Tempo Kenosha October 2021 Luncheon

Our speakers this month are Kathy Sustachek and Kristin Widmar of Rasmussen Diamonds.

Kathy Sustachek –Sales/Owner, 2nd Generation 

Kathy’s heart is anchored in family and harmony.  Kathy began in this business in the background, assisting in part time bookkeeping and secretarial work while raising 5 children.  When she became more involved, she found she loved the customers and enjoyed helping them to celebrate special moments with gifts of jewelry.  In order to gain a better knowledge of the jewelry industry and to properly serve the customer, she became a Registered Jeweler with the American Gem Society.

Kathy’s passion still is in marriage and family and she enjoys sharing those special moments not only with her own family but with the Rasmussen Diamonds family as well.  Kathy is excited to stay on in a sales/support role because she still enjoys spending time, and building relationships with the friends and guests she has had the privilege to know since starting at Rasmussen’s in 1977.

Past Boards served on:

• “Every Member” Campaign co-chair: American Gem Society
• Racine Chapter American Heart Association, Board of Directors, Past President
• Able Toastmaster – Bronze, President – Toastmasters, Racine Sunburst Club, Past President
• Family Service of Racine, Board of Directors, Past Vice-President

Kristi Widmar – Store Manager, 3rd Generation future owner 

Kristi is part of the Sustachek Family, the middle child, and has grown up in the jewelry business.  She has worked at Rasmussen Diamonds since 1990 and has been involved in almost every aspect of the business.  From 1999 to 2004, Kristi worked for Molina Fine Jewelers in Phoenix, AZ.  She was the administrative manager of the Molina Design Studio that has created multi-million-dollar diamond and colored stone jewelry. Some of her most memorable accomplishments during this time include assisting in the creation of the Fiesta Bowl Championship trophy and cataloging and assisting with the appraisal of the jewelry items found on the Titanic.

Kristi has earned her diamond grading certificates, and gemological education through the Gemological Institute of America, American Gem Society and many other continued education programs in the industry. Kristi took over management of Rasmussen Diamond in March of 2017. She is passionately dedicated to finding the best quality products at the fairest prices to offer our guests. The part of our manifesto that is most important to Kristi in everyday business decisions is: "We will practice integrity in all that we do, without exception."

Kristi's husband Daniel came into the business at the end of 2017 and together, they will become the next generation owners of Rasmussen Diamonds. Daniel is also a Racine Firefighter, and they have 4 children together, ages 16 to 11. It is essential to the couple to continuously strive for a strong, healthy balance of work and family life.