Meet the Board
Meet Fred F. Schwertfeger
Chief Executive Officer
In 1982, Fred F. Schwertfeger became the Chief Executive Officer of Horicon Bank and Sword Financial Corporation, the holding company of the bank which was started by Mr. Frederick R. Schwertfeger in 1977. Fred graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with an Economics major. He received a Master of Business Administration degree with a Finance major from Northwestern University in 1967. Fred served as a Lieutenant in the US Army Security Agency from 1968-1970 and joined Horicon Bank’s Board of Directors in 1978.
Meet Fred C. Schwertfeger
President
As President, Fred oversees all areas of the bank and leads strategic planning. Fred says he enjoys supporting his colleagues in his role. He likes meeting different people and collaborating to find new opportunities for the Bank to serve more customers. He has served on Horicon Bank’s Board of Directors since 2020. Fred is a third generation owner of Horicon Bank. In 2014, he graduated from the UW-Madison’s Graduate School of Banking program. He has degrees in Art History and Visual Culture from the Universities of Oxford, Glasgow and St. Andrews in the United Kingdom.
Some Fun Info About Fred
Experience
Fred has more than 15 years of banking experience. He has been with Horicon Bank since 2006.
Expertise
Marketing | Branding | Workplace Culture | Digital Banking
Extracurriculars
Fred serves as a Board Member for the Museum of Wisconsin Art in West Bend, WI and for Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass in Neenah, WI. When he’s not collaborating over bank strategy, Fred enjoys coaching his daughter’s soccer team and cheering on all the home teams (Packers, Brewers and Bucks)!
Meet James G. Blise
CEO, Design 2 Construct Development Corporation
Jim Blise is the owner of Design 2 Construct Development Corporation, a design and construction company, headquartered in Jackson, Wisconsin which has been in operation since 1991. Jim is a graduate of UW-Milwaukee Bachelors of Science Architectural Studies and also attended UW-Milwaukee Grad School for Architectural Studies. He is a Professional Registered Architect. Jim joined Horicon Bank’s Board of Directors in 2008.
Meet Nate Cunniff
Former SVP and Head of Business Banking
Nate Cunniff is a former Senior Vice President and Head of Business Banking for BMO Harris Bank. In that role, Cunniff led a team of over 150 bankers who helped businesses in various industries with their financial needs. Cunniff says he enjoys helping local businesses make their vision a reality. “As a business owner, you need cash flow management solutions to help your operations run more efficiently, lending solutions to help fund your growth and expert guidance to help take your business to the next level,” said Cunniff. “I look forward to being a part of the Horicon Bank team that is providing that support to local businesses.” Cunniff brings more than thirty years of business banking experience to Horicon Bank’s Board of Directors. He has also served as Director for the Zoological Society of Milwaukee and the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce.
Meet Paul A. Foy
Past President of Cornerstone Community Bank
Paul joined Cornerstone Community Bank in 1996 as a commercial lender. He became president at the beginning of 2000 where he continued until the sale to Horicon Bank in January of 2023. During his tenure, the bank grew from $30 Million to $250 Million in assets, along with a $100 Million mortgage portfolio from loans originated at the bank. Cornerstone often ranked high among its peers under his leadership and earned the distinction of being the 39th best community bank in the country out of 4,287 by S&P Global in its 2020 rankings. Paul earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Villanova University, a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of San Diego, and a Graduate degree from the Graduate School of Banking in Madison. Paul joined the Horicon Bank board in January of 2023.
Meet Dr. George Koonce
SVP University Relations, Marian University
After earning his doctorate from Marquette University, Dr. Koonce was instrumental in creating Marian University’s first Interdisciplinary Studies degree for disadvantaged students. He also serves as a Board Member for several prominent organizations including the Green Bay Packers, The Nature Conservancy and Ascension Healthcare. Dr. Koonce says his experience in professional sports, higher education and community service enables him to uniquely contribute to Horicon Bank’s leadership team. “Throughout my professional journey, I have consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to community engagement, philanthropic efforts, and personal growth,” said Dr. Koonce. “This appointment to the Board of Directors reflects Horicon Bank's unwavering dedication to fostering excellence, embracing diversity, and enhancing the customer experience. I embrace the opportunity to contribute to strategic decision-making and guidance to support the bank's continued growth and success.” Dr. Koonce joined Horicon Bank's Board of Directors in 2023.
Meet Dave Werner
Former Wisconsin Market President
Dave Werner was born in Milwaukee and raised in Wauwatosa and is a past President of Park Bank until the bank merged with First Midwest Bank in 2020 when he then served as its Wisconsin Market President. Werner says he looks forward to supporting the progress of Horicon Bank in the Milwaukee community. “Horicon Bank has a long and successful history of serving the needs of their customers and communities in which they operate,” said Werner. “As a firm believer in the importance of community banking, it is an honor for me to join the Board of Directors to assist them as they continue to deliver on their relationship promise and as they grow in the metro Milwaukee market.” Werner brings more than forty years of business banking experience to Horicon Bank’s Board of Directors. He has also served on the boards of the Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce, and Children’s Wisconsin Board. In the Milwaukee community, Werner was a member of the Greater Milwaukee Committee and Co-Chaired their ScaleUp Milwaukee Initiative.