Patsy Naseman was the first associate ever hired at Freshway Foods. When she joined the company, she shared an office with Frank Gilardi, and Phil Gilardi had an office around the corner by the production room in the 7000 square foot facility. Patsy handled accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, customer service, and every other office task needed to keep the fledgling company running. She also laid the groundwork for our company culture, through her positive attitude, strong work ethic, and pleasant disposition.
Fast forward 28 years, and Freshway is now over 400 associates, working together in a state-of-the-art production facility with over 100,000 square feet of space, to produce the highest quality fresh-cut produce. A lot has changed in 28 years, but one thing has stayed constant: Patsy’s positive attitude, strong work ethic, and pleasant disposition.
Patsy is retiring, and we want to take a moment to honor her service to Freshway, and the impact she has had on each of our lives over the years.
We held an award ceremony in her honor on Wednesday, and Patsy was presented with a plaque thanking her for her service to Freshway. Frank Gilardi and Phil Gilardi shared personal stories about Patsy, and spoke about how much they have learned from her over the years. Patsy was also presented with a poster of the company logo, signed by Freshway associates.
Wednesday evening, the celebration continued, with a dinner for Patsy, her family, and a number of Freshway associates. During the dinner, Patsy was “roasted” by her coworkers, with humorous stories, but also an abundance of heart-felt well wishes.
Although Patsy is retiring, her impact on Freshway will continue to be seen every day. We will miss her greatly, and we hope to live up to the shining example she has set for all of us.
Congratulations, Patsy, on your retirement. We love you!!