Veronica Bieganek, Park Bank

IB’s Professional of the Month is the premier way to meet Dane County’s professionals. This month features Veronica Bieganek, vice president compliance, Park Bank.

What are the most challenging and rewarding aspects of your job and why?

The challenges include keeping up with ever-changing regulations. It is important to focus on where we need to devote our resources, because compliance is a complicated subject and there are many different components to it. What’s rewarding is that my job allows me to ensure that our clients and the bank are safe from things like fraud or scammers. Helping someone detect a scam and make sure they don’t lose their hard-earned money is very rewarding.

Who do you look up to or admire in business and why?

I follow Jim Richards, a guru in the BSA [Bank Secrecy Act] world, on Linked-In. He always covers fascinating topics and is very interesting to follow.

What has been the high point of your career so far?

The highlight of my career is probably where I am right now. Banking has been so good to my family and me. I moved here from Sweden in 2002 and applied for a teller position at a small community bank. Working in banking can really help develop you and get you to where you want to be.

Thinking back on your career, what advice would you give your 21-year-old self?

I moved to Stockholm when I was 19 and was excited to live in a big city. At 21, I was working at a coffee shop in the downtown financial district of Stockholm and we would put together pastry boxes for bankers on Fridays. Whatever work I did was there to support what I wanted to do, not necessarily the other way around. Thinking about that now, I never would have imagined banking in my future career path. My advice would be to take the opportunity when it comes and to be open minded.

What would you say are the best things about living and working in Dane County?

Dane County is a very vibrant community; we have everything here. Madison, the university, a fantastic economy, lakes, restaurants — we have it all! My husband and I moved here in 2002 and we have been here ever since.

Do you have any secret talents or abilities that people would be surprised to discover?

I love cooking, reading, and traveling. Reading is definitely a passion. I read cookbooks as I would read a regular book. When I go to the library, I often check out 10 mystery books and 10 cookbooks.