Meet Your Banker: Jen Doescher

Q: What is your role at the bank?

I began my banking career with Lake Ridge Bank in 2002 as a Customer Service Representative and later as a Personal Banker at the Middleton University Avenue location. Since April 2026, I have been the Retail Manager in our Mount Horeb office, helping our local team deliver exceptional customer service, build strong community relationships, and keep our daily operations running smoothly.

One of the most common ways I interact with people is when you call or come in with a more complicated issue or out-of-the-ordinary question. I believe that being a community banker means getting to know our clients, hearing your stories, and being someone you can turn to for trusted guidance and support throughout your financial journey. I work hard to be approachable and someone you find easy to talk to. I genuinely care about the people who reach out with a question or walk into our lobby looking for guidance. I want you to leave every interaction knowing you can depend on me for whatever you need. I really value the relationships I get to build with clients and their families over time. Helping people find solutions and making a positive difference in our community is what makes being a community banker so rewarding.

Q: Do you have a local “hidden gem” to recommend?

Come visit our community! Mount Horeb has two interesting things we are known for, and they are both totally worth coming to check out for yourself. First, nearby Cave of the Mounds is not just for school field trips; it is just as fun for grownups to visit! It boasts some of the oldest cave formations in the Midwest, along with above-ground activities like nature walks, a gem sluice, and cracking open geodes.

Second, did you know Mount Horeb is the official “Troll Capital of the World?” Legend has it, they sprang from the earth when Cave of the Mounds was discovered back in 1939 and took up residence in our lovely town. As a community steeped in Norwegian culture, the 40+ hand-carved trolls are part of our ongoing tradition. Each has its own style and personality, with so many on Main Street that it became lovingly known as the trollway. People can pick up guide maps for a free, self-guided troll scavenger hunt. We even have a troll who stands guard in our bank lobby! It’s such a fun way to explore our city and enjoy a little silliness for a while.

Q: How did you get into banking as a career?

I always loved math in school and just knew I was naturally a numbers person. So after high school, I studied Business Administration and Finance at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College. That program required an internship, and I had a cousin who worked at a local bank in my hometown who suggested I look into an internship there. I was surprised by how much I liked working as a teller along with shadowing a variety of other jobs within the bank. I don’t think people realize how many different types of jobs you can do at a bank, from pure math and finance jobs to technical positions to communication-related roles. When I graduated, I looked specifically for banking jobs in the Madison area and started in the Middleton location at Lake Ridge Bank (then State Bank of Cross Plains) way back in 2002. I’ve been in banking ever since!

Q: What is something you really enjoy about working at Lake Ridge Bank?

As my first job after school, you could almost say I have grown up at this bank. And one of the things that has always impressed me is the value bank leadership places on family. Despite significant growth through mergers and new locations, our core values have remained the same all this time. Whether it is supporting my bank family – my coworkers are definitely some of my best friends – or my own family at home, there is a pervasive culture that prioritizes people first. If one of our kids has an activity or event, we all feel supported and encouraged to be there with a friendly “you’ve gotta go!” I came back to Lake Ridge Bank this year after pursuing an opportunity elsewhere for two years, and I was excited to come back because I know people are treated well here. It’s the people who make our bank special.