2021 Vol 105 No 3

Hoosier Banker 29 Grow Your Ag Lending Options Competitive Rates | Portfolio Purchases Distressed Asset Options Real Estate Secured | Regional Expertise Jackie Mosier VP Relationship Manager jackie.mosier@conterraag.com (419) 584-8835 conterraag.com | (855) 381-3451 Financing American Agriculture FROM THE BOARD ROOM Susan Brooks has been elected to the boards of directors of First Merchants Corporation and First Merchants Bank, Muncie. She was elected in 2012 to Indiana’s 5th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives and served four terms. Before her congressional terms, Brooks served six years as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, was general counsel for Ivy Tech Community College and was deputy mayor to Indianapolis Mayor Stephen Goldsmith in 1998-99. Mark Hardwick, CEO of First Merchants Corporation and First Merchants Bank, Muncie, has been elected to the boards of directors of the bank and holding company. He joined First Merchants in 1997 as corporate controller and was promoted to chief financial officer in 2002. Hardwick also assumed all leadership responsibilities related to operations, technology and risk management for the corporation in 2007, and in 2016 his title was expanded to include chief operating officer. He became CEO effective Jan. 1, 2021. He is a Ball State University trustee, chairing the board’s audit committee, and is a member of Next Muncie. Hardwick was inducted into the Ball State University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012 and received the Indianapolis Business Journal CFO of the Year award in 2012. James G. McDonald III has been named to the board of directors of Springs Valley Bank & Trust Company, French Lick. He owns and operates McDonald Law Office, where he has been employed for 34 years. McDonald chairs the Gibson County YMCA and is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Princeton Masonic Lodge, Indiana Municipal Lawyer Association and Indiana State Bar Association. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Indiana State University and a JD from Valparaiso University. Connie Shepherd has joined the board of directors of Security Federal Savings Bank, Logansport. She previously was senior vice president in commercial banking for First Internet Bank and has served as a board member for Premier Capital for more than 20 years. Shepherd has been active with causes including Susan G. Komen and the IWIN Foundation. Kevin M. Bender has been named chairman of the board of directors and adviser of Bank of Wolcott. He joined the bank in 1992 and had served as president since 2010. Stephenie K. Gookins has been appointed to the board of directors of The Napoleon State Bank. She is a partner at Terry & Gookins LLC, Carmel, and has 21 years of business ownership and legal experience in areas including family law, criminal law, social security disability and appellate law. Gookins earned a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and a JD from the I.U. McKinney School of Law. Greg Maurer has been named chairman of the board of The National Bank of Indianapolis. He has been serving as a director of the board since 2013. Maurer is founder and managing director of Heron Capital Venture Fund and of Heron Capital Equity Partners. He previously was a corporate attorney at Schiff Hardin LLP, Chicago, and has additional experience managing real estate and branch expansion activities for The National Bank of Indianapolis. HB

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTg3NDExNQ==