ABC

Milwaukee colleagues contribute to 47,000 volunteer hours

4/15/2014

Associated Bank recently acknowledged the efforts of its top 20 volunteers for 2013, including four from the Milwaukee area, with a $1,000 grant to the non-profit organization of their choice.

Associated’s top volunteers in the Milwakuee area include: Peggy Bast, Germantown Historical Society; Michelle Danczyk, Milwaukee Kickers-Germantown Soccer Club and Deutschstadt Heritage Foundation; Sharon A. Grunfelder, Waukesha Civic Theatre; and Michael Kenworthy, Hamilton Jr. Chargers Baseball Club.

In 2013, Associated employees across the three state footprint volunteered more than 47,000 hours. The top 20 volunteers donated more than 10,000 hours (at least 290 each), and another 253 employees each logged more than 50 volunteer hours.

“Colleague volunteer hours in 2013 topped 47,524, exceeding 2012 by 10,000 hours,” said Cliff Bowers, director of public relations, Associated Bank. “Associated is committed to giving back to its communities, and hundreds of colleagues do just that — by serving as donors, organizers, leaders, inspirers and doers.”

Sharon A. Grunfelder, administrative assistant with Associated Financial Group in Waukesha, volunteers with the Waukesha Civic Theatre.

“My interest in theatre was sparked when my daughter was in third grade and tried out for Miracle on 34^th Street,” said Grunfelder. “She was very shy but ended up with a lead role and blew everyone away with her performance. I saw first-hand how the theater helps individuals grow and gain confidence, and that has made volunteering so rewarding to me.”

Mike Kenworthy, credit officer with Associated in Milwaukee, volunteers with the Hamilton Jr. Chargers Baseball Club.

“One of my favorite quotes is: ‘Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy,’” said Kenworthy. “‘You vote in elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in.’”

Associated’s philanthropy reflects the people, the culture and the spirit of the company. Colleagues are actively engaged in the charitable process to help identify nonprofit organizations and causes that best address the unique needs of communities across Associated’s footprint. Associated encourages and supports colleague volunteerism efforts by providing the internal resources that help connect colleagues with the nonprofit organizations that meet their personal passion for community involvement.
Associated Bank Executive, David Stein, appointed to State of Wisconsin Investment Board

4/15/2014

David L. Stein, executive vice president and head of retail banking, Associated Bank, has been appointed as a trustee to the State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB) by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker.

The appointment was announced and became effective in February, with Wisconsin State Senate confirmation proceedings concluding in March.

SWIB is a state agency responsible for investing the assets of the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), the State Investment Fund (SIF) and five smaller trust funds established by the State. The WRS is the ninth largest U.S. public pension fund and the 28^th largest pension fund in the world.

The nine-member, independent Board of Trustees is responsible for setting long-term investment policies, asset allocation, benchmarks, fund-level risk, and monitoring investment performance.

SWIB employs a staff of approximately 150 people, including portfolio managers, analysts and traders who are responsible for daily investment decisions made within the parameters of the board-established policy, as well as legal, financial, accounting and administrative professionals.

“I welcome David to the Board and look forward to working with him,” said Michael Williamson, executive director of SWIB. “David brings a great deal of professional experience and knowledge to the position along with a solid understanding of our fiduciary duty to generate returns to support the trust funds we manage.”

Stein oversees the consumer banking activities for more than 200 branches across Associated's three-state footprint of Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois. He is also responsible for Associated's mortgage, small business, and consumer and business cards businesses.

“I’m honored to have been appointed by Governor Walker and proud to represent the State of Wisconsin in this important role,” Stein said.

Stein joined Associated in 2005 as regional president for the company's former South Central Region, which was comprised of bank offices in the Madison area. Prior to joining Associated, Stein spent 16 years with JPMorgan Chase (formerly Bank One) in Wisconsin and at Bank One's former headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, where he held a number of progressively responsible management positions.

Stein holds an MBA in business administration from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and a bachelor's degree in finance and marketing from St. Cloud State University College of Business in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
Associated invests in Downtown Milwaukee

4/15/2014

Associated reveals new Branch and Haymarket Square Park plans

Associated Bank recently announced plans for a new branch and community park located at 1301 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Milwaukee. The new location will break ground in early April and is anticipated to open in late summer 2014.

The 3,000 square-foot location will offer customers an enhanced banking experience in a revitalized and spacious layout, reflecting the updated Associated brand style. The branch will offer 24/7 self-service banking solutions along with a digital demonstration zone allowing customers to sign up for online banking and interact with Associated Bank’s mobile applications.

We’re thrilled that this new development will serve both our customers and the vibrant downtown community, said David Stein, executive vice president, head of retail banking, Associated Bank. “We’re honored to be a part of the rich history of Milwaukee and the bright future of Haymarket Square and the Park East corridor.”

The new branch will be located in Milwaukee’s historic Haymarket neighborhood. The neighborhood was named for its public haymarket that was once located on the corner of Sixth Street and McKinley Avenue. In honor of the neighborhood’s history, Associated Bank has teamed up with the City of Milwaukee and NEWaukee to bring a public park to the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and McKinley Avenue. The park will be located to the south of the new branch and will feature public spaces and seasonal events coordinated by NEWaukee.

Earlier this year, Associated and NEWaukee announced a year-long partnership to increase young professional community engagement and development in the City of Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin. Associated and NEWaukee continue to build on a strong relationship. Beginning in 2013, Associated partnered with NEWaukee to support a wide-range of events and community-centered priorities.

“NEWaukee is both proud and honored to work closely with Associated in transforming the physical landscape of the city through the Haymarket Square for all to enjoy, said Jeremy Fojut, NEWaukee. “It is great to see the important emphasis on public space as the new anchor tenant for communities.”