by Shelli Manning
Sometimes, if you're lucky, right in the middle of an ordinary day you meet a person who just can't help but bring good things to the world.
That's what kind of person Jesse Kaftanski is.
Jesse works for ANIMART, Inc. as part of their warehouse crew. He's a dad to a nine year old daughter, Esse Jo and a son, Jake. He builds surfboards. And he surfs
the Great Lakes. Jesse is also a person who carries an optimistic attitude with him wherever he goes and is a positive influence to those around him. He almost always has a smile on his face. Plus, he's a rock star, literally!One of the first things that sets Jesse apart from a typical Wisconsinite is he's an active surfer. A hobby he got from his dad, who picked up the sport when he was in the Coast Guard. Now, of course, being in the Midwest means Jesse lives far from the waters of any ocean, but he doesn't let that bother him; he surfs Lake Michigan. Up until now, you may not have even considered that it's possible to surf the waters of the Great Lakes. It is it's just a little more challenging than surfing in the ocean and it's definitely not for the faint of heart.
Since it takes fall and winter weather to create the conditions necessary to surf in Wisconsin, frigid water is just the beginning of the challenges wetsuit clad lake surfers have to be wary of as they take to the water. Waves arrive and dissipate quickly and are usually rough and choppy due to high winds. Sometimes surfers end up being out in the very same storm that created the waves they're riding. Freshwater means reduced buoyancy compared to saltwater, which adds drag to paddling; and during the coldest months, they even have to be mindful of dangers like shelf ice.
At least they don't have to worry about sharks
Jesse doesn't just surf, he also builds surfboards; his company Walk on Water Surfboards, LLC stemmed from a desire to build a board for his dad. He was heavily inspired by surf legend Thomas Blake, who was instrumental to surfing by being the first to hollow out a surfboard, thereby forever revolutionizing the design. When he learned Blake was from Milwaukee, he was even more inspired. Drawn to Wisconsin history, Jesse not only used Blake's work and technique as his muse, he put a cow on the logo.
Jesse's love of all things surfing has led to another connection in his life the most important one. At a young age, his daughter Esse Jo was diagnosed with autism. While Jesse feels fortunate that at her current age of nine years old, she has yet to display any noticeable effects that hasn't stopped him from being encouraged to support those in kind.
Amazingly enough, there is an organization that allows him to combine his love of surfing and his talent at crafting boards with his dedication to his little girl and others dealing with autism. Surfers Healing is a non-profit organization that provides surfing experiences to kids with autism in an attempt to enrich their lives. The foundation was created by Israel Paskowitz after discovering that his autistic son was profoundly and positively affected by surfing. Israel is the son of surf legend Dorain "Doc" Paskowitz;' patriarch of a family touted as the first family of surfing.' Jesse keeps in touch with the Paskowitz family and is proud to be able to offer tangible help to Surfers Healing by donating his very own craftsmanship to their annual fundraiser.
Another good move for his daughter was the one he made to Beaver Dam.
Nearly two years ago, when the temp agency he worked for asked if he was interested in interviewing for an opening at ANIMART, Inc., he thought to himself the pet store?' After a little internet research, he quickly learned that the position was in the company's large animal division. Then he thought large animals cows COWS!' Jesse put it together with the surfing cow on his own logo and felt like the Universe was telling him something. Perhaps it was indeed serendipity since the position has proved to be a good fit for both Jesse and the company. He says when he met ANIMART Inc.'s founders Dr. Jim and Ruth Metz - he sensed compassion and the family atmosphere which he knew was going to be a good place to work. The folks at ANIMART, Inc. who work with Jesse all benefit by his positive attitude, including his manager Ed Salettel. Ed says that Jesse's smile and optimism is spread through the department. Ed has actually enlisted Jesse's help to keep a positive attitude going in the warehouse which Jesse does through one simple acronym; PMA: Positive Mental Attitude
Jesse contributes by asking himself What can I do to make someone else's day?' This generosity of spirit benefits not only those around him, but it helps him too. Everyone has bad days, but he finds that bad days are a little easier with a good mental attitude. As for the rest of the days -- Jesse feels like he can do anything he sets his mind to accomplish.
One way Jesse might make your day is if you get the chance to hear him sing.
His rock star status comes from being the front man for a band called the Madpolecats. Another homage to Wisconsin is the very name of the band. It's a word borne of three others: Madison, Polish and Hepcat all combined to form a moniker that would encompass different aspects of the family band's sound and heritage. Madison is the birthplace of the band and was home to Jesse and other band members at the time of formation and the city's atmosphere lent to the hip vibe of the band's image. Kaftanski comes from a very musical family of Polish decent both legacies proudly celebrated. The final word, Hepcat, is a tribute to the type of music and image the Madpolecats portray. By combining traditional Bluegrass instruments with reggae / punk / jazz music, they end up with an eclectic mix they affectionately call Rastabilly Skunkgrass.
The Madpolecats were formed in 2003 and from the very beginning the band mates have maintained a few simple principals. The first is balance; all the members have families, day jobs and responsibilities that at times have to come before the music. That's not to say the lines don't get a little blurry sometimes, but keeping a realistic approach has let them continue to play gigs without compromising the other aspects of their lives. They're happy to take a family-friendly approach because it's the music that drives them not the lifestyle.
One the most memorable experiences for the band was the time they got a last minute phone call to fill in for the unable to attend, UW- Madison Marching Band. They agreed to the impromptu gig of course, but found the Badger red clad crowd less then thrilled to discover the Madpolecats in place of their beloved Badgers. After a few songs that got little to no reaction from the crowd, Jesse knew they had to do something if they hoped to salvage the show. After a quick huddle, a crazy plan was hatched and the band performed On Wisconsin' with kazoos! It worked. The atmosphere turned immediately and for the rest of the show the audience was happy and entertained.
You can find Jesse's band's schedule at www.madpolecats.com and you can find info about his surfboards on the Walk on Water Surfboards Facebook page. If you're curious about Great Lakes surfing, you can check out Wisconsin.Surfrider.org. And if by chance you happen to find yourself at ANIMART's pick-up center and a guy with a big smile, a cool, laid back rocker kind of style and infectious optimism carries your order out to your vehicle, that's probably Jesse Kaftanski. Do yourself a favor and say hi, he might just make your day.
About the Author:Shelli Manning is a freelance writer who has partnered with ANIMART, Inc. to share the human interest side of individuals in production agriculture and communicate their passions which contribute to our unique American Story. She is the published author of Little Fish, as well as a motivational speaker on women's issues and an advocate for the reduction of domestic violence.
1.28.2015