Michael Harris, Jr., AFSB

External Board Director

With over twenty years of experience, Michael is a seasoned financial consultant and advisor within the AEC industry. He serves as an external board director at Benesch, where he also sits on the company’s Audit and CEO Evaluation Committees.

Michael currently serves as president of Beverly Bank & Trust Company, overseeing the bank’s business banking, community bank, CRA compliance and consumer lending departments. Michael is a dedicated credit approval and referral source for the bank’s middle market C&I lending division and the construction, architecture and engineering practice. He has overseen the creation of the Disadvantaged Contractor Loan Program Partnership framework, as well as assisted in the recent opening of the newest Wintrust Community Bank, South Side Community Bank. Michael also serves as a director for Beverly Bank & Trust’s Board. Previously, he was a senior vice president within the Construction Engineering and Architecture (CE&A) Division at Wintrust Financial Corporation.

Michael is also highly involved in various community and professional organizations. He works as a mentor for the Chicago State Rise Academy, serving Chicago State students and overseeing Rise Academy Scholars’ entry into the Wintrust Credit Academy. He also serves on the Youth Guidance Board’s finance and annual gala fundraising committees and is a Youth Guidance Becoming A Man Advisory Council member.  As a Wintrust Credit Academy Director, he helps to oversee and manage Wintrust’s Credit Training Program. Michael is also a mentor for Wintrust’s Paired 2 Win program, a bank-wide mentoring initiative to assist in developing, retaining and promoting professionals across Wintrust Financial.