Kiva employee brightens day with personality

Customers of Kiva Café and Sugar and Spice in the Union know Mary Frohliger. The recognition, though, is most likely not by name. Frohliger is known by the students who pass through her cashier line for her array of unique headbands that she has been wearing daily for the past seven years.\nFrohliger is a native of Bloomington, and she was a part of Bloomington High School North's third graduating class. She grew up as one of eight children, including a twin brother compared to whom she is "much more hyper." Frohliger was drawn to work at IU in the 1980s for the job security and high pay, but it is the University's atmosphere that has kept her on staff for almost 23 years. \n"I think the IU community is very positive, and really good," she said. "I enjoy using my energy, and I really like doing it here."\nFrohlinger began her headband tradition about six years ago around Easter time. She discovered her current favorite, one in the shape of a yellow sunflower, at the local Target store. From there, the collecting began. Her collection has grown over the years to include more than fifty headbands, including two dozen Christmas-themed bands alone. \n"I buy most of my headbands from the Dollar Store, but some customers will come in and bring me one that they think I would like," she said with a smile. \nThis tradition that Frohlinger began just for fun has officially become her trademark on the campus. \n"I really can't go one day without wearing one, or I will get yelled at," she said.\nAs an employee of the food services at the Union, Frohliger splits her time between working at the Kiva Café and Sugar and Spice. Her co-workers and managers know that many people appreciate her friendliness and familiarity. \n"Mary is definitely a morning person," said Suzette May, manager of Sugar and Spice. "She's great, and a pleasure to work with in the morning." \nSteve Richards, retail operations director, notes Frohlinger's notoriety with her customers. Richards views her as a sort of institution at the restaurant. \n"Lots of people come to get their coffee and morning wake-up from Mary," he said. "She stands out because she is unique, and she provides a known face when people think of Sugar and Spice." \nAnd it is that face, topped off with a brightly colored headband and a smile, that her customers return to see. \n"Some people will come back after 20 years," Richards said. "She will sometimes remember them by their drinks, but they always seem to remember her."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Kimberly Laughlin at kmlaughl@indiana.edu.