Host Gregg Garrett and guest Gina Thorsen, CEO of Jacquart Fabric Products and the Stormy Kromer brand, sit down to discuss the power of reflection. Gina shares her “Top 3”: her father and former Stormy Kromer CEO, Bob Jacquart, who taught her how to be plucky; Lane Clark, who helped her learn to asynchronously reflect; and Karen May, a fellow small business owner and peer with whom she can reflect and mutually relate. And you have to hear what she says about closing the book on your week.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

During this episode:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:01) Seeing the forest through the trees

(4:28) Meet Gina Thorsen

The “Top Three”:

(7:25) Gina’s father and former Stormy Kromer CEO, Bob Jacquart: Taught her how to be plucky

(15:44) Lane Clark: Helped her learn to asynchronously reflect

(20:30) Karen May: Fellow small business owner and peer with whom she can reflect and mutually relate

Other Points of Interest:

(23:47) The Ironwood experience

(30:14) Textile industry landscape

(37:49) Iconic Stormy Kromer caps

You Have to Hear This:

(43:55) Closing the book on your week

LINKS AND RESOURCES

Gina Thorsen: LinkedIn

Stormy Kromer: Website | LinkedIn

Jacquart Fabric Products: Website | LinkedIn

Gregg Garrett: LinkedIn | Twitter | About

CGS Advisors: Website | LinkedIn

ABOUT GINA THORSEN

Gina Thorsen is CEO of Jacquart Fabric Products, home of Stormy Kromer, the iconic outdoor apparel brand. As part of the third generation of Jacquart family members to oversee the business, she is the first female CEO in the brand’s 120-year history.

Before rising to CEO in July of 2022, Gina served as the company’s president, overseeing the development and nurturing of Stormy Kromer’s branding. During her tenure, she successfully expanded a small, century-old line of caps for working men into a complete apparel and accessory collection for the whole family and their pets, increasing the product offerings five-fold.

Under her leadership, the Stormy Kromer brand has experienced continuous growth, with sales increases of more than 20% in each of the past two years. Gina refreshed the brand to appeal to women and younger customers while maintaining her core buyers. She hired the company’s first apparel designer, launched Stormy Kromer’s first pet products collection, and led successful collaborations with national brands such as Carhartt, Wolverine and Merrell. Gina also transformed the brand’s online presence through strategic digital marketing and a completely revitalized website.

Before rejoining her family’s business in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Gina spent 11 years in Dallas, Texas with Big Thought, one of the nation’s premier youth development nonprofits. As Vice President of Research & Program Development, she managed the nationally recognized program, Dallas ArtsPartners, and led the development of new programs such as Thriving Minds. She helped secure significant national funding and shared Big Thought’s programs and strategies with communities across the nation through speaking engagements and consultancies.

Gina holds a Master’s Degree in Arts Administration from Goucher College in Baltimore, MD and a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts Management with a minor in music/voice from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. She was recently honored by Northwood University as a 2023 Outstanding Business Leader. She serves as an officer on the board of directors of the Small Business Association of Michigan, and is a member of the Federal Reserve Ninth District Advisory Council and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Alumni Board.