Tricia Cravillion

As Tricia Cravillion marks her 25^th year with North Shore Bank, she reflects on two significant changes she has both witnessed and participated in. One relates to technology, and the other relates to management and leadership.

“Technology obviously is a huge change,” she says. “I love how computers have evolved, and I have been part of that at the bank every step of the way.”

Noting that leadership roles have changed as well, she explains, “Leadership and management have moved from a telling atmosphere to collaboration and mentoring.” Tricia credits the bank for not “sitting still,” but rather for staying on the forefront of positive change on both fronts.

She considers the opportunities for growth that have come with both of these major shifts the highlight of her bank career.

From factory to finance
Tricia planned to work for a year or two after high school to earn money for college. She tried a factory job, but the lack of interaction with others sent her in a different direction.

She started part time at Security Bank in 1987, eventually becoming a full-time CSR. She advanced to personal banker, then made what she calls a “huge move” to the mortgage/processing/closing area. “I worked as an assistant to the district manager and then was asked to move to a branch manager position,” she says.

The branch she was managing in Algoma was acquired by North Shore in 1997. “I started as a business development officer, a position that became district operations manager, and then I transitioned to the district manager position.” In October 2011 Tricia added the responsibilities of consumer loan manager, and she recently moved into her current role of vice president-branch operations/consumer loan manager.

Her duties involve supporting our entire branch network as staff strive for success in selling the benefits of North Shore Bank and Illinois State Bank to customers. She also helps roll out new processes and procedures — many technology based — to make it easier and more convenient for customers to do business with us.

“I’ve stayed at North Shore Bank for 25 years because when I wake up each morning and go to work, I know that I’m making a difference in the lives of our customers and my co-workers,” she says.

Co-workers, mentors have shaped career
Although many people have helped Tricia along the way, she considers Kathy Storck and Lyneen Fischer especially close colleagues. “We grew together in our careers,” she says.

Sue Doyle and Steve Arps also deserve a mention. “They mentored me and continue to push me to move outside my comfort zone, which has helped me to grow as an employee as well as a person.”

Tricia credits training offered by the bank for helping her advance. “I used to have a communication style that amounted to just blurting things out,” she says. “Communication and management training as well as gaining experience in life and in the workplace helped me learn to step back and give a little more thought to what I was going to say and how it might affect people.”

She advises others to be open about their ambitions. “I have never been bored or dissatisfied with any position I’ve held here, but I have not hesitated to express that I wanted to grow. It’s good to make people aware, to speak up if you’re interested in more responsibility. It also helps to demonstrate with your work ethic, your work habits and your attitude that you are ready for other opportunities.”

Make room for humor
Tricia has been serious and intentional about her career, but it has not been without its light moments. “Dressing up as the blue man group, space astronauts and Wild West cowboys for sales kickoffs has been fun,” she says.

But tripping and falling from a platform during a presentation for personal bankers at the Ashwaubenon auditorium was not. “I climbed three small steps, and then turned to face the audience. I took a couple of steps back and fell off. One minute I was there, the next minute I was flat on my back.” She remembers Menasha PB Adam Graf declaring, “She’s gone.” Fortunately, nothing was hurt but her ego.

Being able to laugh about it now fits with Tricia’s advice to young professionals: “Check your attitude every day; you are in control of your destiny. Everyone around you is there to support you in your journey. But don’t be too hard on yourself along the way.”