Investor Relations

Board of Directors

Kathryn Sawyer Gutenkunst
DIRECTOR

Kathryn Sawyer Gutenkunst, age 61, is an attorney and equity partner at Axley Brynelson. Ms. Gutenkunst concentrates her practice on civil litigation, family law, municipal law, and law related to land use and development, real estate and eminent domain. Ms. Gutenkunst’s knowledge of real estate law and local land use regulations provides the board with valuable business acumen and knowledge of the real estate market in our market area.

Jose A. Olivieri
DIRECTOR

José A. Olivieri, age 65, is a Senior Partner of the Milwaukee office of the full-service law firm Michael Best & Friedrich LLP. He is a past Managing Partner of the Milwaukee office. Mr. Olivieri’s practice includes representing management in employment related matters and business immigration law. He is also the leader of the firm’s Higher Education Practice and served as Chair of the Michael Best’s Labor and Employment Relations Practice Group from 2007 to 2015. Outside of his legal practice, Mr. Olivieri has served in a variety of leadership positions for local organizations. Mr. Olivieri received his J.D. from Marquette University Law School in 1981. Mr. Olivieri’s legal experience and his business contacts in our market area provide the board with legal expertise and business acumen as well as business development opportunities.

Michael J. Pjevach
DIRECTOR

Michael J. Pjevach, age 60, is retired and resides in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. Mr. Pjevach spent 34 years in the passenger transportation business, holding the Senior Vice President-West Region position at Coach USA, Inc. when he retired. Mr. Pjevach holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from University of Wisconsin – Madison with a major in accounting. He is a Certified Public Accountant and started his career at Arthur Andersen & Company. Mr. Pjevach has over 37 years of general business administration and corporate and financial experience. This experience provides the board with financial sophistication and general business acumen.
Mr. Pjevach has served on many community boards. Mr. Pjevach previously served on the City of Pewaukee Public Works Committee, Waukesha County Business Alliance board, Potawatomi Area Boy Scout Council golf committee, Waukesha County Chamber of Commerce board, Waukesha, Education Foundation board, Waukesha County Action Network board, Waukesha County Economic Development Corporation board, Healthy Families of Waukesha County board, and United Cerebral Palsy of Southeastern Wisconsin board. Mr. Pjevach is past chairman of the board of directors of the Waukesha County Chamber of Commerce and Waukesha Education Foundation. Mr. Pjevach is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Edward H. Schaefer
PRESIDENT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, AND DIRECTOR

Edward H. Schaefer, age 61, is president and chief executive officer of FFBW, Inc. and First Federal Bank of Wisconsin, positions he has held since July 2016. Prior to these appointments, from 2010 until 2016, Mr. Schaefer served as president and chief executive officer of Citizens Community Federal NA, a national bank headquartered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and its publicly traded holding company, Citizens Community Bancorp, Mr. Schaefer has over 27 years of banking experience, including managerial as well as all aspects of credit administration and underwriting. In addition to his extensive banking experience, during his career Mr. Schaefer served for seven years as president and chief executive officer of Huntsinger Farms, Inc., and its subsidiary Silver Spring Foods, Inc., Eau Claire, Wisconsin, one the world’s largest grower and processors of horseradish and horseradish related products. Mr. Schaefer’s broad business, banking, and managerial experience, including his knowledge of commercial and residential lending, provides the board with a perspective on the day-to-day operations of First Federal Bank of Wisconsin and assists the board in assessing the trends and developments in the financial institutions industry on a local and national basis.

Christine A. Specht
DIRECTOR

Christine A. Specht, age 49, is the Chief Executive Officer of Cousins Subs, a sub sandwich chain headquartered in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, a role she has held since January 2019. Prior to this, from 2015 until 2019, in addition to Chief Executive Officer, she also held the role of President of Cousins Subs. Ms. Specht first began her career at Cousins Subs in 2001 as the Human Resources Manager. In 2008, she became the President and Chief Operating Officer, and in 2015 assumed the role of President and Chief Executive Officer. In her current role as CEO, she remains the visionary for the brand focused on continuing a strong culture throughout Cousins’ system and leading growth and business strategy. Ms. Specht serves in leadership positions for a variety of local organizations. In 2018, Specht was honored as one of the Milwaukee Business Journal’s Women of Influence and recognized in Fast Casual magazine’s “Women in the Lead” series. Ms. Specht’s experience as a business owner brings vision and business growth strategy to the board.

James A. Tarantino
CHAIRMAN

James A. Tarantino, age 65, is the Founder, Sole Member and serves as Chief Operating Officer of Capri Communities LLC, one of the largest senior living operators based in Wisconsin. In addition, Mr. Tarantino serves as Managing Member of a portfolio of senior living centers and, commercial developments in southeastern Wisconsin and Illinois. Mr. Tarantino’s expertise includes real estate development, debt and equity financing, design and construction, real estate and health care management. Mr. Tarantino serves as Chairman of the Board and his extensive experience as a business owner provides the board with an important perspective on managerial oversight and on the development of product offerings. Mr. Tarantino also serves as a member of the Waukesha County Affordable Housing Task Force and the Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) Real Estate Advisory Board.

JoAnne Anton
DIRECTOR

JoAnne Anton, age 52, is Director of Giving for Herb Kohl Philanthropies where she works to advance former U.S. Senator and businessman Herb Kohl’s philanthropic goals, investments, and community involvement, a position she has held since 2014. Prior to her current position, she spent nearly 25 years working various roles for federal, state, and local elected leaders while also assisting her husband in the operations of several local businesses. Ms. Anton serves on the boards of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, Harbor District Inc., UW-Madison LaFollette School of Public Affairs, Wisconsin State Fair Park Foundation and is a past president of the Rotary Club of Milwaukee. She is a member of Professional Dimensions, a women’s leadership, and professional organization. She has been recognized by The Milwaukee Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 award, Woman of Influence distinction, to the Power Broker list and inducted into the 40 Under 40 Hall of Fame. Ms. Anton’s position and philanthropic experience, her knowledge of the region, and her contacts with community leaders provides the board with insight to the many growth efforts being made in our market area.

DeVona Wright Cottrell
DIRECTOR, SECRETARY

DeVona Wright Cottrell, age 48, is Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel of GMR Marketing overseeing the agency’s and broader network Omnicom Experiential Group’s legal, compliance and risk management teams, positions she has held since August 2020. Prior to these appointments, from 2015 until August 2020, Ms. Wright Cottrell served as Director and Associate General Counsel of Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated. She joined Baird in 2007 and has broad exposure to Baird’s businesses and primary legal responsibility for Baird’s Fixed Income Capital Markets business unit and provides legal support to several of the firm’s corporate resource groups, including Risk Management, Compliance and Facilities regarding information security, privacy, regulatory, and commercial real estate related matters. Ms. Wright Cottrell is a diligent volunteer and mentor in the greater Milwaukee-area community and received The Milwaukee Business Journal 2021 Women of Influence Award, TEMPO Milwaukee 2020 Mentor Award, The Milwaukee Business Journal 2019 C-Suite Award for Best Assistant General Counsel, one of The Wisconsin Law Journal’s 2017 Women in the Law Awards, The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 2015 Alumni Gold Award for Graduate of the Last Decade, The Milwaukee Business Journal’s 2014 Forty Under 40 Award, 2007 Wisconsin Law Journal – Leader in the Law Award, and 2006 Milwaukee Times – Black Excellence Award. Ms. Wright Cottrell’s legal experience and her contracts in our market area provide the board with legal and compliance expertise and business acumen as well as business development opportunities.

James P. Lenahan
DIRECTOR

James P. Lenahan, age 65, is a corporate executive with more than 25 years of experience building and running successful companies. He is currently President & CEO of the following businesses: Ludman Industries LLC, a manufacturer and provider of heavy equipment to the mining, food, wastewater, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries, headquartered in Milwaukee, a position he has held since 2011; Northern Engineering and Manufacturing, a provider of machining for customers in the Midwest, headquartered in Milwaukee, a position he has held since 2012; Keystone Riverview LLC, a land development and building construction company, headquartered in Milwaukee, a position he has held since 2015; and partial owner of Keystone Stack Equipment LLC, the largest provider and rebuilder of aftermarket lifts for the construction industry, headquartered in Milwaukee, a position he has held since 2017. He has received the Vatican John Paul II Award from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in 2017, and is a Former Navigator, President, and Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, among many other board positions for various organizations in the Milwaukee area. Mr. Lenahan’s extensive experience as a business owner provides the board with an important perspective on managerial oversight and business development.

Executive Officers

Edward H. Schaefer
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Edward H. Schaefer, age 61, is president and chief executive officer of FFBW, Inc. and First Federal Bank of Wisconsin, positions he has held since July 2016. Prior to these appointments, from 2010 until 2016, Mr. Schaefer served as president and chief executive officer of Citizens Community Federal NA, a national bank headquartered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and its publicly traded holding company, Citizens Community Bancorp, Mr. Schaefer has over 27 years of banking experience, including managerial as well as all aspects of credit administration and underwriting. In addition to his extensive banking experience, during his career Mr. Schaefer served for seven years as president and chief executive officer of Huntsinger Farms, Inc., and its subsidiary Silver Spring Foods, Inc., Eau Claire, Wisconsin, one the world’s largest grower and processors of horseradish and horseradish related products. Mr. Schaefer’s broad business, banking, and managerial experience, including his knowledge of commercial and residential lending, provides the board with a perspective on the day-to-day operations of First Federal Bank of Wisconsin and assists the board in assessing the trends and developments in the financial institutions industry on a local and national basis.

Steven L. Wierschem
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Steven L. Wierschem is Chief Financial Officer of FFBW, Inc. and First Federal Bank of Wisconsin, positions he has held since August 2020. Prior to these appointments, since January 2007, Mr. Wierschem had been employed with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) in positions of increasing responsibility in the audit practice, most recently, since April 2019 having served as a Director in PwC’s Milwaukee, Wisconsin office. From July 2015 until March 2019, Mr. Wierschem served as a Senior Manager at PwC and from August 2014 until June 2015 as a Manager at PwC. Mr. Wierschem holds a B.B.A. and M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and is a certified public accountant, licensed in Wisconsin and Virginia.