I once heard someone say that “80 percent of enjoyment in anything you do is determined by whom you’re with.” This certainly rings true for me as I think about the workplace family with whom I’ve shared my life with for the past 44 years! I’m not alone in this sentiment — I continually hear from North Shore colleagues that part of their family is here, at the bank. As one 15-year employee put it: “This bank is part of me.”

What defines any experience, including a great place to work? The people.

North Shore Bank is a remarkable workplace. Others have noticed. This fall, the daily trade publication American Banker will feature North Shore Bank as one of the best banks to work for in the country. And earlier this year, we were recognized by the Journal Sentinel as a “Top Workplace” for the third consecutive year.

The secret to being one of the best places to work: a culture in which people — whether our customers or our colleagues — come first.

Core to North Shore Bank’s mission is building long-term relationships based on satisfying customers’ individual needs. This mission permeates our bank culture. We cultivate a spirit of community in which people are welcomed, valued, and remembered. We believe in open communication, and we learn through constructive feedback — whether it comes from our customers or our colleagues. We value treating everyone with respect and integrity. At North Shore Bank, long-term relationships are built and nurtured.

Something happened recently that reinforced our family culture. As you know, in our branch offices, we provide customers the opportunity to complete surveys directed to the CEO. I read all of those surveys. A short time ago, I received written feedback that said, “I don’t know if you remember me, but I used to work at North Shore many years ago.”

I wrote back, “Of course I remember you! Please stop in sometime. I would love to see you.”

Lois came by for a visit. She was one of our first branch employees more than 35 years ago. Retired since the early ’90s, Lois still gets together with her five colleagues from the original North Shore Bank branch at 92nd and Oklahoma every February on her birthday.

This story speaks volumes about the value that we, as North Shore employees, place on relationships with our customers and our colleagues. Thank you for all that you do to make North Shore Bank such an extraordinary organization, where people are North Shore’s past, present, and future.