Minnesotan To Meet: Judy Shoulak Of Buffalo Wild Wings

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Judy Shoulak oversees the North American division of Buffalo Wild Wings. She's has worked at big companies like JCPenny and Office Max, but her stay at Buffalo Wild Wings has been the longest.

While the road to the top has not been easy, a little adversity on the way to leadership position is proving to be some good medicine. That's what makes Shoulak this week's Minnesotan to Meet.

When you spend 14 years at the top of one of the most popular sports bars in the country, you're bound to get to go to some of the biggest sporting events out there.

"I got to go to a Super Bowl and meet Aaron Rogers," Shoulak said. "Rodgers told me, he loves BW's (as he called it) especially on Thursday nights."

Two years ago, Shoulak became the President of Buffalo Wild Wing's North American Division. The Wisconsin native and mother of three said she's been preparing for this job her whole life.

"Growing up in the Milwaukee area, beer, of course, and then I learned to love wings along the way," Shoulak said. "I'm a sweet garlic girl."

Shoulak started in human resources when there were just 200 restaurants across the country. Since then, the company has grown a lot and so have Shoulak's responsibilities.

"I oversee the U.S. and Canada," Shoulak said, "We're getting close to 1,200 restaurants."

Just like in Minnesota, those Canadians don't just test out different flavors of sauce, but also flock to the restaurants in the cold winter months.

"Hockey is big in Canada," Shoulak said.

Just before she took over the title as president, Shoulak was hit with tough diagnosis, Stage 2 breast cancer.

"Shocking and devastating, and I was in a leadership team meeting and I saw a phone call from my doctor's office," Shoulak said.

Now, almost five years cancer-free, Shoulak believes she is a better leader at home and at the office because of it.

"It's caused me to slow down just a bit more, get that extra hour of sleep and I encourage others to do the same," Shoulak said.

Shoulak was recently honored at 14th Annual Breast Cancer Education Association's (BCEA) Education Conference where she was given the BCEA Award. She modeled in their Sense of Style show.

She lives in Corcoran and her family started the music fest called Breast Fest to help raise money for breast cancer.

In total the annual September event has helped raise 150,000 for Breast Cancer research.