52 | Business World Magazine |
November 2013
prompt a banker advising to file for Chapter
11 Bankruptcy. As Sustar recalls, “This fel-
low was explaining how we could save our
assets, but shirk our responsibilities to oth-
ers we had been doing business with. I told
the banker, this little guy wearing suspend-
ers, I would just as soon kill him before I ever
screwed anybody out of anything ... some-
how, I was going to pay off everyone I owe.”
The bank, which had considered foreclos-
ing, ultimately decided to loan the company
more money. “They said I might just be crazy
enough to turn the operation into a success,”
says Sustar, who ultimately proved them cor-
rect. By the 90’s, loans had been repaid and
Fredon Corporation was expanding its ser-
vices and presence throughout the market to
ensure a new era of profitability. None the
less, profitability isn’t at the forefront of Sus-
tar’s considerations. He will also share a story
about a professional mentor who helped him
don a new perspective as to life’s priorities. “I
used to think work came first, then family,
then God ... today, I realize God has to come
first, then family followed by work ... and by
putting God first, that ultimately benefits
family and work.” Though conceding that
he often falls short of being the absolute re-
flection of moral virtue that he would like
to be, Sustar says principles are more impor-
Beaumont High School (L) and Madison High School (first and third place winners)
