Meet Dayle Zelenka | Permanent Jewelry Business Owner, Landscaper, Mom, Wife

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dayle Zelenka and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dayle, what’s the most important thing you’ve done for your children?
I think one of the most important things I have done as a mom, wife, & woman is to start The Welded Company. The few months in between having my son and starting my business I would say was one of the hardest periods of time in my life. Going from working full-time to staying at home. Going from being very social & active to staying at home. Going from contributing financially in my household to relying on my husband to provide for us. It was a form of “culture shock” for me. I was not the best version of myself that I could be and that was unfair for my little family. Having The Welded Company to help me be immersed with amazing people and being able to turn my “mom brain” off for a bit and just be Dayle is the by far one of the best things I could’ve done for our family.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The Welded Company has something for everyone. Our main offering is permanent jewelry (custom jewelry without a clasp), but also offer beaded bracelets, custom engraving, clasps for those that want the option of taking their jewelry off regularly and lastly, we just launched a custom trucker hat bar! Having an array of offerings is definitely something I believe sets The Welded apart from others. The biggest thing, though, that sets us apart is when you are with us, you are family. Our goal is to have fun, laugh, and make you feel welcome wherever we are with a smile on our face. Life is too short to take things too seriously & not be happy, you know? Anything in life worth having is going to take work. Relationships, businesses, schooling, etc. But if you are doing something you love with people you love it doesn’t feel like work! Through everything I have gone through in life, professional & personal, I truly have to give all glory to God. He has put some amazing people & opportunities in my path, as well as not so great ones, to allow for growth & gratitude. Some amazing lessons I have learned along the way are:

1. The art of saying “no” and asking questions.
– Ask a question when you have one…the worst they can do is say no!
– Saying no is something I have struggled with for a long time. Not being afraid to say no is so freeing.

2. Community is everything.
– I have been blessed with an amazing support group consisting of family, friends, and strangers turned into cheerleaders! Lean on them. Cherish them. THANK THEM!

3. Faith is a necessity.
– Doors will open & close, but the timing in the grand scheme of things is truly perfect.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Ooolala! Great question. =

I live in West Olive, so the Lakeshore is my jam.

Upon arrival & once they got settled in…
– I would first walk to Kirk Park in West Olive to see the water, hike the trails, and watch the sunset.
– To finish the night with supper I would definitely take them to Sandy Point Beach House for fries, salad, & wine.

The next day…
– We would head straight to the Y for either Pilates or Water Aerobics
– Coffee at Side Bar in Grand Haven. Caffe Miel for me!
– Then we would walk around downtown Grand Haven to all the shops, by the water, and down the pier.
– For lunch we would swing through Toasted Pickle FOR SURE!
– At night time we would either go to a Grand Rapids Rise or Griffins game.

At some point in the trip…
– We would take a day trip to Grand Rapids explore Trader Joes, Horrocks, and Downtown Market
– Most likely eat at Rockwell Republics. Hello, yummy sticky chicken! 🙂
– Once we got home and relaxed we would be geared up and ready to make some jewelry & trucker hats.

On their way out…
– We would swing through Great Harvest Bread Company and get them a breakfast special to-go along with some baked goods to take on their adventure home.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The biggest shoutout for my successes has to all go to God. Through countless prayers, hours of self-reflection, and just trusting His plan I would not be where I am today. Secondly, my husband, Doug, has been an amazing supporter of The Welded Company. He has had my back and picked-up my slack when I inevitably overschedule myself! Thirdly, my family & friends have been the most amazing cheerleads, investors, and customers I could ever dream of. I truly could not do it without them! Lastly, this is super random, but the Grand Haven Y has helped me beyond measure. Being able to drop Ledger off to trusted workers while I am able to take some time to myself to workout, get some work done or simply shower helps is the absolute best.

Website: www.theweldedcompany.com

Instagram: @TheWeldedCompany

Image Credits
@Amyjo_vw (Instagram: Amy Huisken) Sincerely, Staci Andi B. Photography (headshot)