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WAUKESHA, Wis. (April 2, 2024) - Waukesha State Bank, a full-service community bank with 14 offices in Waukesha County, has hired Scott Weiland, Jr. as commercial banker and Erick Levandoski as loan servicing manager.

Scott Weiland, Jr. earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. Prior to joining Waukesha State Bank, Weiland worked for Bank Five Nine as a commercial credit analyst. In his new role as commercial banker with Waukesha State Bank, Weiland will be responsible for prospecting, developing and managing commercial banking relationships.

“We are pleased to welcome Scott to our commercial banking team and continue our ongoing commitment to service excellence,” stated Tony Laszewski, Waukesha State Bank senior vice president – commercial banking manager. “His background in commercial credit analysis makes him a perfect fit for this position.”

Erick Levandoski has over 25 years of experience in all aspects of lending including processing, underwriting, originating and servicing. Prior to joining Waukesha State Bank, Levandoski worked for Forte Bank as vice president - mortgage and retail operations. In his new role as loan servicing manager with Waukesha State Bank, Levandoski will be responsible for directing the daily work of the loan servicing department to meet departmental customer service standards and goals.

Suzanne Albrecht, Waukesha State Bank mortgage operations manager commented, “Erick’s extensive experience with all facets of lending in addition to his management and staff development skills, make him an excellent fit for this role.”

WAUKESHA, Wis. (March 21, 2024) - Waukesha State Bank, a full-service community bank with 14 offices in Waukesha County, has promoted Suzanne Albrecht to mortgage operations manager.

“Suzie’s promotion is well deserved and reflective of her contributions to Waukesha State Bank’s mortgage lending success,” state Leo Spanuello, Waukesha State Bank senior vice president – mortgage lending manager.

Suzanne Albrecht started her career with Waukesha State Bank in 2016 as a mortgage systems analyst and has nearly 20 years of experience in technical support, technical architecture and financial management. She holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee and a Master of Business Administration degree from Ottawa University. In October of 2018, Albrecht was promoted to mortgage systems administrator/closing manager where she has led her team to service and standards excellence while continuing to be strategic with the department’s systems, processes, and efficiencies. In her new role as mortgage operations manager, Albrecht will be responsible for directing and managing the mortgage operations team, which includes the mortgage processing, secondary market, disclosure, closing and loan servicing staff.

WAUKESHA, Wis. (March 20, 2024) – Waukesha State Bank, a 14-branch independent community bank in Waukesha County, is pleased to announce the hire of Jacob Pyle as director of internal audit.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jacob to the Waukesha State Bank team,” stated Ann Pascavis, Waukesha State Bank Chief Financial Officer, SVP. “His prior financial background and risk management experience make him a perfect fit to manage our internal auditing department.”

Jacob Pyle has over five years of finance and risk management experience. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting and finance from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh and his Juris Doctorate from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. Additionally, he is a Wisconsin Certified Public Accountant. Prior to joining Waukesha State Bank, Pyle worked for Enlighten Financial as a risk consultant where he worked with both community banks and credit unions. In his new role as Waukesha State Bank’s director of internal audit, Pyle will be responsible for managing the Bank’s internal audit functions, which includes evaluating and monitoring the Bank’s internal control systems, policies and procedures designed to hedge risk and loss.

Pyle is active in the community volunteering with Make a Wish Foundation.

WAUKESHA, Wis. (March 14, 2024) – Waukesha State Bank, a 14-branch independent community bank in Waukesha County, is pleased to announce the promotion of Juliet Martinez to bank manager of its Oconomowoc office located at 1227 Corporate Center Drive.

“We are thrilled to welcome Juliet back to Waukesha State Bank’s retail banking team,” stated Heather Pfalz, Waukesha State Bank vice president – retail banking manager. “Juliet has consistently demonstrated a focus on mastering the skills and knowledge necessary to grow her career with the bank. Her commitment to the bank’s ideals of serving our customers and the community makes her a great fit to lead our Oconomowoc office.”

Juliet Martinez started her career with Waukesha State Bank in 2016 as a Waukesha West High School co-op student. In January of 2017, she was promoted to customer service representative and continued in this role while simultaneously attending the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. Juliet was promoted to assistant teller supervisor in February of 2019, and after graduating with her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in general business, she was promoted again to personal banker in January of 2021. Her drive to support her customers and peers earned her a promotion to bank manager of the Waukesha State Bank Muskego office in November of 2021. In 2023, Juliet transitioned to the mortgage team and took on the role of mortgage consultant where she was responsible for originating mortgage loans for the last year. With her transition back to retail banking as a bank manager, Juliet will again be responsible for all aspects of daily branch operations, including business development, personnel management, customer service, lending, relationship management and community service.

WAUKESHA, Wis. (March 8, 2024) - Waukesha State Bank, a full-service community bank with 14 offices in Waukesha County, has promoted Kyle Geis and Kristen Bulfer to the position of mortgage consultant - team lead. In their new positions, Geis and Bulfer will continue to originate mortgage loans in addition to mentoring and coaching assigned mortgage consultants in all facets of mortgage banking.

Leo Spanuello, Waukesha State Bank senior vice president – mortgage lending manager, commented, “We are delighted to announce the promotions of Kyle and Kristen. Their extensive experience in mortgage lending, coupled with their dedication to customer service and leadership, positions them perfectly to transition into the newly created role of team lead.”

Kyle Geis started his career with Waukesha State Bank in 2006 as a teller. Over the next five years, he took on various roles and responsibilities within retail banking, ending as a personal banker. In 2011, he made a career shift to the mortgage team, assuming the role of a mortgage consultant. His tenure in this role has been notably successful, earning him the prestigious Best Loan Originator in Milwaukee award at the 2023 Wisconsin Mortgage Bankers Association’s Best in Business ceremony. Geis specializes in WHEDA, VA, USDA and construction loans and is committed to guiding his clients through the mortgage process, from start to finish. He and his family currently reside in Lisbon, and he primarily serves the Downtown Waukesha and Meadowbrook Road offices in Waukesha.

Kristen Bulfer joined the Waukesha State Bank team in March of 2017 as a mortgage consultant. She learned quickly and leveraged her strengths, which earned her the Rising Star award at the 2019 Wisconsin Mortgage Bankers Association’s Best in Business ceremony. In 2023, Bulfer’s continued growth and exceptional performance in the mortgage industry earned her the Wisconsin Mortgage Bankers Association’s Mortgage Banker of the Year for Milwaukee award. Bulfer holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and loves helping people achieve their home ownership goals by navigating the complex and ever-changing mortgage landscape. She and her family currently reside in Pewaukee, and she primarily serves the Menomonee Falls location.

WAUKESHA, Wis. (March 5, 2024) - Waukesha State Bank, a full-service community bank with 14 offices in Waukesha County, has promoted Yer Yang to assistant vice president - assistant credit officer and Dan Flood to vice president – commercial banking officer.

Yer Yang earned her bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and has nearly 20 years of financial experience. She started her career with Waukesha State Bank in 2016 as a mortgage lending underwriter. In 2018, she transitioned to commercial banking as the workout specialist, and in 2019 she returned to mortgage banking as the mortgage operations manager. Her continuous dedication led to her promotion to assistant vice president in 2020. In her new role as assistant vice president – assistant credit officer, Yer will support in overseeing credit risk strategies and policies across the bank. This will include helping to manage the underwriting, approval and auditing processes for commercial, mortgage and retail lending.

Tina Neis, Waukesha State Bank senior vice president – chief credit officer, commented, “Yer has consistently demonstrated a commitment to enhancing her skillset. This promotion is well-deserved and reflective of Yer’s extensive experience in both mortgage and commercial banking.”

Dan Flood joined the Waukesha State Bank team in 2017 as a credit analyst/portfolio manager within the commercial banking department. He was promoted to commercial banker in 2019 and to assistant vice president in 2022. In his new role as vice president – commercial banking officer, Flood will continue to be responsible for prospecting, developing and managing commercial loan portfolios. Flood holds a bachelor’s degree in both finance and economics from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and is active in the community serving on the board of directors for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee at Waukesha Foundation.

“Dan’s promotion is well deserved and reflective of his contributions to the community and Waukesha State Bank’s commercial banking success,” stated Tony Laszewski, Waukesha State Bank senior vice president – commercial banking manager.

WAUKESHA, Wis. (February 22, 2024) - Waukesha State Bank, a 14-branch independent community bank in Waukesha County, is proud to announce the addition of Andy Gutierrez, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of ProHealth Care, Inc., to its Board of Directors.

“Our bank is fortunate to have an outstanding Board of Directors, and we are delighted to welcome Andy to our team,” stated Ty R. Taylor, Waukesha State Bank President & CEO. “His remarkable achievements in health care finance, as well as his insight into our local communities, make him invaluable to Waukesha State Bank as we continue to grow and serve the needs of southeastern Wisconsin.”

Andy Gutierrez has nearly 20 years of financial experience and serves as the CFO of ProHealth Care, Inc., a $1 billion health care system in southeastern Wisconsin – treating more than 400,000 patients per year. ProHeath Care is the parent company of both Waukesha Memorial Hospital and Oconomowoc Memorial Hospital. In his role at ProHealth Care, he is responsible for directing all fiscal activities, including financial analysis and reporting, financial controls, business analytics, budgeting processes, accounting, audit, treasury and analytical support to ensure the organization achieves their short-term and long-term business goals.

Andy earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting and finance from Marquette University and his Masters of Business Administration from Carroll University. In addition to serving on the corporate board of Waukesha State Bank, Andy is active in the community serving on the Board of Directors for La Casa de Esperanza and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Additionally, he is a not-for-profit advisory committee member for the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and a health care expert panel member for the American Institute of CPAs® (AICPA).

Waukesha State Bank’s board roster also includes: Donna Bembenek, President, Catholic Memorial High School; Carl Geraldson, Chief Financial Officer, Precision Gears, Inc. (retired); Laura Gutiérrez, Executive Director, United Community Center; Jody Lowe, President, The Lowe Group; Kenneth P. Riesch, President, R & R Insurance Services, Inc.; Daniel R. Shepard, Executive Vice President, Waukesha State Bank (retired); Sarit Singhal, CEO, SSR/Total IT; Fred G. Stier, CEO, Stier Construction, Inc.; Ty R. Taylor, President & CEO, Waukesha State Bank; and Beverly M. Chappie, Director Emeritus, Executive Director, Christoph Memorial YWCA (retired).

WAUKESHA, Wis. (February 16, 2024) - Waukesha State Bank, a full-service community bank with 14 offices in Waukesha County, has hired Rachel Priddy as assistant vice president - commercial banking officer.

“We are pleased to welcome Rachel to our commercial banking team,” stated Tony Laszewski, Waukesha State Bank senior vice president – commercial banking manager. “She brings a broad financial background and the technical expertise businesses of southeastern Wisconsin desire from commercial bankers.”

Priddy has nearly 10 years of financial experience including both business and retail banking in addition to internal auditing expertise and earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. Prior to joining Waukesha State Bank, Priddy worked for the State Bank of Newburg as a commercial loan officer. In her new role as assistant vice president - commercial banking officer, Priddy will be responsible for prospecting, developing and managing commercial relationships.

Priddy is active in the community serving on the board of directors and as family outreach chair for Love 4 Lexi Foundation (L4L), a Cedarburg non-profit organization dedicated to raising public awareness of the critical need for organ and tissue donation as well as helping children and families who are affected by gastrointestinal dysfunction and other life changing conditions.

WAUKESHA, Wis. (January 26, 2024) - Waukesha State Bank, a 14-branch independent community bank in Waukesha County, is proud to announce the promotions of Stephanie Ohlfs to Senior Vice President, Heather Congemi to Vice President, and Amber Moore and Mirjam Conigliaro to bank officers.

“Stephanie, Heather, Amber and Mirjam are extremely talented banking professionals and have been instrumental in Waukesha State Bank’s success,” stated Ty R. Taylor, Waukesha State Bank President & CEO. “These promotions reflect the tenure and experience of our leadership, and I look forward to their continuing contributions to the future growth of our organization.”

Stephanie Ohlfs has nearly 20 years of community bank marketing experience and started her career with Waukesha State Bank in 2014 as Marketing Director. She was promoted to Vice President in 2017, and in her new role as Senior Vice President – Marketing Director, she will continue to oversee the development and implementation of Waukesha State Bank’s marketing efforts including strategic planning and budgeting, branding, market research, public relations, event planning, charitable giving, and digital marketing. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is active in the local community currently serving on committees with Donna Lexa Art Centers, the City of Waukesha, and Holy Apostles Catholic Church. Additionally, she is very involved in her kids’ school. She and her family currently reside in New Berlin.

Heather Congemi has nearly 40 years of industry experience and started with Waukesha State Bank in 1985 as a Teller. Over the years, she has taken on ever-increasing roles and responsibilities including Assistant Teller Supervisor, Teller Supervisor, Personal Banker, and Bank Manager for the former Silvernail Road and E. Moreland Road offices in Waukesha. She was promoted to Retail Loan Administration Officer in 2011 and assistant vice president in 2014. In her new role as Vice President – Retail Loan Administration Officer, Heather will continue to be responsible for managing the retail lending function of the bank including lender support and training, systems management, loan policies and procedures, and credit quality and underwriting. She and her family currently reside in Mukwonago.

Amber Moore joined the Waukesha State Bank team in 2011 as a Teller and has been promoted to a variety of new roles over the years, including positions within deposit services, retail support, retail operations, card services and fraud. As Waukesha State Bank’s current Fraud Investigations Manager, and with her new bank officer designation, Amber will continue to be responsible for managing fraud investigations for the bank, which includes minimizing and mitigating bank losses due to fraudulent checks, ACH transactions, ATM and debit card activity in addition to monitoring and researching suspicious activity and processing card cancellations, reissues, account holds and releases. Amber holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary French education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, graduated from the Waukesha County Business Alliance’s Leadership Waukesha County program in 2017, and is active in the local community serving as Wisconsin Chapter Vice President of the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators, President-Elect for the Waukesha Kiwanis Noon Club and as a member of the Friends of Waukesha Parks, Recreation and Forestry. She and her family currently reside in Oconomowoc.

Mirjam Conigliaro joined Waukesha State Bank in 2017 as the Electronic Banking Manager and has over 20 years of banking experience. With her new bank officer designation, Mirjam will continue to be responsible for managing the daily operations of the electronic banking department, which includes overseeing the bank’s treasury management products such as online banking, ACH origination, remote deposit and mobile deposit, check and ACH Positive Pay, online bill payment and wire transfers. As a German native, she earned her associate degree in banking from the Center for Financial Training in Pattonville, Germany. Additionally, she earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from the former Cardinal Stritch University. She is active in the community volunteering with Waukesha State Bank’s internal volunteer group, Helping Hearts. Through the group, she has participated in Salvation Army food serving, park clean-ups and the Dress-A-Bear program that benefits the Waukesha police and fire departments. She and her family currently reside in Menomonee Falls.

WAUKESHA, Wis. (January 25, 2024) - Waukesha State Bank, a full-service community bank with 14 locations in Waukesha County, is pleased to announce the expansion of its private banking services with the promotion of Mandy Litwin to private banking associate.

“Our private banking services launched in 2019, which gave us the opportunity to introduce more affluent members of the community to the excellent array of financial services and expertise that Waukesha State Bank offers,” stated Victor J. Schultz, President of Waukesha State Bank Wealth Management. “We are pleased to welcome Mandy to our wealth management team to expand these services. She has an extensive background in retail banking with Waukesha State Bank, which positions her well to offer high-touch, insightful customer service.”

Mandy joined Waukesha State Bank in 2017 as a teller and has continually honed her skills and taken on increasing roles and responsibilities over the years. She’s been promoted to mentor, customer service representative, assistant team supervisor, team supervisor, and personal banker before her most recent promotion in January 2023 to assistant bank manager of Waukesha State Bank’s Delafield office. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, and in her new role as private banking associate, Mandy will be responsible for supporting the growth of private banking relationships as part of the wealth management division of Waukesha State Bank.

WAUKESHA, Wis. (December 22, 2023) - Waukesha State Bank, a 14-branch independent community bank in Waukesha County, is proud to announce its partnership with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLB Chicago) to award a $25,000 Community First® Accelerate Grant to Waukesha small business Karen For Hair LLC.

“Small businesses are vital members of our community and provide valuable products and services that contribute to our local economy,” stated Waukesha State Bank President & CEO Ty Taylor. “It was an honor partnering with the FHLB Chicago to provide this opportunity for Karen For Hair LLC.”

Small businesses are facing challenges with growing or enhancing their operations due to surging borrowing costs in a high-interest rate environment. In response to this need, the FHLB Chicago awarded Accelerate Grants for a second year to support a variety of purposes, including the purchase or improvement of property, equipment, workforce development, and technology. FHLB Chicago member banks, credit unions, insurance companies and community development financial institutions submitted grant applications on behalf of eligible small businesses.

Karen For Hair LLC will use the grant to install an ADA accessible ramp and invest in parking lot resurfacing to better serve their clients with disabilities.

WAUKESHA, Wis. (December 22, 2023) - Waukesha State Bank, a 14-branch independent community bank in Waukesha County, is proud to announce the promotion of Oriana Ovalles to the position of bank manager of its Meadowbrook Road office in Waukesha. Additionally, existing bank managers will be moving to different offices within Waukesha. Gerry Benton, the current bank manager of Meadowbrook Road, will transition to the E. Main Street office, Jose Velez, the current bank manager at E. Main Street, will move to the E. Racine Avenue office, and Mondi Hernandez, the current E. Racine bank manager, will shift to the Downtown Waukesha office.

In their new roles, Ovalles, Benton, Velez and Hernandez will oversee all aspects of daily operations, including business development, personnel management, customer service, lending, relationship management and community service at their respective offices.

Oriana Ovalles earned her associate degree in human resources administration and her bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Instituto Universitario de Tecnología in Venezuela and joined the Waukesha State Bank team in 2018 as a teller at our Downtown Waukesha office. Her positive personality, proficiency in Spanish and meticulous attention to detail endeared her to the Downtown Waukesha community. In 2019, she transferred to the E. Racine Avenue office in Waukesha and began to grow her knowledge and career. Progressing from handling new accounts to becoming an office mentor, she earned promotions to assistant team supervisor and team supervisor. In March 2023, she took on lending and was promoted to personal banker and in May to assistant bank manager. As Waukesha State Bank’s newest bank manager, Ovalles is looking forward to leading the Meadowbrook Road team.

Gerry Benton started her career with Waukesha State Bank in 2017, supporting various locations as a personal banker, including E. Racine Avenue, E. Main Street and Downtown Waukesha. In 2021, she was promoted to bank manager of the Meadowbrook Road location and now looks forward to transitioning back to her roots to manage E. Main Street. Benton has over 15 years of financial experience and is a 2020 graduate of the Waukesha County Business Alliance’s Leadership Waukesha County program. She is active in the local community volunteering with Poplar Creek Church in New Berlin as a teen leader/mentor.

Jose Velez has nearly 20 years of management and banking experience and started with Waukesha State Bank in 2017 as a personal banker at the Downtown Waukesha office. In 2020, he was promoted to bank manager of the E. Main Steet office in Waukesha and will now transition to manage the E. Racine Avenue location. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico – San German and is active in his community volunteering with Ebenezer Christian Church as their leader of Marriage Ministry and Worship Ministry.

Mondi Hernandez, a Waukesha native with nearly 20 years of industry experience, began her career with Waukesha State Bank in 2005. Over the years, she has held varying positions at the bank including teller, assistant teller supervisor and personal banker before being promoted to bank manager of the former Silvernail Road office in 2014. She transitioned to bank manager of the W. Sunset Drive, Waukesha office in 2015 and then to the bank manager of E. Racine Avenue, Waukesha office in 2016. She was promoted to assistant vice president in 2019, regional retail banking manager in 2020 and vice president in 2022. In her new role as vice president – central region retail banking manager, Hernandez will transition to manage the Downtown Waukesha location and oversee the central Waukesha State Bank region, which includes the Downtown Waukesha, W. Sunset Drive and Mukwonago offices. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, is a 2016 graduate of Waukesha County Business Alliance’s Leadership Waukesha County program and is active in the community serving as Board President for the Waukesha Choral Union.

WAUKESHA, Wis. (December 11, 2023) - Waukesha State Bank, a 14-branch independent community bank in Waukesha County, is proud to announce the promotion of Angela Mierzwinski to assistant vice president - treasury management specialist.

“Angela has consistently demonstrated commitment towards enhancing her skillset. This promotion is well deserved and reflective of Angela’s strengths in cultivating business relationships in southeastern Wisconsin,” stated Tony Laszewski, Waukesha State Bank senior vice president – commercial banking manager.

Mierzwinski earned her associate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha and started her career with Waukesha State Bank in 2008. She has held various positions during her tenure from teller to customer service representative, assistant teller supervisor, teller supervisor, and personal banker before being promoted to bank manager of the Meadowbrook Road office in Waukesha in 2013. She transitioned to bank manager of the Oconomowoc office in 2016 and was promoted to an assistant vice president in 2019. Transitioning into her new position as assistant vice president - treasury management specialist, Mierzwinski will be responsible for helping businesses optimize their cash flow, enhance liquidity, streamline financial operations, and mitigate risk.

Beyond her professional commitments, Mierzwinski is active in Waukesha County non-profit organizations serving on the board of directors for the Oconomowoc Chamber of Commerce and as a volunteer with Junior Achievement and SecureFutures. In October of 2018, she was honored with a Certificate of Excellence from the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation for efforts in advancing financial education in Wisconsin.

WAUKESHA, Wis. (December 7, 2023) - Waukesha Investments, located at Waukesha State Bank, is proud to announce that Alicia Albarran, Financial Advisor, has been awarded the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification.

Albarran joined Waukesha State Bank in 2014, after graduating with a degree in finance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and has worked for Waukesha Investments since 2017. As a financial advisor, she provides financial planning services in addition to a variety of other advisory and non-advisory financial services, including retirement planning, portfolio reviews, retirement income planning, long-term care insurance, social security strategies, gifting and estate planning, rollovers and fee-based advisory options.

Along with her CFP® certification, Albarran is registered as a general securities representative (Series 7), a uniformed securities agent (Series 63) and an investment advisor representative (Series 66). Additionally, she holds her Life & Health Insurance licenses and is fluent in Spanish. Albarran is committed to meeting the ever-changing investment and financial needs of her customers with financial planning experience and the highest level of personalized service.

The CFP® designation identifies those individuals who have met the experience and ethical requirements, have successfully completed financial planning coursework and have passed the CFP® Certification Examination covering the following areas: insurance planning and risk management, employee benefits planning, investment planning, income tax planning, retirement planning, and estate planning. CFP® certificants must also agree to meet ongoing continuing education requirements and to uphold the Certified Financial Planner Board’s Standards of Professional Conduct.

WAUKESHA, Wis. (December 5, 2023) - Waukesha State Bank, a 14-branch independent community bank in Waukesha County, is proud to announce the promotion of Tammy Kasinski to controller.

“With a proven track record in financial analysis and a deep understanding of the banking industry, Tammy brings a wealth of experience to her new role,” stated Ann Pascavis, Waukesha State Bank senior vice president – chief financial officer. “This promotion is reflective of the leadership she has shown as part of the finance team.”

Tammy has nearly 20 years of banking experience and started her career with Waukesha State Bank in 2008 as a personal banker. She has held various positions in retail banking including bank manager of the Oconomowoc office and retail banking administrator. In October of 2021, she transitioned to the finance department and took on the role of finance and operations analyst where she was responsible for the analysis of various bank financial and operational policies, procedures, and performances. In her new position as controller, Kasinski will be responsible for directing the staff and operations of the finance department, which includes analysis of the Bank’s financial information on a periodic basis.

Kasinski earned her bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a minor in business administration from the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay and is currently attending the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree with an accounting emphasis.

WAUKESHA, Wis. – On November 16 at an event held in Wisconsin Dells, the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation (WBF) honored Waukesha State Bank for their efforts in promoting financial literacy to Wisconsin’s consumers. As the non-profit arm of the Wisconsin Bankers Association (WBA), WBF’s mission is to promote financial literacy and capability to the public and to broaden consumer empowerment in the financial services industry through research, education, grants, and scholarships.

During the 2022–2023 fiscal year, over 360 bankers across the state participated in financial education-focused presentations helping to reach over 24,700 consumers of all ages. This outstanding effort is underscored in the efforts of the Waukesha State Bank team.

In addition to being recognized with the Foundation’s Excellence in Financial Education Award for the bank’s organization-wide dedication to financial education, Heather Pfalz was also recognized with a Certificate of Recognition for her individual effort in financial literacy as well as surpassing five total presentations.

“Throughout Wisconsin, bankers go above and beyond in their commitment to their communities,” said Chair of the Wisconsin Bankers Foundation Rose Oswald Poels. “We thank the team at Waukesha State Bank — with special thanks to Heather — for their outstanding work in helping individuals and families to build foundational financial skills.”

WAUKESHA, Wis. (November 21, 2023) - Waukesha State Bank, a 14-branch independent community bank in Waukesha County, is proud to announce the promotion of Sam Zarling to commercial banker.

“Sam has consistently demonstrated ambition towards furthering his skillset. This promotion is well deserved and reflective of Sam’s contributions to our team and his business customers in southeastern Wisconsin,” stated Tony Laszewski, Waukesha State Bank senior vice president – commercial banking manager.

Zarling graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance from Concordia University and started his career with Waukesha State Bank in October of 2022 as a credit analyst/portfolio manager. He holds an active Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) designation and has obtained various licenses, including the Series 6 securities license, Series 63 uniformed securities agent designation, and life insurance licenses. Transitioning into his new position as a commercial banker, Zarling will be tasked with the responsibilities of prospecting, developing, and overseeing commercial loan portfolios.

Beyond his professional commitments, Zarling actively engages with the community, volunteering with Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in West Bend and coaching youth baseball.

WAUKESHA, Wis. (November 20, 2023) - Waukesha State Bank, a full-service community bank with 14 locations across Waukesha County, is proud to announce the expansion of its mortgage lending team, reinforcing its dedication to meeting the evolving needs of homebuyers in Southeastern Wisconsin. The bank welcomes Lee Turner as the new Mortgage Sales Manager, alongside the additions of Doug Gray and Jim Larcheid as New Construction Mortgage Consultants.

Leo Spanuello, Senior Vice President – Mortgage Lending Manager at Waukesha State Bank, expressed enthusiasm about the expanded team, stating, “We are delighted to announce the growth of our mortgage team with the valuable additions of Lee, Doug, and Jim. Their extensive experience in mortgage lending, coupled with their dedication to customer service and leadership, positions them perfectly to uphold our ongoing commitment to supporting the needs and goals of local homebuyers.”

Lee comes to Waukesha State Bank from Bell Bank Mortgage where he served as Wisconsin Market Manager. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of La Verne in La Verne, California and has over 20 years of residential lending experience, which includes managing and coaching mortgage loan officers, executing marketing and sales strategies, and originating loans. In his new role as Mortgage Sales Manager, Lee will be responsible for promoting an effective mortgage sales environment, through regular sales training and coaching, to achieve bank production goals.

Lee is active with local mortgage industry organizations serving as a Wisconsin Mortgage Bankers Association past board member and member of their Education Committee in addition to serving on the Youth Foundation Committee for the Greater Milwaukee Association of REALTORS. As a U.S. Navy Veteran, Lee also served as a board member for USO Wisconsin and is an Ambassador and Real Estate Committee Chair for the Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce. He and his family currently reside in Waukesha.

As New Construction Mortgage Consultants, Doug Gray and Jim Larcheid will be responsible for originating new construction mortgage loans, which includes meeting with prospects, taking mortgage applications, counseling borrowers and developing relationships with Realtors, builders, financial service providers and various community groups.

Doug Gray joins Waukesha State Bank with 27 years of mortgage lending experience most recently serving as Assistant Vice President – Residential Lending for Associated Bank. He has an extensive background in new construction financing and has been specializing in this area for the last 25 years. Doug is active in the community participating in the Hunt for Heroes organization and was a licensed foster parent for Waukesha County for 5 years. He and his family currently reside in Sussex.

Jim Larcheid has over 30 years of residential lending experience specializing in new construction financing. Most recently, he served as Assistant Vice President – Senior Mortgage Loan Officer at Associated Bank. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Marquette University and is active in the community serving with St. Dominic Catholic Church and with the Metropolitan Builders Association as past chairman of their advisory board. He and his family currently reside in Brookfield.

WAUKESHA, Wis. (September 19, 2023) - Waukesha State Bank, a full-service community bank with 14 locations in Waukesha County, has promoted Leo Spanuello to senior vice president – mortgage lending manager.

“Leo has been an integral member of our mortgage lending team,” stated Ty R. Taylor, President & CEO of Waukesha State Bank. “His extensive mortgage lending experience, combined with his passion for customer service and his team leadership skills, position him well to continue our ongoing commitment of supporting the needs and goals of homeowners in southeastern Wisconsin.”

Leo began his career with Waukesha State Bank in 2021 as vice president - mortgage sales manager. He has over 30 years of residential lending experience, which includes managing and coaching mortgage loan officers, executing sales strategies, and originating loans. In his new role as senior vice president – mortgage lending manager, Leo will be responsible for managing the mortgage lending staff and leading the day-to-day operations of the department, all while continuing the bank’s mission of providing clients with personalized service and a wide range of options to meet all of their home buying and refinancing needs.

Leo is active in the local community currently serving on the board of directors for the Wisconsin Mortgage Bankers Association where he served as state president for the 2019-20 term. In addition, he also serves on various committees with the Metropolitan Builders Association and volunteers with the Crohn’s Colitis Foundation. He and his family currently reside in Brookfield.

WAUKESHA, Wis. (August 16, 2023) – Waukesha State Bank, a full-service community bank with 14 offices in Waukesha County, is pleased to announce the promotion of Tina Neis to senior vice president – chief credit officer.

“Tina’s remarkable banking expertise has played a vital role in the success of Waukesha State Bank,” stated Ty R. Taylor, President & CEO of Waukesha State Bank. “As chief credit officer, I eagerly anticipate her ongoing contributions in driving the future growth of our organization.”

Neis joined Waukesha State Bank in 1999 as an SBA loan administrator. She was promoted to assistant cashier in 2002, assistant vice president – assistant cashier in 2004, vice president – commercial banking officer in 2006, vice president – manager of commercial credit in 2015 and senior vice president – manager of commercial credit in 2021. Tina has extensive experience in commercial lending specializing in underwriting and the administration of commercial loans and commercial real estate, and she holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in marketing from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. In her new role as senior vice president – chief credit officer, Tina will oversee credit risk strategies and policies throughout the bank. This will include managing the underwriting, approval and auditing processes for commercial, mortgage and retail lending.

WAUKESHA, Wis. (July 6, 2023) – Waukesha State Bank, a 14-branch independent community bank in Waukesha County, is pleased to announce the addition of Dave Rios as bank manager of its Muskego office located at S69 W15273 Janesville Road.

“We are excited to welcome Dave to the Waukesha State Bank team,” stated Heather Pfalz, Waukesha State Bank vice president – retail banking manager. “He has extensive banking and management experience, which positions him well to service the needs of both individuals and businesses in Muskego.”

Dave comes to Waukesha State Bank with over 25 years of leadership and management experience including 12 years of banking experience. He most recently served as branch manager with Huntington Bank, and in his new role as bank manager of the Waukesha State Bank’s Muskego office, Dave will be responsible for all aspects of daily operations, including business development, personnel management, customer service, lending, relationship management and community service.

WAUKESHA, Wis. (June 16, 2023) - Waukesha Investments,^ located at Waukesha State Bank, is proud to announce the promotion of Harry Mewes to Executive Financial Advisor & Manager.

“This well-deserved promotion reflects Harry’s outstanding contributions to our organization,” stated Ty Taylor, Waukesha State Bank President & CEO. “Harry does a fantastic job of connecting with his customers through a variety of economic conditions, and he has been an incredible mentor to the entire Waukesha Investments team over the years. As the new Manager of Waukesha Investments, I have full confidence that Harry will continue to inspire his team and contribute to the future growth and success of the division.”

Harry joined Waukesha Investments in 2000 as an Investment Representative and was promoted to Executive Financial Advisor in 2011. He has over 30 years of financial planning experience. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®), Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®), Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®) and Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®), Harry is responsible for providing financial guidance and investment solutions that assist his customers in meeting their financial goals. As the new Manager of Waukesha Investments, he will also be responsible for leading the division and for employee development.

^Securities and insurance products are offered through Cetera Investment Services LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services are offered through Cetera Investment Advisers LLC. Neither firm is affiliated with the financial institution where investment services are offered.
Investments are: *Not FDIC insured *May lose value *Not financial institution guaranteed *Not a deposit *Not insured by any federal government agency.
Registered location: 151 E. St. Paul Ave., Waukesha, WI 53188, (262) 549-8559.

WAUKESHA, Wis. (June 12, 2023) – Waukesha State Bank, a 14-branch independent community bank in Waukesha County, is pleased to announce the promotion of Heather Pfalz to vice president – retail banking manager.

“Heather has been an integral member of our Retail Banking team for over 25 years,” stated Ty Taylor, Waukesha State Bank President & CEO. “Her tenure with the Bank, focus on exceptional customer service and passion for supporting and developing bank employees makes her the perfect candidate for this position and also highlights our commitment to nurturing talent and providing opportunities for advancement within our organization. I look forward to witnessing her continued growth and success.”

Heather started her career with Waukesha State Bank in 1997 as a teller and has held various positions during her employment. She was promoted to bank officer in 2003, assistant vice president in 2010 and vice president in 2017. She has managed the bank’s Meadowbrook (2001-2004), Oconomowoc (2004-2008), Sussex (2008-2017) and Downtown Waukesha (2017-May 2023) offices and played an integral role in opening both the Oconomowoc and Sussex locations. In November of 2020, Heather was promoted to a regional retail banking manager, and in her new role as retail banking manager, Heather will oversee the daily operations of the entire retail banking division. She will be responsible for implementing a strategic vision for retail banking, managing and developing retail staff, driving business development activities, fostering an exceptional customer experience culture and keeping current on the latest retail banking trends, regulation changes and technological advancements.

Heather is actively involved with Waukesha County non-profit organizations currently serving as a member of the Village of Sussex Community Development Authority and as a volunteer for Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast, Donna Lexa Art Centers, and with her faith community. Additionally, she is a member of Sweet Adelines International and sings with the Joyful Blend Quartet.

WAUKESHA, Wis. (June 5, 2023) - Waukesha State Bank, a full-service community bank with 14 locations in Waukesha County, is proud to announce the retirement of Devon Arnold, senior vice president – retail banking manager. After 45 years of dedicated service and numerous contributions to the bank’s success, Arnold will embark on a well-deserved journey of retirement, effective June 16, 2023.

“Devon’s loyalty to Waukesha State Bank’s values, employees, customers and our community over the past 45 years is immeasurable. His commitment to excellence and exceptional leadership created a strong, successful and dedicated retail banking division for our organization, and we owe him a huge debt of gratitude,” said Ty Taylor, Waukesha State Bank President & CEO. “On behalf of the entire bank, I want to thank Devon for his years of service and the enduring legacy of excellence that will continue to inspire and guide our team. We wish him the very best as he enjoys a well-deserved retirement.”

Arnold began his career with Waukesha State Bank in 1978 as a coin wrapper while in high school. He fondly remembers helping wherever was needed, including processing mail, filing checks by hand, preparing checking statements, counting cash, running errands and performing maintenance tasks.

Arnold continued his career with the bank as a part-time teller while pursuing his bachelor’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. After graduating, Arnold became a full-time teller, worked for multiple years in the loan servicing department and took on consumer lending responsibilities. In 1990, he began his retail career focus with his first bank manager position at the Waukesha State Bank’s “Sun Branch” (now closed) adjacent to Sun Foods grocery store on Manhattan Drive in Waukesha. During this time, he was promoted to an officer of the bank and also held the assistant cashier title. Arnold went on to open the bank’s Silvernail Road office in Waukesha (now closed) and also served as the interim manager of the bank’s W. Sunset Drive office in Waukesha for a year.

In 1994, Arnold was promoted to assistant vice president and was chosen to open the bank’s Delafield office. Arnold immersed himself in the Delafield community, connected with Delafield businesses and was an integral part of the success of Waukesha State Bank’s newest branch. During this time, Arnold was an active board member and held numerous leadership positions with the Delafield and Hartland Chambers of Commerce, the Delafield-Summit Lions Club, and the Greater Delafield Community Fund. He was recognized for his service to the Lions Club organization with the distinguished Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. In 1998, Devon was promoted to vice president in recognition of his success in Delafield.

In 2003, Arnold was promoted to fill the newly created position of retail banking manager. In this role, Arnold oversaw the opening of 10 additional retail offices, the creation of the Customer Service Center, the development of Waukesha State Bank’s retails sales program, and the evolution of the bank’s retail products, staffing structure, systems and procedures. In addition, he was responsible for employee growth and leadership development. Devon also managed the bank’s Waukesha Investments division, which has seen consistent growth in assets under management, revenue, and staff. In 2021, Devon was recognized with a promotion to senior vice president.

“I am so proud to be a part of the bank’s story and it has been quite a journey,” stated Devon Arnold, Waukesha State Bank Senior Vice President – Retail Banking Manager. “My career has been filled with such rich and rewarding experiences with customers, community organizations, and a great team of bankers. I am looking forward to this new chapter and filling my time with family and friends as well as new adventures and experiences.”

WAUKESHA, Wis. (May 1, 2023) – Waukesha State Bank, a 14-branch independent community bank in Waukesha County, is pleased to announce the promotion of Liz Lijewski to assistant vice president - bank manager of its Mukwonago office and Mandy Gosseck to bank manager of its New Berlin office.

In their new positions, Lijewski and Gosseck will be responsible for all aspects of daily operations, including business development, personnel management, customer service, lending, relationship management and community involvement at their respective offices.

“Liz has demonstrated strong leadership as the manager of our New Berlin office, and we are pleased that she is bringing her passion and experience to lead our Mukwonago office. Mandy has also been an integral member of our team and has grown her knowledge and skills consistently in varying roles. We are excited to welcome her back to our New Berlin office as a familiar face and the manager of the great team we have there,” stated Devon Arnold, Waukesha State Bank senior vice president – retail banking manager. “These individuals have a track record of success combined with a commitment to our core philosophy of providing the highest level of customer service which makes them a perfect fit for these roles.”

Liz Lijewski started her career with Waukesha State Bank in 2010. She has held varying positions at the Bank from teller to customer service representative, assistant teller supervisor, personal banker and most recently bank manager of the New Berlin office. Liz is active in the local community serving as a mentor and advisory committee member for the Waukesha County Business Alliance’s Leadership Waukesha program. She also volunteers with SecureFutures to teach financial literacy to area students.

Mandy Gosseck joined Waukesha State Bank in 2016 as a teller supporting multiple bank offices and was quickly promoted to assistant teller supervisor and moved to Waukesha State Bank’s New Berlin office. In 2018, Mandy was promoted to teller supervisor-personal banker and earlier this year to assistant bank manager of Waukesha State Bank’s E. Racine Avenue location in Waukesha. She is excited to return to New Berlin with her newest promotion to bank manager.