Barbara Brennan has offered employment opportunities to people with developmental disabilities through her business, Stride Inc., for more than 20ˇyears.
The company manufactures and distributes wholesale office supplies, like pens, binders and highlighters, to customers that include big corporations such as Office Max, OfficeˇDepot and Staples.
"We named it Stride because we felt that people were making strides in their development," she said.
Andrew Mwithi, business information coordinator for the company, said he has seen employees develop through their work.
"Brennan wants people to make that stride," he said. "Most people who work here come with nothing and become something."
Brennan said her life's mission is to inspire people because she has had to overcome many challenges in her life.
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When she lived in Virginia in the 1960s, her third child, Joe, was born with hydrocephalus, a condition where excess cerebrospinal fluid fills the brain. The condition results in a large head, memory problems, slow mental development, coordination problems and vision loss.
Brennan began searching for places that would accommodate Joe's needs but found no educational or recreational programs for handicapped children. That inspired her to start her own.
She got help from Catholic volunteers and hired three teachers to help her run a summer program in Virginia.
But Joe passed away before his eighth birthday.
"It took our whole family in a different direction," Brennan said.
She moved with her husband, Don, and her four children to Albuquerque. She worked with disabled people at the Rehabilitation Center, making pens and selling them.
Don encouraged his wife to buy the business, and in 1988 they did so and renamed it Stride Inc.
Three months later, Don suffered a massive heart attack and died. Brennan was left a single mother and business owner.
At the time, people didn't think women could succeed in business, especially having mentally disabled people as employees, Brennan said.
"As a woman, it's very hard," she said. "I had a lot of challenges, but that's always inspired me to work harder."
Business started booming 18 years ago, so Brennan's daughter Kerry joined her mother in the company and is now secretary and treasurer. Her two sons also joined her after Don's death - Brian is now vice president of manufacturing and runs the manufacturing plant in Reno. Patrick is vice president of sales in Albuquerque.
Of nearly 35 employees at two facilities, about 20 have disabilities.
Marie Charley, who is developmentally disabled, has worked with Brennan for nearly 30 years. Charley said she likes her job and loves working for Brennan.
"She's a very nice lady, and she helped me a lot," Charley said. "Not only me - there's a lot of people she helped a lot, too. She's a very good boss."
Another long-term Stride employee, Peter Hirsch, is autistic and does not speak. Brennan said Peter is well-liked and often does unexpected things.
She said that is the beauty of her employees.
"We have to work with these people to show them they have a self-worth and a value because so many people have cut them down for so long," Brennan said.
She said Stride's legacy will continue through her family. She would like to see the company grow and eventually belong to her children and grandchildren.
"I think I'll work here till I die," she said. "I can't think of anything else I'd rather be doing."
Running a successful for-profit business that employs people from all walks of life is Brennan's dream, she said, but she wants others to join in similar goals.
"I hope other people will work with people who are developmentally disabled," she said. "They are wonderful people, given the opportunity, and I hope I'm showing that they can be loyal and productive members of society."
Patrick Patten, Stride's bookkeeper, said working with developmentally disabled people makes for a stronger team.
"I learn more from them - real work ethic and overcoming problems is the greatest part of the experience," he said.
