At Federal Foam Technologies (FFT), we’re proud to celebrate International Women’s Day and this year’s theme, “Give to Gain” — a reminder that when we invest in each other, everyone grows. Few employees embody this spirit more than Anne Bethke, our Accounting Manager.
A Career Built on Learning
Anne began her career in tax after studying accounting and finance at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse. After a couple of years in public accounting, she moved into the manufacturing industry working for companies in the Minneapolis area as a tax accountant.
Anne was always focused on expanding her knowledge and learning rather than climbing the corporate ladder, however her strong drive and performance propelled her into management positions with added responsibilities outside of tax. This led her to pursue roles in general accounting. At the same time, Anne’s personal life took her to New Richmond, WI, where she and her husband began their life together in his hometown.
Upon the move, she knew she wanted to find an in-office role with a smaller company in her new town. She joined FFT in 2022 as Accounting Manager, overseeing the company’s accounts payable and receivable processes and collaborating closely with several departments.
“I was looking for an in-office work environment as a way to build social connections in New Richmond,” Anne says. “FFT offered a five-minute commute and the opportunity for me to step into a general accounting role that had room for growth.”
Driving Operational Efficiency and Progress Innovation in Manufacturing
Coming from a post-COVID remote environment, Anne stepped into an accounting department with long-standing processes and a strong in-office culture. Paper was still central to daily work. Anne saw opportunities for change, but she also recognized the importance of understanding why things were done a certain way before improving them.
Her impact has been transformative as she’s led the overhaul of the AP process, working closely with internal teams to digitize invoices and streamline approvals. The entire process is now paperless — a project that took 1.5 years of improvement, coaching and careful transition.
The results?
- Faster check runs (now completed in minutes)
- Better review and compliance
- Ability to run additional check cycles
- Greater accuracy and timeliness
Anne has also partnered with IT to automate previously manual reports such as routine sales reporting through Power BI — turning a labor‑intensive task into an efficient, reliable process.
These collaborations strengthened the relationship between Accounting and IT, demonstrating how cross‑department teamwork elevates the entire business.
Give to Gain in Action
FFT’s accounting department is small and entirely women — a team built on cross-training, shared workload and mutual support.
“I’ve been part of creating a supportive environment where every daily task has a backup, and in the event of a personal emergency women can confidently take time away knowing the team will cover it,” Anne says.
She advocates for giving women outside of the department with opportunities to grow, as she has been provided throughout her career. Anne met with a current production employee working toward her degree in accounting and recommended that the team offer her a part-time role in the accounting department. This was a benefit to the department by having an additional staff resource as well as the employee in gaining real-life work experience to apply to her continued studies.
Anne’s biggest takeaway throughout her career has been flexibility — embracing change, welcoming new challenges and staying open to unexpected opportunities. It’s this mindset that continues to guide her leadership at FFT.
“Joining FFT was a career “restart” in some ways — an opportunity to trade title and salary for new experiences, growth and a great fit with a company that’s a leader in its industry,” she says. “Being flexible with my career trajectory has given me the opportunity to grow as a leader, bringing new ideas and processes forth. The people here are willing to teach and invest time and effort in you, which is important to me as a lifelong learner.”
Advancing Women in Manufacturing
Inequality persists and recognizing this reality and supporting the next generation are reasons why days like this matter, Anne says. It’s also why the “Give to Gain” theme resonates so deeply with her story.
“By sharing knowledge, offering opportunities and supporting one another, women lift not just themselves but entire workplaces, families, and communities.”
Today, we honor Anne’s contributions: her leadership, her process improvements, her commitment to learning and her generosity. We also celebrate the many women across Federal Foam Technologies who show up with strength, adaptability and heart, and give so much to help our company thrive.
