Sue Loken Named Chief Financial Officer of State Bank of Cross Plains

January 2, 2020, MADISON, Wisconsin — After an extensive search involving more than 140 candidates, State Bank of Cross Plains (SBCP) named Sue Loken its next Senior Vice President – Chief Financial Officer.

“My role is to be a strategic partner with the team and continue to help move the organization forward, especially through this time of transformation in community banking,” Loken explains. “Over the years, I’ve seen so many different situations and scenarios. I’ve developed the insight to identify opportunities and suggest solutions, as well as the capability to make those adjustments with confidence.”

Most recently, Loken served as Chief Risk Officer at Bank First in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Additional experience includes eight years as CFO and Risk Officer at Partnership Bank, nearly 10 years working with banks of various sizes at Wipfli, six years in the private sector as an accountant, and extensive expertise in risk mitigation.

“In light of our recent merger, we were looking for someone who could guide us through the regulatory standards and higher level of scrutiny that comes with surpassing the $1 billion threshold,” said SBCP President and CEO, Jim Tubbs. “Sue can provide the leadership we need to navigate this exciting period of growth.”

Loken’s breadth of experience in accounting, finance, and banking is part of what set her apart during the selection process. “Looking good on paper is only the first step,” Tubbs clarifies. “Sue is much more than her resume highlights. In addition to being a well-rounded banker, she is a personable leader with a genuine community banking attitude. Throughout the interview process, it became clear that Sue really mirrors our bank’s core culture and personality.”

Loken confirms that this career move will allow her to feed her passion for community involvement. In addition to her work at State Bank of Cross Plains, she is committed to helping others achieve their dreams, whether by developing leaders internally or supporting the local community.

“Giving back and supporting the community you live and work in is at the heart of community banking and is my passion. A good school district, for example, makes such a huge difference to an entire community,” she says about this topic near-and-dear to her heart. “It supports individual enrichment, improves local labor skillset and availability, and affects population growth and business development.”

Loken has been actively involved in the Cedarburg Education Foundation and the Greater Cedarburg Foundation, and plans to continue supporting education and the community overall in her new neighborhood upon moving to Dane County.

Loken officially started at State Bank of Cross Plains on Monday, December 16, 2019.

# # #

State Bank of Cross Plains is known for our modern, progressive approach to supporting businesses and consumers by offering services more typical of larger financial institutions in an environment that values one-on-one personal relationships and community involvement. Thanks to our recent merger, State Bank of Cross Plains is a $1.3 billion institution, offering a full range of business and personal financial services including business, real estate, and consumer lending, as well as wealth management and financial advisory services. We now also provide Crop Insurance and Ag Lending Services. SBCP has 15 convenient locations in Dane, Rock, and Green Counties. Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender.

For additional information, please visit sbcp.bank or contact Marketing Communications Manager Ian Folger at 608-826-3515. 

Starion Bank names Morgan president

Starion Bank has named Don Morgan president, with Craig Larson continuing in the roles of CEO and chairman of the board for the bank. As president, Morgan manages the day-to-day operations of the bank, while Larson focuses on the overall strategy and vision for Starion Bank.

Morgan, a certified public accountant, has been with Starion since 2012 when he joined the bank as vice president for credit administration. The next year he was promoted to chief credit officer. In 2014, he became a member of Starion’s Executive Committee which is responsible for initiating key actions within the organization, reviewing financial data and setting major project priorities.

“With Don’s exceptional finance background and commitment to serving our communities, I’m confident that under his leadership Starion will continue to be a strong organization committed to taking our employees, customers and communities farther,” said Larson. “Starion has been a family-owned bank for 50 years and we look forward to Don leading the team into the next 50.”

In this new role, Morgan will partner with and develop Starion’s high-performance leadership teams, focusing on all operational aspects of the bank and building relationships within the bank, with customers and all the communities Starion serves. He is based out of corporate headquarters in Bismarck, N.D.

“Starion Bank is filled with great people and is based on timeless values,” explained Morgan. “As we begin the next chapter in our story, we will be leaders in financial innovation while maintaining our ‘small town’ values of exceptional customer service, being a great place to work and supporting our communities.”

Morgan has extensive banking and leadership experience, which includes 18 years in the areas of credit administration, commercial lending, market president and internal auditing. A Wyoming native, he earned a bachelor’s degree in finance with an accounting minor from University of Wyoming and a master’s in accounting from the University of Phoenix. Morgan is active in the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association, local 4H, and the Soil Conservation District. He has been a guest presenter for college business classes and was treasurer of the North Dakota Rodeo Association Finals Committee for seven years.

Just How Do You Wrap a Playground?

Please mark your calendar and plan to join us this Friday, Dec. 20, at The Playing Field early learning center, 3910 Mineral Point Road.

* Christmas Comes Early when “Attic Angels” bring their gift of a playground to children enrolled at The Playing Field early learning center in Madison

* Special Playground Equipment will serve emotional and developmental needs of children who have experienced trauma and other challenges such as autism

* Attic Angel Association’s “Angels” embraced a special fundraising project during their 130th birthday year in 2019 to honor their historic service to children

Click here for additional information about the day’s event schedule and additional background for this project.

Savant Capital Management CEO Named to Barron’s Advisor Hall of Fame

Brent Brodeski receives award for his commitment to excellence

Savant Capital Management, a nationally-recognized, fee-only wealth management firm headquartered in Rockford, IL, with locations in Madison and Park Falls, is pleased to announce that CEO Brent Brodeski is among an esteemed group of financial advisors to receive the Barron’s Advisor Hall of Fame award.

Barron’s, one of the world’s premier investing publications, established its Hall of Fame to shine a spotlight on the nation’s best financial advisors, with an eye toward raising standards in the finance industry. Each of the 145 Hall of Fame members, or one percent of all advisors in the industry, also have appeared in 10 or more of Barron’s annual Top 100 Advisor rankings.

Hall of Fame award recipients were selected based on a questionnaire of more than 100 questions about their practices, including assets under management and the revenue collected on those assets, industry designations possessed, regulatory records, length of time in the industry, charitable and philanthropic work, and more.

“I am humbled and honored to receive this recognition from Barron’s,” said Brodeski. “This award, however, goes out to the entire team at Savant. Every day we put our clients’ best interests first by working together as a team, helping to ensure our clients are served well, not only today, but for the rest of their lives.”

The entire list of Hall of Fame recipients can be viewed here. For more information about Savant Capital Management, visit savantcapital.com.

About Savant Capital Management

Savant Capital Management is a leading independent, nationally recognized, fee-only firm serving clients for 30 years with more than $6 billion in assets under management. As a trusted advisor, Savant Capital Management offers investment management, financial planning, retirement plan and family office services to financially established individuals and institutions. Savant also offers corporate accounting, tax preparation, payroll and consulting through its affiliate, Savant Tax & Consulting.

Savant Capital Management is a Registered Investment Advisor. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk. Savant’s marketing material and/or rankings or recognitions by Barron’s should not be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that they will experience a certain level of results if Savant Capital Management is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services nor should it be construed as a current or past endorsement of Savant Capital Management by any of it clients. Recognitions published by Barron’s generally base their selections exclusively on information prepared and/or submitted by an employee of the firm. Savant did not pay a fee to participate.

Solar for Good Program Helps Fund 13 Solar Energy Projects for Wisconsin Nonprofits

RENEW Wisconsin’s Solar for Good program will issue nearly $140,000 worth of solar panels to Wisconsin nonprofits as part of their fall 2019 funding cycle. These grants will go to 13 organizations across the state that together will install nearly 600 kilowatts of clean, renewable electricity. When completed, these solar projects will lead to over $1.2 million of solar investment in Wisconsin.

The following organizations have been offered Solar for Good grants to install new solar electric systems:

CAP Services, poverty alleviation, Stevens Point.

Camp Amnicon, outdoor retreat and spiritual worship, South Range.

Menīkānaehkem, Native American educational organization, Gresham.

Habitat for Humanity – La Crosse Area, affordable housing provider, La Crosse.

Jackson County Animal Shelter, safe haven for stray animals, Black River Falls.

Heartland Housing, affordable housing provider, Madison.

First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee, house of worship, Milwaukee.

Boys & Girls Club of Greater La Crosse, youth education, La Crosse.

Bethel Lutheran Church, house of worship, Madison.

Movin’ Out, alternative housing provider, Madison.

Zwingli United Church of Christ, house of worship, Verona.

Kathy’s House, alternative housing provider, Wauwatosa.

One organization has asked to remain anonymous at this time.

This round of Solar for Good funding features a diverse group of awardees from across

Wisconsin. The Boys and Girls Club of Greater La Crosse will use their solar installation to help educate members on renewable electricity and energy efficiency for their recently-renovated facility. Over 200 solar panels will be installed at Kathy’s House, a hospital guest-house in Wauwatosa. And the Indigenous-led organization Menīkānaehkem, will install solar to power several tiny homes being constructed on the Menominee Indian Reservation to house the community’s homeless population.

“We decided to go solar to reduce our energy bills and to focus more of our resources on programming,” said Guy Reiter of Menīkānaehkem. “We plan to use the array as a training center for community members interested in pursuing a career in solar. Thanks to the Solar for Good grant, we are moving closer to our goal of making the Menominee community energy-sovereign as a way to create jobs, restore hope, reduce carbon pollution, and mitigate climate change.”

This marks Solar for Good’s 5th funding cycle and the second-largest to date. Including the fall 2019 funding cycle, the program’s impact will total 74 Wisconsin nonprofits installing 88 new solar arrays throughout the state. The program will add 3.25 megawatts of clean, renewable power to Wisconsin’s electric mix, enough to power approximately 650 homes. In total, these 88 solar arrays will spur over $7 million in investments in renewable electricity.

About Solar for Good

RENEW Wisconsin’s Solar for Good initiative fosters the expansion of solar power among mission-based nonprofits and houses of worship in Wisconsin. Through a generous partnership with Couillard Solar Foundation, RENEW Wisconsin awards solar panels to nonprofit organizations, helping them switch to clean, renewable, solar energy.

About RENEW Wisconsin

RENEW Wisconsin is a nonprofit organization which promotes renewable energy in Wisconsin. We work on policies and programs that support solar power, wind power, biogas, local hydropower, geothermal energy, and electric vehicles. More information on RENEW’s website: www.renewwisconsin.org.