Jay Bartkowski `87 Takes Over The Family Business

03/25/2008

Jay Bartkowski `87 has taken over The International Falls Coca-Cola Bottling Company Inc. with his father and grandfather still on board. The International Falls Coca-Cola Bottling Company Inc. is a family owned business that spans more than seven decades and three generations.

Jay Bartkowski, the son of owner James Bartkowski, and grandson of founding owner John Bartkowski, ended a 20-year accounting career to take over the business this past July.

Prior to joining the company, Bartkowski, a certified public accountant, was a partner in the Twin Cities Tax Group and Litigation Support Group with Virchow Krause for seven years. He worked with Lund, Koehler, Cox and Company until its merger with Virchow Krause. Bartkowski served as an expert witness and consultant, and spoke as an authority on family law topics to state agencies.

In addition to his work at Coca-Cola Bottling, Bartkowski coaches youth sports and serves as a member of the board of directors of the International Falls Chamber of Commerce.

More than the call to run the family business empire, Bartkowski said simply that it was good to return to a place to raise his and wife Julie’s three sons, John, 14, and twins, Jack and Jared, 11, where they have roots and family. He has been gone for 20 years but says the business was never far away and enjoyed getting to know all of the customers and store owners over the years.

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