The traditional 35th anniversary gift is coral. Mary shared one of her favorite memories of the sea: “Being at the beach with my daughter on Sanibel Island, Florida. Later, after my husband passed, we went back and went paragliding together over the Gulf of Mexico.”

Unlike some longtime employees, Mary Fleischman doesn’t think her younger self would be surprised to learn she’s celebrating 35 years with the bank this month. She had to deal with multiple major life emergencies in the months and years after North Shore acquired her original employer, Sunrise Savings & Loan, in 1988 — and the company stood by her through each one.

In 1996, Mary moved from the Pulaski branch to Corporate, where she joined and eventually led the closing team in consumer mortgages. She shifted into commercial loans in 2007. In 2017, VP loan operations Nicole Daniels approached her about being part of the planned new Treasury Solutions department. “She thought I would be a great fit, and it sounded like a great way to expand my overall commercial banking experience, so I said yes,” Mary says.

“Working with Mary has been a fun-filled adventure!” says her boss, treasury solutions operations manager AVP Jeff Marsho — and not just because of her part in the team’s annual Halloween pranks. He praises her rapport with customers, research skills, and quick wit and sense of humor. “She keeps the atmosphere from getting too tense when the phones are ringing off the hook and our inbox seems to be a constant tidal wave of new messages, and she brings a perspective to situations that often leads to a new solution or update to a procedure.”

Making it happen
Earlier this month, a customer shared some sincere appreciation for Mary while responding to a survey, writing: “Mary Fleischman is a great go-to person who makes things happen. She has a vibrant personality and makes a customer feel welcome. North Shore Bank should hire more people like her!”Loan servicing manager VP Joe Fretschel, who’s worked with Mary for over 20 years, offers a similar take.

“She never gets rattled. Even at the height of the mortgage refinance boom, she was as calm as could be,” he says. “A number of years ago, her daughter’s pet turtle somehow turned over a heat lamp and almost burned their house down. Thankfully, no one was hurt — but still, you think, What a tragic story, right? Yet she told the story in a calm way right after it happened, and she was chuckling a little bit! When I see someone’s hair on fire over something, I know it’s time for a calm getaway — so I go see Mary.”

Mary talked to Shorelines about starting out here, life since her 25th anniversary, and what lies ahead.

Mary in 1988.

Sunrise hired you in 1988 and was acquired shortly after by North Shore, and you’ve stayed put since then.
North Shore kept me on when, five months after the merger, my daughter was born six weeks early and I was dying from liver failure. After a successful transplant, they still had a place for me, and I never looked back. My husband passed a few years later, in December 1995, and my daughter and I needed to be near family. A spot opened up in the 5th Floor closing department in March 1996, so I interviewed with Duane Bavlnka and Deb Mueller, and I started working at the Corporate office on April 1.

Besides the bank’s loyalty to you, what else has kept you here for 35 years?
Some of the great people I have been able to work with, as well as the different learning experiences. The great thing about being in this field is that things are always changing.

What would you tell your 1988 self, if you could send a message back in time?
The lottery numbers! And also to take advantage of every opportunity to learn something new.

What are you excited about, professionally and personally, for the future?
The unknown, for both! You never know what will happen next. I will be going to weddings and baby showers as my nieces and nephews get married and have kids! Being able to be here and see what comes next is what makes it all so interesting and exciting!