Process Risk Analyst marks three decades with North Shore Bank this week.

For science-fiction fan Ron Olson, futuristic practices seem to be playing out before his eyes. During his 30 years with North Shore Bank, he has seen dramatic changes in the way customers do their banking.

“I’ve been in banking for a generation, and some practices from my early years have all but disappeared,” he says. “I remember long lines at teller stations the day Social Security checks arrived in mailboxes. Now the vast majority of those funds are deposited electronically.”

He adds: “The first time my wife swiped a debit card, she remarked that she couldn’t imagine how their use would become a substitute for cash.” Once considered revolutionary, debit cards today are common.

Despite exciting technological leaps and automation, Ron says, “You can’t replace everything. I expect the use of checks and cash to continue to drop, but people will still want a neighborhood branch.” There will be problems that only a human can solve, documents that need to be signed in person and maybe notarized, and coins from a child’s piggy bank to be counted and deposited.

Finance, communication, analytical skills come from genes, experience
Ron’s father worked in accounting supervision in the insurance sector, and Ron seems to have inherited his dad’s affinity for working with numbers and problem-solving. “I knew I would end up in a similar type of job, one where I could use my analytical skills,” he says.

As process risk analyst for commercial loans, Ron serves internal customers, providing reports with evaluation and insight related to loans. His first bank position was teller, followed by loan processing/originator, personal banker, teller supervisor, branch manager (Bayshore for 10 years), and consumer and then commercial loan servicing manager.

“I learned a lot from all of the interactions with customers and coworkers over the years, especially in terms of dealing with a variety of people and adapting my communication and negotiation style to fit the personality and situation. That’s something you can only learn through experience,” he says.

He was fortunate to have supportive mentors along the way: “Mary Kern and Candy Midboe gave me opportunities and encouraged me to learn all aspects of banking operations and products, and to further my education through courses from the Institute of Financial Education. Darrel Eisenhardt guided me in managing a successful branch and relationship building. Dave Potter supported and advanced me in the loan servicing area. My current boss, VP of Loan Operations Laurie Maduscha, matched my skills and experience to my current job and has empowered me to take ownership of responsibilities that are important to the department and the bank.”

Laurie appreciates the wealth of experience Ron brings to his position and to North Shore. “He has been in many roles here, and he has excelled in all of them,” she says. “It has been great working with Ron over the years. I wish him the best of luck and look forward to working with him for many years to come.”

Ron’s dad, who died in 2010 just shy of his 99th birthday, not only gave Ron the genes for finance and analysis; the elder Olson was also among the mentors who modeled some important lessons, which Ron believes would serve any new employee well. “Know your role — its importance to the bank and to your own development,” Ron says. “Question what you don’t know, learn it, and then improve if you can. Show respect for all, and always offer to help.”

He adds: “Change and new challenges are always coming. Learning new things is good for you.”

Work-home balance, humor influence attitude, lifestyle
A father with a grown son and three grandchildren, Ron stresses, “Keep proper balance with work and home,” which can be especially challenging for employees who are parents. “Those school and sporting events are important.”

Speaking of grandchildren, Ron has for years supported swapping dollar bills, with their short life span, for long-lasting coins. He “goes paperless” every now and then, but has had problems with businesses accepting the large metal money. His grandchildren are no exception. “When I put the big coins in their Christmas stockings, they don’t know what to do with them.”

The evolution of currency is yet another financial transition — “Shall we talk about pennies?” Ron asks — but it’s hardly happening at the warp speed of science fiction.