Freeport High School graduate, Dollar Tree executive Michael Witynski offers words of wisdom

Michael Witynski, the 1981 Freeport High School graduate who recently became Dollar Tree Inc.’s chief operating officer, has some words of advice for youngsters growing up in the same community he did.

“Make sure you surround yourself with good people,” he said in a written statement. “If you want a good life, surround yourself with great friends. If you want a good team, make sure you have great teammates, and if you want a great career, surround yourself with people who are smarter than you.”

Witynski, 52, should know. He describes himself as an average student who loved to play sports and have fun.

His industrious work ethic also began at a young age. He would shovel snowy driveways and mow lawns. Then, he began working for a construction company and kept that job throughout high school, even while playing quarterback for the Pretzels’ football team.

Witynski tried college, but it wasn’t the right time. He returned home after a few years at Western Illinois University and began working for a Supervalu Inc. grocery store.

He started moving within the company. He went to Des Moines and then returned to Freeport to open a Cub store, which also was under Supervalu’s control. He ran the Cub store from 1992 to 1995. Witynski stayed with Supervalu, eventually transferring to Chicago, and joined Dollar Tree as a senior vice president in 2010.

Kathy Witynski, his mother, still remembers visiting the Cub store. Her son liked to show off the neatly stocked shelves.

She’s been proud of her son, who, in time, was able to graduate magna cum laude with a business degree from Benedictine University in Lisle.

She has become a faithful shopper at Dollar Tree, where she likes to purchase pens, crayons and paper for her seven grandchildren, including three daughters - Kaci, 25; Paige, 23, Abby, 19 - from her Dollar Tree executive son and his wife, Cherie. They live in Virginia.

“He’s very excited," Kathy Witynski said of her son and his new job. “He loves the company and is very happy there. It’s a very fast-growing company.”

Erv Olson, Witynski’s former football coach, said youngsters can learn from his former quarterback.

Olson said, as a player, he wasn’t the greatest athlete but he was smart, positive and knew the game “real well.” He also had a great personality.

“It was kind of natural what he’s doing ... retail and sales,” the former coach said.

Susan Vela: 815-987-1395; svela@rrstar.com; @susanvela