Thirtieth anniversary occasion for CBW to say ‘thanks’

Bankers from throughout Wisconsin gathered for the 30th annual management conference and expo of the Community Bankers of Wisconsin at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, Wis., on Sept. 12-13. CBW offered each member institution one free conference registration.. "Given our thirtieth anniversary, our board made a decision that if there is ever a time to use some of the reserves we have and say thank you, this was it," explained CBW President/CEO Daryll Lund. "We had some first-time attendees and others who were back after not having been to the conference in a while.". Jim Tubbs, president and CEO of the State Bank of Cross Plains, was elected 2011-2012 CBW chairman. Tubbs comes from a longtime banking family. His grandfather, Monroe, worked at the State Bank of Cross Plains for 62 years and his father, Tom, spent 55 years at the Bank of Sun Prairie where he is now chairman of the board.. Tubbs joined the State Bank of Cross Plains in 1995 and was named president in July.. "Community banks are all about helping people and our communities prosper," Tubbs said. "I had a true admiration for how my father was respected in the community and how his occupation truly made a difference in people's lives and provided economic stimulus for the community.". In addition to Tubbs, CBW named Paul Hoffmann chairman-elect. He is president and CEO of Monona State Bank. Stan Leedle, executive vice president and chief credit officer of Choice Bank, Oshkosh was elected vice chairman, and Mary Jo Ceniti, president, Farmers Savings Bank, Mineral Point, was elected secretary/treasurer. Steve Bell, president and CEO, Community State Bank, Union Grove, continues on the board as immediate past chair. . Elected directors were:. District 1: Paul Kohler, president, Charter Bank, Eau Claire. District 3: Steve Zeman, president, Union State Bank of West Salem. District 5: Fred Siemers, president, River Cities Bank, Wisconsin Rapids. District 7: Dennis Doyle, president, Great Midwest Bank, Brookfield. At-Large directors are Sigurd Bringe, president and CEO, Bank of Deerfield; Martin Reinhart, president and CEO, Heritage Bank, Marshfield, and James McPhaul, senior vice president, Bank of Kenosha.. Robert L. Fait was named CBW's Community Banker of the Year at the conference. President of Bank of Mauston since 1992, Fait has been with the bank since 1972 and on its board of directors since 1986.. Earlier this year, Bank of Mauston received the 2011 Proven Performers Award from FISERV Bank Intelligence. The company analyzed the profitability, growth and risk factors of every U.S. bank to identify how some banks sustained high performance over the past five years. Only 167 institutions nationwide qualified as a 2011 Proven Performer.. "Banking is not about the Dodd-Frank Act or about the regulators. Banking is about the people business," Fait said in accepting the award. "Our bank staff is a wonderful staff. They deserve a lot of credit for the numbers and the personal service.". Many local non-profit organizations benefit from support from The Bank of Mauston, including office space provided to the Mauston Area Chamber of Commerce and Greater Mauston Area Development Center. Fait serves on the GMADC Board and is a past CBW board member. He has also assisted the Housing Authority, Juneau County Aging Department, Lions Club, and Juneau County revolving loan fund, as well as his church.. For 27 years, the bank has sponsored a food drive and encouraged residents to fill shopping carts at each of the bank's locations in support of local community food pantries. In 2010 The Bank of Mauston donated 23,000 pounds of food. The bank has also supported Habitat for Humanity, Mile High Medical Center Foundation, various churches, all local school districts, youth activities, law enforcement, animal shelters, and other nonprofit support programs such as Touched Twice United.. Reflecting back on the association's history, Lund commented: "The focus of what defines a community bank has stayed largely the same," said Lund who was named CBW president 16 years ago. "There are always new challenges around the corner.". Lund said he is concerned about the growing regulatory burden, which he said, seems to be an unending problem. "I remember the Cut the Red Tape campaign years ago," he said, referring to photos bankers took sitting next to stacks of paper representing overwhelming regulation. "We could do the same picture today only with the piles of paper even bigger."