Grundhofer to receive American Banker Award
Jerry Grundhofer, chairman emeritus of U.S. Bancorp, will receive American Banker’s 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award at the Banker of the Year awards gala on Thursday, Dec. 4, at the Plaza Hotel in New York City.
Grundhofer has more than 40 years of experience in the banking industry and was the key player in the successful merger of Cincinnati-based Star Banc Corp. with Firstar Corp. of Milwaukee in November 1998.
"U.S. Bancorp’s solid balance sheet and transition over the past two years to a new and respected leadership team are just the latest examples of how Jerry Grundhofer has steered his company toward consistent growth while never taking his eye off soundness and stability," said David Longobardi, editor in chief of American Banker.
Grundhofer served as chairman of U.S. Bancorp from 2002 until his retirement in December 2006. Prior to U.S. Bancorp’s merger with Firstar Corp. Grundhofer served as chairman, president and chief executive officer of U.S. Bancorp’s predecessors Firstar Corp. and Star Banc Corp.
When Grundhofer joined Star Banc in 1993, it had 200 branches in three states, $7.6 billion in total assets and a market capitalization of $1 billion. At Grundhofer’s retirement, the merged company had grown to nearly 2,500 full-service branches in 24 states, with more than $219 billion in total assets and a market capitalization of nearly $63.9 billion.
Grundhofer said he had one basic principle of management throughout his career: "Grow revenues faster than expenses and great things happen."
Starting in 2006, Grundhofer began handing over leadership of the company to Richard Davis, who now holds the titles of president, CEO and chairman.
WTC and WAN produce "Wisconsin Portfolio"
The Wisconsin Technology Council and the Wisconsin Angel Network have published "The Wisconsin Portfolio: Putting Risk Capital to Work", a 16-page magazine that reports on risk capital trends in the state. The magazine is aimed at in and out of state investors, to talk about the state’s technology assets, recent investments in state companies and available resources for investors.
It was published in advance of the 2008 Wisconsin Early State Symposium, to be held Nov. 5-6 in Madison. For more information, visit www.wisconsintechnologycouncil.com/events/earlystage.
Baird honored for employee learning
R.W. Baird & Co. was recently awarded eighth place in the American Society for Training and Development’s 2008 ASTD BEST Awards Program, an awards program for employee learning and development. Baird is one of 40 companies from the U.S., Hong Kong and India to receive the award.
"It is wonderful to be recognized for our training efforts by a global organization like ASTD," said Beth Kalevaris, director of Baird University, the company’s in house training and development organization. "This award really honors Baird’s commitment to education and development as a firm. Baird University couldn’t exist and thrive as it does today without that kind of support."
