BANK ON KINDNESS

Bank team shoots for a good cause at The Unstoppable Cup

For the second year in a row, North Shore Bank put together a team to compete in The Unstoppable Cup: 3v3 Wheelchair Basketball Charitable Tournament at the Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center in Whitefish Bay. 

Twenty-four teams competed at this year’s event. Funds raised are used to purchase sport wheelchairs and equipment for The Ability Center in Wauwatosa. The center’s mission is to provide people impacted by disabilities with a daily opportunity to be fit, active, and healthy. 03383 All of the center’s adaptive programs and equipment are free for people who need it. Everyone on the court played from basketball wheelchairs—both players with and without disabilities—making for an inclusive and eye-opening experience for all participants.

The North Shore Bank team played four games in our signature green shirts. Lending Sales Specialist Brice Powell joined in the fun for the first time this year. “It was tiring!” he said. “But the crowd was really great, and the whole event was very nice.” 

In addition to Brice, North Shore Bank’s team included:

• Mike Kellman, Senior Vice President, Consumer Sales
• Derek Wheeler, Vice President, Business Banking
• Emily Capper and Sam Capper, daughter and son of Margaret Capper, Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking Manager

During the event, organizers announced that $75,000 had been raised by all teams and other efforts to support The Ability Center. 

“It was a very exciting and thrilling event,” Brice said. “I’m looking forward to participating again next year and in the years ahead.”

Great job to all members of North Shore Bank’s team! 

 

SERVICE ANNIVERSARIES

Hallgren reflects on 20 years of learning with North Shore Bank

Stephanie Hallgren, BSA/AML Quality Control Specialist, is celebrating 20 years with North Shore Bank this month! The following is a lightly edited interview with Stephanie, reflecting on her two decades of service with North Shore Bank. 

Did you work in banking prior to North Shore Bank?

No. My prior work experience was in retail. I always thought it might be nice to work at a bank. I moved to Wisconsin from Utah in October 2004 and was living in Kenosha. I applied for a position at the Northside branch in Racine and remember thinking that it must be close by as Racine is right next to Kenosha. I got the position and soon found myself with a 30-minute commute.

What roles have you held in your time at North Shore Bank?

I started in the branches as a teller, teller supervisor, and assistant branch manager of operations. I then came to corporate as a deposit operations representative, senior deposit operation specialist, BSA (Bank Secrecy Act)/AML (Anti-Money Laundering) specialist, and BSA/AML lead. I am currently the BSA/AML Quality Control Specialist. I have also been a member of the Corporate Community Outreach Committee since 2017 and have been the group’s lead since September 2022.

How do you stay current with what’s happening in your area?

We have an annual multi-day event we attend that has many speakers regarding current trends. We read the many guidances that are put out by FinCEN (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network) and attend ABA (American Banker Association) BSA calls that discuss topics and are attended by bank employees around the country.

How has the company or industry changed since you first started?

We used to each have a teller-specific stamp that we would have to stamp the back of every check that was negotiated. We also had a machine that we used to type the amount of the check on the bottom of the checks. If your check totals were off, you had to look through all your checks to find which check you had made a mistake on and fix it.

Periodically we needed to destroy our security camera VHS tapes. My supervisor would bring in a hammer and we would bash them to pieces.

What has kept you motivated and engaged for 20 years?

I love how North Shore Bank has always encouraged employees to move up in the company. I love the job shadow program and participate in it myself so I can better understand what the other areas of the bank do. We all play an important part in making the bank a success.

What is one of your proudest accomplishments during your time here?

BSA processes used to be taken care of in our Deposit Services area. It was while in that department that I started doing BSA work. I remember being asked to a meeting with Duane Bavlnka, the bank’s compliance officer at the time, and him saying, “We’re making a new BSA department and I want you to be a part of it.” I felt so honored to be asked to be a part of this department.

What do you enjoy most about working with your North Shore Bank colleagues?

The wonderful support and camaraderie of the employees here makes working here a joy. I love that I don’t have to worry about catty behavior from my colleagues. We are always willing to help each other.

Has anyone at the bank been especially helpful to you as you have grown your career here?

I feel extremely lucky to have Kristen Gagliano, Vice President, Compliance Manager, as my boss and mentor. Anyone that has worked with her knows that she is such a fountain of knowledge. She leads by example and has always encouraged me to continue learning. She has helped me grow professionally and was supportive of me earning my ABA Certification of Certified AML and Fraud Professional.

What advice would you give someone just starting in this field?

Having attention to detail is important. We do a lot of research regarding our customers. When looking at a customer, it is always important to ask questions like does their activity make sense, does the activity in the business account support the industry that the customer said they are in. You need to be able to articulate your findings so that anyone reading your research will understand what you found and what decision you came to.

Kristen Gagliano wanted to congratulate Stephanie on her 20th year with North Shore Bank. The team celebrated with a cake for her on Monday! Kristen said Stephanie’s attention to detail makes her a perfect fit for her role as Quality Control for the BSA team as accuracy in our information and filings is critical to the bank’s success in regulatory examinations. 

“Stephanie has grown both personally and professionally since we started working together. She is the one I turn to when I want to confirm reporting for a CTRs and SARs. She now manages some annual tasks, recommends process improvements, and is always open to feedback and updates. All those skills help the whole team work more efficiently,” Kristen said.

In addition, Kristen noted that Stephanie is fun to work with, and she looks forward to more years of a great working relationship. “Cheers to another 20 years, Stephanie!” she said.

Congratulations to Stephanie on achieving this milestone!

 

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Employees enjoy Casino Night fun for a worthy cause

North Shore Bank proudly sponsored the Howard Suamico Business & Professional Association’s Annual Casino Night Fundraiser for education. The evening brought together local business and community members to support academic and career-preparedness initiatives in our local school district.

Community Engagement Manager Katie Presser said the team had a great time at the event. “It’s a fun-filled evening of games, networking, and giving back!” she said. 

In addition to Katie, Pulaski Associate Banker Zach Burmeister, Howard-Suamico Assistant Branch Manager Emmeline Knight-Guzman, Pulaski Lead Teller Tricia Whitney, and Howard-Suamico Lead Teller Josh Wallschlaeger attended. Thank you to our employees for demonstrating our bank’s ongoing commitment to local education and community development!

 

NEW HIRES

Welcome to our new hires for February 2025!

Meet your new coworkers, all hired in February 2025! Welcome to all.

Timothy Budrys, West Allis Lead Teller

Lauren Dyson, West Allis Assistant Branch Manager

My family and I moved to Wisconsin from Southern California in 2019. It took us some time to adjust to the weather and figure out where we wanted to settle in. We ended up in West Allis after several moves and have loved it since. In my spare time, I like to attend sporting events. I also have been quilting for a few years now, and it’s become a passion. I’ve also been involved in a local nonprofit called Park Pals. It has been a pivotal part in feeling a sense of community and support in Wisconsin after our move. I previously worked in software development, managing a team that wrote a program for real estate investors. North Shore Bank is my first venture into banking.

Jake Gunnell, Consumer Digital Banking Representative

I have been in banking since 2007. I worked at FIS prior to North Shore Bank. I was attracted to working at North Shore Bank because of its high degree of employee satisfaction and dedication to community focus.  I enjoy using my problem-solving abilities to exceed a customer’s expectations. I support Radio Milwaukee, the Wisconsin Humane Society, the Urban Ecology Center, the Milwaukee Film Festival, and Friends of Washington Park. I participate in many of their events such as the Urban Ecology Center’s recent candlelight hike at Three Bridges Park. I look forward to the upcoming Washington Park Wednesdays this summer. I live in the city of Milwaukee in the Washington Heights area. While I am originally from Chicago, I have lived in Milwaukee since 2004. I still root for the Chicago sports teams, but have gradually found a place in my heart for Milwaukee’s teams. I am coming up on my 15th wedding anniversary this year to my amazing wife Jacqueline (though I call her Jake). We have a cat named Dolly and a Chihuahua named Dobby. In my spare time I love to read articles on my eReader, play tennis with friends, go to movies and local live music shows, and compete in pub team trivia.

Hans Guttormsen, Area Teller at Kenosha Main

Prior to North Shore Bank I worked for Pick ‘N Save. I wanted to work for North Shore Bank because of their commitment to the customer. I liked the idea of a company that was directly involved in its community and puts the customer first. This also goes for its employees. I saw that North Shore Bank had numerous awards for being a great place to work and I could tell that North Shore cares about its people. For banking in general, I like that it is primarily a customer service role but has a lot of complexity to it. There is plenty to learn and stay fulfilled while serving your customer directly. I have lived in Kenosha and Racine all my life, but went to college in Chicago. I have a lot of relations to businesses in my family. On my dad’s side, my grandpa used to own the Guttormsen Recreation Center (GRC Bowling Alley) in Kenosha, and on my mom’s side, I am (distantly) related to the Culver family of the fast food restaurant Culver’s.

Ben Hertel, Commercial Loan Portfolio Manager 

Before North Shore Bank, I worked for Associated Bank. I was a portfolio manager with Associated Bank for six years, and before that, a sourcing analyst for AB. The job description for this position was exactly what I was looking for, and North Shore Bank has received numerous awards for being a top employer. I love banking, and love that every day is different, and every client’s story and needs are different. I am the founder of the Grant Richman Memorial Scholarship, which is awarded yearly to a student at Chilton High School, where I went to school. I live in Waukesha with my fiancé and our two dogs. We’re getting married in May. I graduated from UW-La Crosse in 2018. I am an avid fisherman and kayaker, and I enjoy sports, mainly the Packers, Brewers, and Louisville Cardinals. 

Hoang Huynh, Teller at Green Bay East

My name is Hoang Huynh, but everyone calls me Krystal. Before working for North Shore Bank, I didn’t have any experience in banking—this is my fresh start. I have some work experience, but it was all in restaurant customer service. I am Vietnamese and moved to the United States about seven years ago for college. I earned my associate’s degree in business from Lone Star College in Texas two years ago, then moved to Wisconsin to work for Arby’s before joining North Shore Bank. Working as a full-time teller at the Green Bay East branch is a great opportunity to grow my career further. In my free time, I like to go to the grocery store, cook, and play my guitar.

James Laubach, Teller at Shorewood

Mitchell Lesiecki, Travelling Teller

I was employed at the Home Depot and as an intern for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee before starting at North Shore Bank. What attracted me to working for North Shore Bank was the positive and knowledgeable interactions that I had as a customer of the bank, as well as the high level of engagement that North Shore Bank has with the communities it serves. When considering banking in general, I really enjoy providing high-touch service to our customers and gaining exposure to various financial situations. I live in Cedarburg and am involved with All Saints Catholic Church, serving as a music minister. In my free time I enjoy hiking, playing the piano, and exploring new coffee shops and restaurants in the Metro Milwaukee area.

Jose Martinez, Menasha Assistant Branch Manager

Aaliyah Schneider, Teller at Wauwatosa

Dena Smet, Teller at Green Bay West

I am new to banking. I was employed at Subway for 18 years prior to working at North Shore Bank. I was interested in working for North Shore Bank because of the community involvement. I enjoy working with people. I live in Hobart, and I am originally from Fond du Lac. I spend my time outside of work hanging out with my two dogs, Donald and Daisy.

Lateece Smith, Teller at Wauwatosa

Prior to North Shore Bank, I was an associate banker at JP Morgan Chase. I have been in banking for four years and I’ve held a teller position as well as an associate banker. I was interested in North Shore Bank because I saw an opportunity for growth here and a great opportunity to get more involved in the community locally. I am involved with the Myasthenia Gravis Holistic Society. I live in West Allis. I like to online shop for shoes and add items to my amazon cart that I’m not going to buy until a few months from now. I do enjoy being around my children and watching them grow.

Aaron Swiecichowski, Teller at Pulaski

 

Photo of the Week

 

HEALTHY YOU

Prioritize good sleep, exercise to get head into a healthy spring

Why we all need better sleep

Did you know that over a third of Americans aren’t getting enough sleep? That’s what the CDC found, and it’s a big deal for all of us. Good sleep isn’t just nice to have—we all need it to stay healthy and function well. Some simple tricks can make a huge difference: winding down before bed, keeping your room dark and cool, putting away your phone, and staying active during the day. These small changes can help everyone in your family sleep better.

For parents, helping kids get good sleep is extra important. Try setting some boundaries around homework time, helping them figure out which activities really matter, making sure they take breaks, and having a no-screens rule before bedtime. Kids need these routines even more than adults do! If you’re struggling to get your family’s sleep on track, don’t worry—help is available. Your EAP is just a call away at 800-236-3231 or online at www.aah.org/eap, and they can give you the support you need to make better sleep a reality.

Why exercise matters at every age

Let’s face it—we all know we should exercise, but actually doing it? That’s another story. The good news is you don’t need to become a gym rat to reap the benefits. Just 30 minutes of movement daily can significantly improve your health.

Finding an exercise routine you actually enjoy is key to sticking with it. Whether you’re looking to manage a health condition, reduce stress, build stamina, or fit into smaller clothes, having a clear goal can keep you motivated when Netflix is calling your name. Exercise can also be your social hour! Taking classes or walking with friends turns workout time into hangout time – multitasking at its finest.

Getting started is often the hardest part. But once you establish a routine, you’ll quickly notice improvements in your sleep quality and self-esteem that make it worth the effort.

So whether you’re 25 or 85, your body needs movement. Start small if you need to – a short walk, gentle stretching, or dancing in your living room all count. The important thing is to find something you enjoy and make it part of your routine. Your future self will thank you!

For more information on exercise and fitness, check out this month’s issue of Helping You. 

 

What’s new with you? Share it with Shorelines!

Just a reminder that we’re always looking for fun and exciting things to share in Shorelines.  Whether it’s a special event at your branch or a shout-out to one of your coworkers, a great trip you went on with family or friends, information about a half-marathon you’re running, or even just a fantastic photo you took over the weekend, we’d love to share it! Please email shorelines@northshorebank.com to have your news included in a future issue.

 

Customer Loyalty Tip of the Week

Send articles or other materials to your customers, if you think they can benefit from the information.

 

COMMUNITY CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Discover events and activities in and around your community

• Best Practices for Business Fraud Prevention and Being a Scam-Savvy Customer | Saturday, April 12 (11:00 AM) | North Shore Bank – Community Room | 4230 W. Oklahoma Ave., Milwaukee, WI