Fourth generation of Dudas sees women in key business roles
Fourth generation of Dudas sees women in key business roles
One does not have to look further than Oviedo, FL, to find a perfect example of a successful multi-generational family in both its business and family relations. That is where the "seeds" for A. Duda & Sons were planted in 1909 when Andrew Duda immigrated from the then-Austro-Hungarian Empire, and where the headquarters of the now multi-faceted organization are today.
When he first arrived, Mr. Duda joined fellow immigrants in establishing a small farming community. For several years, he struggled to pay for the 40 acres he had claimed. The family's first cash crop of celery was taken to market in 1926, thus putting the company on the produce map.
Since then, the family and business have progressed into the fifth generation. The company is recognized internationally as the world's largest producer of celery, and it also produces radishes, lettuce, onions and sweet corn, which it markets under the "Dandy" brand. Besides Florida, it grows product in California, Texas, Arizona, Georgia and Michigan, with additional locations in seven other states and in Mexico.
The company's canned and frozen diced celery operation, known as the Duda Processing & Distribution Center, is located in Thomasville, GA. The Viera Co., a wholly owned subsidiary, handles commercial and residential development property. Duda also grows citrus and sugarcane, and it operates cow-calf ranches. For the first time in its history, active Duda family members now include women who hold key positions. Tracy Duda-Chapman, a fourth-generation member of the family, is vice president of corporate services and general counsel. Her duties include corporate services and in-house representation.
"Three branches of the company evolved in the third generation, which we refer to as the Ferdinand, John and Andrew branches," said Ms. Duda-Chapman. "It included eight men and six women, but none of the women worked in the business. Some did have careers in teaching and other fields, but they were not encouraged to work in the company. My generation is the first that has women actively involved."
The oldest of the fifth generation are just now graduating from college. Other than summer employment, they do not yet work in the company.
"There are 46 Duda family members in the fourth generation," said Ms. Duda-Chapman. "Two-thirds are women. This has created an interesting business dynamic. My father, Ferdinand S. Duda, holds the chairman of the board title today, but he retired as CEO last year. My parents had four daughters and no sons. Dad always wanted females to work in the business and never viewed it as only a man's industry. He was very proud when my sister Lauri Duda-Buckley joined the business in 1983. Today she serves as vice president of marketing for Duda Farm Fresh Foods Inc., the growing, packing, shipping and marketing arm of the company."
Another sister, Amy Duda-Kinder, is director of food safety and consumer affairs. Stacy Mello, Ms. Duda-Chapman's cousin, is the manager of corporate development and planning. Annie Hrncir, also a cousin, is an associate counsel. Another cousin, Donna Duda, has rejoined the company after several years away and now serves as its corporate communications specialist. Erin Hanas, also a cousin, recently started working for the company and is in the one-year rotation project. She will ultimately be permanently positioned as a business analyst.
Of the fourth generation of Dudas, 13 now work in the company, seven of whom are women. Ms. Duda-Chapman noted that spouses of family members are always invited to join the firm, and that five spouses of this generation are now Duda employees. The women meet quarterly to discuss education, charity work and other issues they have taken on as their responsibilities.
Duda family members also realize the importance of maintaining contact with far-removed family members and of their heritage. They stay in touch with a cousin, Jaroslav Duda, who lives in Czechoslovakia. The family sponsored him when he stayed for a year in the United States several years ago.
"Mom, dad, my husband and I have traveled to visit Jaroslav in Czechoslovakia, and another family member visits him every year," said Ms. Duda-Chapman. "He is an engineer and his wife is a dentist. We have very strong feelings about our heritage and our Christian beliefs and values. We try to always reflect those values in our business practices, and teach them to our younger family members."
Produce families like the Dudas know well the challenges involved in operating a multi-generational business, and they work hard to recognize and overcome them. One way they accomplish this is through the Duda Family Council, an official body whose function is to keep family members connected in both business issues and as a family unit.
"This group runs the business of the family," said Ms. Duda- Chapman. "When we meet to conduct business, we have a Duda shareholder meeting in the morning and a family meeting in the afternoon. People are elected to be the voices that speak for the family. The day includes activities for the youngest to the oldest members and with all family branches. This way cousins stay in touch throughout their lives."
All businesses must adapt to industry changes in order to succeed. Rather than becoming complacent with the growth and success of the business, those at the Duda companies focus strongly on how the industry is evolving and how to adapt to the changes.
"Traditionally, the industry operated under a production-oriented mindset: grow product and sell it," said Ms. Duda-Chapman. "It worked adequately for many years, but then the market began to change. Today it is imperative to not only grow what market demands dictate but to grow it in a specific way. This altered vista has also helped open doors for women to enter the industry."
Because women were traditionally the shoppers and keepers of the food budgets for their families, they have a deep understanding of consumer needs.
This explains why so many of the women who have entered the produce industry now work in marketing, communications and promotion. The need for these aspects has, in turn, benefited women by providing them with opportunities that were not available a few years ago.
Ms. Duda-Chapman said that her sister Lauri Duda-Buckley was the first female Duda who worked in the company, married, had children and continued to work.
"Lauri is a true pioneer," said Ms. Duda-Chapman. "It was a challenge because, like Duda women before her, she was expected to be a housekeeper once she had children. She held several positions before assuming her current title of vice president of marketing for Duda Farm Fresh Foods, including being a citrus sales representative. Lauri led the way for the rest of us, and she will always be remembered as being the first Duda woman to hold a significant role in the company. Because of her, we will all have more fulfilling careers."
There is a sort of unspoken philosophy in a family business culture that dictates where people fit in. Ms. Duda-Chapman's generation of women are pacesetters in this regard. Duda men traditionally entered the business in the production aspects, so the company had to learn how to bring female members into the business.
Ms. Duda-Chapman initially earned a finance degree in college. She was determined to find her own niche in the company, however, so she decided to continue to law school. She is the first Duda to become an attorney.
"It provided me with an instant level of respect because it meant I could service our company in a capacity that we could not function in prior," she said. "But respect in our family is based on much more than a person's level of education, degree or position. My youngest sister, Wendy Duda-Clark, is a kindergarten teacher, and my father is as proud of her as he is the rest of us. It's important to mention, however, that the female Dudas have had wonderful male mentors to lead the way for them. These men are known for their strong drive to succeed both in business and in their personal lives, and we are fortunate to have had so many wonderful teachers."
When he first arrived, Mr. Duda joined fellow immigrants in establishing a small farming community. For several years, he struggled to pay for the 40 acres he had claimed. The family's first cash crop of celery was taken to market in 1926, thus putting the company on the produce map.
Since then, the family and business have progressed into the fifth generation. The company is recognized internationally as the world's largest producer of celery, and it also produces radishes, lettuce, onions and sweet corn, which it markets under the "Dandy" brand. Besides Florida, it grows product in California, Texas, Arizona, Georgia and Michigan, with additional locations in seven other states and in Mexico.
The company's canned and frozen diced celery operation, known as the Duda Processing & Distribution Center, is located in Thomasville, GA. The Viera Co., a wholly owned subsidiary, handles commercial and residential development property. Duda also grows citrus and sugarcane, and it operates cow-calf ranches. For the first time in its history, active Duda family members now include women who hold key positions. Tracy Duda-Chapman, a fourth-generation member of the family, is vice president of corporate services and general counsel. Her duties include corporate services and in-house representation.
"Three branches of the company evolved in the third generation, which we refer to as the Ferdinand, John and Andrew branches," said Ms. Duda-Chapman. "It included eight men and six women, but none of the women worked in the business. Some did have careers in teaching and other fields, but they were not encouraged to work in the company. My generation is the first that has women actively involved."
The oldest of the fifth generation are just now graduating from college. Other than summer employment, they do not yet work in the company.
"There are 46 Duda family members in the fourth generation," said Ms. Duda-Chapman. "Two-thirds are women. This has created an interesting business dynamic. My father, Ferdinand S. Duda, holds the chairman of the board title today, but he retired as CEO last year. My parents had four daughters and no sons. Dad always wanted females to work in the business and never viewed it as only a man's industry. He was very proud when my sister Lauri Duda-Buckley joined the business in 1983. Today she serves as vice president of marketing for Duda Farm Fresh Foods Inc., the growing, packing, shipping and marketing arm of the company."
Another sister, Amy Duda-Kinder, is director of food safety and consumer affairs. Stacy Mello, Ms. Duda-Chapman's cousin, is the manager of corporate development and planning. Annie Hrncir, also a cousin, is an associate counsel. Another cousin, Donna Duda, has rejoined the company after several years away and now serves as its corporate communications specialist. Erin Hanas, also a cousin, recently started working for the company and is in the one-year rotation project. She will ultimately be permanently positioned as a business analyst.
Of the fourth generation of Dudas, 13 now work in the company, seven of whom are women. Ms. Duda-Chapman noted that spouses of family members are always invited to join the firm, and that five spouses of this generation are now Duda employees. The women meet quarterly to discuss education, charity work and other issues they have taken on as their responsibilities.
Duda family members also realize the importance of maintaining contact with far-removed family members and of their heritage. They stay in touch with a cousin, Jaroslav Duda, who lives in Czechoslovakia. The family sponsored him when he stayed for a year in the United States several years ago.
"Mom, dad, my husband and I have traveled to visit Jaroslav in Czechoslovakia, and another family member visits him every year," said Ms. Duda-Chapman. "He is an engineer and his wife is a dentist. We have very strong feelings about our heritage and our Christian beliefs and values. We try to always reflect those values in our business practices, and teach them to our younger family members."
Produce families like the Dudas know well the challenges involved in operating a multi-generational business, and they work hard to recognize and overcome them. One way they accomplish this is through the Duda Family Council, an official body whose function is to keep family members connected in both business issues and as a family unit.
"This group runs the business of the family," said Ms. Duda- Chapman. "When we meet to conduct business, we have a Duda shareholder meeting in the morning and a family meeting in the afternoon. People are elected to be the voices that speak for the family. The day includes activities for the youngest to the oldest members and with all family branches. This way cousins stay in touch throughout their lives."
All businesses must adapt to industry changes in order to succeed. Rather than becoming complacent with the growth and success of the business, those at the Duda companies focus strongly on how the industry is evolving and how to adapt to the changes.
"Traditionally, the industry operated under a production-oriented mindset: grow product and sell it," said Ms. Duda-Chapman. "It worked adequately for many years, but then the market began to change. Today it is imperative to not only grow what market demands dictate but to grow it in a specific way. This altered vista has also helped open doors for women to enter the industry."
Because women were traditionally the shoppers and keepers of the food budgets for their families, they have a deep understanding of consumer needs.
This explains why so many of the women who have entered the produce industry now work in marketing, communications and promotion. The need for these aspects has, in turn, benefited women by providing them with opportunities that were not available a few years ago.
Ms. Duda-Chapman said that her sister Lauri Duda-Buckley was the first female Duda who worked in the company, married, had children and continued to work.
"Lauri is a true pioneer," said Ms. Duda-Chapman. "It was a challenge because, like Duda women before her, she was expected to be a housekeeper once she had children. She held several positions before assuming her current title of vice president of marketing for Duda Farm Fresh Foods, including being a citrus sales representative. Lauri led the way for the rest of us, and she will always be remembered as being the first Duda woman to hold a significant role in the company. Because of her, we will all have more fulfilling careers."
There is a sort of unspoken philosophy in a family business culture that dictates where people fit in. Ms. Duda-Chapman's generation of women are pacesetters in this regard. Duda men traditionally entered the business in the production aspects, so the company had to learn how to bring female members into the business.
Ms. Duda-Chapman initially earned a finance degree in college. She was determined to find her own niche in the company, however, so she decided to continue to law school. She is the first Duda to become an attorney.
"It provided me with an instant level of respect because it meant I could service our company in a capacity that we could not function in prior," she said. "But respect in our family is based on much more than a person's level of education, degree or position. My youngest sister, Wendy Duda-Clark, is a kindergarten teacher, and my father is as proud of her as he is the rest of us. It's important to mention, however, that the female Dudas have had wonderful male mentors to lead the way for them. These men are known for their strong drive to succeed both in business and in their personal lives, and we are fortunate to have had so many wonderful teachers."
