VP Gary Messing retires next week after 11 excellent years with North Shore Bank.

Gary Messing loves his work so much, he’s letting it go.

“I’ve had a great career,” the VP says. “I totally enjoy my work, the people I work with, and the bank’s ‘high-touch’ philosophy, which starts at the top of the organization. But I’ll be 70 in 2015, and it probably is time to let the next generation of leaders emerge. I think it’s good for those people and it’s good for the bank.”

Gary retires on Oct 2. He joined North Shore Bank in 2003, when Steve Steiner — whom Gary had known while working at Firstar Bank, and who himself retired in March — was seeking out someone to manage our deposit products.

And to hear Gary tell it, the last 11 years have been a dream.

“The work I do is fairly diverse,” he says. “It includes traditional product management activities, but at the same time, I’m involved in a lot of strategic development. That keeps the job very interesting, and it enables me to interact at every level across the organization. That’s a very rewarding work proposition, and the people I work with are absolutely committed to this bank’s focus on customers. That has been a hallmark of North Shore Bank for some period of time.”

Keeping it together on the front line
He got to fulfill a longtime wish when he was appointed to manage our branch system, he says. “Over the course of 40 years in banking, it was something I had always wanted to do.” Keenly drawn to North Shore Bank’s commitment to its customers, Gary found it deeply satisfying to help realize that commitment every day on “the front line,” in the branches.

“The branches represent a principal touch point that allows us to explore our customers’ aspirations, their financial dreams; to work with them to find ways of determining the gap between where they are today and where they want to be; and to find solutions that allow them to close the gap over time,” he says. “We’ve created and evolved a process that leads to that end state. Aside from that, there’s always something happening in the branches, because they represent half of the bank’s employee population. It was fun addressing all of those moving parts.”

But it was a challenging kind of fun, too, he notes — especially because when he took over the branch system, he was still responsible for managing deposit products. Smart setting of priorities and delegation were key to staying on top of it all, Gary says.

“You have to be able to discern between what’s really important and what’s not. Some things simply are more important than others, and when your plate gets full, you are forced to make decisions about what you’re going to address,” he says. “Or you delegate.” He chuckles. “And through the process of delegation, you learn who you can rely on and who not so much.”

“I have always appreciated and admired Gary’s vision,” says VP Jude Lengell. “He has been instrumental in leading several key bankwide initiatives. His methodical, innovative, and consultative approach has resulted in several new programs that have yielded strong results.”

“I will personally miss Gary’s intellect, his vast knowledge of technology, and more importantly, the passion that he brings to his job,” says Chairman and CEO Jim McKenna. “I’ve never seen him have a bad day at work. So, as he and his wife, Renee, embark upon a new chapter in their lives, I am delighted he will have time to devote to his extensive and varied interests. And I am delighted that he has agreed to continue to facilitate the strategic planning process for the bank.”

SVP Sue Doyle adds: “Gary is a great leader with tremendous wisdom and vision. He is passionate about quality outcomes and fully immerses himself in the projects he is involved with, both inside and outside the bank. His endless quest for innovation has been the catalyst for several technology, product development, and customer experience initiatives that equipped the bank with the tools to compete as a leading community bank. I appreciate his ability to provide clarity on complex topics and his eagerness to share his knowledge and experience with others. Meetings will not be the same without him adding a spark to the conversation.”

Gary’s own advice for future business leaders: “Nurture your curiosity about how businesses work and factors that contribute to success and failure. I’d further advise to be open to change and to embrace it. Change creates opportunity.”

Retirement — but not exactly rest
As Mr. McKenna noted, after retirement, Gary will continue to consult for the bank — “not a lot,” Gary notes, “but on some level, to allow me to stay connected.” He’ll also increase his work with some nonprofits whose boards he serves on, including the Milwaukee Masterpiece, the annual parade and contest — or concours d’elegance — of incredible cars and motorcycles that has taken place for a decade at Veterans Park; and the Salvatorian Sisters of the Divine Savior, who operate several charities and organizations with which he is involved.

He also plans to visit his siblings and their kids and other family in Buffalo, New York, and he and Renee have trips planned to Napa and Sonoma. Before any of that, though, come some projects around the house.

“We’re doing a kitchen remodel. I’m not gonna do the work,” he notes. “I’d screw it up.” He will, however, handle repainting that and other rooms. “Painting walls is something that I’ve always enjoyed,” he confesses. “It’s just sort of being lost in the moment.”

It won’t surprise anyone who knows him that Gary plans to stay plenty busy. Told he doesn’t sound like he’s going to be 70, he laughs. “I don’t feel it either, which is why I’ve been working to this point!”