Employees share stories of Hispanic heritage

Last week, we asked employees of Hispanic descent to share stories of how they celebrate their heritage for National Hispanic Heritage Month. Here are the responses we received.

Mandy Crain, Assistant Branch Manager, McHenry

I come from a huge Puerto Rican family; my mom, her sisters and brother, and my grandparents came to Wisconsin 41 years ago. Anytime we all get together, there is always tons of food, tons of people, and tons of laughs. Events always include my grandpa’s lechon (small scale: a pork shoulder slow cooked for eight hours in the oven; large scale: a full-size pig roasted over coals in the backyard), my grandma’s arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas and ham), and my aunt’s flan. Everything branches out from there, since most of us usually bring a side or dessert. I think the best way we celebrate our Hispanic culture in my family is through cooking. Now that I don’t live as close to my grandparents as I used to — I moved from around the block to an hour and a half away — I have taken up attempting to perfect some of their recipes so I can have a taste of the island in my own home.

Pictured above: Mandy’s family at her grandparents’ 50th wedding anniversary in July. Note niece Kennedy (of 2018 Boo at the Zoo fame), fourth from the left, and Mandy tucked in behind her mother, who is holding baby Yulianna.

Emmeline Knight-Guzmán, Assistant Branch Manager, Howard-Suamico

Here is a picture of the tamales my family makes every year around Christmas time or for big family events. My grandma is the expert at making Mexican dishes. She lived in Mexico when she was younger, and this is her specialty. When we make this dish, our whole family comes over to help and prepare, because it can take hours. I look up to my grandma because she always taught me the importance of our heritage.

Thanks for sharing! We look forward to hearing more stories like these next autumn! •••

Wisconsin Humane Society honors Beaudin with bench

Earlier this year, North Shore Bank employees donated pet supplies and a check for $1,825 to the Wisconsin Humane Society in honor of nurse practitioner Carlie Beaudin, an animal lover who died in January.

The donated funds have helped the nonprofit cover spaying and neutering procedures, as well as other surgeries and medical treatments. The Humane Society also dedicated a bench, pictured above, to Carlie’s memory.

“The bench is in a very meditative area of our campus and I am sure brings joy to anyone who is looking for a quiet place to reflect or take a rest, whether they are of the human or canine species,” an advisor from the Humane Society wrote.

The inscription on the bench reads:

Many thanks again to everyone who donated supplies or money. •••

SOAR Together Tributes: August and September 2019
The previous months’ winners of our Seymour Salutes awards are Carolyn Williamson, Ashley White, Gabe Apostol, Jazmyn Brooks, Megan Wick, and Lori Zaleski. Read more about their achievements here!

Bankers quench runners’ thirst at Trick or Trot

Southridge and Forest Home area branch manager Carolyn Lyrenmann and teller supervisor Kayde Czarnecki kept runners and walkers hydrated at the city of Greenfield’s Trick or Trot 5K run/walk on October 5. The Halloween-themed race raised funds for the Greenfield Parks and Recreation Youth Scholarship Assistance Fund. “We got to hand out water and cheer on the runners!” Carolyn said. Kayde is pictured above at the water table, sponsored by North Shore Bank. •••

Westgate starts fiscal year with lesson on right tools

Westgate employees kicked off the new fiscal year with a clever activity.

Employees were split into teams and rushed into working on a puzzle, without any instructions or even a picture of what the completed puzzle would look like. The teams were also told they couldn’t talk and given only three minutes to finish putting the puzzle together. Of course, that didn’t lead to success. So then they took things more slowly, received instructions and a picture of the completed puzzle, and were encouraged to talk things through.

“It was great seeing the difference in the energy in the room once teams were given the tools needed to complete the common goal — just like North Shore Bank gives us the tools we need through great training, products, and connections,” branch manager Julie Goebel said. “The winning team encouraged the runners-up to finish their puzzles and helped them along the way. We have an amazing team!”

Pictured up top working on their puzzle are teller supervisor Lisa Gagliardi and personal banker Rodney Whiteside. Above, leaning into the “Be a Hero” theme, are tellers Jessica Cranley and Patti Jardina, Julie, and Rodney and Lisa. •••

Promotions for September 2019
The following employees were promoted in September:

• Daniel Baglien was promoted from Teller Supervisor at New Berlin to Lending Quality Control Specialist in Loan Administration.
• Jenna Piquette was promoted from Teller to Universal Banker at Grafton.

Leave a comment to congratulate them!

New Hires for October 10
It’s always exciting to add new members to our team. Here are some of the fresh faces at North Shore Bank.

Marketing intern Dylan Knoespel is from Brillion and is a senior at Wisconsin Lutheran College. He previously had a marketing internship at the Ariens Company in Brillion. “My favorite passion in life is fishing,” Dylan says. “I have been competitively walleye fishing with my father since I was 8 years old. The biggest walleye I’ve ever caught was 31.5 inches long — and I have done it twice! Catching a fish this big is definitely gratifying, especially when you are fishing tournaments.”

Sussex personal banker Doug Loretto is originally from Ohio and previously worked at Allstate Insurance in Northbrook, Illinois. “I was born in the United States, but not in a state,” Doug says. “Where was I born? Washington, D.C. I was there for about two years. My family was originally from the Ohio area, so they moved back to be closer to the family.” This is actually Doug’s second time living in Wisconsin — he was the accounting manager at Allstate’s regional office in Brookfield in 1987-88. •••

Internal Job Postings •••

Closing TODAY

• Teller, Ashwaubenon, full time (40 hrs/wk). Pay grade: N02. Referral bonus: $300.
• Universal Banker, Green Bay East, full time (40 hrs/wk). Pay grade: N03. Referral bonus: $400.

Closing Friday, October 11

• Branch Manager II, North End (new branch/Milwaukee), full time (40 hrs/wk). Pay grade: E12. Referral bonus: $750.

Closing Tuesday, October 15

• Teller, Union Grove, part time (20 hrs/wk). Pay grade: N02. Referral bonus: $300.

Ongoing

• Customer Assistance Representatives, Corporate, part (20 hrs/wk) and full time (40). Pay grade: N12. Referral bonus: $400.

For complete information regarding internal job postings, application procedures, and our referral program, click on the Job Postings tile found on the home page in Ask Seymour.