Door County’s Baylake Bank Supports Water Conservation

(Left to right) Baylake Bank Algoma Financial Center Manager Russ Ritchie with rain barrel winner Bill Rice.

• Baylake Bank employees displayed rain barrels from Crossroads at Big Creek and Groundwater Guardians at the 2010 Baylake Bank Tall Ship Festival to support the organizations and to educate the public on the importance of water conservation.

Emphasizing the conservation initiatives of Great Lakes United (GLU) during festival, the bank raffled off the rain barrels. Rain barrel winners were Bill Rice of Forestville and Debra Duquaine of Sturgeon Bay

“We thought this would be a good way to connect with and support local water conservation organizations,” said Baylake Bank marketing representative Dawn Augustson. “The winners of the rain barrels were very excited to have them, and we were very pleased to help spread the word about the simple things each person can do to make a difference in protecting the Great Lakes.” The bank has purchased more rain barrels and plans to bring back the displays and information to share with customers at additional offices next spring.

In addition to the rain barrel efforts, Baylake Bank hosted a “Casual Day for a Cause” in which employees raised more than $600 for GLU. The donation was presented to GLU Director Derek Stack and Communication Coordinator Brent Gibson at the Baylake Bank Tall Ship Festival.

For more information call 920.743.5551 or visit http://www.baylake.com.

• Lori’s Spa Essence in Fish Creek will offer a new class schedule for winter Spinning® (indoor cycling) classes. Owner, Lori Strantz, a certified Spinning® instructor, is celebrating her first year offering classes at her Official Spinning® Center.

Strantz will be teaching classes five days a week, beginning November 8. Classes will be Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8:30 am and Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 pm. Class fees are $10 for a single class and $8 per class when participants purchase a 10-class package.

For more information and/or to register for classes, call 920.868.9493 or visit http://www.lorisspaessence.com.

• The Door County Economic Development Corporation (DCEDC) will hold monthly office hours in Northern Door County for new and existing business owners, providing business counseling and entrepreneurial services.

DCEDC Economic Development Manager Sam Perlman, winner of the 2007 “Wisconsin Innovation Champion Award,” will offer free, one-on-one business counseling sessions, providing advice on business planning, financing, business incentives, and other issues. As a member of the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Network, DCEDC also has the ability to tap into the expertise of the statewide support network to help find solutions to business issues and questions.

Individual, confidential sessions will be held on Tuesday, October 19 from 8 am – 12 pm at the Sister Bay Fire Station, located at 2258 Mill Road.

An appointment is requested and can be made by contacting Perlman at 920.743.3113 ext. 204 or via email at [email protected]. Walk-ins are also welcome, based on availability.

• Several area employees received recognition at the Community Bankers of Wisconsin annual meeting in Green Bay on Sept. 16.

William G. Peterson, former chairman of the Union State Bank in Kewaunee, received a Lifetime Service Award from the Community Bankers of Wisconsin for over 50 years of service. Peterson began his banking career in the mailroom of Kellogg-Citizens National Bank in January 1957. After a distinguished career, he returned to his hometown in 1983, joining Union State Bank as senior vice president.

Nine employees at the Bank of Luxemburg, which has locations in in Luxemburg, Casco, Algoma, Forestville, Dyckesville, and Green Bay, received Lifetime Service Awards for over 30 or 40 years to serving their banks, their customers, and their community. Recipients include:

• Darice Bunker, an assistant vice president, began her banking career in 1970.

• Denise Kinjerski, vice president of Human Resource, began her banking career in 1979.

• Mary Jo Duescher, retail office coordinator, joined the bank in 1972.

• Sheri Ackerman, a loan sales officer, has held six different positions at two community banks in her more than 30 years with the bank.

• Carol Baierl joined the bank in 1975. She has filled numerous roles over the years, including managing the IGA branch in Luxemburg.

• David Luebbers, executive vice president, joined the bank in 1989.

• Linda Vandenack, a retail representative, joined the bank in 2008 with over 30 years of banking experience.

• Marlene Treml, a consumer lending specialist, has been with the bank since 1975.

• Sylven Konkel, a commercial lending specialist, joined the bank in 2002 with over 30 years of banking experience.

• Mother and daughter team, Germaine and Kellie Taves, will host the Independent Entrepreneurs Festival at the English Inn on Oct. 23. From 9 am – 2 pm, a variety of local entrepreneurs will be on hand to present their products and share their ideas.

The event will kick off with Door County’s first Social Media Breakfast from 9 – 10:30 am. Local social media “guru,” Stephen Kastner and guest panelists will present on marketing with Facebook, YouTube, and other forms of web media. A complimentary, light breakfast buffet will be provided and participants are encouraged to bring their wireless devices to plug in and broadcast their impressions as the event takes place.

Kastner will give away 25 copies of his new book, Six Steps to Becoming Social in Business. Find out more at http://www.SMBDC.com.

At 12 pm, Kaukauna poet and businessman Jeff Boire will host a Poetry Reading Lunch. Guests of the lunch may choose to order from the English Inn menu or simply enjoy hearing works read aloud by the author and any other poets who wish to join in. Find out more at http://www.JeffreyrBoire.com.

There will also be a Silent Benefit Auction throughout the day with all proceeds benefiting the Fish Creek’s First Responders and the Sexual Assault Center of Door County.

Interested vendors can contact Germaine Taves for more information at 920.378.0861 or via email at [email protected].