Second annual SOAR Together award nominations open
Last year we launched our annual SOAR Together awards in recognition of employees who demonstrate our Customer Promises. Now it’s time for our second year of nominations! Read more right now about why and how to nominate a colleague for their commitment to serving all of our customers. Nominations are open through March 15.

SOAR Together surveys get new one-question format

By Sue Doyle, SVP, Retail Banking

The bank is changing the format of our internal SOAR Together branch/department surveys.

Instead of asking for feedback on each SOAR Together attribute, we will now be using a one-question survey that asks the respondent to rate the branch or department on how easy it is to do business with them. The new format will look like this:

Respondents will be asked to base their rating on the branch or department’s delivery of the SOAR Together service qualities, as shown on this survey front page:

Respondents will have the opportunity to provide examples showing why it is or isn’t easy to do business with the branch or department they rated, and to recognize employees in that area for their service. We encourage you to share examples and written comments when you respond to a SOAR Together survey, because that information helps us understand what we do well and where we can improve, and also enables us to recognize top performers. Thank you for your help! •••

Fleischman feted for 30th anniversary

North Shore Bank celebrated commercial loan specialist and systems analyst Mary Fleischman’s 30-year career with the company last Friday. The party included cake and visits from colleagues like chairman and CEO Jim McKenna, pictured with Mary above. We hope to have more from Mary soon about her milestone year. •••

Kading has sweet 20th anniversary

Appleton Northland staff surprised personal banker Kelly Kading with a party for his 20th anniversary with North Shore Bank last week. We’ll have more from Kelly about the celebration soon. •••

Winterfest features games, ice art in Greendale

North Shore Bank was at Winterfest in Greendale this past Saturday, February 24. We offered games and giveaways and judged ice sculptures at the event. Pictured above are mortgage loan originator Tony Larke with wife Barb, Southridge assistant branch manager–sales Tiffany Dettmann, and Greendale personal banker Sam Damman and daughter Lyla. •••

North Shore Shape Up: Family history and Alzheimer’s
Family history affects your chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease — but not that much, Harvard Health says. Your age plays a much larger role in whether you’ll develop Alzheimer’s. And it’s not worth it to be tested for the “Alzheimer’s gene,” says a neurology professor at the university: “It’s not going to be helpful, since it won’t tell you whether you will develop the disease. It will only tell you if you are at a greater or lower risk.”

Here’s what Harvard Health recommends if a family member is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s:

• Contact the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org). Find out about resources available to help you and your family. State and county agencies may also be able to help.
• Plan for the future. This includes legally designating someone to make healthcare and financial decisions for the affected person when he or she can’t.
• Investigate long-term care options. Nursing care is expensive, and finding a good place can take time. Start early.
• Take care of physical health. People with dementia who live a healthy lifestyle tend to progress more slowly to the later stages.
• Steer away from genetic testing. Even if you have the APOE Alzheimer’s risk gene, it usually doesn’t mean you will develop dementia later in life.

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Upcoming Events
Through next Tuesday, March 6, advance tickets for the Milwaukee Sports Show can be purchased at any North Shore Bank branch in southeast Wisconsin, for a discounted price of $7. Tickets will be $9 at the door of the show, which runs March 7-11 at Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis. 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!