LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT WINNER
Terry Sutter
Retiree, First Federal Savings Bank
Terry Sutter embraces his community. He has 45 years of experience in the banking industry and even though he’s retired from his professional career, his dedication to the nonprofit community in Waukesha and surrounding communities continues to thrive.
His commitments vary. Sutter is currently the president of the board of the Waukesha Civic Theatre, board treasurer for Interfaith Senior Programs, and serves on committees of the Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington Workforce Development Board, United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, and The Women’s Center. He also is a trained docent, and leads groups of children and adults throughout the Milwaukee Art Museum on evenings and weekends.
Sutter volunteers as an usher at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s Stiemke Studio and Stackner Cabaret. He earned his bartender’s license in 2009 to volunteer as a bartender at Waukesha Civic Theatre events.
In the past, he has served on boards for the Waukesha Education Foundation, The Women’s Center, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Visiting Nurse Association, and the Waukesha Chamber of Commerce. He also serves as an usher for St. Mary Parish in Waukesha and the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Milwaukee.
In May, Waukesha-based Interfaith Senior Programs, an organization serving seniors and adults with disabilities, honored Sutter with the Edmond J. Vaklyes, Jr. Memorial Award for his commitment and support to helping seniors, adults with disabilities and their families throughout Waukesha County. Sutter has been a longtime volunteer with Interfaith.
Sutter defines community as not only where he lives, but also who he interacts with. Through his commitments, he rolls up his sleeves and gets to work doing everything from reviewing finance reports to sweeping floors to selling raffle tickets.
According to Kathy Gale, executive director of Interfaith Senior Programs, Sutter is not afraid to speak his mind and is often described as the devil’s advocate—the voice needed to challenge boards to be realistic in their planning, to raise more money, and to do more to support the nonprofits they are governing.
His tenacity and honesty is motivated by his commitment to the missions of the nonprofit organizations he works with and by his compassion for those who need help in the community, she said.
Sutter is vocal about the responsibility of professionals to give back, particularly in retirement.
