Ms. Sieminski’s life story is not only a tribute to her individual determination and
perseverance in pursuit of the American Dream. It is also further testimony to the
boundless opportunities America’s free and democratic society has always provided
to successive generations of immigrants arriving at her shores.
She started out as an elementary school teacher, first in Poland, then in Canada.
Teachers often reinforce their commitment to the teaching profession by reminding
themselves it is entirely possible one of their very own pupils could some day
become president.
The knowledge they could later claim they were the teachers who taught this
president when he or she was one of their students could certainly motivate such
teachers never to forget how important a dedicated teacher is to a child.
But Danuta’s story is somewhat different. It’s the teacher who became president,
not the pupil.
After immigrating to the United States, the former teacher began a career in
banking with the Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union in 1985.
The young lady from Poland started there at the bottom. But her determination
and foresight directed her to use all her spare time to enhance her banking
skills with an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey and
graduation from the Banking Institute of N.Y.
The history and science teacher from Poland eventually became CEO of the
Credit Union in 2003 and then moved on to become President/CEO of the
Atlas Savings & Loan Association in 2007.
Now renamed “Atlas Bank,” the institution is fortunate to have Danuta
Sieminski at its helm these past five years. The Bank continues to serve
Brooklyn’s Polish American community just as it did when it was founded
by Polish immigrants in 1900.
“Her professional experience, her gracious personality and her fluency in
languages attract the general public as well as Polish American clients,”
observed Frank Milewski, president of the Downstate N.Y. Polish American
Congress.
“How sweet it is” is what Ralph Kramden, the Brooklyn bus driver Jackie
Gleason portrayed, always said.
And how sweet it must also be for Danuta Sieminski. Most of us would
say she is close, if not already there, to achieving the “American Dream”
with a meaningful and successful career in her professional field.
Even more rewarding for Danuta must be the knowledge her special position
at the Atlas Bank allows her to serve the Polish American community fulltime.
The Polish American Congress 2012 Awards Banquet will be held Sunday,
October 14th, at the Polonaise Terrace in Greenpoint starting at 4:00 p.m.