Baumeister and Zemke Given Honors at Retirement from Baylake Bank Regional Board
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| Pictures left to right: Richard Braun, Gene Baumeister, William Zemke, and Thomas Herlache |
January 25, 2007 ---
Kewaunee, WI- At the December Baylake Bank Lakeshore
Regional Board meeting, Baylake Bank CEO Thomas Herlache and Lakeshore Regional
Board Chairman Richard A. Braun recognized William A. Zemke and Gene H.
Baumeister for their years of service on the Lakeshore Regional Board. Herlache
and Braun thanked each of them and presented each with an honorary plaque. The
meeting was followed by an appreciation luncheon.
Both Baumeister and Zemke served in leadership roles on the board of State Bank
of Kewaunee prior to its merger with Baylake Bank in 1996. Each was involved
with loan review, had financial and regulatory responsibilities, and helped
direct community involvement for the company. After the merger with Baylake
Bank, they agreed to remain on the Lakeshore Regional Board. Zemke, a former
instructor at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, served a total of 20 years
with the bank. Baumeister, the former president of Kewaunee Bottling Company,
has served on the bank boards for 29 years.
As regional board members for Baylake Bank, Zemke and Baumeister focused on
business development in and around the bank's Kewaunee and Manitowoc County
service areas. During their tenure on the Lakeshore Regional Board, Baylake Bank
experienced tremendous change in the market area, purchasing a branch of M&I
bank in Kewaunee, expanding service reach by opening a new community financial
center in Luxemburg, and offering enhancing services from financial centers
located in Algoma, Tisch Mills, and Kewaunee.
"Banking has changed a great deal since I first became a board member. Most
significant in my opinion is the competitive environment for banks. It has been
a great pleasure serving the bank all these years. Baylake Bank has great
people, and the experience of what we've been able to accomplish has been
extremely rewarding," Baumeister said.
"Growing with Baylake Bank, we've been able to provide more products and
services yet maintain a personal and caring atmosphere. I'll continue to tell
people, if they want a good bank, to do business with Baylake," Zemke said.
Both Zemke and Baumeister were thanked by fellow board members, Braun, and
Herlache for their personal commitment to the bank's goals and their valued
participation in the conduct of its affairs.
Baylake Corp., the holding company for Baylake Bank, serves Northeast and
Central Wisconsin from 28 community financial centers throughout Brown, Door,
Green Lake, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Outagamie, Waupaca, and Waushara Counties. The
bank is organized for management purposes into geographic regions, which include
Central, Green Bay area, and Door County/Kewaunee Lakeshore. Local leaders
comprise the regional boards, which meet monthly to oversee activities and
opportunities in their respective areas.
