Celebrating Jay Kinder, Founder and President of Strong Man
Our hearts are heavy as the Strong Man family has lost our founder, president, and leader, Jay Kinder. Jay passed away on June 24th with his wife, Elaine, by his side. Jay and Elaine’s relationship flourished at both home and at work, which led the two to grow Strong Man from their garage to the successful business it is today.
“Jay has been my partner through it all, and his loss is the hardest thing I have ever faced,” said Elaine Kinder. “In all aspects of my life, both at home and in business, Jay has been my mentor. His ever-present kindness and respect for others is something I have always admired. My life without my partner will be forever different, but his spirit is something that will live on through me and our family every day.”
Jay’s constant dedication to service and his customers are at the foundation of Strong Man’s success. Jay made Strong Man a cutting-edge company, always with the newest technology and highest quality products, while never sacrificing service, a mantra he maintained throughout his entire career.
He always said, though, that his wife Elaine was the real source of his success. Elaine stepped in during the early stages of growing the business by overseeing the finances, and today still serves as the Strong Man secretary and treasurer. As Jay always said, “we’re the luckiest two people in the world.”
The entire Strong Man family is deeply saddened by this loss. As our leader for over 40 years, Jay’s presence and guidance are already missed. Strong Man will continue to live on, just as Jay would have wanted. We will carry on his legacy, putting customers first and maintaining a dedication to service and the highest quality materials, now under the guidance of Rafael Martinez. As current vice president of Strong Man, Martinez will assume Jay’s role as president.
With over 30 years of experience in corporate environments, and years of dedication to Strong Man, Martinez knows the business and is ready to oversee the company’s further success. Not only does he know the ins and outs of Strong Man, but he was also a close friend of Jay’s, making it even more special.
“I can’t imagine Strong Man without Jay; from the first day we met, Jay and I had an instant connection, brought together by our love for good food,” said Martinez. “In my years at Strong Man, that connection grew and grew. I’m ready to honor and continue Jay’s legacy at Strong Man, something I am immensely proud to do.”
Strong Man Safety Products, http://www.strongman.com/
