Gerrits To Retire After 25 Years in Banking
Waupaca, WI— After more than 25 years of helping people in
the Waupaca and Weyauwega area realize their dreams of home ownership, Gretchen
Gerrits will soon be hanging up her banking hat. But her professional
achievements will continue to have an impact, with the effects of her warm
smile, caring attitude, and expertise having made an immeasurable difference for
customers and co-workers over the years.
“I believe success comes from a desire to build relationships with people and
families. These relationships have built confidence, and my customers know I’m
honestly doing everything I can for them,” Gerrits said. While working as a
receptionist at a local savings and loan early in her career, Gerrits was
intrigued by the importance of home financing. She quickly grew into
responsibilities for all aspects of consumer and mortgage lending. She credits
her rapid achievement to a great mentor, and is now a mentor herself to direct
co-workers Judy Deschler and Judy Buchholz at Baylake Bank in Waupaca.
“Gretchen has been my mentor for the past couple of years, and is one of the
reasons I am where I am with Baylake Bank today. Her commitment to customers is
second to none, and her wide knowledge and expertise will be hard to replace. I
will really miss her as a teacher and as a friend, but she is very deserving of
her retirement years,” Deschler said.
Gerrits says she’s confident that quality and consistency will continue even
after her departure from Baylake Bank. “We have an excellent team of lenders.
I’m very comfortable knowing that they will be able to meet any need of Baylake
Bank customers in the future,” Gerrits said.
Although officially retired after January, Gerrits’ community involvement will
continue with her role as an advisory board member of both the Waupaca Block
Grant Program and the Waupaca County W2 program. Gerrits’ plans after retirement
include spending more time with her husband, Urb, and with her grandchildren and
family in Wisconsin and Michigan. She also intends on enjoying more of her
favorite activities and hobbies such as quilting, reading, fishing, cooking, and
walking. “If I’m half as busy as my husband has been this last eight years
(since his retirement), I won’t have a lot of free time,” she laughed.
Baylake Bank serves Northeast and Central Wisconsin from 28 community financial
centers located throughout Brown, Door, Green Lake, Kewaunee, Manitowoc,
Outagamie, Waupaca, and Waushara Counties, and from their website at
www.baylake.com.
