Mayor Julia Arata-Fratta will honor and recognize long-time community member, Ed Kinney, Fitchburg business/organization: Oak Bank, and the Fitchburg Historical Society at the Common Council meeting on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, with a 2023 Mayoral Award.
Mayor Arata-Fratta is recognizing these recipients for their community leadership, inspiring service to the community, setting an example for others, and their commitment to and significant impact on Fitchburg.
Fitchburg resident Ed Kinney is selected for his service and commitment to the City of Fitchburg. His dedication and guidance towards the strategic growth of the city have been and continue to be invaluable.
Ed Kinney is a Senior Vice President in commercial lending at Settlers Best Credit Union where he works with small business owners and real estate developers and investors. He served 30 years on the Fitchburg Plan Commission as Vice Chair, and about 20 years on the Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee serving as Chair. Ed has also served on the Fitchburg Affordable Housing Task Force, the Fitchburg/Town of Madison Extra-territorial Zoning Committee, and represented Fitchburg at Capitol Area Sustainable Communities. He currently serves on the Steering Committees for the Greenfield Neighborhood and the Uptown Fitchburg Capstone project. Ed is a member of the Madison Elks Lodge and serves on the housing board for his college fraternity. Ed holds his BBA from the University of Wisconsin – Madison is a graduate of Edgewood High School and is a life-long resident of Fitchburg.
Mayor Arata-Fratta is recognizing Oak Bank as a business leader in our community because Oak Bank does much more than banking, it invests in the quality of life in the Fitchburg community by supporting causes like the Inclusive Playground and Concerts at McKee, among others.
Founded in 2000, Oak Bank is celebrating 23 years of deep roots in the Fitchburg community. Oak Bank opened for business, originally in a small office on Tiverton Pike Drive, and moved into its current location in December 2000. Remaining independent and in Fitchburg has been a primary objective and they plan to keep it that way.
Bob Gorsuch was the primary organizer of the bank and has served as Chairman and CEO since the beginning. He fulfilled his dream of opening a bank that provided the personal touch every client deserved.
Under Gorsuch’s leadership, Oak Bank has grown from just an idea in 2000 into a $500 million community bank employing 45 individuals. Oak Bank supports the growth of local businesses, helps area residents achieve their homeownership dreams, and has been instrumental in the development and prosperity of the City of Fitchburg and its surrounding communities. They strive to give back by supporting over 125 local non-profits each year with time, talent, and donations.
The bank believes the economy of Fitchburg and Dane County will continue to be the most dynamic in Wisconsin. You can see that commitment to the community reflected in the non-profits they support and the relationships they maintain with their clients. They are always willing to lend a hand, even when it goes beyond the duty of a banker. Because at the end of the day, they are not just bankers, they are our neighbors.
In a new category of non-profit, Mayor Arata-Fratta is recognizing the Fitchburg Historical Society for its continuous contribution to the City of Fitchburg of preserving and sharing history so the next generations can learn our heritage.
The Fitchburg Historical Society (FHS) was established on February 15, 1987, with the motto History is Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. To this end, the FHS has gathered and continues to gather the stories of people, events, businesses, and places that have influenced the community. This information is easily available to the community through newsletters, two free programs each year on specific topics of interest, recorded interviews, and especially a constantly expanding FHS website (https://fitchburghistory.org). There are displays in the Fitchburg Room on the second floor of the Fitchburg Library.
The Mayoral Awards began in 2019 as an effort to recognize residents, businesses, and staff that make Fitchburg a great place to live, work, and recreate. The Mayoral Awards are an opportunity to celebrate some of the many great people in Fitchburg. They are an opportunity to bring the community together every year.
The awards will be presented at 7:30 p.m. in the Frances Huntley-Cooper Council Chambers at City Hall, 5520 Lacy Road. The public is invited to attend.