Jackson News Briefs December 20, 2024

County National Bank Announces Branch Leadership Updates

Joseph R. Williams, President and CEO of County National Bank, is pleased to announce that Amanda Carpenter has rejoined CNB as Branch Officer for the main office in Hillsdale, and Rachel Garrett has been promoted to Branch Officer for our Horton Road office in Jackson.

Amanda Carpenter has 16 years of experience in banking and holds an associate’s degree in Office Administration from International Business College. Since joining CNB in 2015, Amanda has taken on multiple roles, including training front-line associates and serving as a branch manager, all while delivering outstanding client service. Amanda is active in the community, serving as a Board Member for the Hillsdale Business Association and a volunteer for Junior Achievement.

Rachel Garrett joined CNB in November 2023 as Branch Manager of our Horton Road office in Jackson. Rachel has over 21 years in financial services and has held a range of positions within the industry, such as lending specialist manager, relationship banker, certified lender, assistant branch manager, and mortgage processor. Rachel holds an MBA from Spring Arbor University and is a graduate of the Jackson County Jackson Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Jackson program.

Rachel Emery, VP – Retail Administration Officer, said, ““We are excited to welcome Amanda Carpenter back to CNB and to celebrate Rachel Garrett’s well-deserved promotion. Amanda’s extensive experience and deep community involvement make her an invaluable asset to our Hillsdale team. Likewise, Rachel’s impressive leadership skills and wealth of experience in financial services position her perfectly for her role at our Horton Road office.”

American 1 Credit Union Announces the Promotion of Angela Hadley to Vice President of Payments

American 1 Credit Union is pleased to announce the recent promotion of Angela Hadley to Vice President of Payments.

Hadley, working with American 1 Credit Union since 2010, most recently held the position of Risk Manager. In her tenure with American 1, she also held the positions of Account Specialist, Member Service Specialist, and Branch Manager, giving her quality member service experience and a strong understanding of the credit union’s mission.

In her new role, Hadley is responsible for the oversight of the card services and digital services teams which encompasses online banking, mobile deposits, ATMs, and debit and credit card programs.

“I chose American 1 Credit Union because of the growth opportunities provided to me,” stated Hadley. “I’ve had the ability to learn different parts of the credit union and how it all comes together to continue our mission of creating financial wellness in our communities through personal everyday banking.”

Angela officially accepted her position in October of 2024 and reports to Sarah Miller, Chief Financial Officer.

“In the past 14 years, Angela has continued to grow her knowledge and experience by filling various roles at American 1,” Miller said. “Angela’s leadership and experience will be a great addition to the Payments Leadership team.”

Craig Talbert Joins Southern Michigan Bank & Trust

Southern Michigan Bank & Trust 1st VP Head of Mortgage Lending, Brandy Titus recently announced the appointment of Craig Talbert to the position of VP Mortgage Loan Officer for their Jackson market.

Talbert brings over 27 years of experience in lending and banking to his new role. Most recently, he served as Branch Manager/ Loan Originator at Waterstone Mortgage Corporation. Earlier in his career, he held various roles, including Mortgage Loan Originator, Branch Manager, and Senior Vice President of Mortgage Lending, with other banks and mortgage companies in the region.

Talbert is a lifelong Jacksonian. He and his wife have five children and one grandchild.

“We are thrilled to welcome Craig to the Retail Lending team at Southern,” said Titus. “With his extensive experience in the mortgage industry and his lifelong connection to Jackson, Craig will be instrumental in serving our customers as we continue to expand in this area.”

“If you’re from the Jackson region, there’s a good chance I have either worked directly with you, or you know someone I’ve assisted with a mortgage loan,” said Talbert. “I take pride in dedicating the time to thoroughly analyze each situation to develop the most suitable loan solution tailored to the borrower’s unique needs. Clear and consistent communication is at the heart of everything I do.”

Estate of Long-time MACI Employee, Cheryl R. Norey, Bequeaths $2M for Disadvantaged Women and Girls

The Jackson Community Foundation’s Board of Directors is pleased to welcome a new charitable fund focusing on educational support for disadvantaged women and girls. The Cheryl R. Norey Memorial Scholarship 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.

Cheryl worked for Michigan Automotive Compressor, Inc. (MACI) for more than three decades in community relations and communications which included facilitating the MACI Youth Fund and MACI Scholarship Fund. Cheryl’s professional and personal life was characterized by service to her community. A passionate advocate for feminism, Cheryl’s life was rooted in the principles of equity, inclusion, and opportunity for all. She was particularly committed to empowering women through education and self-determination, focusing on supporting girls and women in Jackson County as they pursue their academic goals. Cheryl aimed to assist girls and women who are the first in their families to attend college and who face significant challenges in their lives. With deep pride in her work, Cheryl aspired to create a lasting legacy of opportunity for the girls and women of her community.

“The Cheryl Norey Memorial Scholarship Fund honors the legacy of Cheryl Norey and her spirit of generosity and compassion for our community,” said Monica Moser, JCF President & CEO. “For more than 31 years, Cheryl has supported Jackson County through her work and volunteerism.

This Fund will allow her legacy to continue in perpetuity by providing scholarships for financially disadvantaged women and girls seeking to further their education.”

To learn more about the Cheryl R. Norey Scholarship or to donate to this Fund or one of our many other charitable funds, go to jacksoncf.org.

Chelsea Hospital to Open Mental Health Intensive Outpatient Program

Chelsea Hospital will open a new Mental Health Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) on Monday, Jan. 6.

Located in Suite 203 of the hospital’s Professional Office Building, 14650 E Old US Hwy 12, Chelsea, MI 48118, the program will run three days per week for three hours each day. The program is designed to support adults ages 18 and older with a comprehensive mix of individual, group, and family therapies aimed at helping participants work toward key goals.

These goals may include:

• Developing effective coping strategies
• Improving communication skills
• Building self-esteem and confidence
• Addressing the root causes of mental health challenges

The program is structured to offer a higher level of care than traditional outpatient therapy and to provide patients the flexibility to live at home and maintain daily responsibilities.

“Launching our Mental Health Intensive Outpatient Program is an important step forward in providing patients with more flexible and extensive treatment options,” said Melissa Tolstyka, Behavioral Health Service Lead, Trinity Health Michigan-Southeast. “Mental health care is not a one-size-fits-all approach, which is what makes this program so beneficial for patients. By making this program available in an outpatient setting, we are able to elevate our level of support for patients, help them customize a plan to reach their individual goals, and ultimately thrive.”

The program is ideal for individuals transitioning from inpatient care to outpatient services, or those who do not require inpatient care but still need a higher level of support than traditional outpatient therapy. Sessions will be led by trained mental health therapists and are covered by the same insurance plans as Chelsea Hospital.

“This program aligns perfectly with our commitment to enhance mental health care for residents of Chelsea and surrounding communities,” said Ben Miles, president of Chelsea Hospital. “Our goal is to equip individuals with the tools and resources necessary to best manage their mental health challenges and maintain their daily lives with greater stability and confidence. This program improves access to care and will be available to anyone in need of support.”

Patient referrals are now being accepted. For more information, or to join the program please call 734-593-5591.

Reliability Roadmap By the Numbers: Consumers Energy Finishing 1,350 Projects in 2024 to Keep the Lights On

With less than two weeks to go in 2024, Consumers Energy crews are completing the last of 1,350 major projects that support the company’s Reliability Roadmap to keep the lights on for Michigan.

“We know our friends and neighbors are expecting us to do more to build a smarter and stronger electric grid, and our work this year has focused on doing just that,” said Greg Salisbury, Consumers Energy’s vice president of electric grid design. “The numbers tell the story: we’re upgrading our system to make sure nearly 2 million homes and businesses experience fewer and shorter power outages.”

Consumers Energy is spending $63.5 million combined on the 1,350 projects, part of a more than $1 billion investment to strengthen the electric grid.

Other numbers that tell the Reliability Roadmap story for 2024:

• 25,800 – Miles of overhead low-voltage power lines that were inspected.
• 7,000 – Miles of power lines where trees, limbs and branches were cleared.
• 177,000 – Number of customers who avoided power outages due to inspections carried out by helicopter.
• 100 – Number of new ATRs (automatic transfer reclosers), a technology that works like traffic lights, helping limit the frequency and length of power outages.
• 10 — Miles of overhead electric lines being buried to prevent outages due to severe weather and vegetation. Consumers Energy plans to bury some 35 miles of lines in 2025.

“We’re building an electric grid that stands up to even more severe weather helps ensure more reliable power for the people who count on us,” said Chris Laird, Consumers Energy’s vice president of electric distribution. “We’ll continue doing even more of this important work next year to reach our goal of restoring power to all customers, in all situations, in less than 24 hours.”

Other tactics in the Reliability Roadmap include, infrared cameras, more durable iron poles and even a robotic dog.