Fargo INC! August 2016 | Page 75

Thanks to connections she made through the International Franchise Association (IFA), Stockeland had the opportunity to testify in front of the U.S. Senate on two new, separate federal regulations that she says she believes will hurt small businesses across the country. "You go in front of the Senate, and it's pretty nerve-racking," she says of the experience. "But just like everything in small business, you have to fight for what you believe in. And if you don't, who will fight for you? I have to speak up if I have the opportunity." actually at Nordstrom. And some consumers don't care, but I think a lot of them do." TOUGH BUT FAIR While Stockeland is the first to tell you she has her imperfections—she's working on slowing down and being able to sit still for more than 10 minutes at a time—her success isn't hard to understand. She's a good blend of old- and new-school, perhaps evidenced best by her unique take on workplace culture. "When we talk about culture," she says, "It isn't so much about having snacks always accessible or having TV time in the afternoon—those pieces that are spoken about a lot right now. To us, culture is making sure our employees are taken care of. We've always done that. I didn't start collecting a regular paycheck until about a year and a half ago, but my employees have always received their paycheck on time. That's a culture piece to us. "Making sure that whenever we can possibly give any type of raise, we do it. Even if that means I still don't get a paycheck. That's a culture piece. Also, not just selling someone a store and saying, 'See ya.' I want them to be leaders in their community and what that looks like could be that they're really involved in nonprofits, it could be that they're building their own team so they can open a second store or it could be that they become a better mom. But I'm still a little old-school when it c omes to, 'You're at work to work.'" Stockeland's also a third-generation entrepreneur and a native Fargoan and, as such, says she feels a unique responsibility to the area and her team of 12. "In a community where you're born and raised, there's so much given to you, and it creates the person you are," says Stockeland, who, despite logistical inefficiencies, has kept MODE's corporate headquarters and shipping operations in Fargo. "And so to be able to give back and be able to give jobs to women from this area is pretty fantastic." MODE shopmodestore.com 4302 13th Ave. S #13, Fargo 701-478-9969