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Wisconsin Community Banker
September/October 2014
Chairman’s View
by Jerry O’Connor, CBW Chairman
Building on Success: Enhancing Education,
Advancing Advocacy
As
the community banking industry grows
toward serving our customers through new
ways and technologies, I am deeply honored to
step up to the position of CBW chairman. Our
industry has succeeded through the dedication of
Stan Leedle, former chairman, all the CBW board
members, and our capable staff, led by President
and CEO Daryll Lund, as well as through the
efforts of member bankers. I am humbled to be
part of this respected team and committed to
building on our past successes.
This issue of our magazine showcases many
achievements through reports from the CBW
2014 Management Conference & Expo held Sept.
8–9 in Wisconsin Dells. Through the banquet,
educational presentations, annual meeting, and
exhibit hall, community bankers reconnected
with friends and colleagues. They related past
accomplishments, noted emerging trends, and
fine-tuned future plans.
A conference highlight, the announcement of
the 2014 Wisconsin Community Banker of the
Year Award recipient, evoked extended applause
(see page 12). Fred Schwertfeger, president and
CEO of Horicon Bank, certainly deserved this
honor for his years of outstanding community
bank service.
This year, the announcement of the Lifetime
Service Award recipients came with a PowerPoint
presentation featuring a photo and brief informa-
tion about each recipient (see page 16). The col-
lective contributions of these individuals — each
serving many years in their banks and volunteer-
ing with schools, charitable nonprofits, and cul-
tural organizations — was undeniably amazing.
Surely our community bank spirit has sustained
and encouraged many communities, consumers,
and families.
Inspiration continued through a selection
of forward-looking educational presentations
including Branch of the Future (page 32).
Of course, the 2014 Management Conference
and Expo is only one of CBW’s annual educa-
tional opportunities. I encourage
you to read the round-up of the
full range of education program-
ming (page 30).
A few days after the confer-
ence, the first session of the new
CBW Leadership Development
for Community Bankers pro-
gram began in Madison. A total of 23 emerging
community bank leaders have registered for this
high-level personalized training.
Enhancing educational and leadership devel-
opment opportunities like this new program and
BOLT (Building Our Leaders of Tomorrow) will
continue to be high priorities this year. Another
CBW priority will be advancing our advocacy
efforts — certainly in Madison, but especially
in Washington, D.C. If you have been thinking
about becoming engaged in advocacy on behalf
of community banking, I urge you to contact
your regional director (see box on page 3), Daryll
Lund, or myself. We would be happy to have your
help in giving voice to community banking per-
spectives in D.C.
Jerry O’Connor is President
and CEO, The National Bank
of Waupun
The contributions of the conference award honorees have
sustained many communities and families.
