Banker With A Beer: A Podcast Series by Northwestern Bank

In this episode of Banker with a Beer, Mike is joined by Brady Cronk, Realtor and property manager for Riverbend Rentals and Property Management. Topics discussed include: When to contact your landlord The benefits to hiring a management company What should you do if a car slams through your living room The importance of communication between tenants and landlords How to ensure you get the securit...

In this episode of Banker with a Beer, Jerry talks with Mike Howard, owner of Mike Howard Photography. Topics discussed include: Manufacturing to Engineering to Photography Craft & Style Technology & Process Local and Community Connection Lighting Round Beer Enjoyed: Leinenkugel's New Belgium 1554 Black Ale    Thank you for listening to this episode! Help support the show by leaving Banker with a...

In this episode of Banker with a Beer, Ellie Peabody – Tourism Director for the Chippewa Area Chamber of Commerce joins Mike to talk all things Chippewa County Tourism! Topics discussed include: The influences of growing up in a tourist town Tourism's impact of Chippewa Falls and Wisconsin Marketing to tourists and residents alike Chippewa Falls is truly 1 of 1 The strategy behind tourism Beverage...

In this episode of Banker with a Beer, Jerry talks with Phil Swiler, Executive Director of Chippewa Valley Habitat for Humanity. Topics discussed include: Affordable Housing – What's "affordable" and What's "Housing" What Habitat Actually Does Local Impact The ReStore Store Lighting Round Beer Enjoyed: Heineken – The Netherlands   Thank you for listening to this episode! Help support the show by l...

In this episode of Banker with a Beer, Mike talks with Joe Ryder, Director of Business Development for Rands Trucking Topics discussed include: Importance of a personal touch in business Introducing the next generation to logistics What a "Family Feel" is really like in the office Learning lessons from your kids Beverage Enjoyed: Loon Juice Honeycrisp Cider    Thank you for listening to this episo...

In this episode of Banker with a Beer, Jerry and Scott talk with the mother and son team of Stephanie and Hunter Sorensen of Pawsitive Mold Detection. Topics discussed include: Dogs Can Find Mold The 'why' behind the business How the Mold Detection Process Works The Mother / Son Business Dynamic Lighting Round Beer Enjoyed: Westmalle Triple    Thank you for listening to this episode! Help support...

In this episode of Banker with a Beer, Jerry talks with Brad Atkinson, President and Lori Geissler, VP Sourcing & Distribution of Mason Companies. Topics discussed include: Story of Mason Companies Transitioning from door-to-door sales, to catalogues, to e-commerce Using credit accessibility to enhance the retail experience Building for the future Lighting Round Beer Enjoyed: Leinenkugel's Northwo...

In this episode of Banker with a Beer, Mike talks with Mark Sieglaff, President of C&N Manufacturing & Everything Summer camp. Topics discussed include: Summer Camp Culture Technology vs Summer Camps Always innovating in business How deep relationships with customers can run Beverage Enjoyed: Leinenkugel's Orange Shandy    Thank you for listening to this episode! Help support the show by leaving B...

In this episode of Banker with a Beer, Mike talks with Kyle Standen, Architect for Wendel Companies and Chippewa Valley Younge Professionals Board Member. Topics discussed include: What it takes to become an Architect Benefits of Community YP's efforts to develop soft skills for its membership Growing your network in Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls Beverage Enjoyed: Earth Rider Brewery, Caribou Lake...

In this episode of Banker with a Beer, Jerry and Scott talk with Josh Boxx, former owner of Boxx Sanitation Topics discussed include: Story of Boxx Sale Lightning Round Beer Enjoyed: Veneration, Delirium Tremens, Belgium    Thank you for listening to this episode! Help support the show by leaving Banker with a Beer a 5-star rating or review on Apple or Spotify.  Banker with a Beer is brought to yo...

In this episode of Banker with a Beer, Jerry talks with Brad Hentschel, City Planner and Economic Director for the City of Chippewa Falls Topics discussed include: City Projects Planned or Underway in 2026 Housing Options in the City Family Fare Closing Leinenkugal's Brewery Closing Market on River Update Beer Enjoyed: Veneration, 3 Sheeps Brewery Sheboygan    Thank you for listening to this episo...

In this episode of Banker with a Beer, Mike talks with Ana and Bob Fish, Owners of Dave's Drive In of Chippewa Falls Topics discussed include: Root Beer Development Persevering to find success What is a Po Boy? Merging 100 years of history with Today Beverage Enjoyed: Pick 6 pack of IPAs, Pilsners, and Shandy    Thank you for listening to this episode! Help support the show by leaving Banker with...

n this episode of Banker with a Beer, Jerry talks with Julie Thoney, Manager of Community Relations and Economic Development for Xcel Energy. Topics discussed include: Data Centers Residential Renewable Energy Transmission Lines Xcel's effort to expand renewable energy options The return of nuclear power Beer Enjoyed: Spotted Cow    Thank you for listening to this episode! Help support the show by...

In this episode of Banker with a Beer, Jerry and Scott talk with Eau Claire Community Development Director Aaron White. Topics discussed include: Key 2026 Projects and Infrastructure Eau Claire Financial Challenges Growth of City vs Lack of Resources Planning for Future Urban Growth  Beverage Enjoyed: Bourbon Barrel Stout, Central Waters Brewing Amherst WI    Thank you for listening to this episod...

This week on Banker with a Beer, new Co-Host Mike Farrow talks with Taylor Anders, Co-Owner of Anders Supply and Landscaping. Topics discussed include: Plants & Trees that you shouldn't use in Wisconsin Stress as a business owner Life in a family business Backyard mini golf? Beverage Enjoyed: Body Armour LYTE – Peach Mango Thank you for listening to this episode! Help support the show by leaving B...

In this episode of Banker with a Beer, Jerry talks with musical, humorist, and bestselling author Michael Perry. Topics discussed include: New Book "Improbable Mentors and Happy Tangents". What is humor? Learning the rhythm of music, speech, and the written word Lighting Round Beverage Enjoyed: Go Brewing, NA Pilsner    Thank you for listening to this episode! Help support the show by leaving Bank...

In this episode of Banker with a Beer, Jerry talks with Peter Farrow, Executive Chairman of Medwand Solutions, LLC and former CEO of Group Health Cooperative in Eau Claire. Topics discussed include: Enhancing the Telemedicine Experience The Capabilities of Medwand Technology Access Where Care is Hard to Reach Clinical Trust, Regulation, and Privacy Lighting Round Beverage Enjoyed: Leffe, Belgium B...

In this episode of Banker with a Beer, Jerry talks with Dr. Tim Nelson of CEO of Heartworks and Dr. Michael Carney, Interim Chancellor of UW Eau Claire about their Heartworks collaboration.   Topics discussed include: What does it mean to 'Build Hearts'? Why Heartworks is based in Eau Claire How Heartworks and UWEC are collaborating What does this collaboration mean to the university and community...

In this episode of Banker with a Beer, Jerry talks with Kenzi Havlicek, Director of Visit Eau Claire  Topics discussed include: Kenzi's Story What Visit Eau Claire Does 2026 Events in the Chippewa Valley Lighting Round Beverage Enjoyed: Chimay 175 Blond Ale, Belgium    Thank you for listening to this episode! Help support the show by leaving Banker with a Beer a 5-star rating or review on Apple or...

In this episode of Banker with a Beer, Jerry talks with Amanda Schemenauer of Nordson EDI and Katie Rurup of Cadrex about the upcoming Chippewa Falls Manufacturing Showcase Topics discussed include: What is the Chippewa Falls Manufacturing Showcase? Career Paths and Opportunities Modern Manufacturing and Technology Company Culture   Lighting Round Beverage Enjoyed: Paulaner Salvator Double Bock   ...

In this episode of Banker with a Beer, Jerry talks with Kate Lyons, Marketing and Events Lead for Scheels in Eau Claire Topics discussed include: History of Scheels What makes Scheels Different Creating Strong Customer Loyalty Upper Midwest Roots & Local Understanding Lighting Round Beverage Enjoyed: Boulevard Brewing, Tank 6 Belgium Quad    Thank you for listening to this episode! Help support th...

In this episode of Banker with a Beer, Jerry talks with John Jacobson, Director of Public Affairs with Rider Ware Law Topics discussed include: What is a Lobbyist? How Influence Actually Happens Lobbyist vs Citizen Influence Policy Area with Real World Impact Lighting Round Beverage(s) Enjoyed: The Athletic Wit's Peak & Saranac Adirondack Lager    Thank you for listening to this episode! Help supp...

In this episode of Banker with a Beer, Jerry talks with Scott Zielski, President and CEO of Aaniie, Inc. Topics discussed include:  •    An overview of Aaniie •    Growing a Business in Eau Claire  •    The Aaniie platform •    Best Strategies for Caregiver Retention  •    Lighting Round Beverage Enjoyed: Point Root Beer    Thank you for listening to this episode! Help support the show by leaving...

In this episode of Banker with a Beer, Jerry talks with incoming Northwestern Bank CEO, Tracey Smiskey and incoming President, Jamie Leibrandt Topics discussed include: Their Journey at the Bank Leadership and Vision of NB Community Commitment Future Outlook Lighting Round Beverage Enjoyed: Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream    Thank you for listening to this episode! Help support the show by leaving Ban...

In this episode of Banker with a Beer, Jerry talks with Dr. Thomas Kemp, Department Chair UW Eau Claire Department of Economics Topics discussed include: An Update on the World Economy The US Outlook Local & Regional:  Chippewa Valley / Western Wisconsin Capitalism vs the Rising Tide of Socialism Lighting Round Beverage Enjoyed: Hacker Pschorr Weissbier    Thank you for listening to this episode!...