More than 30 members of the Warner family work for Warners’ Stellian, the St. Paul-based appliance business, including one from the fourth generation. Robert Warner, 56, the youngest son of founder Jim Warner, serves as president. He and his wife, Colette, have six children –– including T.J., who works as a senior sales associate at the Woodbury retail store –– and six grandchildren. They belong to St. Charles Borromeo in St. Anthony.
Q) You grew up in Como Park — not far from Warners’ Stellian’s headquarters — the youngest of nine. You have deep roots here.
A) This is neat for us to still be here, work here and be so connected to the area. Como Park is full of memories. To grow up in such a big family, there’s a lot of love and joy — and a lot of chaos. You learn people skills in a larger family. You have to navigate all the different relationships.
I was an altar boy at St. Andrew’s through senior year of high school. That was a given.
We were a modest family. We had to find things that didn’t necessarily cost money, so we were at the park all day long, exploring. We’d pack some paper and matches and harvest some wood and make a Dutch oven and dig up some hot dogs and buns. If we saved up enough pennies to ride our bikes up to Como Zoo and get a cherry snow cone, that was the best. The bikes went everywhere. We were just kids hanging out. Wouldn’t change a thing.
Q) What was it like growing up in the family business?
A) It was a great environment for a young man, with opportunities to get challenging work done — to make appliance deliveries and installations, to unload the trucks and work in the warehouse. I just wanted to make my father and my brothers proud. From the very beginning I had a yearning to work closely with my dad and brothers and never do anything else.
I found myself in some of the roles that no one else wanted to do, and I reveled in it because I had additional independence and opportunity to kind of put my hands on the wheel and run a piece of the business in my own way. With sales and marketing, there were more voices, more opinions. I think of all the beautiful people who have been part of our team. We have an alumni happy hour every year. We try to stay in touch. Those relationships matter.
Q) How does your faith guide you as president of the company?
A) It impacts everything — every single decision I make, in big ways, in small ways, in all ways. “Well, I’m tired, and I feel like resting, but I owe it to my team to shoulder up and serve together.”
We have foundational Catholic values — family, loyalty, integrity, passion. And everything points to service. That’s the Christian model.
Q) What makes a good leader?
A) I admire fortitude. There are some tough days, there are ups and downs, but the great leaders hold on. They’re sturdy. You can build things around stability.
We talk about servant leadership a lot here at Warner’s. We try to be sensitive (to) our customers. I tell our team: “Chances are somebody’s sick, there’s a financial hardship, there was a recent death. It’s probably not the washing machine. However, this one act of competent service makes a difference. I want you to serve really well and be proud.”
It’s OK to hustle for your customers. We see less hustle these days. When you’re installing an appliance, we like to say that, if it’s a five-minute request from our customer and it’s within our skill set — maybe it’s not on the work order — just do it.
Q) How have you evolved as a leader?
A) I’m a more patient leader now. I listen better. There’s more insight into how people work. I’ve learned there are many different styles of workers and leaders and to embrace those, to let that blossom. We use these assessment tools, and our leadership styles are posted on our office walls so you can take a quick glance: “Hey, this person is independent.” Or, “This coworker of mine is super collaborative. I’m going to have to slow down, provide more details, give them more time to come to a decision and circle back at the end of the week.”
Q) It’s not easy to be in a family business.
A) What I’ve learned makes it work is to appreciate everyone’s unique contributions and be grateful for their best, whatever it is. Look for it. Don’t compare. Their contributions will not be equal, and that’s OK. It’s not realistic.
Every now and then our Chief Mother Officer, my mom, will say: “The business is ruling the family. It’s been hard on us.” And I’ll say: “Mom, the business will keep us together. It’s allowed us to work and grow together, to sweat and laugh and fail and succeed together.”
The hardest part is right-sizing — finding the right opportunities for the members of the family, of which there are about 30 now. Close to 20 are in the third generation. Most are cousins, and they have really tight friendships. They do it all — they work in operations, repair, sales. They’re very skilled. We have a lot of bench strength. Many are in the 35 to 45 age range. They’re seeking opportunities to lead, and I take that very seriously.
The dean for the Family Business Center at (the University of) St. Thomas (Minneapolis campus) told us he wasn’t aware of a Minnesota family with more family members active in a family business than ours. That reflects back on our founder, my dad, and his graceful way. He drew people in — whether in business or friendship or faithfulness. We were drawn in. Now the next generation is.
Q) It’s been five years since your dad’s death.
A) He retired at 70 and then lived 20 more years. He was at every (Warners’ Stellian) event, every time we opened a store. My mom has carried on in his honor. She’s a rock.
Q) It sounds like you are, too.
I’m in an Exodus 90 (Catholic men’s faith) group, and it encourages discipline and sacrifice. The sacrifices are very modest compared to Christ on the cross. I can give up meat and take a cold shower for the day. I can cut back on spending. Just because we can afford something doesn’t necessarily mean we should have it.
I’m entering a season of my life where there’s this contentment. I don’t want more. I’m seeing with more clarity than ever what’s needed and what’s not. I’m desiring peace and the more meaningful things in life.
Q) There’s a shift happening in your 50s.
A) We’ve traveled to some really cool places, but I’ve come to peace with the fact that I’m not going to see every corner of the globe. I’m feeling like a little bit of routine is OK. That’s a surprise to me. I’m extremely spontaneous. But after 15 to 20 years of good intentions, I finally have a very consistent daily prayer ritual. It starts my day, every day.
Faith helps me remember what the goal is. It helps me not get lost in the daily grind. If we have a tough quarter — yes, I acknowledge that — but things are going to be OK. There’s more.
Q) How do you remain a lifelong learner?
A) My official education is very moderate, so I try to be proactive –– networking, attending Family Business Center events (at UST). I’ve always got at least one leadership book and one theology book going. I want to see a continued growing skill set for myself and for all of my team members. I want to see us hopefully be a little better tomorrow than we were today.
Q) What do you know for sure?
A) What I know for sure is: God is good all the time, and all the time God is good! The blessings are flowing like a river once you start to acknowledge them. We are beloved sons and daughters of God, our Father — and as St. Paul says, nothing can separate us from his love.
