Page 63 - MetalForming October 2012

Ace Wire Spring & Form Co.’s Linda Froehlich (shown here with her husband Rich and son Ritchy) attended last year’s WIM Summit and now is a charter member of PMA’s WIM net- working group. Froehlich believes that women in leadership roles naturally tend to nurture their companies and their employees.
“Once we bring new people in, I strive to build a family atmosphere. I want employees to feel comfortable coming to me to share their concerns—professional and personal.”
that women in leadership roles natu- rally tend to nurture their companies and their employees.
“Challenged as we are here in South- western Pennsylvania to recruit skilled workers—men and women alike—we’re working with local schools to generate
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excitement among families and stu- dents about the opportunities offered by careers in manufacturing. But once we do bring new people in, I strive to build a family atmosphere here. I want employees to feel comfortable coming to me to share their concerns—profes-
sional and personal.”
Throughout my conversation with
Froehlich, who along with her husband took the company over from her father in 1976, she refers to Ace’s 50 employ- ees as “family.” And she notes that from the very moment she took the helm, she had the respect of her employees.
“I started working for the company at the age of 14,” Froehlich shares. “So most of the employees here know that I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty on the floor, nor do I fear making the
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