Association Update: First Cohort of Bankers Begin BOLT Leadership Academy
By Daryll Lund
For over 10 years, the Wisconsin Bankers Association has seen hundreds of bankers take the next steps in their careers through participation in the BOLT (Building Our Leaders of Tomorrow) biannual Summits. Earlier this year, the Association announced its continued investment into the future leaders of Wisconsin’s banking industry through the creation of the BOLT Leadership Academy. With spring now in full bloom, our first cohort of 22 bankers (listed below) are just getting started with the 15-month program.
Designed for highly motivated emerging bank leaders, the BOLT Leadership Academy is specifically focused on providing extensive industry and leadership education, along with several networking opportunities for the group. In addition to providing participants with the opportunity to form connections with their peers during the in-person Summits, the Academy features several other programs developed exclusively for the selected cohort members.
The curriculum for Academy participants will cover a wide range of essential topics, including gaining deeper insight into the factors affecting bank performance, effective communication, and strategic leadership. Additionally, with advocacy being so central to the success of our industry, BOLT Leadership Academy members will also take part in WBA’s annual Capitol Day to further their understanding of legislative processes and advocate for policies that support the banking sector’s growth and stability.
For WBA, empowering emerging bank leaders with the knowledge, skills, and networks they need to succeed in today’s competitive and rapidly evolving banking industry is just one aspect of our ongoing commitment to the future vitality and sustainability of Wisconsin’s banking industry. Although the Academy will not be accepting applications to join the next cohort until 2025, banks are invited to encourage their emerging leaders’ attendance at WBA’s BOLT Summer Leadership Summit June 13–14. To learn more about the BOLT Leadership Academy or BOLT biannual Summits, please contact WBA Director – Education Lori Kalscheuer at lkalscheuer@wisbank.com.
Introducing the 2024–2025 BOLT Leadership Academy Cohort:
- Elizabeth Abel, Paper City Savings Association, Wisconsin Rapids
- Jacob Bauer, Security Financial Bank, Eau Claire
- Kailey Bauer, Horicon Bank
- Jodie Curtis, Union State Bank, West Salem
- Chris Damerell, Forward Bank, Marshfield
- Mike DeLong, Pillar Bank, Baldwin
- Steven Diehl, Bank First, Manitowoc
- Shannon Grunewald, Waldo State Bank
- Lance Hauser, Park Bank, N.A., Sparta
- Alyssa Higley, The Stephenson National Bank & Trust, Marinette
- Travis Immel, National Exchange Bank & Trust, Fond du Lac
- Jessica Islas, First Citizens State Bank, Whitewater
- Jessica Lehman, FVSBank, Fond du Lac
- Hope Marvin, Independence State Bank
- Jamie Nystrom, The Peshtigo National Bank
- Janessa Plank, IncredibleBank, Wausau
- Michelle Rauls, Lake Ridge Bank, Waunakee
- Aaron Schmidt, Premier Community Bank, Marion
- Mike Solt, Bank of Sun Prairie
- Alex Swanson, Northwestern Bank, Chippewa Falls
- Landon Turner, Oostburg State Bank
- Hannah Woller, Shell Lake State Bank, Hayward
