Joseph Birkholz has joined Bridgewater Bank, St. Louis Park, Minn., as chief risk officer. A 15-year banking veteran, he was most recently senior vice president of risk operations at TCF Bank, Detroit, prior to its acquisition by Ohio’s Huntington Bank.
He has a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from The College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, Minn., and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minn.
“Joseph’s arrival is well-timed at this juncture in Bridgewater’s growth,” said Jerry Baack, president and CEO at Bridgewater Bank. “We look forward to benefiting from his strong and varied background in enterprise risk management.”
The $3 billion Bridgewater also recently hired Justin Horstman in the newly created position of director of investor relations. Also a TCF alum, Horstman was previously vice president, investor relations manager. He has 15 years of experience and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.
“We are excited to welcome the strong investor relations background and market insights Justin will bring to the Bridgewater team,” Baack said. “Our recent ability to acquire top talent across the organization further demonstrates how our unconventional culture is making Bridgewater a preferred talent destination in our market.”