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STORY INDEX Population of Indiana's
northeast counties Tracking railroads: Longtime area auto dealers have 'seen it all' Amish continue long-held
traditions Cars accelerate lives of Noble County residents The price of cars: How much did it cost to drive one off the lot? Electric Interurban connected area to Fort Wayne, beyond LaGrange residents rally to save historic brick streets U.S. 6, Ind. 3: Kendallville's routes to growth Agriculture ever-changing, advancing in Noble County Comparisons: How far did the dollar stretch? Growing onions, peppermint made 'scents' in early 1900s The Gaby farm: A changing culture impacts 4-H County fair continues to be a big social event Thriving through the times: Downtown Kendallville adapts to a century of changes Dekko's philanthropy remains a 'valuable resource' Rinkel family still at the wheel of Greenfield Hills Commerce nothing new to Shipshewana: Town thrives as one of fastest-growing tourist areas in state Making do during the Great Depression: Retired hatchery owner recalls tough times, bright moments Mill a 'Star' business in Ligonier: Firm has been grinding wheat into flour for 113 years Elmer E. McCray had a major impact on Kendallville Richard R. Cole has long legacy Female executive has seen many changes in workforce Working women: From assisting war effort to competing in global markets Wolcottville a center of commerce, industry in 1800s Mongoquinong area was early LaGrange County commercial center 'The cheapest hired hand we ever had.' Electricity made life brighter, easier down on the farm Monument company's history set in stone Historic Corn School dates back to 1906
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Female executive has seen many changes in workforce By NATALIE HESS The News-Sun KENDALLVILLE - Women saturate
today's workforce more than they did a century, or "There weren't as many options back then. Women would go into teaching, nursing or beautician work," recalled Bonar. "Other than that, it was mainly secretarial work that was available." Bonar's first employer was McCray Memorial Hospital in Kendallville. After a year of secretarial work there, she changed jobs and began working for Seamade Boat Manufacturing. Seamade went back to its original boat manufacturer of Starcraft. Essex then bought the building from Seamade and offered Bonar a job as an office manager for Essex. Some 37 years later, Bonar still works for Essex. Her only leave of absence was a three-month time period when she attempted stay-at-home mothering. "I'm better adjusted and better organized when I'm working," said Bonar. "I didn't feel it was a necessity to stay home. My son had both of his grandmothers here in town to help see that he got to and from school." Some mothers would opt working in fields in which they could come and go in between children. However, Bonar said in order to move up, she felt it was important to stay within the workplace. When Bonar's son graduated from high school and enrolled at Indiana-Purdue University at Fort Wayne, Bonar recognized her dream of attending college. "We had a circle meeting at church. We were going around telling one thing we wished we had done in our life," recalled Bonar. Bonar told the circle that she had always wanted to go to college and planned to do it one day. A couple of weeks later, a woman from her circle confided to Bonar that she too wanted to attend college. Together, the two women researched their options and enrolled for the January semester at IPFW. Evening classes, weekend classes and car pools that occupied five years of Bonar's life led her to attaining a business management degree. Bonar's college degree and experience at Essex led her to the sole purchasing agent position at Essex. Bonar has watched work conditions change a lot during her years at Essex. The advent of copiers replaced carbon papers early in the 1960s. Ten or 15 years ago, faxes came along. In the early 1980s, personal computers entered the office. Orders that used to be typed manually could be made on the PC. Bonar said Essex had a single computer, and employees scheduled themselves around each other to use it. Adapted to the technology, Bonar hopes to get hooked up to the Internet at her home computer once she retires. As a longtime female executive, Bonar has experienced transformations of the work force. "The dress code used to be business-like," said Bonar. "Companies began adopting casual Fridays, then Mondays. Now it seems that casual attire is acceptable all week long." Bonar feels that when in a position to meet the public, attire should be more professional in the workplace. However, Bonar appreciates the ethical changes of the years. She remembers when large gifts of monetary value were given by salesmen to companies. But in the 1980s companies began considering the dangers of this. "It was bad because when awarding a contract, companies would feel as if they owed a business something," said Bonar. Retirement lays ahead for Bonar. She plans to continue ceramics, raising Siberian huskies and traveling. She may look into part-time work. Bonar also hopes to go to Greece one day with her husband. Since she has already earned a college degree, raised a child, worked full-time, visited 50 U.S. states, 26 countries and four continents, adding Greece to the agenda will probably not be a far stretch for this longtime female executive. |
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even
half-century, ago. When Lorene Bonar graduated from high school
in 1942, many of her friends got jobs at Lincoln Life in Fort
Wayne. Bonar decided she did not desire the daily commute to
Fort Wayne, so she looked closer to home for work.