Small Street Journal: July 5, 2019

Paul Rudersdorf, president and CEO of Security Financial Bank (SFB), is pleased to announce the promotion of Jenny Jereczek to Ag Banking Department manager. She will be responsible for leading and growing SFB’s ag team and portfolio. 

Jereczek joined SFB in 2009 as a credit analyst and has been an ag relationship manager in the Durand Market since 2014. 
Jereczek received a degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and completed coursework at the Wisconsin Bankers Association’s Commercial Lending School and Ag Lending School. In addition, she is currently enrolled in her second year of the Graduate School of Banking. 

Jereczek grew up on a dairy farm in Durand and continues to raise a small beef herd with her husband and two young sons. 
“Jenny has a special understanding of the agriculture community because she is a part of it. That knowledge helps her to be a well-rounded lender,” Rudersdorf explained.

“I have always loved the ag industry and truly enjoy working with farmers and partnering with them to help achieve their dreams and be successful,” Jereczek said. “I am honored to be a part of an industry that is the backbone of our local communities.” 
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In addition to managing the Ag Banking Department, Jereczek will continue serving as a relationship manager for her ag clients. She is located in SFB’s Durand office.
 
HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals are pleased to announce that Lisa Laatsch has accepted the role as director of marketing for the two hospitals. She began her role July 1.
 
Prior to joining HSHS, Laatsch led marketing efforts in the western region for Marshfield Clinic Health System. She also has held leadership roles with the American Cancer Society locally. Laatsch is an active member of the Association of Community Health Improvement and the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development.
 
Laatsch has a bachelor’s degree in design and resource management from the University of Connecticut, and a MBA from Tampa College in Florida. 
 
“The breadth and depth of Lisa’s marketing and leadership experience make her perfect for this role,” said Sommer Miller, vice president of strategy development and implementation at HSHS Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s hospitals. “We’re excited to have her on our team.”
 
Charter Bank is proud to announce and welcome Anna Johnson as a Digital Marketing Intern, Thomas Simono as an Information Technology Intern, and Spencer Tuominen as a Process and Automation Intern. They will be assisting in their respective departments in a variety of projects. Johnson will be focusing on assignments such as social media and community involvement. Simono will specialize in equipment technical support and the like, while Tuominen will be writing software scripts and improving the daily workflow through automation of processes.

“We are incredibly excited for Anna, Tom and Spencer to join us at Charter Bank,” states Brittany Strand, Human Resources Generalist of Charter Bank.  “Each has a key role in accomplishing our goals for the upcoming year and are uniquely equipped with skills, knowledge and experiences to help do so.  I can’t wait to see what we can do together. 

Johnson and Tuominen both attend University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire, while Simono attends University of Wisconsin- Stout in Menomonie. While attending school full-time they have all previously worked in a variety of Customer Service positions and are eager to gain experience in their field of study.

“The opportunity that Charter Bank has given me to apply knowledge from school into real life work situations is what I’m looking forward to. Problem solving is basically my job description and I love it,” states Spencer Tuominen.   

Throughout the summer our new interns will be filling their free time with a variety of other fun outdoor activities. Simono is looking forward to playing board games with friends, as well as fishing and hiking from time-to-time. Johnson is planning on a trip to California in mid-August, and Tuominen plans to continue training on the UWEC Track and Field team for his position as a pole vaulter.
 
Charter Bank is proud to announce and welcome Amanda Knapton as a Deposit Operations Specialist. She will be working alongside her colleagues in a variety of daily tasks, primarily deposit operational support for customers and bank personnel.  
“Amanda comes to Charter Bank with years of experience in the banking industry,” states Christine Olson, Deposit Operations Officer of Charter Bank. “We are excited to have her join our team as we strive to provide exemplary customer satisfaction in our deposit operations field.”

Knapton, a Portage, Wisconsin native, attained her bachelor’s degree in International Business and German from Minnesota State Mankato. She is not new to the banking industry, and in fact has over twelve-years’ experience. Most recently she has worked with U.S. Bank.

“I’m looking forward to my new position and learning more about operational duties,” says Knapton. “Plus, I get to work with a great group of people,” she adds.

Amanda and her two daughters, Charlotte (7) and Marlynne (3) enjoy spending their free time kayaking, hiking, or doing touristy things. “Think house on the rock, or biggest ball of twine,” she jokes.

Following Governor Tony Evers signing the 2019-21 Wisconsin state budget as Wisconsin Act 9, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Chancellor James Schmidt has released the following comment:
 
“A new Science and Health Sciences Building will allow our master collaborative research agreement with Mayo Clinic Health System to flourish. Together, and with this investment from the state of Wisconsin, UW-Eau Claire and Mayo Clinic are poised to tackle pressing research questions and needs for innovation in rural healthcare. Phillips Hall’s days are numbered, and I look forward to beginning the planning and design process for this new building as soon as possible.
 
“There are a number of key provisions in this budget that meet great needs on our campus, and will have a positive impact on our faculty, staff and students. The 2019-21 state operating budget includes a 2% pay plan each year of the biennium for UW System employees, with raises going into effect January of 2020 and 2021. Our hardworking employees are this institution’s greatest asset, and I’m pleased that the governor and elected state officials have allowed us to continue investing in our precious human resources. This budget also provides for necessary infrastructure updates to the campus, including improvements for our steam line and air conditioning utilities, as well as renovation monies for high-use areas of the Haas Fine Arts Center.”