By Molly Schissler, SVP, Human Resources & Compliance

Thank you to all of you who nominated employees for recognition in our annual SOAR Awards. The awards are now in their third year, and we had so many great nominees to choose from that the review committee decided to recognize two employees in each of the three categories.

We are pleased to announce our 2019 award winners:

For Community Service: Robin Callis and Alfredo Martin

For Outstanding Service: Cheryl Fregoso and Barb Wisneski

And our Legacy Leaders: Kerri Collins and Lyneen Fischer

It is worth noting that Cheryl and Barb each received two nominations for their outstanding service. Here are some snippets from the nominations submitted for each of our winners:

Robin Callis, Branch Manager, Burlington

“It is very obvious that Robin thrives on volunteering for the betterment of the community and to promote North Shore Bank. For the past 12 years, she has been on the planning committee for the Money Conference and has presented seminars on topics such as building and maintaining good credit; teaching young children about needs versus wants; the credit card industry; and how to avoid the ‘quick cash’ trap. Here are just some of the many events and organizations that have benefited from Robin’s involvement: the Racine/Kenosha Money Conference; Kids & Family Expo, Pleasant Prairie; Racine Neighborhood Watch: Take a Taste out of Crime; Taste of Wisconsin; LOVE, INC.; and the Burlington Chamber of Commerce.”

Alfredo Martin, Area Branch Manager, El Rey and Jackson Park

“Over the past few years, North Shore Bank, through the efforts of Alfredo, has had tremendous impact on the Latino community in Milwaukee. Beyond simply spreading awareness of the bank, Alfredo and his team work to build relationships with the residents and provide financial information. To round out his passion for discussing financial literacy in the Hispanic community, Alfredo participates in a weekly radio program, answering questions and providing information. As one customer stated, ‘The reason you are successful in this area is because of Alfredo.'”

Cheryl Fregoso, Human Resources Representative

“She displays such kindness, professionalism, and patience in every situation. I listen to her talk to new employees to walk them through the onboarding process, and you can just hear the smile in her voice. She is the person that most people think of to call when they have an HR question or even sometimes non-HR questions. She takes the time to speak with that person and never rushes them if they just want to talk. She is the face of North Shore Bank!”

Barb Wisneski, VP, Loan Processing/Closing Manager

“She focuses on the ‘can do’ instead of the ‘cannot.’ She has a cooperative style, mentoring and training the people she works with, while always being respectful and supportive. It is always a pleasure to work with her, because you know you can rely on her and that it will be done right the first time. Closing a loan with NSB is a pleasant experience.”

Kerri Collins, District Manager

“Kerri’s legacy is felt not just in the North District, but in all areas of the branch network. There is no doubt that Kerri’s influence will outlast her time with the bank. She has earned a rich legacy of success for her own accomplishments, and the accomplishments of her team reflect her abilities. Kerri truly SOARs and deserves the honor of Legacy Leader.”

Lyneen Fischer, VP, Security/Payments Manager

“Lyneen is not only a huge asset to our department but also a huge asset to North Shore Bank. She crosses over every department: Commercial/Treasury, Retail, Operations, IT — the list goes on and on. Lyneen is not only considered a trusted adviser but also a friend to many. No matter how long the day gets, she shows up the next day with a smile on her face, ready to face another day.”

•••

Our winners were each presented with a trophy, as well as a check for $500. Congratulations again to each of these very deserving North Shore Bank team members, who exemplify our SOAR standards every day!