to do this one thing or the other …?’
“He provided us with motivation,
courage, drive, and a desire to improve
both ourselves and the lives of others
around us.” O’Connor noted that both
his parents and grandparents always
put out a helping hand. “It’s in the
genes.”
Appreciation and Blessings
O’Connor and his wife have minis-
tered in prisons including the medium
security Oshkosh Correctional Insti-
tution for the past 20 years. “We have
been granted ‘round trip tickets’ to
lead and teach both weekly Bible stud-
ies and Sunday worship. This has pro-
vided us an opportunity to positively
influence thousands of men’s and
women’s lives” whose negative actions
have led to severe consequences.
“The appreciation and blessings
we receive are far more than we can
describe,” O’Connor said of his prison
ministry, which has taught him a lot
about consequences. “We are designed
Early next year, The National Bank of Waupun will remodel its main office with the help of The
Redmond Company, Waukesha.
Upcoming Goals
As incoming CBW chairman,
O’Connor has four goals:
4
Continuing to differentiate
nontraditional bank models from the
community bank model and demand
a tiered regulatory field. “This is a
legitimate ‘business model wedge’
and community bankers should
drive it home until we succeed in our
mission.”
O’Connor pointed out he’s not out
to attack the too-big-to-fail banks,
just to differentiate between the
business models. “It should be obvi-
ous that not all banking models are
the same.” Regulation, he believes,
should be based on operating models
and the risk those models pose to the
safety and soundness of the nation’s
banking system.
4
Pressing for regulatory relief.
“Although community banks, provid-
ing our traditional lineup of products
and services, did not engage in this
behavior or reap the billions of dol-
lars in short-term profits for having
done so, we find ourselves spending
hundreds of thousands of dollars and
man hours to prove to the regulators
that we have not and will not act in
the same manner as those who are
paying the billions of dollars in fines
…The traditional community bank
model is not designed to exercise this
level of abuse.”
4
Building community bank
bench strength through programs
like BOLT and the Leadership in
Community Banking program part-
nership between CBW and the UW
Center for Professional and Educa-
tional Development.
4
Bankers promoting the Found-
ers’ principles. “Community banking
is an extension of the free market
principles combined with the pro-
motion of the general welfare of the
country as put forth by America’s
Founding Fathers. You cannot keep
what you won’t defend.”
to work and enjoy the fruits of our
labor. If you don’t earn it, you don’t
value it.”
This is a key tenet behind
O’Connor’s participation in the Com-
munity Bankers of Wisconsin. “When
you are in a specific field of commerce
and the most reliable players that will
battle for your position are the ones
on your own team, it is incumbent on
all of us to be engaged.
“CBW has allowed me an opportu-
nity to proactively participate in the
critical community banking initiatives
we have faced in recent years.”
During quiet times, O’Connor reads
voraciously. “I have a strong interest
in following current economic, social,
and political events along with read-
ing American history, especially the
Revolutionary and Civil War periods.”
He sees connections between cur-
rent events and the past and believes
that some of the current problems are
because “people don’t understand the
consequences of their actions.”
O’Connor takes a dim view of Wall
Street. He believes that the mortgage
crisis was predictable and blames the
resulting fiasco “on leaders with no
understanding of bad government
policy combined with the greed of the
Baby Boomers who run Wall Street and
who have thrown out all of the rules.”
Everyone needs down time and
reading is not his only avocation.
O’Connor definitely knows how to
swing a golf club. But his great love is
ping-pong. The CBW summer board
meeting at the Red Crown Lodge had a
ping-pong table in the lobby. O’Connor
dusted off his paddle and was hooked
again. “It renewed my appetite for the
game.” So he installed a regulation table
in the bank’s basement and plays a very
competitive game with staff and com-
munity members.
In his spare time, he and Amy, who
were “high school sweethearts,” like
to go boating and entertain at their
Dells vacation home. The couple has
two “wonderful” daughters, Kelly and
Shannon, who were homeschooled,
and two “even more wonderful”
grandchildren, Colin and Bridget.
“Spending time together is our favor-
ite activity.”
10
Wisconsin Community Banker
September/October 2014
