It is with deep appreciation that the Boards of Directors of ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc., and ChoiceOne Bank announce the retirement of Vice Chairman Bruce J. Cady from the Boards effective May 7. Concurrently, Gregory A. McConnell was appointed Vice Chairman of the ChoiceOne Boards.
“It is with mixed feelings that we announce Bruce’s retirement from our Boards of Directors this month,” said ChoiceOne CEO Kelly Potes. “Bruce and I have been community banking colleagues for many years, including the last two years as Vice Chairman of our ChoiceOne Boards of Directors. He had a distinguished career in community banking including CEO of Lakestone Bank & Trust prior to the consolidation of Lakestone Bank & Trust with and into ChoiceOne Bank in 2020. We will miss Bruce’s leadership and wise counsel on our Boards. At the same time, we are honored to have Greg McConnell accept the position of Vice Chairman of our ChoiceOne Boards of Directors. Greg has substantial business, insurance and community bank experience, all tremendous strengths to help ChoiceOne grow our franchise value across West and Southeast Michigan.”
Cady retired with 46 years in the banking industry, two of those as Vice Chairman of ChoiceOne’s Boards of Directors and 20 years at Lakestone Bank & Trust. Having served as Lakestone's Chairman and CEO for 13 years, Cady’s team grew the Bank to over $600 million in total assets from $265 million, all while leading the Bank through the Great Recession, country-wide regulatory challenges, advanced technological expansions, and two mergers.
In 2016, Lapeer County Bank & Trust Co. and CSB Bank merged and formed Lakestone Bank & Trust. In 2019, Cady led another merger whereby County Bank Corp., the parent company of Lakestone Bank & Trust, combined into ChoiceOne Financial Services, the parent company of ChoiceOne Bank. With the merger of the holding company complete, ChoiceOne Bank and Lakestone Bank & Trust consolidated into ChoiceOne Bank in 2020. Cady retired as Lakestone Bank & Trust CEO at that time.
“When Bruce and I worked together to merge CSB Bank and Lapeer County Bank & Trust Co. to create Lakestone Bank & Trust, I knew I was partnering with a great community banker,” said ChoiceOne President Michael Burke. “Bruce’s dedication to his community, employees, and shareholders was evident from day one. I will always be thankful for the time we spent together and the lessons he taught me.”
During Cady’s notable career, he served his industry and communities selflessly. Cady’s lengthy resume of community involvement includes being a current or past member, chair or director of a wide range of municipal, civic and professional organizations including: Lapeer Twp. Board of Review, City of Lapeer TIFA Board, Lapeer Development Corporation, Chatfield School Board of Trustees, Lapeer Days Festival, Lapeer Area Chamber of Commerce, Lapeer Economic Club, Lapeer Rotary Club, City of Lapeer DDA, I-69 Regional Development Corp., Robert M. Perry School of Banking, Michigan Bankers Association (MBA) Management Committee and the Community Bankers of Michigan (CBM) Board, where he was named Community Banker of the Year in 2018. Cady is also known as a key member of the committee that brought Emergency 911 Dispatch to Lapeer County and led the effort to bring a firework display back to Lapeer to celebrate the 4th of July.
Gregory A. McConnell was appointed as a director of ChoiceOne in 2019 in connection with the merger of County Bank Corp., with and into ChoiceOne. He was previously a State Farm Insurance Agent and retired from that position in 2017. McConnell previously served as director of County Bank Corp., parent company of Lakestone Bank & Trust, since 2016. Prior to that, he served as Chairman of Capac Bancorp Inc., parent company of CSB Bank, since 1992. While a director of County Bank Corp., McConnell served as Chairman of the Compensation Committee as well as a member of the Executive, Insurance, Investment, Nominating, Trust and Loan committees. McConnell currently serves as the St. Clair County Commissioner. He was Past Chairman of the Capac Downtown Development Authority. He received his bachelor's degree from Ferris State University.
“We wish Bruce and his wife, Debbie, a happy and healthy retirement,” said Potes. “Bruce has been an exceptional community banker and leader. And again, we are pleased to work with Greg as our ChoiceOne Boards Vice Chairman… another great leader.”