Lisa Solberg began her career at Gentleman’s Choice Formal Wear 22 years ago when she answered an ad for part time help through prom season. She has always enjoyed the job because her customers are almost always celebrating something. Gentleman’s Choice Formal Wear is a locally owned tuxedo store offering two locations in Omaha. They rent and sell formal wear for all occasions. They also belong to Savvi Formal Wear, which is a nationwide co-op of individually owned stores that work together for better customer service.
Tell us a little about your family. – There’s Ken and myself, two kids and one granddaughter.
What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? – Meeting Ken and moving 700 miles away from our families. Being so far from home, there’s very little backup so you need to become self-reliant. As a result I can rent you a tuxedo, paint your house, build you a shelf, change the alternator in your car, and drive your forklift!
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – Spend time with Ken and my granddaughter Abby. She’s my best little friend. Recently I’ve also been spending a lot of time on Facebook chatting with my step-son (Abby’s dad) in Afghanistan.
What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? – I’m emotionally mushy. I pretend to be tough but Hallmark commercials or sappy country songs will bring me to tears.
What are you the most proud of? – My creativity. I try to find a creative solution to all problems. Helping a bride and groom find a middle ground, where we reach a compromise both are happy with, that makes me proud.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – “Try to accept that life is 10% about what happens to you and 90% about how you react”. They could play the wrong song at your wedding, you could whine about it or you could DANCE! Life is what YOU make it.
If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? – That’s a tough question! How about “happypositiveloyalhardworking” It’s only one word if you don’t use any spaces, right?
If you could have a super power, what would it be? – I would love to be invisible! I could walk right into all the weddings we work with and ensure that my team’s hard work has paid off … and steal some cake!
What is your greatest talent that you don’t utilize in your daily work life? – Schmoozing! I could talk to my customers all day long. OK, I do schmooze in my daily life, just not as much as I would like. I do have to get some real work done during the day!
If you could choose any other profession to be successful in, what would it be? – I love to cook and I love to sing so I would wish to be the first wildly successful singing chef. (This will require extensive singing lessons.)
What is your favorite book or the last good book you read? – Where the Red Fern Grows always makes me cry so I’ll call it my favorite.
What is your favorite movie? – Shawshank Redemption
What is your favorite local restaurant? – Bee Gee’s Tasty foods. Great lunches, nice people.
If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? – That’s easy…dinner with Jesus, but could I have dessert with my dad?
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – I can be reached most days at Gentleman’s Choice at our 80th and Dodge Street location. You can call 402-391-3200, e-mail me at thetuxlady@hotmail.com or you can visit our website at www.omahatuxedos.com.