South Side Trust & Savings Bank Announces Promotions

South Side Trust & Savings Bank, at its December 2011 Board Meeting, announced the promotions of Michele Anderson to Vice President & Trust Officer, William Russell to Vice President & Investment Officer, David Schrader to Vice President & Loan Officer, Emma Vandeveer to Vice President – Marketing & Sales, Christina Eckstein to Assistant Vice President & Compliance Officer, Leigh Harkless to Assistant Vice President – Branch Manager, and Rhonda Litwiller to Trust Operations Officer.  

Anderson’s responsibilities include trust administration, business development, and trust investments.  Anderson graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a BS in Business Administration and Marketing and recently graduated from the three-year Cannon Trust School, and was also certified at that time as a Certified Trust and Financial Advisor.  She currently serves as the Chair for the Better Business Bureau of Central Illinois, is a City of Peoria Planning Commissioner, a member of the Rotary Club of Peoria-North serving on their Foundation Board, member of the Strengthening Families Allocation Panel for the Heart of Illinois United Way, member of the Full Service Community Schools Advisory Council and a member of the Estate Planning Council of Central Illinois.
 
Russell is responsible for managing the bank’s Raymond James Investment Center, offering financial and retirement planning to individuals and businesses.  He also manages South Side Bank’s investment portfolio and serves on the bank’s Trust Investment Committee.  Russell was named one of the nation’s Top 50 Bank Investment Representatives in 2010 by Bank Investment Consultant Magazine and has earned a position as a member on Raymond James Executive Council for the past six years. He holds a Series 7 (Registered Representative), Series 24 (Registered Principal), Series 63 and 65 (Registered Investment Advisor) as well as an Illinois Life and Health Insurance License.  He volunteers for many charities including St. Jude and Easter Seals. 
 
Schrader has been with South Side Bank for 22 years and has over 35 years of banking experience.  He graduated from Lincoln College and is responsible for the management of the commercial loan portfolio, including business development.  Schrader currently serves on the Illinois Business Financial Services Loan Committee.  

Vandeveer’s responsibilities include overseeing all marketing, advertising, and public relation efforts for the bank as well as their sales program.  She has been in banking for over 30 years and has been with South Side Bank since 1998.  Vandeveer graduated from Bradley University with a BS in Marketing and is the current Vice President of the Board for The Center for Prevention of Abuse, and volunteers with Easter Seals and Rebuilding Together.  She is a speaker at the Community Bankers Association of Illinois Marketing and Sales Conference as well as Illinois Banker's Association Women In Banking Conference. Vandeveer is a member and has been president of Peoria Advertising and Selling Club, Public Relations Association of Central Illinois, and Women in Leadership of Central Illinois where last year she won their Career Leader Award.

Eckstein administers the bank’s compliance program and management systems, including involvement of the board of directors and senior management, as well as the bank’s audit program, which identifies current and potential compliance risk.  She is a graduate of the Community Banker’s Association of Illinois Compliance School.  Eckstein began her banking career at South Side Bank, and has been with the bank for over 30 years and participates in Rebuilding Together.

Harkless is in charge of the bank’s Sheridan Road and Glen Hollow Branches, overseeing all aspects of their management and day-to-day activities managing 15 employees.  She is also involved in the bank’s training program for new employees and is a Mortgage and Consumer Loan Officer.  Harkless has a degree in Business Administration and is also a graduate of the Midwest School of Community Bankers.  She is a VIP Ambassador for Easter Seals and current participant/team member of District 150 Reading Buddies Program.

Litwiller is responsible for the supervision of all operational functions and overseeing the research and resolution of operational issues as well as the administration of revocable and irrevocable trusts, agency and custodial accounts.  She is a graduate of Cannon Financial Institute completing Securities Operations and currently enrolled at Cannon Financial Institute for Personal Trust Administration.  Litwiller is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Central Illinois and volunteers for various charities.