Fentura Financial in Fenton, Mich., and Blackhawk Bancorp in Beloit, Wis., announced new directors.
At Fentura, Kelly Myers joined the boards of both the holding company and its subsidiary The State Bank.
In 2004, Myers started Myers & Myers, PLLC, a practice that focuses on real estate, commercial litigation, corporate law, creditor rights, bankruptcy and banking. Prior to starting her law firm, she clerked for the Honorable Steven W. Rhodes, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Michigan, and served as an extern for the Honorable George E. Woods, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and business from Alma College, Alma, Mich. She has a law degree and an MBA from the University of Detroit.
“Appointing Kelly Myers to our board means we will not only have invaluable expertise at our fingertips, but also ensures another local, community voice is given a spot at the table. We are excited to have Kelly on our board and look forward to a long-standing partnership,” said Ron Justice, president and CEO of Fentura Financial, Inc., and The State Bank. “There are few people who can match her academic and business achievements, and that will prove as an invaluable asset to our leadership.”
The $1.3 billion Fentura has 18 offices in Michigan.
In Wisconsin, Bruce E. Ware, vice president of dialysis company DaVita Inc., joins the $1.1 billion Blackhawk for a three-year term. He has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a master’s degree in public affairs from the LBJ School at the University of Texas at Austin. He also has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in banking and finance from the University of Mississippi, Oxford.
“We are fortunate that Bruce is joining our board,” said Todd James, chair and CEO. “He brings a strong capital markets background, including the development of DaVita’s joint venture financing program, where he has fostered a ten-year relationship with Blackhawk.”
Blackhawk also announced that Stephen Carter and Diane Hendricks have both retired from its board. The bank has three branches in Illinois and nine in Wisconsin.