The Obama administration points to companies such as Costco, Wal-Mart and Stride Rite that have supported past minimum wage increases.

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Jules started her career as industrial designer for technology companies, and was subsequently a senior executive for large brands such as Keds, Stride Rite and Playskool.

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Arnold Hiatt, the former chairman of Stride Rite shoes, has been one of the most consistent liberal donors in recent decades, and also one of the most vocal proponents of public campaign financing.

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Rubel, Senior Advisor at private equity firm TPG Capital and TPG Growth, and former CEO of Collective Brands (previous parent company of Payless, Stride Rite and other brands), in a recent conversation.

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Collective Brands may also end up doing a deal: it has hired consulting firms Perrela Weinberg Partners and Kurt Salmon to explore alternatives to enhance shareholder value, including the possible sale of the company or its Payless ShoeSource unit, or it may hatch up a deal involving its Stride Rite shoe division.

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