County National Bank Announces Promotions and New Team Member
Joseph R. Williams, President and CEO of County National Bank, is pleased to announce the recent promotions of three CNB team members and the addition of a commercial lender.
Ron Haber has been promoted to Regional Vice President – Commercial Loan Officer. Ron joined CNB in June of 2005 as 2nd Vice President – Commercial Loans for our Lenawee market. Ron has been in banking for over 44 years and has developed many key business relationships that have resulted in the steady growth of his loan portfolio. He is very active in the Hudson Community and Lenawee County through many different organizations and looks forward to increasing his involvement in Hillsdale County.
Kelly Lantis has been promoted to Vice President – Hillsdale Market Executive & Commercial Credit Officer. Kelly joined CNB in 1988 and currently manages the Credit Department, which she helped establish in 1988. As Hillsdale Market Executive, Kelly will continue to oversee the commercial credit and processing functions, as well as focusing on overall Business Development and continued growth of the Hillsdale Market. Kelly is very active in the community and serves on several local boards, including the Hillsdale Woman’s Club, Chi Omega Sorority, Woman’s Life Insurance Society, and the Hillsdale County Community Foundation. She is also the Hillsdale Township Treasurer.
Ray Briner has been promoted to Assistant Vice President – Private Banking Officer. Ray joined CNB in 2009 as a Credit Analyst, moving into the role of Commercial Lender in November of 2019. Ray is a graduate of the International Business College with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in business, majoring in accounting. He is actively involved in the community and currently serves as Secretary of the Hillsdale Exchange Club, Treasurer of the Hillsdale County Fair, coach for the Hillsdale Recreation Department, and volunteer for the Hillsdale Athletic Booster Club. He previously served on the Hillsdale City Council and regularly participates in bank-sponsored events.
Pat Gilpin joined CNB in April 2023 as Assistant Vice President – Commercial Loan Officer. Pat began her banking career in 1984 and has held many positions within the financial and banking industry. Most recently, she was the Assistant Vice President – Banking Center Manager at a local financial institution. Pat is very active in the community and serves as Treasurer of Hudson Kiwanis. She also volunteers for the Lenawee Community Foundation, Addison Senior Center, and Junior Achievement.
Former Cougar Shannon (Balcer) Andringa tabbed as Associate Head Coach for SAU Women’s Soccer
Former Cougar and NAIA All-American Shannon (Balcer) Andringa will join the women’s soccer program as the Associate Head Coach beginning June 1, according to Athletic Director Jason Crist.
Andringa was a catalyst in helping SAU capture the first NAIA team national championship in the university’s history when she captained the Lady Cougars to the 2015 NAIA title in her senior year. A box-to-box midfielder, Andringa was named an NAIA honorable mention All-American for her efforts that season. She also helped the Cougars to a national semifinal during her tenure and was a part of four straight NAIA national tournament appearances.
A prolific youth and high school player on the west side of the state, Andringa helped champion the program’s recruiting efforts in Grand Rapids and assisted in laying a foundation that has propelled SAU women’s soccer to the very top of the NAIA soccer landscape.
After her four years at SAU, Andringa became involved in coaching in west Michigan and served as a high school coach at East Grand Rapids High School and as a club coach with Michigan Futbol Academy. She moved into the college coaching ranks when she became the head coach at Northwestern College (IA) in 2021, taking on a full rebuild of a young Red Raiders side.
Andringa will work inside the current SAU staff this fall as the Associate Head Coach with plans to take the reigns as the head coach after the fall season as Crist steps away from coaching to take on full-time duties as the Athletic Director.
“I could not be more excited to add Shannon to our coaching staff,” commented Crist. “Shannon is a young, up and coming coach and she is a perfect fit for the position. Not only does she have an amazing heart for the Lord and will disciple our women well, but she is also a formidable recruiter and coach. Spring Arbor University and our women’s soccer players are getting the best of both worlds with her addition. I am so thankful that she is coming home.”
Andringa was also excited about the opportunity to return to Spring Arbor University. “I am honored to be joining such a phenomenal and experienced staff. My time as a student-athlete at Spring Arbor was transformational, and the opportunity to give back to a place and a program that gave me so much is something I am extremely grateful for. Thank you to Jason Crist, Vice President Corey Ross and President Brent Ellis for believing in me and offering me this incredible opportunity,” noted Andringa.
The Cougars are coming off capturing their third NAIA national title in 2022. The team will kick off the 2023 campaign with a road match against Embry Riddle (AZ), who advanced to the NAIA final site last season and should begin 2023 inside the NAIA Top 10 in the national coaches’ poll.
New Scholarship Endowment Fund Established for Jackson School of the Arts
The Jackson Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees is pleased to welcome a new charitable fund to our portfolio. The Jackson School of the Arts Building Creative Leaders Fund will join over 400 existing funds used to strengthen and build our community through grantmaking to local charitable causes and students in Jackson County. The Fund’s purpose is to help build creative leaders by providing scholarships for students and their families who are not able to financially afford to participate in the programs offered by the Jackson School of the Arts.
According to Cherie Good, Executive Director of Jackson School of the Arts, “It is with great excitement that we are happy to announce our new endowment fund through the Jackson Community Foundation. Carolyn Moser, past Executive Director, and I have identified a growing need within our community for kids who deserve to have equal access to the arts. Our enrollment has tripled post-Covid which showcases the need to continue to offer affordable art solutions through our tiered-tuition scholarship program. This endowment fund has been established to support our scholarship needs at Jackson School of the Arts. We wanted to personally establish this to encourage our community to come alongside us to provide this support to our future generations. Exposure to the arts helps to give a positive outlet to many who are going through personal or external situations. We thank you in advance for the support that many have given to us since we have opened our doors”.
“We recognize the important role art education and creativity plays in the overall development and well-being of children,” said Monica Moser, President & CEO of the Jackson Community Foundation, “This Fund will provide a permanent source of income to allow children, regardless of financial circumstance, access to a multitude of exceptional art programs that are currently offered by the Jackson School of the Arts.”
If you would like to make a donation to this fund or learn about our other charitable funds, go to www.jacksoncf.org or call today to learn how to set up your own fund.
Henry Ford Health, MACI, Over a Dozen Others Make Commitments through Consumers Energy’s Business Renewable Energy Program
This Earth Month, Consumers Energy is announcing 16 businesses will use clean energy to power their Michigan operations. New commitments to Consumers Energy’s Business Renewable Energy Program include more than 150 7-Eleven store locations and Henry Ford Health’s Jackson-area locations.
“Consumers Energy is powering Michigan’s clean energy transformation, and we’re doing it with employers who are catalysts to add clean energy sources,” said Lauren Snyder, Consumers Energy’s vice president of customer experience. “Their promises are making positive change happen even faster and building on our industry-leading Clean Energy Plan to develop new carbon-free energy sources here in Michigan.”
Businesses joining the Business Renewable Energy Program agree to match energy they use with wind and solar energy Consumers Energy develops here in Michigan. In total, participating businesses have committed to roughly 380 megawatts of emission-free renewable energy supporting their sustainability goals and the local communities they serve and operate in.
Their participation will deliver significant environmental benefits to the Great Lakes State ― equivalent to greenhouse gas emissions annually from over 85,000 cars, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calculations.
“Increasing sustainability is key to improving public health and reducing health inequities, and it’s something Henry Ford Health prioritizes in our ongoing mission to transform the overall well-being of our community,” said Robin Damschroder, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial & Business Development Officer for Henry Ford Health. “We are proud to take this sustainable step in the Jackson area and hope others join us in efforts like this.”
Other new participants in the Business Renewable Energy Program include:
Circuit Controls Corp., Petoskey, automotive electrical terminals manufacturer
Comcast, Detroit, global media and technology company
DENSO’s thermal manufacturing facility, Battle Creek, automotive supplier
General Motors, Detroit, automotive manufacturer
I I Stanley, Battle Creek, automotive lighting supplier
Interlochen Center for the Arts, arts education and performance
MACI, Parma, manufacturer of automotive air conditioning compressors
Magna, Alto, mobility technology company
Magna Cosma Casting Michigan , Battle Creek, automotive chassis components
State of Michigan, Lansing, government
US Signal, Grand Rapids, data center technologies
Worthen Industries, Inc., Grand Rapids, adhesives, coatings, coated products and thermoplastic film manufacturer
Consumers Energy’s Business Renewable Energy Program provides a local, cost-effective, flexible, turnkey solution for businesses to use solar and wind energy to achieve their sustainability goals and protect the planet for future generations. Their enrollment not only advances greening Michigan’s grid, but also supports Michigan jobs created through building and operating renewable energy projects. Learn more by contacting GreenPower@cmsenergy.com.
American 1 Credit Union named Best Credit Union, New MemberXP
American 1 Credit Union is recognized as one of North America’s best credit unions in the New Member Experience category this year by MemberXP, a member experience solution from CU Solutions Group.
The Best of the Best award is given annually to credit unions that have consistently provided exceptional member service, as reported by members. Based on specific and rigorous criteria, only the highest-performing credit unions utilizing the MemberXP platform receive this honor.
“It’s an honor to be named one of North America’s best credit unions in the Best New Member Experience category by MemberXP,” said Carolyn Duncan, American 1’s Chief Member Experience Officer. “At American 1, we are dedicated to creating an uncomplicated and convenient experience for our members. We are humbled by the dedication our staff brings every day to serve and build financial wellness in their communities. Our members will always be our top priority as we continue to meet them where their needs are.”
MemberXP, a platform that allows credit union members to provide immediate feedback on their service, serves credit unions in the United States and Canada. The platform uses mystery shoppers and member surveys to gauge the overall member experience across multiple delivery channels.
Don Hershberger Named to 2023 Forbes’ List of Top Best-In-State Wealth Advisors
Don Hershberger, CFP®, AIF®, CRC®, Founder and President of Paramount Wealth Management, is pleased to be among the advisors named to the Forbes list of Top Best-In-State Wealth Advisors. The list, which recognizes advisors from national, regional, and independent practices, was released online April 4, 2023. There were more than 39,000 nominations received, 165 were recognized in Michigan, including Don Hershberger.
“It is a privilege to once again be nominated to this prestigious list and recognized as one of the top independent financial advisors in the State of Michigan and in the country,” Hershberger said. “As proud as I am, this would not have been accomplished without the steadfast dedication of every single member of the Paramount Wealth Management team. The quality of service, lasting relationships, and the willingness to always go the extra mile are what the Paramount team tries to deliver each day. I couldn’t be more proud.”
The Forbes Best-In-State list ranks and recognizes advisors that have demonstrated great success, integrity, and levels of professionalism in their practice. Hershberger was chosen based on his firm’s assets under management, experience, and dedication towards clients’ best interests.
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