SPARTA, Mich., November 1, 2023 – ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc., and ChoiceOne Bank (NASDAQ: COFS) (“ChoiceOne”) are pleased to announce ChoiceOne Chief Executive Officer Kelly Potes is named one of Crain’s Grand Rapids GR200 Most Influential Leaders.
“We are extremely pleased to announce Kelly has received this prestigious award from Crain’s Grand Rapids, especially during our 125th Anniversary,” said ChoiceOne Chairman of the Boards Jack Hendon. “Kelly has a distinct leadership style guided by his remarkable financial intelligence – it’s quiet, kind and very strategic. He relies on his expert teams to focus on strategy, markets, and customer understanding, including public outreach into the communities ChoiceOne serves.”
The Most Powerful and Influential Business Leaders in West Michigan, Grand Rapids 200 is a comprehensive list of the most powerful executives in more than 20 industries in Grand Rapids. This resource list is compiled based on several factors including the size of a given company or organization, growth rate, geographical reach, and extensive personal contacts.
ChoiceOne Bank CEO, Kelly Potes
“I am honored and humbled that Crain’s Grand Rapids has added me to their list of Most Influential Leaders,” said ChoiceOne CEO Kelly Potes. “This nomination is attributed to every ChoiceOne employee. We are all focused on our mission to provide superior service, quality advice and show utmost respect to everyone we meet, and our vision to be the best bank in Michigan. Receiving this award as we finish celebrating our 125th Anniversary clarifies our true purpose – to serve the families, farmers and businesses in our communities. And it definitely adds to the icing on our anniversary cake.”
As Chief Executive Officer of ChoiceOne, Potes has held this position since 2016, as well as a director of ChoiceOne and ChoiceOne Bank since 2015. Potes served as the President of ChoiceOne from 2015 to 2019. Joining ChoiceOne in 1984, Potes held various management positions. In 1998, he left ChoiceOne to become the President and Owner of Kent-Ottawa Financial Advisors, Inc., a financial consulting firm. In 2001, ChoiceOne called him back as Senior Vice President of Retail Services, and General Manager of ChoiceOne Insurance Agencies, Inc., where he progressed into his various executive positions.
Today, under Potes’ leadership, ChoiceOne has grown to an approximately $2.6 billion-asset bank holding company, from $560 million in 2015, over 400% growth, making it the eighth largest bank holding company in Michigan based on asset size.
ChoiceOne President Michael J. Burke, Jr. said, “Our mission and vision have created a remarkable culture of diversity, expertise, and compassion at ChoiceOne. Both have had an incredible impact on our Bank, employees, and our communities. Our entire ChoiceOne team is thrilled that Kelly is named one of Crain’s Grand Rapids GR200 Most Influential Leaders. It’s a notable recognition during our 125th Anniversary showcasing the impact Kelly has made over the years in our organization and the communities we serve throughout West and Southeastern Michigan.”
Potes graduated from Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. He has his Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation. Potes is also a graduate of the prestigious ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking in partnership with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Holding numerous community and leadership positions throughout his career, Potes currently serves as a director of Sparta Downtown Development Authority and Urban Transformation Ministries. He sits on the board of the Community Bankers of Michigan and is currently serving as Chair-Elect. Potes also serves on the Deacon Board for the Kent City Baptist Church. Potes is a past board member and past president of the Rotary Club of Sparta, past board member of the Pension & Health for West Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church, past member of the Community Bank Initiatives (CBI) and Member Services Advisory Board, and past president, treasurer, and trustee of the Sparta Board of Education.
About Crain’s Grand Rapids Business Crain’s Grand Rapids Business is one of more than 20 brands owned by Crain Communications, one of the largest privately owned business media companies. Crain’s Grand Rapids Business launched in 2023, bringing together MiBiz, the Grand Rapids Business Journal and Crain Communications to create the top source of business news, analysis and information in West Michigan.
About ChoiceOne
ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. is a financial holding company headquartered in Sparta, Michigan, and the parent corporation of ChoiceOne Bank. Member FDIC. ChoiceOne Bank, named one of America's Best Banks by Newsweek, operates 37 offices in parts of Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon, Newaygo, Lapeer, St. Clair, Macomb, and Oakland counties. Celebrating a 125th Anniversary in 2023, ChoiceOne is an approximately $2.6 billion-asset bank holding company making it the eighth largest bank holding company in Michigan based on asset size. ChoiceOne Bank offers insurance and investment products through its subsidiary, ChoiceOne Insurance Agencies, Inc. ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “COFS.” For more information, please visit Investor Relations at ChoiceOne’s website choiceone.bank.