Archive for category: Community

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Cinnaire Welcomes Three New Board Members

Cinnaire has announced the appointment of three new Board members. The new members join the organization’s Board of Directors to provide strategic direction supporting continued growth around Cinnaire’s commitment to investing in people and places to transform communities.

“Sarida, Fred, and Amandula have each demonstrated a remarkable commitment to our mission and our industry,” said Mark McDaniel, Cinnaire president and CEO. “Together they bring a diverse range of wisdom, experience and perspective which will significantly benefit our organization. We’re grateful to our board members for sharing their time and talent to support our work investing in people and places to transform communities.”

The three new board members include:

  • Fred L. Greene III, FLGA, executive vice president
  • Amandula Anderson, IFF, executive director – Indiana Region
  • Sarida Lynne Scott, assistant professor and director, University of Detroit, Mercy School of Architecture and Community Development

Fred Greene III

Fred Greene III is a native Washingtonian with over 14 years of diversified real estate development, investment, and economic development experience and has been involved in over 3 million square feet of commercial development. As Executive Vice President of FLGA, a Washington, D.C.-based multifaceted real estate development and investment company, Greene oversees all day-to-day activities of the firm with oversight of all acquisition and development management strategy. Greene is also co-founder of Project Destined, a social impact program offering training and paid internships to youth in urban communities. Project Destined is focused on increasing the number of diverse owners and leaders in the commercial real estate industry by partnering with schools, corporations, and nonprofit organizations to train students in the fundamentals of commercial real estate.

Amandula Anderson

Amandula Anderson serves as IFF executive director for the Indiana Region and is charged with oversight of IFF’s full scope of services in Indiana and Louisville, KY, while actively seeking additional opportunities to further support nonprofits. Previously she served as IFF’s managing director of real estate solutions – Indiana, working alongside nonprofit organizations to help them build, move, or expand their space in order to meet the needs of their clients. Anderson has more than 20 years’ experience in the nonprofit sector. Prior to joining IFF, she led two community-based organizations – Irvington Development Organization and United Northeast CDC, convened a Quality-of-Life initiative on the northeast side of Indianapolis, directed a program to facilitate a two-generational approach to supporting families within five Indianapolis communities, and spent a few years supporting affordable housing through a tax credit syndicator.

Sarida Scott

Sarida Scott is an assistant professor of architecture and community development and director for the master of community development program at the University of Detroit, Mercy. The program offers a holistic approach to the theory and practice of community development with a foundation rooted in service, social justice, and sustainability. Her career has concentrated in the areas of nonprofit legal compliance, education, and community engagement. Scott was a program officer at W.K. Kellogg Foundation, where she developed a Detroit strategic plan to facilitate investment of approximately $7 million; served as executive director for Community Development Advocates of Detroit (CDAD); and held positions of legal director and chief program officer at Michigan Community Resources. A native Detroiter, Scott is passionate about ensuring that Detroit has an equitable recovery and return to its once legendary vibe. She serves as board member for Wayne Metro and the Michigan League for Public Policy and sits on the Detroit Revitalization Fellows Program Advisory Council.

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Congratulations to the June 2023 BankWork$ Graduates!

Front row, pictured (left to right) are: Jackie Day, Sash’a Brown, Darin Bowie, and Ariauna Blountt. Second row, pictured (left to right) are: Nyia Gordon, Che’Nae Gardiner, Amara Farmer, and Dianne Diaz-Perez. Third row, pictured (left to right) are: LaQuisha Meek, Jarnay Martin, Anna Jackson, and Danielle Griffin, Fourth row, pictured (left to right) are: Yevhen Stanishevskyi, Michelle Williams, and Denise Pinkey. Standing (left to right) are: WBA President and CEO Rose Oswald Poels and CareerWork$ Program Manager Dion Willis.

The June BankWork$ class has now graduated! The Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) is proud to partner with Employ Milwaukee to bring this nationwide program to Wisconsin. BankWork$ is a free, eight-week training program to prepare participants in primarily underserved neighborhoods for retail banking careers.

This graduating class of 15 included Ariauna Blountt, Darin Bowie, Sash’a Brown, Jackie Day, Dianne Diaz-Perez, Amara Farmer, Che’Nae Gardiner, Nyia Gordon, Danielle Griffin, Anna Jackson, Jarnay Martin, LaQuisha Meek, Denise Pinkey, Yevhen Stanishevskyi, and Michelle Williams. WBA’s Rose Oswald Poels attended the ceremony and congratulated the graduates on their achievement.

Over the eight weeks, these students learned the hard and soft skills necessary for entry-level retail and operations positions. The program began in 2019 and has so far provided more than over 100 graduates in the Milwaukee area the opportunity to begin a career in banking.

Thank you to the following banks for sponsoring this program:

  • Associated Bank, Green Bay
  • Bank Five Nine, Oconomowoc
  • BMO Harris
  • First Federal Bank of Wisconsin, Waukesha
  • Johnson Financial Group, Milwaukee
  • Old National Bank
  • Spring Bank, Brookfield
  • The Equitable Bank, Wauwatosa
  • Town Bank, N.A., Hartland
  • WaterStone Bank, Milwaukee
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From the Fields: A Rare Breed

By Darla Sikora, Citizens State Bank of Loyal

Greetings fellow ag bankers! In this, my final contribution to From the Fields, I’d like to write a bit about us. By “us” I mean the very small percentage of the population who are ag bankers. Each of us has our own story as for how we ended up in ag banking. For myself, I have been an ag banker for 21 years. I am as fervent today as I was when I started at Citizens State Bank of Loyal that I am in this job not because of banking but because of agriculture. In fact, when I was hired, I didn’t know the difference between a balance sheet and a cash flow! “But you know agriculture,” is what my boss at the time (Gary Sipiorski) replied, and as they say, the rest is history.

One of the very best things about attending the WBA Agircultual Bankers Conference every April is being with individuals from around the state who do what we do. Since there are so few of us, we don’t often get to chat with those who know exactly what we face daily in our jobs. We have a connection with our colleagues on account of the common ground we share, facing similar circumstances and challenges, whether in the field or in the bank; the good and the bad. The information presented by a great line-up of speakers and exhibitors is reason enough to attend the conference, but equally, if not even more important, is networking at the conference with our colleagues from other banks.

Photo of Apollo provided by Darla Sikora

Beyond that, I have had the added privilege of serving on the WBA Ag Section Board for seven years. That brought even more opportunities to learn from others as we communicated thoughts, ideas, and opinions on any number of topics at our meetings and gatherings. We deal with a lot of big stuff in our jobs. As a customer once said, ag bankers have a degree of control on the “purse strings” of many multi-million-dollar ag businesses throughout the state. It’s no secret that fact alone can bring about many levels of stress. Learning from others who have been in similar situations has been a real godsend. Our team of Wisconsin ag bankers not only is willing to share its wisdom, knowledge and experiences, but it also has the ability to do so with a bigger perspective than we can do as individuals. The sense of humor that often accompanies a conversation is a boon as well!

Of course, I can never say enough about Lori Kalscheuer, WBA director – education and our Ag Section liaison. Kalscheuer and her team are the glue that keeps our Ag Section together, focused and organized! Not only is June Dairy Month, but it’s also the start of a new year of membership in the Ag Section. I hope you find as much value in this group as I do. There is no doubt of its merit in helping us to be the best ag bankers we can be for Wisconsin’s agriculture. Thank you for allowing me to serve on the Ag Section Board. I look forward to reading all the future From the Fields and to seeing all of you, a rare breed as we are, at next year’s WBA Agricultural Bankers Conference!

Sikora is senior vice president of agricultural banking with Citizens State Bank of Loyal. Sikora also previously served as the Past Chair of the WBA Agricultural Bankers Section Board of Directors.

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Cinnaire Closes $151 Million in Committed Capital for Equity Fund

Cinnaire has announced the closing of the Cinnaire Fund for Housing (Fund 39), a $151 million multi-investor Low-Income Housing Tax Credit fund. The fund will support the creation of 1,464 affordable homes across 14 new construction and rehabilitation projects in five Midwest states. Fund 39 is the first of four multi-investor funds planned by Cinnaire this year.

“Cinnaire is continuing to see very strong interest from long-time and new investors in our Housing Credit funds,” said Mark McDaniel, Cinnaire’s president and CEO. “We’re grateful for their trust, and we’re busy deploying this capital into impactful developments that will deliver affordable homes and contribute to thriving communities.”

Fund 39 investors include major national and regional banks, 93% of which are repeat investors with Cinnaire. The fund will focus on 14 properties in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The properties supported by the fund will include 2,628 bedrooms and serve an estimated 3,367 low- income residents with safe, affordable housing.

“We are proud to bring so many affordable units online at a time when affordable housing is in such need,” said Brett Oumedian, Cinnaire CFO. “Families are struggling across our communities, and the positive impact that safe, stable, affordable housing makes in the lives of our neighbors cannot be overstated.”

Two properties representing the diverse investments of Fund 39 are Grandmont Rosedale in Detroit, a 35-unit multi-family affordable housing development which recently broke ground and will include the renovation of two buildings on Detroit’s west side, and Edson School Apartments, an adaptive reuse of a historic school in Milwaukee’s Old North Neighborhood to include 75 affordable apartments and townhomes with 20 reserved for senior housing. Both developments are expected to be completed and available for residents in the summer of 2024.

“The success in closing this fund is a reminder that the work of creating affordable housing is challenging but has the opportunity to transform lives through safe, quality housing,” said Josh Ghena, SVP – equity business funding. “It is an honor to work in pursuit of something so vital to families and communities.”

The fund brings Cinnaire’s total equity investment raised since its inception 30 years ago to more than $4.2 billion.

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One Community Bank Breaks Ground in Cottage Grove

As a growing organization, One Community Bank recently announced a new bank location in the Cottage Grove community. The new bank will be located at 1565 Landmark Drive between Commerce Parkway and Limestone Pass.

On Thursday, April 27, One Community Bank held a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate this exciting new phase of the project. Local community members as well as OCB colleagues, directors, and partners gathered for the ceremony at the location of the future bank. Attendees included: Village of Cottage Grove president and staff, leaders from the Cottage Grove Chamber of Commerce, and several of our partners from Ideal Builders, OPN Architects, and many of our subcontractor firms.

“One Community Bank believes in serving clients, supporting colleagues, and investing in our communities. Cottage Grove has a strong community presence, and our colleagues are excited to participate in events and support local businesses,” said Steve Peotter, president and CEO. “OCB has been fortunate to have worked closely with many Cottage Grove clients throughout the years. We are proud to bring OCB’s ‘Feel Good Banking’ to Cottage Grove.”

One Community Bank is working closely with Ideal Builders and OPN Architects on the new 6,000 square foot location at Landmark Drive.

“What we’ve seen in the communities that we’ve served with One Community Bank is they back up what they say,” said Tim Cleary, executive vice president of Ideal Builders. “They’ve been wonderful community participants to the schools, the business community, and to countless other non-profits. The Cottage Grove community is winning by having this employer here and I’m excited to see what they do here.”

“We are honored to be One Community Bank’s architect for the new Cottage Grove location, our third bank location together”, said Wesley Reynolds, principal, OPN Architects. “Our long-time partnership is proof that OCB is committed to designing buildings that elevate the communities in which they live, work, and invest.”

One Community Bank – Cottage Grove will offer full-service banking capabilities to current and future clients in Cottage Grove and surrounding communities. The new location will include a drive-through lane with a teller window and a remote interactive teller machine (ITM). The ITM will be available extended hours. The location will have several office spaces and a conference room for colleagues to serve clients. It will also include a welcoming spacious lobby for clients to enjoy.

Online account opening capabilities enable anyone to open an account on OCB’s website, instead of waiting until the new Cottage Grove location opens. OCB – Cottage Grove is expected to open its doors in early 2024.

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Security Financial Bank Awards $6,000 in Scholarships to Area High School Graduates

Mark Oldenberg, president and CEO of Security Financial Bank (SFB), is pleased to announce that 12 area recent high school graduates each have been awarded a $500 scholarship to be used to further their education.

Recipients include:

  • Elizabeth Anderson, a graduate of Eau Claire Memorial High School, will attend Marquette University.
  • Drae Bauer, a graduate of Durand High School, will attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
  • Hope Burki, a graduate of Dove and Sparrow Academy, will attend the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire at Barron County.
  • Maggie Chilson, a graduate of Regis High School, will attend the University of St. Thomas.
  • Ericka Cortes-Medina, a graduate of Lincoln Jr/Sr. High School, will attend the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire.
  • Cicely Kiecker, a graduate of Bloomer High School, will attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
  • Payton Kopp, a graduate of Plum City High School, will attend the University of Wisconsin–River Falls.
  • Grace Mentink, a graduate of Baldwin-Woodville High School, will attend Northwood Technical College.
  • Haylie Schmidt, a graduate of Black River Falls High School, will attend the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire.
  • Brooke Schwebach, a graduate of Elmwood High School, will attend the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire.
  • Emma Southworth, a graduate of Bloomer High School, will attend the University of Montana.
  • Kelli Zimmer, a graduate of Flambeau High School, will attend Northwood Technical College.

Each year, SFB awards up to two $500 scholarships in each of its markets to graduating high school seniors. Recipients are chosen based on involvement in school, youth organizations, and community events with particular preference given to students pursuing a career in finance, accounting, or business administration.

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Fortifi Bank Employee Recognized for 45 Years

On Friday, June 2, Wendy Swansby, teller at Fortifi Bank, was recognized with the Wisconsin Bankers Association’s (WBA) Lifetime Service Award for dedicating 45 years of her career to the banking industry. At an event hosted by Fortifi, WBA President and CEO Rose Oswald Poels presented the award to Swansby.

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Executive Letter: Driving Our Industry Forward

Rose Oswald PoelsBy Rose Oswald Poels

Last Thursday marked the beginning of the Wisconsin Bankers Association’s (WBA) 2023–2024 fiscal year. As I reflect upon the accomplishments our community of bankers has made in the past year, I am honored to not only work alongside a membership so dedicated to the success of their institutions and communities, but also to represent each of you in your unwavering resilience and adaptability.

For over 130 years, our Association has focused intently on the positive impact banks make on communities in Wisconsin. Advocacy — a foundational component to WBA’s mission — allows bankers to make their voice heard on policy that impacts them.

Not only does the team at the Association work tirelessly to comment on proposed rulings and regulations — submitting 11 comment letters in 2022–2023 — and tracking WBA legislative priorities at the State Capitol and in Washington, D.C., I am proud to highlight that over 200 bankers participated in WBA’s advocacy efforts by way of attending the Association’s annual Capitol Day or a D.C. summit. Additionally, bankers in Wisconsin contributed over $275,000 to WBA’s political action and issue advocacy funds.

Alongside advocating on behalf of the Wisconsin banking industry, our Association prides itself on providing bankers with in-depth and up-to-date educational opportunities. In the last year, 6,016 bankers attended at least one of the 93 training programs hosted in-person throughout the state or virtually. Tailored to every level of the bank, these schools, conferences, and webinars allow members to expand their expertise, gain leadership skills, and network with peers.

Above all, WBA’s top priority continues to be supporting its members however possible. Not only did the team produce 30 videos and create 11 consumer resources in 2022–2023, but the Legal Hotline wielded a total of 2,094 calls and the Wisconsin Banker Daily reached over 2,500 bankers from across the state each day.

Looking ahead to the Association’s next year, in addition to our efforts advocating, informing, and educating, WBA staff will continue to update resources and provide Wisconsin banks with the best tools for your technology, insurance, consulting, and other needs. For more information on WBA’s 2022–2023 fiscal year, please look for a complete, in-depth Year in Review in the upcoming July/August Wisconsin Banker.

As always, I thank you for your support of WBA and deeply appreciate your efforts in ensuring the success of our industry. Your membership allows us to continue to advocate for our industry, educate beginning and experienced bankers, and provide valued resources for all areas of the bank. If they have not arrived in the mail already, please expect an invoice for the new fiscal year dues to arrive in the coming days. Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about your membership. I look forward to working with you and for you.

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Griffin Joins Bank of Sun Prairie

Bank of Sun Prairie welcomes Don Griffin, a 29-year experienced financial services veteran, as their new assistant vice president – residential mortgage lender. Since 1994, Griffin has made significant contributions to the banking and mortgage fields.

Griffin graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a bachelor’s degree in finance. Since then, he gained experience managing retail banks and mortgage teams, along with taking the role as a residential mortgage lender since 2012. Now, he has joined Bank of Sun Prairie to further his ability to provide a full financial picture approach for their customers.

“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Don to Bank of Sun Prairie’s mortgage team. He is a great addition, bringing in his extensive residential lending experience and strong connections across Dane County.” shared Gabrielle Loeffler, Bank of Sun Prairie’s vice president – residential lending manager. “Don offers customers a personalized experience to match each of their specific home-buying needs.”

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Farmers & Merchants Union Bank Employees Celebrate Lifetime of Service

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This spring, two Farmers & Merchants Union Bank employees — LuAnn Hasenfuss and Tracy McNulty — received recognition from the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA) for their tenure in the banking industry.

LuAnn Hasenfuss’ 50-year milestone was recently celebrated at a FMUB Board meeting. Hasenfuss was presented WBA’s 50 Year Club award by Rose Oswald Poels, WBA president and CEO.

Tracy McNulty was recently recognized for celebrating 30 years at FMUB. McNulty, operations center specialist, has worked in every area in the operations department and possesses a great deal of knowledge in other areas of the bank. Oswald Poels presented McNulty with the WBA Lifetime of Service Award commemorating her 30 years in the banking industry during a recent FMUB Board meeting.

 

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