Kerri Collins won a trip to Ixtapa, Mexico, when she was named District Manager of the Year for 2014. Her husband, Jim, couldn’t get away, so their daughters (from left) Molly, Kelly, and Katie jumped at the chance. A trip highlight was frolicking with dolphins, who provided toothy smiles for the photo op.

North District Manager Kerri Collins describes her territory of 10 branches as starting at Menasha and stretching about 115 miles north to Sister Bay at the upper end of the Door Peninsula. She generally spends four days a week on the road — yes, all through the winter — visiting offices to meet primarily with branch managers and personal bankers.

Kerri has represented North Shore Bank for 25 years, and a sense of team permeates her every conversation. Referring to the pace of change in banking, Kerri says, “Because I started as a teller and spent 19 years as a branch manager, I have been in those shoes. North Shore is forward-thinking, a trendsetter. My job is to help staff understand the reasons for change, whether in processes or procedures or how we set goals. They need — and deserve — to know the ‘why.’”

She has worked so hard at it and achieved such success that she has earned Branch Manager of the Year twice (2007, 2008) and District Manager of the Year twice (2012, 2014). “I’ve had wonderful trips to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and to New York City, as well as two trips to Mexico.”

Banking hours, technology, hiring skill set have evolved
After completing a number of college classes in her first years out of high school, Kerri entered banking in Ithaca, New York. It was still a 9-to-5, five-day-a-week business then. “We now have a couple of branches open seven days a week, and we just installed a video teller in the Howard drive-up as well as in the lobby at Green Bay East. Similar video tellers are new this year at the Green Bay West location and the Northland and Menasha offices, giving customers 70 hours of weekly banking convenience. Changes in technology and building relationships with customers are by far the most significant advancements I have seen during my 25 years of service.”

Hiring attributes also have changed. Relationship-building skills are paramount. “We don’t just react to customers; we are proactive in getting to know them, gaining their trust, and providing guidance and support to help them reach their financial goals,” she says.

Other sought-after skills include outbound calling, using financial calculators to help customers identify potential gaps in reaching their financial goals, and staying up to date on financial sector trends. “Those willing to keep learning will have opportunities to expand their skills and responsibilities, just as I have.”

Respected mentors inspire, encourage
Kerri credits Steve Arps, Tricia Cravillion, and Sue Doyle for mentoring her, for helping her expand her knowledge and skills, and for inspiring her to not simply accept things as they are, but to always be thinking about what can be done to make things better.

Reflecting with gratitude on her years with North Shore, Kerri says, “North Shore Bank continues to be a great organization to work for. It’s all about the employees and the customers. I’ve made wonderful friendships.”