“All people can do something in life. You don’t have to have a lot of money.
You can take some time and invest it in the community.” -Anita Froegel

Anita Froegel, a lifelong resident of La Crosse, retired in 2000, as president of McLoone Metal Graphics Inc., a screen printer of nameplates and labels. Following her 1955 graduation from Aquinas High School, Anita began her career when Jim McLoone hired her as his secretary and only employee at the time. Eventually, she worked her way up to office manager, credit manager, corporate secretary, senior vice president, director and vice president of manufacturing to president.

In 1985, Anita was named “Woman of Achievement” by the La Crosse and Coulee Region Business and Professional Women. The annual award recognizes an area woman’s career achievements and community involvement. Upon retirement, Anita was a recipient of the 2001 Bishop John Paul Distinguished Alumni Award, which recognizes graduates of Coulee Catholic Schools who have distinguished themselves in the community, demonstrated support for Catholic schools, made significant achievements in their chosen career field and have been faithful models of the Catholic faith. Anita also received the Four Way Test Award from the La Crosse Rotary Club.

Not only was Anita passionate about running a business but became active in many community and civic organizations, including La Crosse Rotary, La Crosse Chamber of Commerce, United Way, Viterbo University,  and her church, Cathedral St. Joseph the Workman. She is also a board member of the La Crosse Community Foundation, Aquinas Foundation, and the La Crosse County Human Services Board. She served as the director of La Crosse Area Development Corporation, a member of the Go Coulee Forum steering committee, president of the Cathedral Women’s Organization and a member of the Third District Women’s Advisory Commission. Anita even found time to be a “study buddy” who helped students at Blessed Sacrament Elementary School.

Anita ran a successful business for 11 years by believing “expecting more from people, you get more from them. By allowing your employees to participate in decision making, you get more total commitment to their decisions.” As a working mother of four children, Anita knew the challenges of balancing work and family. She was motivated to find a creative solution and introduced flex time to her staff of 250 employees. Flex time was one of the most successful innovations at McLoone, Anita says, and gave employees the flexibility to choose their work hours. She believed companies could be run like families and loyalty could be felt in the work place as well as at home.

Anita’s message to future generations is to ask questions, don’t give up, and continue learning. “I think we owe it to the rest of society to show young women it can be done. College is not enough in today’s society. To survive in the coming world, you need to continue education.”