ChoiceOne Bank is pleased to announce the recent promotions of Walter Bargen to Vice President, Municipal and Public Funds Officer; Eric Dyson to Vice President, Head of Loan Operations; Aaron Griffin to Vice President, Small Business Administration (SBA) Lending; Gary Hall to Vice President, Mortgage Sales Manager; Josh Hucul to Vice President, Senior Credit Manager; Assistant Vice President Tim Shangle to Head the newly formed Innovation Department; and Mackenzie Woodward to Rockford Branch Manager.

“I am pleased to announce the promotions of Walter, Eric, Aaron, Gary, Josh, Tim and Mackenzie as we grow our community bank across the state,” said ChoiceOne CEO Kelly Potes. “Our new scale allows us to progressively broaden all levels of service and expertise to fulfil our mission to provide superior service, quality advice and show our utmost respect to everyone we meet. These financial experts are focused on helping ChoiceOne grow our community bank franchise and maintain our vision to be the best bank in Michigan.”

Walter J. Bargen – Vice President, Municipal and Public Funds Officer

Bargen has been with ChoiceOne bank for 12 years. He is the liaison officer for ChoiceOne supporting the needs of municipalities and school districts. Bargen began his banking profession in 1978 at a local bank and has worked for several other community banks in his career. He has also served on various municipal commissions to include Parks and Recreation, Planning Commission, and five years as Imlay City Mayor.

Bargen received his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He is also a graduate of the American Bankers Association’s Commercial Lending School at Michigan State University in East Lansing and the National Commercial Lending School at the University of Oklahoma in Norman.

An active member in his community, Bargen serves as President of LACADA (Lapeer Area Citizens Against Domestic Assault), President of the Metamora Chamber of Commerce, Vice President of the Oxford Chamber of Commerce, Treasurer of Imlay City Rotary Club, Board Member of the Hispanic Service Center, Vice Chair of Imlay City Planning Commission, and Chair of Imlay City DDA.

Eric Dyson – Vice President, Head of Loan Operations

Dyson joined ChoiceOne Bank nearly four years ago as Retail Lending Director overseeing mortgage and consumer lending sales and operations. With 30 years of lending experience working at several community banks in Michigan, Dyson has focused his banking career on mortgage underwriting, processing, closing, secondary markets and credit.

He is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Dearborn, with a Bachelor of Science in Finance.

Aaron Griffin – Vice President, SBA Lending Officer

Griffin joined ChoiceOne Bank in 2017 as Assistant Vice President, Business Development Officer. With 15 years of banking experience, Griffin began his banking career at a regional bank and moved through the ranks to Assistant Vice President, Business Banking Specialist.

Griffin has his Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Management from Northwood University, Grand Rapids. He is active in Junior Achievement and a volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Gary Hall – Vice President, Mortgage Sales Manager

With a solid career in home mortgage lending, Hall joined ChoiceOne Bank in 2011 as the Mortgage Sales Manager. He is responsible for creating new opportunities to originate home mortgages for the individuals and families in the Bank’s local residential communities. Hall began his mortgage career in 1995 and has worked for a large regional bank and has also owned a mortgage brokerage firm.

Hall has his bachelor’s degree from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids. He is a volunteer coach at the Mary Free Bed YMCA in Grand Rapids.

Josh Hucul – Vice President, Senior Credit Manager

Hucul joined ChoiceOne Bank in 2012 as a Commercial Credit Analyst. He was promoted to Vice President, Credit Manager in 2013. Prior to joining ChoiceOne, Hucul spent four years at a community bank working as Commercial Credit Analyst and Senior Commercial Credit Analyst.

A graduate of Saginaw Valley State University in University Center, Hucul has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. Hucul is also a graduate of the Michigan Bankers Association Perry School of Banking, earned the Risk Management Association’s Credit Risk Certified (CRC) credentials and will complete the Graduate School of Banking program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2023.

Active in his community and profession, Hucul is a Board Member of the Ottawa County Agricultural Preservation Board, former Board Member of the Risk Management Association, West Michigan Chapter, and the Midland County Planning Commission. He is also a former volunteer for the Humane Society of Midland County.

Tim Shangle – Assistant Vice President of Innovation & Data Analytics, Head of Innovation Department

Shangle joined ChoiceOne Bank in 2013 in the Customer Service Center. He was promoted to Assistant Vice President of Innovation & Data Analytics in 2020. As part of this role, Shangle leads the Bank’s development of digital channel products. Before joining ChoiceOne, Shangle was the IT Director for the Theological Book Network in Grand Rapids. Prior to this, he was Web Architect, Interactive Media Developer for Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky.

Shangle has a Master of Arts, Specialization in Theological Studies from the Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids. He is also a graduate and class president of the Michigan Bankers Association Perry School of Banking.

Active in his community, Shangle is involved in various community events at the City Church Sparta, including being THE Easter Bunny. He is also the former Camp Dean for Lake Michigan Camp and Retreat Center, and former Commissioner for the Sparta Township Historical Commission. Shangle also participates in the Sparta Community Theater, including Shrek, Titanic, and Newsies.

Mackenzie Woodward – Rockford Branch Manager

Woodward joined ChoiceOne in 2019 as a Universal Banker in Rockford. In 2020, she was promoted to Assistant Branch Manager of the Alpine Branch in Comstock Park. Woodward will now manage both Rockford branches – Belding Road and Division Street.

A West Michigan native, Woodward is a member of the West Michigan Kiwanis Club and a volunteer for Junior Achievement.