Dennis, seated at right, with his family, from left: son Benjamin; Benjamin’s fiance, Brenda; wife Patti; and daughter and son-in-law Andrea and Michael.

‘No small achievement’
President and COO Jay McKenna congratulates Dennis Christoffel on over 35 years of strong growth and welcomes Dennis’s successor, Becky Reinhardt.

Dennis Christoffel isn’t one to blow his own horn. Last August, when he celebrated his 35th anniversary with North Shore Bank, he insisted that we keep our coverage of the milestone short and sweet, and he kept the focus on serving his customers and colleagues.

And that hasn’t changed, though Dennis’s employment status is about to. On May 1, the former teacher will retire, leaving behind a proud legacy of helping clients prepare for their own golden years as our vice president, Investment Program Services.

Dennis informed clients of his departure in the latest installment of his quarterly newsletter, in which he fondly likened his career to a fishing jaunt on the shores of Lake Michigan.

‘All is well, all is well’
Dennis’s plans for the future include spending more time with Patti, his wife of almost 44 years, and his mother and father. He and Patti also plan to make more frequent visits to their son, Benjamin, in Montana, and their daughter, Andrea, in Neenah.

As for how the bank will fare, Dennis’s handpicked successor, Business Relationship Manager Becky Reinhardt, will take over his job. With more than 13 years of experience at North Shore Bank, Becky is well positioned to maintain and strengthen the bond of trust Dennis has worked so hard to build with our customers. And just as he did, she’ll benefit from the support of AVP/Retirement Services Supervisor Lynn Strothenke, Investment Processor Martha Muskavitch, Service Coordinator Janet Brammer, and Retirement Plans Representative Vikki Zuehlke.

“Working with Dennis has been an adventure, especially over the last six months,” says Becky. “I am fortunate to have learned from him and to see firsthand what a positive difference he has made in so many people’s lives. I will continue his heartfelt service, relationships with customers, and his legacy at North Shore Bank.”

“It is rare that a person is permitted to select their successor,” Dennis wrote in his newsletter. “I am very fortunate to have been able to do just that and promise you will be well pleased with my selection.”

‘The hearts and minds of those you touch’
As President and COO Jay McKenna put it in his message celebrating Dennis’s years of service: “Dennis’s insight and knowledge of services available to our Deferred Compensation clients was second to none. … Anytime you spoke with Dennis, he was ready with a joke or funny story. His gift for telling a tale put people at ease and made working with him a delight.”

“When Dennis joined the bank 35 years ago, we were very, very small, and as such, a number of our people became my personal friends,” recalls Chairman and CEO Jim McKenna. He laughs. “So we had him and his wife over to dinner, and he was actually teaching my youngest son, Joseph, who was 5 at the time, how to do belly flops off the diving board. We still joke about that.”

Mr. McKenna adds: “Dennis is a magnificent salesperson. He is absolutely fabulous. You look at his clients — and he has hundreds of them — and you see that he thinks of them as personal friends. And indeed, a number of them are! That’s why he’s done such a wonderful job building up that area for us.”

Mr. McKenna called the transition from Dennis to Becky over the last six months “very smooth. And Becky has always performed for the bank, whatever role she has functioned in.”

“In 1977, I attended a Wayne Newton concert in Las Vegas,” Dennis says. “He ended his performance with the following lyric: For me, I do not know when it will all end. But what is truly important is the hearts and minds of those you touch along the way. That pretty much sums it up for me.”

By way of advice, he adds: “I have an everyday goal that I have kept to myself for many years. Each and every day, I look for an opportunity to make someone feel better about themselves than they might have been had I not been present. It is quite simple, actually, as compliments come easy when you make them personal habits.”

It’s clear that the habit has paid off. Congratulations on your retirement, Dennis, and thank you for all of your work!