At Wolf River Community Bank, our continued success and growth reflect the hard work and dedication of our exceptional team. We are proud to celebrate a year filled with achievements and progress, which have positioned us for even greater opportunities ahead. As a result of this success, we’re excited to announce several well-deserved promotions and celebrate two retirements, marking the culmination of some extraordinary careers in banking.

PROMOTIONS THAT REFLECT OUR COMMITMENT TO GROWTH AND SUCCESS

Jason Bloxham, President/Chief Lending Officer

Jason has transitioned from Executive Vice President & Chief Lending Officer to his new role where he will continue to lead lending operations while taking on additional responsibilities in driving strategic initiatives and furthering the bank’s growth and success.

Joe Peikert will remain in his role as Chief Executive Officer, with Jason assuming the title of President.

Miranda Schultz, Executive Vice President – Chief Financial Officer/Chief Operations Officer

Miranda, formerly Senior Vice President/CFO, has expanded her responsibility to oversee Retail Banking, Deposit Operations, Electronic Banking, and Finance & Accounting. This new structure will enhance communication and synergy across these key areas of the bank, ensuring a seamless experience for our customers and internal teams alike. Miranda is a powerhouse and continually thrives on forward progress and continuous improvement that’s vital to keeping the bank running smoothly.

Tom Pennings, Executive Vice President – Chief Commercial Officer

In Tom’s expanded role from Senior Vice President/Chief Commercial Officer to Executive Vice President/Chief Commercial Officer, he will continue to lead and enhance our business banking and treasury management efforts, driving strategic initiatives to grow and strengthen these areas. His proven leadership and dedication to delivering exceptional service to our commercial clients will remain instrumental as we work to expand our reach and impact in the business sector.

Joe Lautenschlager, Vice President – Commercial Lending

Joe has been promoted from Assistant Vice President to Vice President – Commercial Lending in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the bank. Over the past five years, Joe has originated more than 200 commercial loans, growing his on-book loans to over $37 million. His recent graduation from the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he ranked in the top 25% of his class, highlights his commitment to excellence. Joe will now lead the bank’s efforts to re-enter the Small Business Administration (SBA) lending space, ensuring full compliance and the highest standards of service.

Elise Lundt, Vice President – Accounting & Operations Manager

Elise’s promotion from Assistant Vice President to Vice President – Accounting & Operations Manager reflects her critical contributions to our financial operations and her dedication to excellence. She will take on additional leadership duties as our Vice President – Deposit Operations enters retirement.

Lauren Moran, Assistant Vice President – Marketing

Lauren Moran has been promoted from Marketing Director to Assistant Vice President – Marketing. Over the years, Lauren has successfully expanded our promotional reach, increasing radio, digital  and billboard advertising to boost brand awareness and drive customer growth. She has also led efforts to deepen our ties with the communities we serve. In 2023, Lauren was selected as Vice Chair of the Wisconsin Bankers Association Marketing Committee and is now serving as its Chair. Her leadership has been key in achieving accolades such as Best Bank in the Valley for three consecutive years and Best Mortgage Lender for the past two years.

Rochelle Westemeier, Assistant Vice President – Human Resources

Rochelle has been promoted from HR Manager to Assistant Vice President – Human Resources. Rochelle has brought expertise and refinement to our human resources department, leading a seamless conversion to a new employee management system and improved processes to align with best practices. She consistently delivers exceptional experiences for our employees.

Heather Wunderlich, Assistant Vice President – Treasury Management

Heather, our current Director of Retail Banking, is transitioning to the role of Assistant Vice President – Treasury Management. In this new position, Heather will move from leading our Retail Banking team to joining the Treasury Management team.  This role aligns with her passion for customer interaction, prospecting, and relationship building. This move will allow her to leverage her exceptional people skills to have a significant impact on the growth of our commercial banking efforts.  As AVP, Heather will play a key role in strengthening our position as the premier business bank in the Fox Valley.

Josie Coleman, Accounting & Operations Supervisor

Josie has been promoted from Senior Accounting Specialist to Accounting & Operations Supervisor. Her outstanding leadership, attention to detail, and commitment to excellence have been vital to the success of our accounting and operations teams. With her extensive knowledge of our accounting and operations processes along with her proven track record of supporting our internal teams, Josie is poised to lead  toward continued progress in her new role.

Diane Moen-Ross, Electronic Banking Supervisor

Diane has been promoted from Senior Electronic Banking Specialist to Electronic Banking Supervisor. In her new role, Diane now oversees the Electronic Banking department. Diane’s expertise in all things digital banking and her proven leadership skills have been instrumental in driving the growth and success of our team. She has consistently demonstrated a keen ability to innovate, problem-solve, and provide exceptional support to both our customers and internal teams.

HEARTFELT RETIREMENTS

Janelle Donaldson, Vice President – Deposit Operations Manager

Janelle has been a cornerstone of Wolf River Community Bank over the past several years, providing extraordinary dedication, expertise, and leadership. During her tenure, Janelle played a pivotal role in laying the foundation for our electronic banking team, formulating processes and systems that have become integral to the bank’s operations. She also guided the team through the bank’s recent core system conversion, providing invaluable leadership and mentorship. Janelle helped set the stage for continued success. We are truly grateful for her contributions and wish her all the best in this exciting new chapter of her life.

Lea Walters, Loan Processor

After 26 years of dedicated service, Lea Walters is retiring from Wolf River Community Bank. Lea has been with us for nearly the entirety of our 29 years in operation, playing a crucial role in our growth and success. Throughout her tenure, she has held many important positions, including loan processor, teller, account opener, maintenance reviewer, escrow servicer, board package and stockholder coordinator, among others. Lea’s versatility, dedication, and unwavering willingness to help wherever needed have left an indelible mark on our bank. We wish her endless joy and fulfillment as she embarks on this exciting new phase of life.

LOOKING AHEAD

These changes position us for continued growth and success, ensuring that we remain a trusted partner in our community. Please join us in celebrating the achievements of our team and in wishing Janelle and Lea all the best in their retirements.

We’re excited about what the future holds, and we look forward to continuing our journey together with such a talented and committed team.