Board of Directors

Stephen G. Lear has served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of North Shore MHC and North Shore Trust and Savings since 2012 and as a director since 2003. Mr. Lear served as the Chief Executive Officer of North Shore Trust and Savings from 1998 to 2022. Mr. Lear has served in varying capacities with North Shore Trust and Savings since 1979. Mr. Lear received a degree in Finance/Business Administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his MBA from The Lake Forest Graduate School of Management in Lake Forest, Illinois. He previously served on the Board of Directors and as Chairman of The Illinois League of Financial Institutions.

Emily E. Ansani, age 47, was elected as a director in April 2024.  Ms. Ansani previously served as a Vice President with Bank of America. During her 11 years  at Bank of America she held various positions in Capital Markets Risk Management, the Special Assets Division and the Global Corporate Bank.  She graduated from the University of Dayton in 1998 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Finance.  Ms. Ansani served on the Board of Directors of Siena Catholic Schools of Racine from 2017 through 2023.  While on the Board she was Board treasurer for two years and remains on the Finance Committee. Ms. Ansani’s financial experience and community involvement make her a valuable addition to the Board.

Apolonio Arenas has served as a director since 2006. Mr. Arenas also serves as the President of Dieck, Arenas and Associates PC. A certified public accountant since 1996, Mr. Arenas has held various accounting roles in his 29 years of service with Dieck, Arenas and Associates PC. Mr. Arenas attended Saint Xavier University and received a Bachelor’s in Accountancy in 1992. Mr. Arenas serves on the board of directors of All Are Welcome Social Services, Inc. Mr. Arenas previously served on the school board of the Most Blessed Trinity Academy.

Thaddeus M. Bond, Jr. has served as a director since 2015. Mr. Bond is the founder of the Law Offices of Thaddeus M. Bond, Jr. & Associates, P.C. and Bond Title Services, Inc. A licensed attorney since 1991, Mr. Bond concentrates his practice in the areas of real estate law, civil litigation, real estate-based litigation, estate planning and probate law. Mr. Bond is a lifelong Lake County, Illinois resident. Mr. Bond attended Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois and the John Marshall Law School (now the University of Illinois-Chicago Law School), graduating with honors. Mr. Bond has served on the board of directors at his alma mater, Carmel Catholic High School, including two years as board chair. Mr. Bond also serves on the board of directors of the Special Recreation Association of Central Lake County Foundation, a fundraising arm for an organization which provides recreational activities for special needs children and adults.

Thomas M. Ivantic has served as a director since 1998. Mr. Ivantic is currently retired. Mr. Ivantic previously served for over 29 years as a commercial airline pilot for United Airlines. Mr. Ivantic is a 1973 graduate of St. Mary’s University, Winona, Minnesota, in both Economics and Business Administration. Mr. Ivantic volunteers in many local groups, including Boy Scouts of America, PADS, and Appalachia Service Project.

Thomas J. Kneesel has served as a director since March 2020. Mr. Kneesel is the current President/Owner of Kneesel and Associates, a residential appraisal firm. Mr. Kneesel previously served as the Vice-President Residential Appraisal Compliance Officer of Associated Bank, N.A., Green Bay, WI from 2011-2020. Mr. Kneesel is currently the Chairman of the Wisconsin Real Estate Appraisal Advisory Board and of the Wisconsin Real Estate Appraiser Board. Mr. Kneesel holds a degree in business from St. Mary’s University, Winona, Minnesota in 1977.

Rodney J. True has served as director since March 2003. Mr. True is currently retired. Mr. True previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Spend Radar, a software development company located in Chicago, Illinois, for seven years from 2008 to 2015, and prior to that, as Chief Executive Officer of TrueSource, a spend analysis software company. Mr. True also held various management positions with Ernst & Young, Abbott Laboratories, and Republic Steel. Mr. True received a Master’s Degree in Business Administration with the valedictorian distinction from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management in 1983, and received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Economics from Ripon College, Ripon, Wisconsin, in 1974.