BROOKFIELD, Wis. – In its 100th year,
North Shore Bank is celebrating the second year of success through the bank’s Community Engagement Managers (CEM) program that has yielded new community programming as well as developed staff skills and expertise in building a vibrant community where they serve.
The program, facilitated by NEWaukee, regularly brought together hand-selected North Shore Bank leaders from across the bank’s eastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois footprint to collaborate on ways to expand the bank’s presence in the communities it serves. The initiative allowed North Shore Bank to grow deeper relationships in its markets, create more community partnerships, and invest and develop its team in the premise and value of community engagement.
“This anniversary year especially, I think it’s crucial that we evaluate our community programming, presence and initiatives so that we, as a bank and as employees, are continuously evolving to best meet the needs of our communities for the next 100 years,” said Craig Witz, vice president of retail banking at North Shore Bank.
The Community Engagement Managers program resulted in the evaluation and creation of signature community programs for the bank, including the return of Southside Dining Week in the Milwaukee market, the You Can Happy Hour Meetup, and the Welcome Party in communities like Germantown, Muskego, Kenosha, downtown Milwaukee and Green Bay. The program also was a success with employee participants reporting increased confidence in their communication skills, improved collaboration skills, and a greater sense of belonging.
Community Engagement Managers participating in this most recent program were employee Ray Guardiola, Erica Hughes, Danielle Hansen, and Stephanie Ruiz. Bank District Manager and VP Cristen Baumann assisted in the program as mentor.
“I’m thrilled I had the opportunity to go through this year’s community engagement program, especially developing and launching activities leading up to and during such an exciting year in our community bank’s history,” said Ray Guardiola, a CEM participant who manages North Shore Bank’s Greendale and Forest Home offices.
The 2023 program is now underway with a third cohort of North Shore Bank employees in the southeast and northern Wisconsin markets. CEMs include Lacee Kalepp, Michael Williams, Farrah Mason, and Jonathon White who cover the Fox Valley, Milwaukee and Wauwatosa, Mequon and Fox Point, and Union Grove and Burlington communities, respectively. Bank District Manager and VP Lauri Lunde is assisting in the program as mentor for the third group.
Founded in 1923, North Shore Bank is commemorating 100-years. The mutual savings bank is headquartered in Brookfield, Wisconsin, and has assets of $2.6 billion and 43 offices throughout eastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois. Wisconsin locations are in metro Milwaukee, Germantown, Ozaukee County, Racine, Kenosha, Appleton, Menasha, Green Bay and surrounding areas, Burlington, Union Grove, Muskego, and Door County.
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