The bank recognized our top performers for fiscal year 2021 at the annual Wrap-Up Rally on Wednesday, October 27. Top branch employees, the highest-performing branches, and the highest-performing district all won awards. And our investment, mortgage, and business banking partners also gave out awards to retail employees for referrals and outstanding production.

Maria Baumer and Brookfield Square, Stephanie Bluemel and Muskego, and Dee Patel and McHenry were named our three Managers and Branches of the Year. All three branches exceeded 150 percent of their annual goal in four out of five core production categories — lending, investments, partner referrals, and credit cards. District manager Kerri Collins and the North District came out on top on the regional level.

“Our three top branches distinguished themselves by continually challenging themselves to ask one more question of their customers, to find one more way we could help the customer live out their financial dreams,” said VP branch sales Craig Witz. “I couldn’t be happier for Maria, Stephanie, and Dee and their entire teams. The honors are well deserved!”

District manager Lauri Lunde attributed Maria’s first-ever win to getting participation from the whole team at Brookfield Square — holding regular meetings to review conversation starters that could lead to sales, and focusing on expanded desk conversations, which led to more investment and loan opportunities. “Maria did a great job keeping everyone focused on helping customers and how that related to the branch reaching their production goals,” Lauri said. “She also created a great work environment where everyone wanted to participate and contribute.”

“The win was an exciting one for the entire branch. I am blessed to have a great team — they were motivated to help customers and in turn take the top spot,” said Maria, who has been a runner-up for the award more than once. “There was a long-standing joke that I would always be a bridesmaid, never a bride, in regard to Manager of the Year! The Brookfield Square team was determined to make me a bride this year! And we are looking forward to taking the top spot again in 2022.”

Stephanie and her team, who won last year as well, also did a great job with participation and expanded desk conversations. They knocked it out of the park with customer service, too — not only doing a terrific job greeting customers, but also remembering what was going on in customers’ lives and checking in with them, to help find solutions that really fit their personal needs. “The person who does my hair will go out of her way to go to the Muskego branch,” Lauri said. “She said it’s like walking into Cheers — everybody knows your name.”

“It is really a team effort — my personal banker, universal banker, and teller supervisor all won top awards as well,” Stephanie said. “We live and breathe building customer relationships and sincerely enjoy helping our customers with their financial goals and solving problems. Don’t be afraid of having a conversation, don’t assume that a customer may not be interested, listen to your customer’s needs, and ask questions. You will learn so much by doing this, and it will lead to a lot of success.”

And Dee’s experience was key to the first-ever win for her and McHenry, said district manager Brian Bozek. “She brings an entrepreneur’s mentality to her branches, and that makes perfect sense, since she is a business owner,” he said. “Dee ran both of her locations like her own businesses, and both locations thrived.” He cited her dedication to her employees and customers, and her consistency as a coach, and called her leadership in April, when the Lake in the Hills branch was consolidated, “nothing short of spectacular.”

“My commitment to learn and my desire to improve my management skills led to this achievement. I feel so lucky to be a part of this organization where I am surrounded by people — management, colleagues, and trainers — who have believed in me and supported me,” Dee said. “I am very thankful to my staff for working together as a team towards our goal.”

As for Kerri, whose win was her fifth, she credited her success to her teams’ readiness to learn and grow. “In addition, my managers and I continue to follow the SOAR routines and use the tools and resources provided by the bank,” she said. “My managers work collaboratively to support and learn from one another, which makes my job so much fun and very rewarding.”

Our other winners were:

Video Teller of the Year
Maria Navarro

Teller of the Year
Audrey Elliott
Siddeeqat Farooqi
Lisa Gerwitz
Maria Guel
Kerryann Goetsch
Jennifer Isenhower
Jody Perron
Linda Wheaton

Universal Banker of the Year
Leigha Johnston
Cassandra Kopacz
Mel Langrick
Kristen Pawlak
Doug Tuhro
Erma Schroeder
Sara Speich

Teller Supervisor of the Year
Jayme Clarey
Mel Grode
Tara Neuville

Personal Banker of the Year
Matthew Cieslak
Emily Johnson
Debbie Oatsvall

Assistant Branch Manager of the Year
Cathy Straka
Mariella Zarb

Branch of the Year runners-up were Mequon, Jackson Park, Sturgeon Bay, and Burlington.

“This was a year when every branch and every employee was a winner,” Craig said. “We faced challenges across multiple fronts, from pandemic to staffing issues, and a host of other things between. I am so thankful and proud of everyone on the North Shore Bank team for continuing to take care of our customers.”