Poised for Growth, WaterStone Bank Gains Experience with Board Expansion

WAUWATOSA, Wis., June 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Coming off a positive year of earnings, WaterStone Bank SSB will expand its Board of Directors. The current Board of Directors unanimously voted to approve the appointments of Ellen Bartel and Kristine Rappe to the Board of Directors, effective as of the close of business on June 21, 2013.

When asked about the new appointments, Doug Gordon, President and Chief Executive Officer of WaterStone Bank replied, "Ellen and Kris enhance our Board with their vast and diverse experience. Their addition will aid in the future growth of WaterStone."

Ellen S. Bartel of Wauwatosa has been the President of Divine Savior Holy Angels (DSHA) High School (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) since 1998 where she achieved significant and measurable improvements in DSHA curriculum, facilities, financial infrastructure, image, and reputation. Bartel has balanced DSHA's budget for 15 consecutive years, oversaw endowment growth from under one million to nearly ten million dollars, and developed recruitment strategies leading to an incoming class wait list for fourteen consecutive years. Prior to her employment at DSHA, Bartel held several positions at Alverno College (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) (1986-1997) with the most recent being Vice President of Institutional Advancement (1994-1997).

Kristine A. Rappe of Milwaukee currently serves as special advisor to the Wisconsin Energy Foundation (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) following a 30-year career with Wisconsin Energy Corporation. In her roles at Wisconsin Energy Corporation as Vice President of Customer Services (1994-2001), Vice President and Corporate Secretary (2001-2004) and Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer (2004-2012), Rappe had responsibility for shared services including information technology, human resources, supply chain management, business continuity/corporate security, and the WEC Foundation. Rappé currently serves on the Marquette University Board of Trustees, the boards of Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital and PAVE (Partners Advancing Values in Education), and is chair of the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee. She previously served on the boards of State Financial Services Corporation and Integrity Mutual Insurance Corporation.

WaterStone Bank was established in 1921. Current members of WaterStone's Board of Directors include: Patrick S. Lawton, Michael L. Hansen, Stephen J. Schmidt, Thomas E. Dalum, and Douglas S. Gordon. Branch offices are located in Wauwatosa, Franklin/Hales Corners, Germantown/Menomonee Falls, Oak Creek, Oconomowoc/Lake Country, Pewaukee, Waukesha/Brookfield, and West Allis.

SOURCE WaterStone Bank SSB