ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc., and ChoiceOne Bank (NASDAQ: COFS) (“ChoiceOne”) are pleased to announce the promotions of Heather Brolick to Executive Vice President, Cindy Achterhoff to Vice President Small Business Lending Program Manager, Marina Aiken to Imlay City Branch Manager, and Melanie Witten to Cedar Springs Branch Manager. ChoiceOne also welcomes Derek Jones as Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer.
“We are extremely pleased to announce the promotions of Heather, Cindy, Marina and Melanie, and welcome Derek to our team,” said ChoiceOne CEO Kelly Potes. “These individuals all have extensive experience in their respective fields and broad knowledge of the financial industry. Their leadership, and expertise will help advance our Mission to provide superior service, quality advice and show our utmost respect to everyone we meet as we grow our community bank franchise across Michigan.”
Heather Brolick is promoted to Executive Vice President, Human Resources.
Brolick has held numerous leadership positions spanning her 43 years in banking. She helped organize de novo Community Shores Bank in 1998, where she held various positions including President & CEO and Director until the Bank’s merger with ChoiceOne Bank in 2020. At the close of the merger, Brolick took on the position of Senior Vice President Human Resources as part of ChoiceOne’s Senior Management Team. She was an Award Honoree in the 2021 Crain’s Detroit Business Notable Women in Banking.
Brolick currently serves as Chairperson of the Michigan Bankers Association’s Human Resource Committee; is a member of Harbor Hospice’s Compassionate Givers; a member of Trinity Health’s Women for Health; and a member of Muskegon Rotary. She has served as past Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Harbor Hospice and the Harbor Hospice Foundation; past Chairperson of the Board of the Employers Association of West Michigan; past Chairperson of The Chamber of Commerce Grand Haven, Spring Lake and Ferrysburg; past board member of Mercy Health’s Physician Partners Board, and as a member of the Banker’s Advisory Board of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin.
Cindy Achterhoff is promoted to Vice President, Small Business Lending Program Manager.
Achterhoff joined ChoiceOne in 2020, as a Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer in Muskegon, after 10 years in banking in a similar role. She quickly became the team’s tech expert and Team’s Metriciti “super user.” Achterhoff is also a member of the Bank’s Innovation Team and will use her skills to drive results in her new role. Active in her community, Achteroff services on the Muskegon Y Swim Team board, the Blueberry Festival planning committee, Athena on the Lakeshore committee and is a part of the Lakeshore Referral Partners.
Marina Aiken is promoted to Branch Manager, Imlay City, East Market.
Aiken joined ChoiceOne in 2018 as a Management Trainee and became a Customer Service Specialist in 2019. She was promoted to Assistant Branch Manager of the Imlay City Office in 2021. Aiken has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Michigan State University, East Lansing. Active in her community, Aiken takes part in local events including the Annual Ice Cream Social hosted by the Imlay City Branch and partnering with the Imlay City’s DDA. She also participates in the LEAF (Lapeer Education Attainment Fund) program with local elementary schools.
Melanie Whitten is promoted to Branch Manager, Cedar Springs Office, West Market.
Whitten joined ChoiceOne 12 years ago as a Part-Time Teller and moved into the Customer Service Center. In 2017, Whitten advanced to the Cedar Springs Office as a Personal Banker, and in 2020 was promoted to Assistant Branch Manager. Before joining ChoiceOne, Whitten was an Account Manager and an Administrative Assistant for a building services company. Whitten has a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Grand Valley State University, Allendale. Active in her community, she regularly participates in creating the Bank float for the annual Red Flannel Parade in Cedar Springs and the Shop Sparta Christmas Parade.
Derek S. Jones joins ChoiceOne as Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer, East Market.
With more than 20 years in the banking industry, Jones has been a commercial lender for the last 12 years. Working for regional banks over the years, Jones began his banking career as a Branch Manager, progressed to Assistant Vice President, Business Banking Relationship Manager, and was most recently Vice President, Senior Commercial Relationship Manager. Jones will work out of the Macomb Loan Office, 12900 Hall Rd., Suite 402, Sterling Heights.
Jones holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the College of Business and Management, Saginaw Valley State University. He is currently working towards his Master of Science in Accounting from Wayne State University, Detroit. He has volunteered as an Advisor in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses – Detroit since 2011. Jones is also a member of the Finance Committee for Macomb County Chamber of Commerce.
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 operates 35 offices in parts of Kent, Ottawa, Muskegon, Newaygo, Lapeer, St. Clair, Macomb, and Oakland counties. 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.