Stride is a unique business, which manufactures and sells office products, including ring binders, writing instruments and other products. The name Stride was trademarked in 1982 and was chosen because products were made by special employees -- people with disabilities, who had a job and were earning a paycheck. Since that beginning Stride’s primary mission has been the employment of physically and mentally disabled people. Products may be assembled or packed by someone who is autistic, retarded or has Asperger’s syndrome.

Stride was purchased from a Sheltered Workshop in Albuquerque, NM in 1988 by Barbara Brennan, who had been managing the business since its inception. Stride sells across the United States -- its headquarters are in Albuquerque, NM and a manufacturing plant is located in Reno, NV. The company was certified in 2008 as a Women Owned Business Enterprise by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. Other certifications include:

• California Supplier Clearing House
• New Mexico Highway Department
• State of Washington

The company’s philosophy is to supply customers with the highest quality products available at competitive prices while offering excellent customer service and the opportunity to employ people who are developmentally disabled. Stride’s quality and fast delivery enable it to sell to some of the biggest corporations in the United States. In addition to quality, Stride’s mission is also important to customers and its phenomenal sales growth reflects that importance. Sales of $2 million in 2000 have grown to almost $8 million today.

As Stride grows, community interest in the Stride story grows as well. Stride has been named one of the “100 Top Women Owned Businesses” by Women’s Enterprise USA magazine, named one of the “Top 5000 Fastest Growing Companies in America” by INC. magazine; chosen as one of the top diversity owned businesses in New Mexico by Diversity.com, chosen in The “Top 25 WBE’s In New Mexico” by NM Woman magazine, and Barbara Brennan has won the Public Service Company of New Mexico’s “Entrepreneur of the Year” award.

Stride currently is at work on its own Supplier Diversity Program. It has established a data base of suppliers by product and service category with the goal of spending as much as possible with minority owned businesses, physically disadvantaged businesses and women-owned businesses.