(La Porte, IN) - A high honor has been paid to a woman who has worked under several different mayors in La Porte. Annette Loeffler is this year’s “Partner of the Year.” 

 

La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership gives the award to a worthy recipient annually. LEAP Executive Director Bert Cook praised Loeffler in various ways during last night’s La Porte City Council meeting, where Loeffler received a plaque.

 

“Annette has filled many roles for us.  Organizer, connector, administrator, sounding board, insulator, defender, cheerleader, friend, and family. The list goes on and on.  You will not find someone more protective of her people. Her knowledge of how to get things done is invaluable,” Cook said.

While addressing the city council, Loeffler was approached from behind by former LaPorte Mayor Kathy Chroback, who she described as her best friend.

 

“Honestly, I don’t know what to say. I wouldn’t have stayed so long if I didn’t love this job and love all of the people I got to work with and everybody that I got to meet,” she said.

After leaving office, Loeffler said Chroback stayed her best friend “forever and ever and ever.” She also thanked the current and previous administrations for allowing her to be herself while doing her job the way she thought it should be done.

 

Loeffler began in 1991 as the Administrative Assistant for then-Mayor Elmo Gonzalez. Current Mayor Tom Dermody fondly calls her “the glue that holds everything together.”