If author Malcolm Gladwell was right in his book Outliers, Robin Sodd could serve as a case study. Gladwell claims the place people are born and raised can have a huge impact on their success.

With her Jan. 17 retirement in sight, Robin reflects on 21½ years in banking, and it’s obvious that her Door County roots and surroundings have played a key role in her career path and accomplishments.

Robin was born in Green Bay, the famous football city at the base of Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula, a summer vacation haven renowned for its 300-plus miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. She earned an accounting degree from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, planning for a career in that field.

But a course in business law and real estate intrigued her, so she decided to earn her broker’s license and begin selling properties in the desirable vacation paradise when she returned to her home in Baileys Harbor.

Robin spent eight years in real estate sales and then another seven as a mortgage loan officer in Sturgeon Bay before joining North Shore Bank’s Sister Bay branch in 1992. “I’ve been working in these related fields — real estate and mortgage banking — for 36 years,” she says.

“When I was in real estate sales, I sent most of my deals to Gary Franke at Frontier Savings, which became Sunrise Savings and then North Shore Bank. When Gary decided to work closer to his home in Sturgeon Bay, he contacted me to see if I was interested in doing mortgage business closer to my home in Baileys Harbor. His experience with that market made him a great mentor and teacher.”

Robin joined North Shore in 1992 as Sister Bay branch manager and loan officer. “I started handling mortgage loans for some of the clients I had referred to Gary when I sold real estate,” she says. “It was a perfect fit.”

In 1999, she began focusing solely on mortgage loans, and she has continued that specialty.

Technology, compliance evolve to change transactions for customers, whether local and international
Robin remembers when facsimile machines were the latest technology. “A lot of our customers were second-home buyers from out of town. I thought the fax machine was really neat, because it made closings much easier. Now computers, scanning and email make everything so much faster.”

However, ever-increasing compliance requirements have not contributed to making things faster — or easier. “It’s hard to explain to established customers why we need all of this paperwork. We’ve learned to start out by cautioning them that we might need even more information so they don’t take it personally or consider it a negative reflection on their creditworthiness.”

Working with customers from all over the world has kept Robin’s job interesting. “Although many are from Chicago, I’ve handled closings for customers who were in Saudi Arabia and Sweden.”

She remembers a snow day, when schools were closed and everything came almost to a standstill. “A couple from St. Louis flew their own plane and landed at the Ephraim airport so they could come to the Sister Bay office for their closing.”

She also recalls an excited couple who were purchasing a lot, with plans to eventually build a retirement home. “The closing was at 10 in the morning, and they brought a bottle of champagne to celebrate.” Robin admits she took “just a sip” to honor their landmark event.

Robin leaves legacy of achievement
Robin has a solid record of achievement, and serving as testament to her accomplishments are framed certificates on her office walls: Mortgage Lender of the Year in 1998; Northeast Region Branch Manager of the Year (Sister Bay), also in 1998, for which she won a Caribbean cruise; and Door County Board of Realtors Real Estate Affiliate of the Year in 2003 and 2009.

Robin has never regretted opting for real estate and mortgage lending over accounting. “I don’t think I would have been happy working in a back office as a number-cruncher. I enjoy working with people.” She is grateful for all the good friends she has made over the years. “North Shore Bank has always treated me well,” she says.

She shares with those new to banking lessons she has learned: “Be flexible, and keep trying to learn something new. There is a lot to absorb, and it can be fun along the way.”

She’ll continue working with people, helping her 78-year-old mom, Dolores Lent, operate a motel and cottage rental business in Fish Creek. “There are nine units, and Mom can’t do it by herself anymore,” Robin says.

The summer enterprise allows them to head for Florida for a few months every winter. “We’re both widows,” Robin says, “so we’ll see what happens. I don’t know if we’ll eventually sell it or if I’ll take it over.”

Regardless of which path she takes, it’s apparent that the influence of growing up and staying in the Door Peninsula has had a major influence in Robin’s life. Real estate was good to her, banking was good to her, and it’s probably safe to assume she’ll continue her record of achievement in the heart of her native Door County.