Alumni Spotlight

By Brandon Martin '98

Those feeling worn from the winter weather-don't worry! Our first featured female alums are happy to revitalize your spirit for spring.

For the fourth in our series of alumni to be spotlighted, the E-Sader staff decided that since we'd highlighted three men in our first three articles, that we'd quickly make up time by showcasing three females with a gift for business and a business of giving.

Jill Bartels Bednar, '79

The bustle of business and classy retail shopping has always been present in Downtown Jefferson City, and our own Helias alumna, Jill Bartels Bednar, has more than added to the area's attributes.

This May, Bednar's business-Southbank Gift Company, located at 110 East High Street-will have been in business for six years and carries many unique gifts for her customers.

Along the left bank of Paris' Seine River, young couples walk the streets, aspiring artists create and sell their art, and travelers and locals relax at cafes. It's this atmosphere that inspired Bednar to start her own business, who felt, "If Paris has a left bank, Jefferson City should have a Southbank."

Inside Southbank is an oval showcase that runs almost the entire length of the business; it displays a variety of gifts ranging from home décor items to trendy hand-made jewelry. Outside the oval and attached to the interior walls are vertically striped black and white awnings, each with its own category of gifts under it, under one-baby shower gifts-and another-bridal gifts. You feel like you are shopping at several shops instead of simply one. The back of the store has a faux kitchen area called the "pantry," which displays over 300 different products.

French class may have contributed to Bednar's current endeavors but she credits Mr. Mike Jeffries' American History class for a quality education, "I remember reading Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. The book truly opened my eyes to not assume what is believed." 

Today Bednar, a Communications major from University of Missouri-Columbia, likes to open customer's eyes to new possibilities for decorating, gift giving, and throwing theme parties. Bednar said, "I love helping people. I tell people, ‘You don't need many of the things in this shop, but yet, you can't live without them.'" Bednar added, "Through this business I get to help a lot of local artists, some that need a little extra income like stay-at-home moms!"

Creating gift baskets gives Bednar an artistic outlet; she creates each with its own theme, like the Bee-Well Basket for those needing a honey remedy for recovery. To recover from working six days a week, Bednar likes to be with her husband or work on her favorite hobby: spoiling her only daughter.

From downtown, we move on to the west end and our second alumna featured. 
 

Cheri Crocker Willett, '87

"Bring the best of Missouri home," is Cheri Crocker Willett's slogan and passion. The owner of Missouri Made, Food and Gifts, operating out of The Marketplace at 3004 West Truman Boulevard, is happy selling in a "country" capacity. 

While wind chimes and decorative garden stakes stuck in straw bales line the porch, barn stars and bureaus filled with pantry items engage customers inside The Marketplace. While not all of the merchandise inside The Marketplace is made in Missouri, all "Missouri Made" products are, from producers whom Willett found.

In business for four years, Willett reflected, "The first hard part was finding the products. Now, they're coming to me." One retired Conservation Department photographer came to Willett, and today she's selling his mugs and trivets fashioned with birds or nature scenes.

Willett credits Helias, "At Helias they push you in academics. The hard-work ethic sticks with you-it stuck with me! It's the most important thing you can take with you."

Other than the work ethic, one remembrance Willett took with her was, "I was a freshman in tall flags [color guard] with the band and we were performing in the halftime show for the '84 State Football Championship game at Arrowhead Stadium. I remember being told that it was going to be nationally televised and I was really nervous; it turned out...we were awful!"

But that is not the experience customers have at The Marketplace, Willett said, "The most rewarding thing is when customers say, ‘I love this place! I can't wait to tell other people about this place.'"

Having majored in Business Management from William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri, Willett is equipped to direct around forty vendors that produce anything from spices and sauces to candles and country crafts. Hot items are phrase and garden items.

As a happily married mother of four, Willett is looking forward to spring when her store transforms into a garden center and when she gets to spend more time with her children. 

From the west end back to the east, we move on to our final alumna featured.

Susie Schaefer Hinds, '87

On Broadway in New York City there are plays that touch audiences on many levels. But at 618 Broadway Street in Jefferson City, Missouri, Susie Schaefer Hinds handles her clientele, one shopper at a time-personally-to find a purchase for permanent pleasure. Hinds said "It's very important to me to make everyone feel important."

Inspired by three business owners, two local-Pat Cramer and her father Jim Schaefer-and one Kansan-Mary Carol Garrity, Hinds' business-The Schaefer House, Distinctive Gifts and Home Furnishings began ten years ago in what is now a historic century-old house. When asked why she chose to run a business out of a house, Hinds answered, "I learned from Mary Carol that it is important to show customers products in the proper setting."

Inside Hinds' business, bright colored floral arrangements and cool colored bed linens freshen one of the four large upstairs bedrooms. Armoires filled with holiday housewares fill one of the downstairs rooms, and another room houses a small jewelry counter which is said to take the least amount of space but causes the most amount of interest.

Although The Schaefer House was built on a solid limestone foundation, Hinds acknowledges Helias for instilling core values, "Helias teaches you Christian values and how to stay true to them. Staying true to Christian values is a foundation that sets you up for success in personal and business world."

Continuing with a Catholic education after Helias, Hinds majored in Journalism from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, before settling down with a husband and three children.

Hinds sorely misses Brother James and Jim Rackers. "They were approachable and always constant; there was no gray area with them," Hinds said.

If Hinds had a superhero power, she would want to multiply herself to be in more than one place at a time: home, work, and shopping somewhere. Needing that power in high school, Hinds said, "I was known as the Tardy Queen! I got off some of the tardiness by rubbing oil on my hands and telling them, ‘I had car trouble,' but for punishment for others I would have to stamp the bulk mail for detentions," adding, " I was always trying to do one more thing, putting the most into everything."

Although our three alums work independently in gifts, all three are a gift to Helias!