From Scratch ’n’ Sniff Stinky Stickers to colorful bulletin board displays, Kay Fredericks’ work can be seen in school classrooms across the United States. Fredericks, the founder of Trend Enterprises, died on Sept. 3 at the age of 83.

“Kay was a very elegant woman,” says Kita McVay, a member of St. Paul-based Hamline University’s board of trustees, on which Fredericks also served. “She was friendly and open and would be happy to talk about whatever we were thinking about at Hamline.” Fredericks joined St. Paul-based Hamline University’s board in 1988 and served as the board chair from 1993 until 1996. Hamline made Fredericks a life trustee in 2006. “She soon got to be a conversation pattern [for me] for institutional knowledge,” McVay says.

Fredericks also served on the boards for the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and Northeast Bank.

From the classroom to Scratch ’n’ Sniff Stinky Stickers

Fredericks got her start teaching kindergarten in White Bear Lake. There, she discovered a talent for creating stimulating classroom designs, according to her obituary on Press Publications. She created Trend Enterprises in 1967, a business that sells classroom decor and school supplies. Trend developed into an empire employing more than 300 and operating out of two locations (a second in Michigan), selling 3,200 proprietary products in 56 countries at its peak.

“That’s clearly her passion, where she took a stand,” McVay says.

In 2025, Trend, which used to be based in New Brighton, Minnesota, closed briefly due to economic pressures. It reopened earlier this year after EPI Marketing Services acquired the company and moved its operations to Battle Creek, Michigan, a company spokesperson tells TCB.

On Trend’s online store, the business re-released Scratch ’n’ Sniff Stinky Stickers, which Fredericks created in the late ’70s. (Minnesota Live host Kelli Hanson recently spoke with Trend Enterprises about the stickers’ re-release—and you can tell the scent transports her back in time.)

Giving back to who and what she loved

While Trend grew through the 20th century, Fredericks also got involved in Scouting America (Boy and Girl Scouts).

She was the first woman to serve as president of a major metropolitan-based Scouting America council (1995-1997) and was a member of its board of directors (1986-2025), according to her obituary. Fredericks received the Distinguished Community Builder Award and the Scoutmaster of Philanthropy Award from Northern Star Scouting, a council of Scouting America.

Fredericks long had ties to the Minnesota Orchestra, as well. Her husband was Richard M. Cisek, longtime CEO of the Minnesota Orchestra, who died in 2020. “They were a wonderful couple,” McVay recalls.

Fredericks wanted to do something to honor Cisek following his death. McVay says Fredericks sponsored a video that still plays at Orchestra Hall featuring significant leaders of the organization, including Cisek.

A funeral service is scheduled on Thursday, 2 p.m., at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral in Minneapolis.

Fredericks is survived by her stepchildren Michael (Corey) Cisek, Melanie (Michael) Hougo, Maria (Paul Anderson) Cisek, five grandchildren, two great granddaughters, and many friends.