Personnel File

Banking & Finance

InvestorsBank, headquartered in Waukesha, has appointed Kacey Christie assistant controller. Christie previously worked for Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc. for 16 years. In her new position, she will oversee many of the bank’s accounting services.

Johnson Financial Group, headquartered in Racine, has promoted Dan Defnet to executive vice president of commercial banking. Defnet has more than 27 years of banking experience and previously served as executive vice president, chief credit officer, for Johnson Financial Group. The company also recently promoted Scott Kelly to chief credit officer. Kelly has worked for Johnson Bank for more than 23 years and most recently was director of special assets.

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Marine Bank, of Elm Grove, has hired mortgage loan officer Claudio Lanza to its Avenue Mortgage division. Lanza has more than 17 years of experience in mortgage lending. In his new role, he will handle residential loan origination in greater Milwaukee.

Prairie Financial Group, a division of Waukesha State Bank, has welcomed Stephen Zimmel as senior trust administrator. Zimmel is a certified financial planner and a certified trust and financial advisor with more than 15 years of experience in trust matters. He most recently was a vice president and director of trust and estate services at BMO Harris Private Bank. At Prairie Financial Group, he will help clients create and implement financial strategies tailored toward their needs. He will also focus on daily trust administration.

GSF Mortgage has added Brian Hofmann as a loan originator at its Appleton branch. Hofmann’s career has included 10 years in the plumbing industry followed by time spent in home inspections and nine years in the appraisal industry.

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Peter Burgelis has joined Brookfield-based Wisconsin Mortgage Corp. as a loan officer. Burgelis brings more than 10 years of mortgage experience to his new position. He will work in the Shorewest Realtors downtown office in Milwaukee.

Building & Construction

S.J. Janis Co., Inc., of Wauwatosa, has named Nick Sannes director of business development. Prior to joining the design/build firm, Sannes spent eight years at Niceware International. During his tenure at Niceware, he was promoted to marketing director. At S.J. Janis, Sannes will build on business opportunities and help stimulate business growth. Sannes is a second-generation staff member of the company.

Design

Brookfield-based Exhibit Systems has expanded its team with Aaron Bartelt, project manager. Bartelt has spent about six years working in the trade show industry and most recently was project manager for Horizon Displays in DeKalb, Ill. At Exhibit Systems, he will guide exhibit projects from estimation through final production, with particular attention to quality, budget, design and performance.

Distribution

Pewaukee-based Gustave A. Larson Co. has added Daniel Benischek as vice president of operations. Benischek previously worked at Briggs & Stratton Corp. for six years. His career has also included positions at General Electric and TD Ameritrade, with experience guiding metric driven operations, e-commerce marketing, ERP/CRM systems integration and customer satisfaction excellence.

Education

Lakeland College, based in Howards Grove, has appointed Jennifer Christensen director of its Milwaukee Center, which is located in West Allis. Prior to joining Lakeland College, Christensen was executive director of enrollment at Wisconsin Lutheran College. Her career also includes 17 years specializing in enrollment management and growth for the Institute for Professional Development.

Government Organizations

Racine County Workforce Development has named Terri Steidl to its board. Steidl currently serves as the managing partner of HRCG, LLC’s Midwest office. HRCG is an executive search and management consulting firm with offices in the Milwaukee area, Boston and Denver.

Hospitality & Entertainment

O&H Danish Bakery, located in Racine, has added Matt Horton as vice president of marketing. Prior to joining the bakery, Horton worked for SC Johnson for nine years, most recently serving as director of marketing for the Scrubbing Bubbles brand. At the bakery, he will focus on creating and rolling out a marketing strategy for the family-run business.

Insurance

Allstate Insurance Agency’s Muskego office, owned by Steve Schreck, has welcomed Greg Schreck as sales team leader.

Landscaping & Maintenance

Grounds Maintenance Services, based in Brookfield, has hired Casandra Wolters as sales manager. Wolters previously served in sales representative and management positions at Culligan Water for nine years. Prior to Culligan Water, she filled sales and service roles for restaurants, an insurance agency and auto collision repair centers. In her new position with Grounds Maintenance Services, Wolters will focus on direct selling to residential and commercial customers. She will also contribute to budgeting, planning and hiring of sales representatives.

Legal Services

Quarles & Brady LLP has added James Schleicher as an associate in the Intellectual Property practice group at its Milwaukee office. Schleicher’s practice is focused on patents. He has advised clients on patent applications, patent validity, infringement, freedom-to-operate, invention patentability and the technology landscape.

Manufacturing

Andis Co., based in Sturtevant, has expanded its management team with Bruce Bock, marketing communications manager; Aileen Nunez, international manager of education and style; and Jeffrey Wolf, director of product engineering.

Ludman Industries, headquartered in Milwaukee, recently hired Eric Niemi as a senior mechanical engineer and John Oligato as a senior sales engineer. Niemi will head the engineering and drafting team that focuses on project management and compactor design from conception to launch. Oligato will contribute to the company’s sales initiatives.

Media Production

Video Wisconsin, Inc., based in Brookfield, has added Marty Longrie as production manager and cinematographer. Longrie previously worked for Joy Global. There, he launched a video department and oversaw video production for the company’s surface and underground operations. In his new position, he will help create video projects for clients.

Professional Services

Living As A Leader, based in Brookfield, has added Sam Kapitz to its sales and marketing team. Kapitz will be responsible for business development and sales activities and will work to spread awareness about the organization’s training and coaching services. Living As A Leader also recently hired Janet O’Shea as an administrative professional.

Utility Services

DUECO, Inc., headquartered in Waukesha, has named Karen Hanson accounting supervisor. Prior to joining DUECO, Hanson spent almost 20 years at Tekra Corp. Her most recent position at Tekra required her to oversee payroll and A/P as well as contribute to accounting functions. In her new role at DUECO, she will manage payroll, A/P, and A/R.

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