Foresight Names William LaFever to Board
WINNEBAGO, Ill., — William LaFever has joined the Foresight Financial Group Board of Directors. LaFever is the CEO of the Bill Doran Company, a floral distribution concern with 25 offices nationwide and over 800 employees. He has been with the company since 1996 and has grown annual sales from $20 million to over $175 million…
Iowa Bankers Association Honors Tom Pohlman
Longtime community banking leader honored for his service to the banking industry JOHNSTON, Iowa, — The IBA has presented banking leader Tom Pohlman with the 2024 James A. Leach Leadership Award. Pohlman had a successful 46-year banking career, including leadership roles at First National Bank of Ames and Ames National Corporation. He joined First National…
ICBA Names Rene Shonerd EVP, CIO
WASHINGTON, — The ICBA has named René Shonerd executive vice president and chief information officer (CIO). In this role, Shonerd will oversee ICBA’s enterprise-wide technology strategy, ensuring the scalability, security, and efficiency of the association’s IT operations. “René’s extensive experience in association technology and expertise will be a tremendous asset in ensuring ICBA has the…
Pathfinder EVP Ronald Tascarella to Retire, Serbun Named SVP
Joseph Serbun to Assume SVP and Chief Credit Officer Role OSWEGO, N.Y., — Pathfinder Bancorp Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer Ronald Tascarella will retire effective November 30, 2024. Joseph Serbun has been appointed as Senior Vice President, Chief Credit Officer. “On behalf of everyone at Pathfinder Bank, I want to thank Ron for…
Oxford Names Michael Tierney to Board
OXFORD, Mich., — Oxford Bank Corporation, the holding company for Oxford Bank, has named Michael J. Tierney to the Oxford Bank Board of Directors. Early in his career, Tierney held senior roles at Comerica Bank, Chase Bank’s Business Banking unit. He then moved to Peoples State Bank (Michigan) as President and CEO after which he…
Grand River Bank Names Drew Ysseldyke President and CEO
GRANDVILLE, Mich., — Grand River Bank has promoted Drew Ysseldyke to President & Chief Executive Officer. This completes a transition process that began when Ysseldyke joined the Bank as president in April 2023. He succeeds Pat Gill, who has served as CEO since 2012 and who will continue as an advisor and board member. Immediately…
Gina Breslin Appointed to JBT Board
JONESTOWN, Pa., — Gina Breslin has been named to the boards of JBT Bancorp, Inc. and its subsidiary Jonestown Bank & Trust Co. Breslin is a Shareholder and Consultant with North Group Consultants, an organizational health and leadership development firm located in Lititz, PA. In her role, Breslin provides leadership to the firm by shaping…
Rajek Named Peoples Commercial Group Leader
WAUSAU, Wis., — Senior vice president Erik Rajek has been promoted to commercial group leader of Peoples State Bank. “Erik brings significant experience to this role, with over two decades as a commercial banker and producer in multiple Wisconsin markets,” said Scott Cattanach, Peoples State Bank president and CEO. “He brings a fresh approach as…
ChoiceOne’s Jackson, VanderWoude Complete GSB Certification
SPARTA, Mich.,— ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc., and ChoiceOne Bank have announced that Andy Jackson and Nate VanderWoude graduated from the Graduate School of Banking Program at the University of Wisconsin – Madison in the top five percent of their class. Jackson and VanderWoude also received the prestigious Certificate of Executive Leadership from the Wisconsin School…
50 Years Ago: Policy Debates Fuel a Surge of State Community Banking Associations
By Jack Hopkins Several state community banking associations in the Great Lakes region and beyond have celebrated 50th anniversaries this year and in 2023, pointing to an outbreak of industry organization a half-century ago. While the formation of these state associations in the mid-1970s was part of a debate over banking policy that lasted years,…