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Staff photo by Clay Schuldt Mary Ellen Domeier continues to stay busy, volunteering her time and expertise.
NEW ULM — Few women in New Ulm have a resume as impressive as Mary Ellen Domier.
Her career in finance and community organizations began in 1965 working part-time at the New Ulm Area Chamber, then became CEO of Bank of Francessen for 50 years, and later served as a consultant or board member for dozens of companies and organizations. . . To this day, Domie continues to volunteer her time and expertise to worthy causes.
“I can’t let it go.” She said of her community activities: “This is my fourth child.”
Mary Ellen Domeyer was born and raised in New Ulm. She attended St. Mary’s Her Grade School and then she graduated from Cathedral High School in 1959.
Domier said that when he was in high school, he dreamed of getting a college degree, moving to New York, and working as a manuscript reader at a publishing company. However, after her high school graduation, her life took a different path. Domier decided to marry Robert, her sweetheart from high school. They had three children together. Philip, Anita and Joseph. Although her education was put on hold to start her family, Domier eventually went to college with the help of her family. Her husband, Robert, encouraged her to pursue a business degree when her children reached school age. She said Robert had always been one of her top supporters.
Domier said his interest in business and finance was sparked by working part-time at the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce. From 1965 until 1971, she worked as Hazel Meine’s assistant manager. Mayne is one of the few female chamber of commerce executives in the state and served as a role model for Domier.
“She was the driving force that kept the train on track.” she said about Mine. Through her work with the Chamber of Commerce, she became interested in New Ulm’s business community. In 1971, she became executive director of Fransen Bank & Trust.
“At the time, there weren’t that many women moving into other roles in banking.” Mr. Domier said.
Ms. Domier accepted the position knowing that she would attend college and that she would be considered if a position for which she was qualified became available.
With the support of the bank, she attended on-the-job training. She eventually learned the roles of all departments in the bank.
When it came to college classes, Fransen was happy to pay for business and finance programs.
Domier said it was a time of great change when she returned to college. She said women’s studies and women’s issues are at the forefront.
“The program at the time was designed to make advancement easier for everyone, not just women, by combining career work with the classroom and working together.” Mr. Domier said. “It was very helpful to me.”
She graduated summa cum laude from Minnesota State University in 1985 with a degree in business administration. Three years after her graduation, Domier was appointed her CEO of Banque Frandsen. She served as her CEO until her retirement in 2003. Although it has been more than 20 years since she retired, Domier continued to help out part-time at other companies and organizations. It’s hard to find an area of New Ulm life that Domier hasn’t experienced. impact. She remains humble about her work, and after 50 years of work, she says it’s hard not to leave a mark on her community.
Domier said he is passionate about economic development and housing in his consulting and volunteer work. These reasons are important to her.
Today, Domier is typically associated with the State Street Theater Company (SSTC). She became involved with theater as a means of promoting housing. She wanted to convert a former middle school classroom into an apartment. The classroom section of the SSTC building was eventually developed into the Emerson Union Apartments. The auditorium portion of the building was divided into her SSTC. Domier continues to collaborate with theaters and other organizations. Diocese of New Ulm and New Ulm Area Foundation, among others.
Looking back over the past 50 years, Domier is optimistic about the progress women have made.
“Young women may not think much progress has been made.” she said. “But for someone who has watched progress for more than 50 years, we have come a long way.”
Domier remains concerned about the gender pay gap. She still questions whether she is paid the same as a man as a bank president. She said she has seen pay equity progress on her boards and organizations where she has served, but she doesn’t know if other companies have achieved pay equity.
Domier said promoting gender equality requires two things: raising awareness and proving that women can do the job. Domier said he took the approach of leading by example.
“The goal is to do the best we can.” she said. “My mother always said, if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well.”
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