McConnell making a difference for clients, community

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Andy McConnell believes in giving not only to clients but also to the community.

“I think we have an obligation to do more than just our practice. We have a responsibility to help folks less fortunate,” said McConnell, a shareholder and past-president at Boyle Fredrickson in Milwaukee.

His sense of advocacy certainly comes through in his work.

“It’s a lot about adding value to the client for their hard work and research and development,” said McConnell, who earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and worked for several years as an engineer before becoming an attorney in 1985.

“I can’t say I’ve been involved with any life-changing technologies or industries. I can’t say I worked with the guy who invented the Internet,” McConnell deadpanned. “Most of what we do are small technological advances.

“But so many times a product enhancement or improvement might be the product of a big R&D effort, and it may not look like a lot, but it improves safety or provides advantages or features you didn’t have previously. And they worked hard to do that, and people like me work hard to protect them.”

It’s that constant reminder that small things can make a big difference that, in part, propels his community involvement.

During his time as firm president, McConnell started the Boyle Fredrickson Cares Initiative, which, since 2007, has supported everything from the Special Olympics to Habitat for Humanity to Toys for Tots.

McConnell has also helped his daughter, Lissy McConnell, and her husband, Beau Tremitiere, as general counsel and 501c3 adviser to their non-profit, SEEDS Together Inc., a Milwaukee-based organization that works out of Ghana to help farmers, artisans and tradespeople secure start-up capital.

“It’s not really traditional microloan,” McConnell said. “They would buy the vehicle or finance the tool a person might need to be productive. So, they would buy equipment to make blocks or they would buy a hive and give the hive to the beekeepers.”

It’s been rewarding, for sure, but also a reminder that we can all make a difference.

“You’re only limited by the number of opportunities you pursue,” McConnell said. “They’re always in front of you. It’s just a matter of what you choose to pursue and what you have time to pursue.”