Milene Below
New Training and Development Manager Milene Below started this month in North Shore Bank’s HR department, replacing the now retired Jan Konkol. Shorelines talked with Milene to find out a little bit about where she’s coming from, how she got here, and what she has planned.
Congratulations on your new position, Milene. Can you tell us a little about your background?
I’ve worked in HR roles ever since graduating college, mostly on the recruiting side of things. A little over six years ago, I decided it was time to explore another area of HR and started at Kohl’s in the company’s Learning & Development department. Kohl’s was the perfect place to see what the training side of HR was all about. People there told me, “It’s the creative side of HR. You’re going to love the variety.” They weren’t kidding! With training, you have license to be creative — after all, you want what you’re teaching to stick! I learned so much and got to use my people, computer, and project management skills. Who could ask for more?
How did you end up at North Shore Bank?
Molly Schissler and I worked together previously and have kept in touch over the years — it’s one of those things that is easy to do when you respect each other both personally and professionally. When I got wind of an opening at NSB, I decided the time was right for me to consider a career move. I feel good about making that move!
Is it a big change, going from the retail industry to a financial institution?
The way you design and deliver training is the same no matter where you go. At the end of the day, it’s all about serving the customer, and that’s no different in retail or banking. The challenging part is learning all the regulations and banking industry terminology. I’m getting the hang of it so far!
What’s your philosophy on training?
To provide the skills and knowledge employees need to do their best work. Whether it’s training to get up and running in a new position or performance support while doing their current job, employees need the right tools and resources to be successful.
And what can North Shore Bank employees expect as you get things rolling in your new role?
A more branded, colorful approach to training programs and materials, better use of technology in training, and additional training for all employees, no matter their roles. Keeping things new and fresh is something all trainers strive for. I like to challenge the norm. Now’s the time to evaluate our training here and challenge ourselves to provide our employees the right training at the right time, so they can do their best work.