A Mitchell businesswoman who has had marked success on the business front and is a firm believer in giving back to the community has been named The Daily Republic's 2001 Business Woman of the Year.
Connie Schroeder, owner and founder of the Complete Career Center, was among a number of local women nominated by the public to receive the annual award.
Jerry Fradet, one of several people who nominated Schroeder for the award, wrote that Schroeder's "dedication to community service would qualify her not only as an excellent selection for Mitchell's 2001 Business Woman of the Year, but as an excellent role model for all in our community to follow."
Fradet, of Mitchell, said that Schroeder is actively involved with the community while at the same time putting in long hours at her business.
Schroeder, 31, opened Complete Career Center on Dec. 1, but relocated about nine months later due to rapid growth.
"It's a good feeling," she said. "I've grown a lot. The business has grown faster than I had hoped."
Complete Career Center has grown from two full-time employees to five, and currently has about 100 temporary employees.
A 1988 graduate of Plankinton High School, Schroeder decided to attend South Dakota State University in Brookings to pursue a degree in elementary education. In her third year of college, she transferred to Dakota State University in Madison.
While attending classes, Schroeder worked for Job Service, and later worked in various managerial positions in the telephone and cellular industries.
After graduating from college and suffering through a car accident that put her in a wheelchair for a time, Schroeder moved to Yankton.
"When I got out of the wheelchair, I worked in a temporary secretarial position. After two years I moved to Yankton and worked in cellular sales," she said. "Then I was promoted and moved to Rapid City where I was market manager, in charge of western South Dakota."
Her management experience - and her experience with Job Service and as a temporary employee - eventually prompted her to create her own business, the Complete Career Center.
"I was looking for something different, and an employment agency was needed in Mitchell," she said. "What makes us different is we thoroughly review the backgrounds of employees before we refer them to employers, whether it's for a two-hour temp job or a permanent job."
Schroeder's agency also offers other services, such as business, employee and marketing surveys, business and office management seminars, computer training, and even "secret shoppers," who visit stores to test employees' customer service skills, for example.
And there is even more on the horizon for Schroeder and her business.
"Our 10-year plan includes franchising, letting other people repeat our success throughout the nation," she said. "The state is very much the starting point."
And the primary starting point is Mitchell.
"I think as Mitchell grows, we will grow," Schroeder said.
Schroeder said she chalks up some of her success to being a single woman with no children, allowing her more time to devote to her work.
Her staff helps, though.
"We have such a neat group of people, it's the most fun job I've ever had," she said.
Community involvement is another plus for Schroeder, who serves as vice-chairwoman of the Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, and became a member of the Jaycees just prior to July 4 this year. "I got to be the first woman to be on the island to shoot off the fireworks," Schroeder said.
"It's very much about giving back to the community," she said, of her involvement with Jaycees.
Schroeder advises that a successful business woman can't be afraid to fall down from time to time, though.
"You have to take risks and not be afraid to fall on your face," she said. "Abe Lincoln lost elections and failed before he was president. Babe Ruth struck out more times than he hit home runs."
"If you do what's best for the community, I think that's probably the best approach to take," Schroeder said. "Mitchell is a very community-oriented town, and you need to get involved and give back."
ŠThe Daily Republic 2002