Kitchen Solvers CEO shares communication lessons

La Crosse Tribune, Jan 17, 2004 by Cahalan, Steve

Gerald Baldner, who with his wife, Betty, founded La Crosse-based Kitchen Solvers Inc. in 1982, has learned a lot about communication in his 60 years.

The company's chief executive officer shares what he's learned in his new book, "What We Say is What We Get," published in paperback by Nelson Books of Elgin, Ill.

Baldner will sign copies at a book release party at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Kitchen Solvers headquarters, 401 Jay St.

"I've been a student of communication almost my whole life," Baldner said Friday, explaining why he decided to share his thoughts in a book.

"For years, I was a marriage and family counselor," said Baldner, who lives in La Crescent, Minn. "I've seen the effects of positive and negative communication in relationships. And I know how important communication has been in my life and whatever success I've achieved in business, and in my 39-year marriage and in raising our children.

"Another reason I wrote the book is I felt I needed a new challenge in life, a new goal for myself," Baldner said. "Writing a book seemed like quite a challenge. It takes a lot of focus and self-discipline." It took him nine months to write the 183page book.

"I've observed how important the way we communicate is in establishing positive or negative relationships," Baldner said. "The theme throughout the book is how positive communication can contribute to building

positive and successful relationships. It's a self-help, selfimprovement book that encourages people to take a look at their own communication style.

"I've tried to deal with the most important roles we have in life, whether it be our marriage, our families or our work," Baldner said.

"And I try to talk about the things I think either contribute to or take away from positive relationships, by the way we communicate."

There's even a chapter on the art of saying "I'm sorry" in relationships.

Baldner began his career as a school social worker, later was a marriage and family counselor, then was a college professor.

He and his wife founded Kitchen Solvers, a national franchising company that specializes in custom cabinet refacing and kitchen remodeling.

Kitchen Solvers has 139 franchise outlets in the United States and Canada.

The outlets together had about $14 million sales in 2003, Baldner said.