At 30 years old with our first baby on the way, Brett and I took the final step in making Yutka Fence our future. The company wasn’t handed down to us, nor would we have wanted it to be. In 2009 we bought it from Brett’s parents, Paul and Trudy, which meant we were financially invested. We already knew our hearts and minds and energy were invested, so the “transaction” of buying the company was the last piece. Our intentions were clear then, and they’re even clearer now. We are preserving Paul Yutka’s legacy while also working hard to leave our own positive imprint on another generation of communities and families we serve.
We will constantly raise the bar for the type of experience we create for our customers and offer product guarantees that are better than any others available in the fence industry. Our company culture focuses on collaboration and continuous learning to support each team member in their personal and professional journey of growth. We aim to do our best each day with our individual talents and create relationships with customers that are rooted in honesty by doing the right thing at all times.
At the core of everything is a
desire to dream big…
Brett and I met and became friends in high school, but we weren’t high school sweethearts. We attended different colleges but kept in touch. Looking back on it, we always saw something unique in each other that kept us connected. Little did we know, it would eventually lead to us dating at 22 and getting married at 26. I often wish I had more than one lifetime to live with Brett. Since one lifetime doesn’t seem like enough, the way I choose to spend my months and years with him matters deeply. The same is true for Brett. Being business owners and a husband and wife team who work together closely is an uncommon thing, and we are fortunate it works for us. It’s a gift. Setting intentions for our life and our business is energizing, and we discuss it often. At the core of everything is a desire to dream big and create a life for ourselves and our children that is rich with experiences and centered around being good people.
Our three children are growing up in the business, just like Brett and his brother did. While we have no expectations of them taking over the company, we believe the lessons they learn from watching their mommy and daddy run a business will influence their thinking and give them courage to be bold as they set goals and pursue their own dreams and passions. Honesty in life and in business is huge to us. The importance of it can’t be understated. Aside from that one rule of honesty, we like to remind ourselves, our team, and our children that most other “rules” can be questioned. Some of the most amazing adventures Brett and I have had in our marriage are when we challenge rules and norms and choose to do things differently. Pushing past the norm and forging our own unique path is exciting and fulfilling in our business and in our personal lives. We’re constantly on a journey of discovering and becoming more of who we want to be as people and as a company.
Honesty in life and in business is huge to us.
The importance of it can’t be understated.
If we’re doing things right, our company should be better this month than it was last month. We’re constantly on a journey of becoming more of who we want to be as people and as a company.
MEET BRETT
I love my life. I have an unbelievable wife and kids, and I couldn’t ask for better parents or a better brother. I’ve played soccer since I was 4 and I still play every weekend. I love it – the competitiveness, the physicality, the ups and downs. I grew up playing sports and working outdoors, which has translated into a passion for being in the woods at Petrifying Springs Park and being in or near Lake Michigan (I just finished a walk at Pets as I write this). My parents taught me the value of hard work and how to push through until you finish a job. I found my Laurie in college, and my life was forever changed. I had no doubt that she was my future, I just needed to convince her of that. Finally, I did, and I’m so happy that she chose me. We push each other to do some really cool adventures and are continuously figuring out ways to set up our lives to allow our family to experience as much as we can of this world – whether it’s in the woods in Kenosha or in another country.
I traded my office for a backpack and laptop, choosing to work remotely so that we could create a business that runs with my help, but not because of me. This seemed like a responsible way to protect the future of my family and our team. Most days I am working in the front seat of my truck or from a coffee shop. Some life-long stomach issues have been a blessing in that I have been forced to continuously learn new things about how to eat healthy, which we are teaching to our kids. That’s not always easy, but it is worth it. In my free time, I love to listen to business and self-help books and podcasts. My kids are my true passion. Seeing them smile or hearing them laugh is just the greatest thing. I am learning how to slow down and appreciate all the little cute things they do that are so easy to overlook – but are so important not to.
MEET LAURIE
I’m a proud mother of two boys and a girl. We always thought we’d have two kids, so we surprised ourselves by deciding to have a third and can’t believe it turned out to be a girl. I cherish the small, seemingly normal moments in life just as much as the huge milestones and celebrations. I love creating family traditions during the holidays. I also like creating small traditions we can look forward to during ordinary times, whether it be our living room camp outs, evening dance parties, or Sunday evening banana “ice cream” treat at home. I sometimes complain about the insane amount of time, research, and effort it takes to feed our family the way Brett and I have decided to, yet it’s one of the things I’m most proud of in motherhood. Eating healthy and being active isn’t a guarantee for anyone, but we’re doing our best to stack the odds in our favor.
Material things and brand names have never been important to me because I’d rather spend money on experiences, specifically traveling. My exchange program in junior high with a family in Mexico City and my year-long study abroad in Madrid during college had a major impact on my life and made me realize what I’m most passionate about. I love learning about new cultures, hearing and learning other languages, exploring new places without a definite plan, and seeing how people live around the world. After we spent four months in Italy and Spain in 2012 with our two boys, we decided to find ways to incorporate longer stays in other countries into our travels going forward. Life is beautiful to me, and I’m grateful for all the little things in my life that have impacted me in different ways to eventually lead me to the place I’m at right now.
