Retail Therapist
Kathy Kolder
One of Silicon Valley’s quirkiest success stories is big-box pioneer Fry’s Electronics, which opened in Sunnyvale 25 years ago and today operates more than 30 stores. Kathy Kolder joined the three Fry brothers at the start, overseeing operational and legal matters as the executive vice president. “She was the only one who knew anything about selling,” one of the brothers admits. Privately held and headquartered in San Jose, Fry’s owns a PGA-ready golf course, is building a castle for its math institute and has been generous with local arts groups. Kolder’s command of the nuts-and-bolts is a big reason why unconventional ideas have succeeded at Fry’s.
