Schools

A Real Friend of Education

Menomonee Falls M&I Bank receives one of 11 Business Friend of Education awards given out statewide.

Time, talent, supplies, manpower – M&I Bank has done it for Menomonee Falls schools.

The school district on Thursday presented M&I, part of BMO Financial Group, with a Business Friend of Education Award, one of 11 across the state. Menomonee Falls branch Vice President and market manager Pat Noll and senior financial advisor John Furrer accepted on behalf of the branch.

“It’s an honor to receive it. It’s very humbling,” said Noll.

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M&I has been heavily involved in the high and middle school’s business and information technology departments.

Furrer serves as a speaker for Reality Check, a life simulation program in which students learn to manage finances, and is a member of the high school Business Department’s steering committee for the school’s new Business Academy. The bank is one of the school’s community partners in the academy and is willing to come on site and offer job shadow and training opportunities. Furrer and Noll assisted in developing courses for the academy.

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The two also take active roles in the high school’s Business Advisory Council in reviewing and supporting curriculum, helping connect instruction to skills needed at the bank. The branch holds an annual luncheon for the council.

Personal banker Christine Burdick has done interactive presentations on credit with the middle school’s Financial Life Skills classes.

“This is truly is a team award,” said Noll.

He said the initiative to promote staff involvement with youth comes from the top. Senior executive Dick Becker has encouraged the branch’s 40 employees and the rest of the company to guide the next generation, and M&I’s Menomonee Falls branch continues to do so.

“It’s highly encouraged from our senior management team and that will continue,” Noll said.


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