John A. Bykowski

President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board
SECURA Insurance
Appleton, Wisconsin

Before joining SECURA in 1997 as President and CEO, Mr. Bykowski served as the Senior Vice President of Marketing for West Bend Mutual Insurance. A Marquette University graduate, Mr. Bykowski also spent part of his 36-year property and casualty insurance career with Wisconsin Employers, Allstate, and Milwaukee Insurance. He is active in industry and community affairs and serves on the Board of Directors for the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, the Community Foundation, NAMIC, and M&I Bank Fox Cities.

Robert D. Bauman

Corporate Secretary
SECURA Insurance
Appleton, Wisconsin

Mr. Bauman joined SECURA in 1982 as Corporate Counsel after spending more than 13 years in the private practice of law. He still serves as SECURA's Corporate Secretary, although he retired as Senior Vice President and General Counsel at the end of 2005. Mr. Bauman has been a SECURA Board member since 1991. He earned an undergraduate degree from the U.S. Military Academy in New York and his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin. He is a member of the Association of Corporate Counsel, the State Bar of Wisconsin, and the Downtown Appleton Rotary Club. Mr. Bauman also serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Fox Cities chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

Mary Lou Casey

Retired Investment Professional
Essex, Connecticut

Ms. Casey joined SECURA’s Board in 2009. She retired in 2007 from a 30-year career in finance and investments, most recently as senior managing director for CIGNA Investment Management. She holds a B.A. degree from Wellesley College in Wellesley, Mass., and an M.B.A. from Columbia University in New York, N.Y.

Ms. Casey served on the board of the Connecticut Institute for the Blind/Oak Hill in Hartford, Conn., for many years and as president of the Oak Hill Foundation. In addition, she is co-chairman of the Business Leadership Council of Wellesley College in Massachusetts and serves on the Investment Committee for Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts in Old Lyme, Conn.

James R. Hayes

Retired President and CEO
Hayes Manufacturing Group, Inc.
Neenah, Wisconsin

Mr. Hayes, a SECURA Board member since 1993, earned a Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut and an M.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Prior to joining Hayes Manufacturing, he served as an assistant professor at Central Michigan University. Mr. Hayes is an adjunct faculty member in the Business School at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and serves as a consultant to family businesses. He also serves as an adjunct faculty member in the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.

Wayne R. Micksch

Retired President
Quality Insulators, Inc. and Asbestos Removal, Inc.
Green Bay, Wisconsin

Mr. Micksch became a SECURA Board member in 2001. Earlier in his career, he held various positions of increasing responsibility with EMPHESYS Financial Group/Employers Health Insurance Company, including Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Before that, Mr. Micksch was employed by the Wisconsin Insurance Department and Northwestern National Life Insurance Company. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Mr. Micksch chairs the Community Development Council of Unity Hospice.

Anne E. Ross

Partner
Foley and Lardner LLP, Attorneys-at-Law
Madison, Wisconsin

Ms. Ross, a SECURA Board member since 1993 and a University of Wisconsin-Madison undergraduate, earned her J.D. at Stanford Law School. Ms. Ross is a managing partner of the Madison office of Foley & Lardner law firm, where she has practiced business law since 1981.

Ms. Ross serves on the Board of Directors of Accelerate Madison, Aldo Leopold Nature Center, Wisconsin Lawyer’s Mutual Insurance Company, and, in an ex officio capacity, the Wisconsin Venture and Growth Capital Association. She also chairs the Henry Vilas Zoo Commission.

Jerome J. Smith

Chairman
First Business Financial Services, Inc.
Madison, Wisconsin

Mr. Smith, a SECURA Board member since 1991, has a graduate degree in banking from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to becoming CEO of First Business Financial Services, Inc., in 1990, Mr. Smith was president of Jerry Smith & Associates, Inc. and the Metropolitan National Bank. He also was the executive vice president of Affiliated Bank of Jamestown. Mr. Smith serves on the boards of directors for Aldo Leopold Foundation, CTI Paper, and First Business Financial Services, Inc. He earned his certification as Director through the National Association of Corporate Directors.

David J. Thomas

Retired President
Thomas/Pfeifer Insurance Agency
Sister Bay, Wisconsin

Mr. Thomas, a SECURA Board member since 1989, is an Augustana College graduate. He is a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter and a Certified Financial Planner. Mr. Thomas began his insurance career in 1976 and launched his own insurance agency in Sister Bay, Wisconsin.

Catherine J. Tierney

President and CEO
Community First Credit Union
Appleton, Wisconsin

Ms. Tierney has spent her career growing Community First Credit Union. She started with the company in 1976, just one year after its inception. During her tenure, she has held multiple executive officer positions and was named President/CEO in 1994. She is a Certified Credit Union Executive and a graduate of the Credit Union Executive Development Program from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.

Ms. Tierney serves on the boards of Fox Valley Technical College, the FVTC Foundation, The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, YMCA of the Fox Cities, Goodwill Industries, and Affinity Health System. She is Chair-Elect of the National Association of State Chartered Credit Unions.