Business Lending Team

Chip VanDette

SVP, Chief Lending Officer

Chip is our Chief Lending Officer, overseeing all bank lending facets, including the commercial, residential, and consumer lending departments. Chip has been with Croghan for four years and has over 20 years of experience in lending and client relationship management.

A strong education is important to Chip. He graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Science and then went to the University of Phoenix to hold a Master of Business Administration. Chip's core belief is to strive to build relationships by following the golden rule. He has learned from experience that most situations work out positively by following this tenet.

Phone: 419-355-2144
Email: svandette@croghan.com

Shannon George

VP, Toledo Market Manager

Shannon has been part of the Croghan Commercial Lending Department since 2014 and joined our senior management team in 2021. He manages his team of commercial lenders and builds a portfolio of commercial relationships. In addition, he helps his customers to achieve their goals by gaining their trust and respect.

Shannon attended Malone University, and he attained a degree in Business Administration. He has also completed several banking and credit courses. He takes pride in his accomplishments, including successfully implementing the bank's SBA loan program. He also helps lead our commercial team as an economical first responder for the American Rescue Plan, which delivered over 1,700 loans to Croghan business customers.

Phone: 419-464-3038
Email: sgeorge@croghan.com

Kelly Smith

VP, Cleveland Market Manager

Kelly has over 18 years of banking experience in Northeast Ohio. For the last eight years, she has focused on helping commercial clients grow and expand their businesses by providing lending options that meet their financial strategies. Kelly's expertise is in ground-up construction projects, commercial real estate, and SBA lending.

Kelly holds a Master of Business Administration from Ashland University and a Bachelor of Arts from The Ohio State University. She prides herself on her accomplishments. Kelly is a Growth Capital loan committee board member, a Medina County Signature Leadership Graduate, and the holder of over 10 Top Performer and Achievement Recognition Awards.

Phone: 440-781-1804
Email: ksmith@croghan.com

Angela Buchwald

VP, Commercial Loan Officer

Angela provides Croghan with 17 years of experience in commercial lending, ranging from small business to commercial lending. Her specialty is finding the proper lending solution and utilizing programs like the SBA to help companies meet their goals.

Angela strives to provide financing and banking solutions to commercial clients with lending needs. She aims to utilize lending solutions that include commercial real estate, investment real estate, lines of credit/working capital, and equipment financing.

Angela attended Mount Union College and received a Bachelor's degree in Business Marketing and Minors in Communications and Information Technology. She then continued her education to earn a Master's in Business Administration from Baldwin Wallace College.

Angela is proud to be a part of her community. She is a Philanthropic Board Member for the Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club, received the Star Power Award, and is a Multiple Half Marathon Finisher.

Phone: 419-355-2142
Email: abuchwald@croghan.com

Valerie A. Bumb

VP, Commercial Loan Officer

Valerie has over 25 years of experience in commercial and agriculture lending, and she utilizes SBA, USDA, and FSA government specialty programs to meet the needs of her customers.

Valerie is passionate about working with growing businesses to find solutions to their banking needs, and she enjoys helping business owners exceed their financial goals while pursuing their dreams.

Valerie attended Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in business management and Finance, and completed the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin. Valerie spends time in the community with the Kiwanis Club of Seneca County and serves on the Seneca Habitat for Humanity Board.

Phone: 419-483-6108
Email: vbumb@croghan.com

Kirby Holman

VP, Commercial Loan Officer

Kirby, part of our Commercial Lending team, is focused on Commercial Real Estate. He stands out in his position with over 25 years of Commercial Banking and Commercial Real Estate experience, which has led him to be a top producer and market leader in the CRE space in loan volume while maintaining excellent credit quality. He aims to help his client base finance successful commercial real estate investments.

He graduated from The University of Toledo with a degree in Finance; this led him on the career path to build his portfolio in commercial real estate. He brings experience in many types of loans, from retail, multifamily, industrial, office, mobile home parks, and hotels. He has also completed new construction, redevelopment, and conventional term financing loans. In addition, he offers the flexibility to customize financing terms to meet his customer's needs. 

Phone: 419-464-3037
Email: kholman@croghan.com

John Kreuz

VP, Commercial Loan Officer

John brings 14 years of experience as a commercial banker and over 33 years in the financial services industry to Croghan. With a career developing strong relationships through trust, John provides commercial banking solutions that cultivate growth and success. He offers comprehensive commercial banking services for the business community in Northwest Ohio and SE Michigan. He is proud to be a strategic advisor for the life cycle of a business.

John attended the University of Toledo and received a degree in Finance. He attained his MBA from Heidelberg University, receiving the Heidelberg University Most Outstanding MBA Student of the Year Award in 2007.

Phone: 419-464-3031

Email: jkreuz@croghan.com

Chris McManis

VP, Commercial Loan Officer

Chris has 14 years of banking experience and has been a commercial lender for six years. Chris' biggest passion as a commercial lender is helping businesses and entrepreneurs achieve their goals. He works diligently to assist all of his clients by providing solutions tailored to their needs and introducing them to his network of strong professionals to add value to all of his clients.

Chris has taken various college courses at Cuyahoga Community College. He attended college focusing on Finance and has completed a Commercial Credit Course as part of the Ohio Bankers League. He also takes pride in being part of the community in which he lives and is currently in his second term as the Ward 2 Councilman for the City of Berea.

Phone: 440-321-2010

Email: cmcmanis@croghan.com

Derek Newell

VP, Commercial Loan Officer

Derek has over 26 years of banking experience and over 22 years in commercial banking. He strives to deliver the best banking experience with honesty, integrity, and professionalism.

Derek attended The Ohio State University, earning his Bachelor's degree.

He is active in the community, the Past President of the Norwalk Economic Council and Norwalk Kiwanis, and he is still an active member.

Phone: 419-660-6105
Email: dnewell@croghan.com

Zachary Rieman

AVP, Commercial Loan Officer

Before his senior year of college, Zach interned at Croghan in the Credit Department. After graduation, he accepted a position as a Credit Analyst. Zach later transitioned to the Commercial Lending Department and has now progressed to his current role as a Commercial Lending Officer servicing Sandusky county, Ottawa county, and surrounding markets.

Zach attended The Ohio State University, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree, majoring in Accounting and minoring in Business Analytics. Alongside his degree, Zach has completed Profit Mastery courses with the Ohio Small Business Development Centers.

Phone: 419-732-7068
Email: zrieman@croghan.com

Julie Gio Spencer

AVP, Commercial Loan Officer

Julie has over 11 years of commercial banking experience in Northwest Ohio, and she has spent most of her time as a commercial banker and working in treasury management departments. She strives to be a dynamic, focused professional with a customer-service mindset and a service-centered heart.

Julie is an active PIN (Property Investor's Network) member and was voted number one in treasury management sales for Business Banking in 2018. Julie graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree

Phone: 419-464-3036
Email: jspencer@croghan.com

Luke Bolte

Commercial Relationship Associate

Luke Bolte works with commercial clients to provide comprehensive and customized banking solutions tailored to their businesses' financial needs and circumstances. He's driven to do well, hoping to give back to friends, family, and those who have stood alongside him while working towards his goals.

Luke spent his formative years in Tiffin, graduating from Hopewell-Louden. He earned his Bachelor of Arts & Science in Marketing from The Ohio State University. Luke is currently working to obtain his MBA in Finance from Tiffin University. He's looking forward to getting involved in the various Tiffin community organizations.

Phone: 419-448-1370
Email: lbolte@croghan.com

Brooklyn Kreilick

Commercial Portfolio Manager

In her current role, Brooklyn helps facilitate client credit relationships, proudly serves as a point of contact, and balances a commitment to loan, deposit, fee growth, overall client profitability, client retention, and credit quality.

She attended Tiffin University and earned her Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and Marketing. Brooklyn has a strong sense of business know-how. While attending college, she won Second Place in Tiffin University's Business Pitch Competition, where she created and presented a new business idea for the community to the university. Brooklyn looks forward to serving and helping improve the community wherever possible and is excited to join local organizations that help Fremont. 

Phone: 419-333-4727
Email: bkreilick@croghan.com