http://strideinc.com/ - A For-Profit, WBE, Providing an Integrated Workplace for People with Developmental Challenges!
Woman Owned
Family Owned
Diversity Business Enterprise
Historically Under Utilized Business
Maunfacturer & Distributor
Employing the Developmentally Disabled
The Story of Stride!
Barbara Brennan had a child who was born with hydrocephalus, blind by the time he was two, his short but full life ended shortly before his eighth birthday. The outgrowth of this personal experience sent the Brennan clan in a different direction. Working with the developmentally disabled became a way of life.
In 1988 the Brennan’s purchased RC Ink, a sheltered workshop making pens and renamed it Stride, Inc. (Stride). Early on, the decision was made to transition the business from a not-for-profit organization to a for-profit corporation. The Stride name worked because their disabled employees were making strides in their development and quest for independence.
Developmentally disabled people come from all walks of life and all types of heritage. No area of the population is immune. Often they become dependent on the government for support. They can be productive members of society and be taxpayers rather than tax burdens. In the years Stride has employed people with disabilities in an integrated environment; over 200 have out grown the pen factory and are now employed in the community – fortified with high self esteem and skills learned at Stride.
Stride knows that working, mastering a task, gaining a skill, is the best builder of self-esteem in the world. Some workers will stay at Stride forever, but a task, a skill, a place where a person can succeed can always be found. Some may cut ties to federal help completely. Others need a combination of employment and aid. The important thing is having a job to go to each day.
Work hours are flexible to accommodate transportation and other unique needs of Stride’s disabled workers. Through the years, business decisions were always made with Stride employees in mind. When Stride had to move, a new location was chosen on a bus route so the workers could get to work easily.
When the decision was made to become a for-profit corporation, Stride shifted the pen manufacturing business from a “government sheltered” set aside business to “head-to-head” competition with Avery, Uniball, Sanford, Pentel, Cardinal and the like. This decision has been successful with continual growth for Stride.
Stride, as a supplier of writing instruments to the federal government, was asked by GSA to provide them with a rollerball pen. Stride purchased the rollerball tips from Schneider Writing Instruments in Germany. The two companies formed a close and trusting relationship. In 1993, Stride and Schneider signed a partnership agreement in Germany for Stride to be Schneider’s exclusive agent in the United States. More importantly, Schneider executives informed Stride that they believed in, and would never interfere with, the mission of employment of the disabled. In 2000, Stride partnered with the Davis Group in Canada to sell their QuickFit binders in the United States market. The Davis Group also believes in Stride’s mission and has successfully added to Stride’s product line.
As the importance for diversity suppliers came into the purchasing arena, Stride became certified as a small, woman-owned business (MWBE), employing disabled people. This has led to Stride’s inclusion in major office product catalogues through their Diversity Programs.
Stride’s growth and reputation has been a factor in their survival and success, as well as their embracing the “green” philosophy when manufacturing. Stride only chooses suppliers who also think green. Stride’s philosophy is to supply customers with the highest quality products available at competitive prices, while employing their very valuable personnel.
QuickFit and ForeverGreen Binders, Eco-friendly products and writing instruments including Check Secure and Schneider Pens. QuickFit, EasyFt, Primo, Schneider Rave, Xpress, Memo, Edge, Slider XB, Base, Xite, Slider Touch Link-It, Line-Up, Epsilon, Perlia, Epsilon Touch, Contrast, Optima, Loox, Haptify, K3 Biosafe, K20 Icy, Office, Klick-Fix (KlickFix) Slider 755, Slide 710, Ray, Glam, Base Uni, Ceod Shiny, Vivaz, Base Senso, Breeze, Ray, One Change, One Business, One Hybrid C, One Hybrid N, Xtra 803, Xtra 805, Topball 847, Topball 857, Topball 811, Topball 845, Topball 850, Topliner 967, Topliner 811, Topwrite 147, Topwriter 157, One Highlighter, Maxx Eco 115, One highlighter, Maxx 130, Maxx 133, Maxx 230, Maxx 233, Maxx 240, Maxx 250, Maxx 280, Maxx 290, Maxx 293, Maxx Eco 110. Schneider imprinted.
