Story originally printed in the Winona Daily News or online at www.winonadailynews.com
Published - Friday, May 16, 2008
Businesswomen group founder named Woman of the Year
She was digging up dandelions in the morning, and by lunchtime, she was Woman of the Year.
Marilyn Schneider was this year’s honored businesswoman at the Women in Business luncheon. She was recognized for her accomplishments as an entrepreneur and founder of a Winona travel agency, now known as Classic Travel.
She also co-founded the organization that recognized her with the award.
Women in Business is an organization of about 400 area women in the workforce who meet, network and support each other. WIB president Deb McClellan said that retired women, fulltime moms and grandmothers, and women who work from home are also involved.
The organization has come full circle since Schneider helped launch the group 26 years ago. She’s been an active member ever since, and now advises young women to not make it feel like work at all.
“Find some field that you truly want to learn about,” Schneider, 76, said. “If you don’t love your work, it will be work.”
 Stacey Mounce presents the Woman of the Year Award to Marilyn Schneider, a retired travel agent and founder of Classic Travel in Winona. The award is given to one businesswoman each year who has made outstanding contributions to the community. Schneider, 76, co-founded Women in Business a quarter-century ago and is still active in the 400-member womenÕs organization today. (Contributed Photo) |
Schneider has paved her career path through doing something she loves: traveling. She began a career in journalism and got into travel writing, which led to her longtime work as a travel agent.
She recalled trips she’s made to the Greek Isles, South Africa and to other parts of the world.
Now 10 years retired, Schneider travels by book instead of on foot and reads everything from romance novels to books on politics and current affairs.
Originally from Austin, Minn., she moved to Winona to work. She has three children, 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
She was joined at the luncheon by her daughter, Sheri Sippola, who also started her own business and is a new member of Women in Business.
Schneider said that she came to the luncheon to encourage her daughter’s involvement in the group. She and about 100 women at the luncheon didn’t know who would receive the award.
Stacey Mounce, a Winona dentist, sponsors and presents the Woman of the Year Award each year, and also gives scholarships in the award winner’s name to the United Way and Winona Volunteer Services.
“It’s like Christmas,” Mounce said. “I don’t need anything in return, just that smile.”
Schneider was given a bronze statue for her contributions to the community.
The Broad Talk Girls of KROC Radio brought laughs and tears to the crowd by sharing stories of womanhood and addressing why women need each other.
From the tears, laughs and stories shared, it was clear that Schneider and others were supporting each other in ways beyond the office.
“She’s been so instrumental to so many women,” Sippola said of her mother.
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