From HR: Consider a job-shadow opportunity
Have you thought about attending a job shadow, but weren’t sure what it would be like? Job shadows are for anyone to attend — whether you have an interest in actually doing a particular job in the future or not, they can give you a better understanding of how your role interacts with and benefits from other positions and departments at North Shore Bank. Molly Schissler has rounded up a few comments from job-shadow participants that help explain why it’s such a valuable program. Check them out and find out how to participate now!

Open house, video showcase new Bayshore branch

Our new Bayshore branch held an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony on February 6. Between 30 and 40 people attended the event, where Glendale Mayor Bryan Kennedy made a proclamation honoring the branch and North Shore Chamber of Commerce president Dale Schmidt offered remarks. District manager Cristen Baumann served as master of ceremonies.

Watch this short video about the new branch on our intranet home page. Look under “Announcements.” Read more about the branch open house here.

Roberts win grand prize in autumn Elan promotion

Green Bay East assistant branch manager–sales Will Roberts won the grand prize for North Shore Bank — a 43-inch smart TV — in Elan’s “Once Upon a Wish” credit card promotion last fall. By successfully booking new card accounts, employees earned rewards, were entered in sweepstakes, and could qualify for a bonus.

Will says he’s enjoying the TV: “I can even talk to it and it will do what I say!” Read on to see others who won.

Chili cook-off raises $361 for Racine’s homeless

Racine branches held a chili cook-off on Friday, February 2, as part of Super Bowl weekend. Employees at Northside, Regency, and Westgate made chili, which customers could purchase and then vote for. The cook-off raised $361 for the Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization of Racine, which support people who are homeless or struggling in the community. “These donations are particularly important during the winter months,” area branch manager Lisa Brooks said. “This event is a customer favorite, and some customers go to all three offices to sample chili in one day.” •••

Wauwatosa enjoys dinner, games

Wauwatosa branch staff enjoyed a night out together at Meiji Cuisine hibachi restaurant on Saturday, February 17. After dinner, they played board games. “We are all pretty competitive, and the consensus was that there was not really any clear champion, since some of the answers were open to interpretation,” branch manager Mary Rose Balzer said. “I would say that the results were pretty even. We did have a blast!” •••

New Hires for February 22
It’s always exciting to add new members to our team. Here are some of the fresh faces at North Shore Bank.

Senior loan funding representative Ann Cain is from Pewaukee and worked at equipment finance company Five-Lakes Financial in Milwaukee for 15 years. Ann says, “I’m crazy about horses. I have ridden and competed in horse shows since I was 8 years old, and going to the barn two to three times a week is what I look forward to the most.” She owns one horse — actually a Hackney pony — named Frank.

New Berlin teller Kelly Doucette is from Milwaukee and previously worked in payroll and the mailroom for the Milwaukee Center for Independence. He also works part time at Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant. “I love to travel,” Kel says. “Outside of the United States, I have visited 10 countries on five continents, and have stepped foot into three oceans.” His parents were teachers, which meant they could travel during the summer. Although they never took Kel out of North America, it was still enough to pique his interest. He made his first international trip for New Year’s Eve 2011, which he celebrated in Paris.

Mortgage loan professional Claudio Lanza is from Saukville but was born and raised in Messina, Italy. He was previously with JPMorgan Chase. Claudio played soccer for 30 years. “I was semipro with Verdi Soccer Club in Wisconsin, and I did play with MATC for three years,” he says. “I was NCJAA All American for two years — today I think it would be Division III.” His preferred position was striker. •••

North Shore Shape Up: Curry may have brain benefits
Curry is one of the smarter things you can order, apparently. Cleveland Clinic Wellness reports on a small study that suggests that the turmeric in curry can help your brain as well as your body:

Turmeric, one of the main ingredients in curry mixtures, is known to have potent anti-inflammatory properties, and researchers have zeroed in on the compound curcumin as one of the active ingredients. Some research suggests that curcumin shows promise for helping to treat a range of ailments, including rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, and even depression. A small new study suggests that the compound may help mend memory, too. Among a group of 40 older adults with mild memory trouble, half took a curcumin supplement and half took a placebo for 18 months. At the beginning and end of the study, all participants took cognitive tests, and most did brain scans that measure levels of the plaques and tangles that are present in people with Alzheimer’s disease. Those taking curcumin showed improvements in memory, attention, and mood, whereas those taking the placebo did not. And the scans of those taking curcumin indicated lower levels of plaques and tangles.

Again, this was a small study, so more research is necessary. But there’s no doubt about turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties, so if you enjoy curry, put it on your regular menu! •••

Upcoming Events
Winterfest in Greendale takes place this Saturday, February 24. This year’s theme is the Winter Olympics. Watch ice carvers, meet sled dogs, and more! More upcoming events here.

Internal Job Postings •••

• Customer Assistance Representative, Corporate, full time, 40 hours/week. Pay grade: N12. Referral bonus: $400. Internal closing date: Ongoing.

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!