Janet Estep, Jill Schurtz, and Mary Zimmer Join Board of Directors for Alerus Financial Corporation

By: Alerus Financial Corporation via Business Wire

October 21, 2021 at 16:00 PM EDT

Alerus Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: ALRS) (the “Company”) is honored to announce the addition of Janet O. Estep, Jill E. Schurtz, and Mary E. Zimmer to its board of directors. Ms. Estep is an experienced executive with extensive knowledge of digital technology, electronic payments, strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, product development, and sales, marketing, and risk management. Ms. Schurtz is the current CEO and Chief Investment Officer of the St. Paul Teachers’ Retirement Fund Association and brings expertise in investment and portfolio management, retirement administration, investment banking, mergers and acquisitions, and sales and marketing management. Ms. Zimmer is a highly accomplished financial industry executive with extensive knowledge of wealth management, capital markets, strategic planning, client segmentation, and product development.

“We are fortunate to have three distinguished professionals join our board,” said Alerus Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer Randy Newman. “Janet, Jill, and Mary bring diverse backgrounds and a breadth of experience that will benefit our company’s long-term growth strategy.”

Ms. Estep retired in 2019 as CEO of Nacha, the governing body for the US ACH payment network. Before joining Nacha, she served as Executive Vice President of U.S. Bank’s Transaction Services Division. Prior roles included leading the sales and marketing teams of Pace Analytical, as well as its major environmental lab location. Before these roles, Ms. Estep developed extensive technology knowledge through many field and headquarters positions with IBM, managing sales teams, and product development for both hardware and software. She received a B.A. in Economics and Psychology from St. Olaf College and currently serves on the board of ACI Worldwide, a global payments software provider, serving on its Nominating and Governance and its Audit/Risk Committees.

Ms. Schurtz is the current CEO and Chief Investment Officer of the St. Paul Teachers’ Retirement Fund Association (SPTRFA), where she is responsible for the $1.3B investment fund and the administration of $120M of annual pension benefits. She is a graduate of the United States Military Academy, West Point, and served seven years in the US Army, where she attained the rank of Captain. Following her military service, she received her JD from Columbia Law School. Prior to joining SPTRFA, Ms. Schurtz held CEO and COO roles at Robeco-Sage Investment Management, served as a director in Knight Equity Markets’ technical research group, was an attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates, and served as a vice president in investment banking at US Bancorp Piper Jaffray. She currently serves on the M.A. Mortenson Company Board of Directors, where she also chairs the investment committee. Ms. Schurtz also serves as a member of the West Point Association of Graduates Investment Committee.

Ms. Zimmer brings more than 35 years of experience in financial services, most recently serving as Regional President for Wells Fargo Advisors (WFA) wealth management business. In her role as Regional President, she led the Northern Region covering ten states across the Midwest and Northwest. Ms. Zimmer later launched and led WFA’s Diverse Client Segments team. Prior to Wells Fargo, she held leadership roles at Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) U.S. Wealth Management, including Head of International Wealth USA, Head of Wealth Management Services, and Chief Operating Officer/Chief Administrative Officer. Before beginning her wealth management career, Ms. Zimmer worked in public accounting as a licensed CPA at Arthur Young (now Ernst & Young). Ms. Zimmer received her B.A. in Business and Accounting at the University of Saint Thomas and her M.B.T. in Business Taxation at the University of Minnesota – Carlson School of Management.

About Alerus Financial Corporation

Alerus Financial Corporation is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Grand Forks, N.D. Through its subsidiary, Alerus Financial, N. A., Alerus provides innovative and comprehensive financial solutions to business and consumer clients through four distinct business segments—banking, retirement and benefit services, wealth management, and mortgage. Clients are provided with a primary point of contact to help fully understand the unique needs and delivery channel preferences designed to meet the clients’ needs. Alerus Financial banking and wealth management offices are located in Grand Forks and Fargo, ND, the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN. metropolitan area, and Scottsdale and Mesa, Ariz. Alerus Retirement and Benefits plan administration offices are located in St. Paul, MN, East Lansing, MI, and Littleton, CO.

Forward-Looking Statements

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