Bayshore branch manager Rebecca Dougherty (left) with Sue (right) and Packers wide receiver Davante Adams and East personal banker Kenya Owens at this year’s Next Door Walk for Children. Rebecca is a member of Next Door’s Young Professionals Group and has supported the organization at the walk and other events.

Last month, Sue Doyle, our senior vice president, retail banking, retired from the board of directors for Milwaukee nonprofit Next Door. Sue served on the board for 12 years.

Next Door helps central Milwaukee children up to age 5 improve their reading skills and prepare to attend school. The nonprofit serves more than 2,000 kids and their families from two main campuses and 10 partner sites, is a charter school partner with Milwaukee Public Schools, and offers adult education and fatherhood programs. Next Door is also known for its Book for Kids program, which has collected over 2 million books for kids in Milwaukee. North Shore Bank’s Corporate office promoted a book drive for the program.

Sue talked with Shorelines about her work with Next Door and some of the memories she’ll take with her.

What was your role with Next Door?
I started with them in 2005. I was a supporter and board member, and served as program committee chairperson and executive committee member for several years. I watched the organization grow from helping 400 children to over 2,000 children today.

What was your favorite part of working with the group?
The best part of my role was working with the very talented and caring members of the greater Milwaukee community to support Milwaukee families, especially children. Nothing brightens your day more than attending a meeting at the organization and being surrounded by the smiles of children age 5 and younger!

Any particularly interesting or amusing memories that stand out?
The funniest story took place in 2009, when then-Governor Jim Doyle nominated Next Door to be a Head Start Center of Excellence. Shortly after this, a Next Door supporter asked me how I managed such a busy schedule, between working at a bank and being the governor’s wife. He had confused me with two governors’ wives — Tommy Thompson’s wife, Sue Ann, and Jim Doyle’s wife, Jessica. We had a good laugh after I clarified things for him.

My most recognized contribution with the group was probably nominating Dr. Carol Keintz — who was Next Door’s executive director at the time — to receive a Driven to Achieve Award in 2015 from [former Green Bay Packer] Donald Driver’s foundation. There was a press conference at Next Door’s headquarters, and Donald Driver toured the building and met some of the children and families there.

What can North Shore Bank employees do to help Next Door?
You can support the annual Walk for Children each May — besides walkers, Next Door always needs volunteers to help with setup and running the event. There is other volunteering information on their website.