Chair's Column: Amplifying the Impact of WBA - Wisconsin Bankers Association

By Al Araque

It was my honor to be installed as Chair of WBA’s Board of Directors on June 5 at the WBA office, and welcome our newest Board members and thank those who finished their terms for their service.

During the installation ceremony, we were also able to express gratitude to outgoing Chair Donna Hoppenjan, president and CEO of Mound City Bank in Platteville, for her dedication to WBA and the banking industry. Donna’s focus during her term was an appeal to members to be the inspiration for the future of the industry. It was clear from the staff reports in the Board meeting following the ceremony which cited increased member engagement, that her goal was achieved.

It is both gratifying and humbling that my career trajectory has led me to Wisconsin and WBA. When I moved to Wisconsin with my family in 2014, we immediately fell in love with the state and are happy to call it home. I was drawn to my current role with Johnson Financial Group in 2021 because of founder Samuel C. Johnson’s commitment to our communities and always putting people first — associates and clients alike.

As I was contemplating the focus for my term, the word “impact” resonated with me. Our work is not just about the transactions we facilitate, it is about the lives we touch. Every loan we approve helps a business grow, every mortgage we provide helps a family find a home, and every financial literacy program we offer empowers individuals to take control of their future. These actions ripple through our communities, fostering growth, stability, and opportunity.

I was proud when a former Chicago customer tracked me down years later to thank me for helping him establish a 529 account for his daughter which enabled him to pay for her college education. I realized that was just a single example of our industry’s impact. WBA represents over 30,000 bankers in Wisconsin and we all have those powerful stories.

There is even more we can do to amplify our impact, especially when we take advantage of the numerous opportunities WBA has to offer. Whether it is exchanging ideas in WBA Committees and Sections, in the Employee Resource Group or Peer Groups; or participating in the annual Power of Community Week, together, we can reach more community members, achieve greater outcomes, and make lasting impressions.

I am fortunate to begin my term with positive momentum. The foundation built by my predecessors will serve me well as I work to strengthen engagement and inspiration among WBA members. The theme of impact implies a change in people’s lives, and my goal for myself and for WBA is to leave our industry better tomorrow than it is today. I am looking forward to achieving that goal together.

This is your Association. Like WBA President and CEO, Rose Oswald Poels, my door is always open. We encourage communication from members. WBA was established over 130 years ago and has been witness to the constant evolution of the banking industry. As the industry adapts and pivots to be there for customers, so does the Association. Your involvement is vital.