is also important, and Strasser loves spending time with her two grown children and two grandchildren who also make Fort Wayne their home. When she is out and about, she can often be found at Baker Street Steakhouse, Proximo, or the Hoppy Gnome.

“I also enjoy a visit to Knitting off Broadway for creative inspiration,” she said.

As the next chapter of her life takes flight, Strasser said she likes to look at the big picture and determine strategies in order to attain goals, but in a world that seems to be moving at the speed of light, it is important to remain flexible.

“It’s rewarding to help others learn something new or expand their skills [so that they can] grow in their careers,” she said. a

By Hillary Knipstein

The Francis Shoppe’s founder and owner Marjorie Francis’s eye for fashion started early. When she was a teenager, she worked at a boutique. The owner encouraged her to pursue fashion because she had an eye for it.

When a storefront vacancy opened in Wabash, Marjorie and her late husband took that advice, and opened the Francis Shoppe. Since opening in 1961, the Francis Shoppe has styled the women of Northeast Indiana for all their big moments. Marjorie’s daughter, Terri Francis Alfred, grew up with the store and began working there as a teenager. After college, Terri returned to run the business and has been there ever since.

Terri describes the Francis Shoppe’s merchandise in three categories ranging from a size 4 to a 24: sportswear; street-length dresses; and long, formal dresses. The Francis Shoppe organically fell into the mother/grandmother of the bride niche in the early 2000’s. After Terri began attending bridal and women’s events in Fort Wayne, the Francis Shoppe has grown into one of the region’s preeminent vendors for mother of the bride/grandmother of the bride dresses. It also developed a by-appointment personal shopping service, which provides clients with customized recommendations for building a wardrobe for a particular event.

After decades of working with clients, Terri prides herself on her extensive knowledge about her customers’ needs. “If you don’t know what to wear, I will tell you what will be right for you!” she said.

As she is choosing her merchandise, she has specific customers and their tastes in mind. “You can’t buy for yourself; you have to buy for your customers” she said. To make sure she has the best merchandise, Terri attends trade shows throughout the country and uses her long-standing relationships with suppliers.

In addition to knowing their customers, the Francis Shoppe stands out for its impeccable customer service. It has inhouse fitting and tailoring services, so customers leave with clothing that is customized to their individual measurements, eliminating the stressful process of getting alterations before

Terri’s favorite part of running the Francis Shoppe is helping customers find the right attire for important events and seeing them wear the final, customized products with confidence. The customers share her enthusiasm, and many become repeat customers. For example, Terri helped a customer select a dress for her child’s wedding and ensured that the fit was perfect. After the event, the customer called and glowed about her experience and asked for help finding a dress for another big event. After looking at the customer’s inspiration pictures, Terri selected a dress and called the customer in to try it

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By Ray Balogh