Around the Bank

• Doyle promotion announced. She took over as Senior Vice President of Retail Banking back in the spring, after Steve Steiner retired, and last week saw the official announcement of Sue Doyle’s promotion. “I’ve really enjoyed working with people at a different level and the collaboration with different departments to tell North Shore Bank’s story and work toward our goals as a financial institution,” Sue says of her first months in the new job.

North Shore Bank “was really my first job out of school,” she says. Sue was hired as a teller at what is now our Shorewood branch and eventually became a teller supervisor. She followed a mentor to another bank and entered a management training program there. Then about seven years ago, while searching for job opportunities, she talked with a couple of people she’d worked with elsewhere who both had ended up at NSB. As a result of those conversations, she came back “home” too. And she’s glad.

“North Shore Bank is an excellent place to work” Sue says. “I’m very proud to be here. The service we can offer our customers, because of our caring and concern for them as individuals, is really a terrific thing to provide and differentiate my work as a banker.”

She has no plans to tweak the basics of our branches’ successful formula, but one of her main focuses will be helping them adapt to customers’ changing needs as technology continues to improve and in-person transactions decline. Because so much information is available to consumers online, Sue says, our employees’ role will be to provide truly expert knowledge to customers and help them make wise financial decisions. “It’s really that next level,” she says. “That’s a big focus over the next couple of years.”

^ Creative reminders. Training and Development Manager Milene Below caught a couple cool pictures on a trip this month to our Milwaukee Capitol branch. Branch Manager Nichole Sargent created the bulletin board above using email reminders Milene sent in June. The advice for employees includes “Be consistent,” “Be personally accountable,” “Be professional,” “Be welcoming,” “Be proactive,” “Be credible,” and “Be a good communicator.” For a closer look, you can click on the photo to see it in a larger size. Milene also got a shot (at right) of the “Soar” mugs found by PB Candi Sibila, who bought them for everyone at the branch as a way to help keep our customer promises at the top of their minds. Pretty cool!

• Illinois Lupus Walk. McHenry Teller Supervisor Dawn Conley was part of the Illinois Lupus Walk, along with family and friends, on July 12. Dawn’s daughter Kelly has had lupus since age 11; Kelly is now 22. “We have been through a lot of ups and downs with this disease,” Dawn says. “Kelly has had kidney dialysis, chemotherapy, and ongoing treatment for inflammation of joints, to name a few problems.” Because of her regimen of immunosuppressant drugs, Kelly now also has non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which is fortunately at a very unaggressive stage. “Kelly is ALWAYS upbeat and keeps on plugging away and living life as normal as possible,” Dawn says. “She is in her final stretch of her bachelor’s degree from Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. She specifically wants to be a math teacher.”

Dawn adds: “My awesome branches in McHenry and Lake in the Hills generously donated money. I am so grateful for my fellow staff members.” Donations to Dawn’s team are still being accepted, if you would like to contribute to helping Kelly and others with lupus. Go here, click “Sponsor a Walker,” enter Kelly Conley, and follow the prompts to pay. “Otherwise,” Dawn says, “prayers are always accepted!”

Service Anniversaries This Week
President and COO Jay McKenna marks 15 years with North Shore Bank on July 26.

And Brookfield Square UB Merry Justin celebrates five years with the bank on July 27. “I really enjoy working here,” she says. “I have worked with so many nice people — customers and coworkers — starting at the Mequon branch and now at Brookfield Square and as a video teller. The last five years have flown by. Also, a shout-out to Branch 11, who taught me that this old dog can learn new tricks: I now face my money!” Please congratulate Jay and Merry in the comments!

Shorelines Shout-Outs!
As proven in our Customer Pulse Surveys, you are the heartbeat of the bank’s success. Here’s a sampling of what customers have to say about banking with us.

“The person who helps me the most is [East ABMO] Cole Heinrich. He has really gone the extra mile to reach out to customer service when they have not done something right for me. He takes ownership of any problem or request. He is pleasant and professional and makes a great impression for North Shore Bank as a whole.”

“I have no proof of anyone at North Shore Bank being anything but fair and having great integrity.”

North Shore Shape Up

^ YMCA cooking demo. North Shore Shape Up hosted a cooking demo featuring Patty and Betty from the Milwaukee YMCA on July 10, Wellness Coordinator Lynn Jack reports. Betty suggested to attendees that they try making one salad a day.

“On the surface, making a healthy salad doesn’t sound all that hard to do,” Payroll Manager Cindy Lohrey said later. “But what I learned from the Y ladies is not to be intimidated by ingredients I’ve never used before. I also learned about the nutritional value of these ingredients and tips on how to prepare them. It has inspired me to try more healthy options. No more excuses that I’m too busy or on-the-go too much — there’s still time to eat healthy!”

North Shore Shape Up plans to take cooking demos like these on the road to other branches. In the meantime, if you missed this one, you can click here for two recipes made and approved by your fellow employees. Happy eating!

Internal Job Postings
Personal Banker, Oak Creek, full time. 40 hours/week. $400 referral bonus. Internal closing date: July 25.

For a complete list of internal job postings and to apply for one, go to nsbcareersforyou.silkroad.com and click on “Internal Openings” at the top. To refer an external person to an opening, go to our intranet page. You can earn cash and prizes for a successful referral!

Shorelines is published on Thursdays. We love to hear about your professional milestones and the important moments in your life outside of work, too. Send news, questions, story ideas, suggestions, and fun photos to shorelines@northshorebank.com, or share your message using the comment form below.