Greg Kroll celebrates 20 years at North Shore Bank this month.
Why has Mortgage Loan Officer Greg Kroll stayed in his job for 20 years? “Many people in this business jump from one job to another, only to find out the grass is not greener on the other side,” he says. “You keep in contact with people and hear about their new positions, and you realize it’s just a whole ’nother set of problems somewhere else. The reality is, it’s never perfect; it can never be perfect, no matter where you are. So when you find something good that works for you, you want to stick with it. That is what has worked for me.”
Perfection may not be achievable, but Greg notes that North Shore Bank has come about as close as one could expect. “A lot of good people work here, and the way things work here makes sense to me,” he says. “We’re proactive with where we need to be, in terms of lending and getting systems in place. I think it comes down to the way it’s managed from the top.”
As a 14-year former employee of Maritime Savings Bank, which North Shore Bank absorbed in 2010, Greg has had personal experience with the ups and downs of the industry, particularly in the mortgage sector.
“I look at it as, I was lucky to survive it,” he says. But he notes that the time he’s put in has made a positive difference, as well. “I’ve been at this so long, I know pretty much what to expect and how to deal with the issues as they arise,” he says. “There are so many different things that can happen with a transaction, but if you’ve been at it as long as I have, you’ve pretty much encountered every kind of problem there can be.”
Extracurricular joyrides
Greg is used to excitement outside of work, as well, though it’s a more positive kind. Among his hobbies are bicycling, hiking, restoring cars — and racing a 1963 Volkswagen Beetle on frozen lakes during the winter.
“Basically, they plow a course on the lake and everyone goes through one at a time,” he says. “They’re timed runs to see who can go through the fastest.” He’s part of a group of friends who’ve done these races since the 1990s through the Wisconsin Autosports Group.
“You’re wearing a helmet,” he notes. “I guess the only danger would be if you went through the ice. But they check that and double-check it and triple-check. There has to be at least a foot of ice [for us to race].”
Otherwise, he spends time with his wife, Gretchen, and their two sons, 10-year-old Dylan and 8-year-old Lukas. Greg cites his own father as his “main mentor.” “He taught me all things mechanical as well as a good work ethic,” Greg says.
Steady as she goes
Greg believes the regulations implemented in the wake of the economic crash were necessary, but came about too late and “came on strong.” He’s been heartened to see some of those regulations loosened as time has gone on, and expects that the homebuying market will remain steady for the foreseeable future.
“I think the homebuying construction and real estate market will continue at an even pace. Things are steady at the moment,” he says. “But there’s not a lot of inventory. You need people to list their houses — the younger generation wants to buy.” He predicts that a number of retiring baby boomers will downsize soon.
In the meantime, he’s glad to remain steady himself, and keep on doing what he’s been doing for two decades.
“I like my job because I’m helping people,” he says. “It makes it sound really corny, but I’m helping them make their dream come true. You get to the closing table, and it’s all done, and they walk away happy, and you feel good. That’s kind of a rarity.”