Board of Directors

Todd J. James

CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT & CEO, BLACKHAWK BANCORP, INC.

Todd joined Blackhawk Bank in February 2002 and was named President & Chief Executive Officer of Blackhawk Bancorp, Inc., in 2018. Todd was named Chairman of Blackhawk Bancorp, Inc., in 2019. He has three decades of experience in the financial services industry including eight years at a regional banking company where he held a number of financial management and corporate administration positions. Prior, he practiced public accounting at a national CPA firm. He became a Certified Public Accountant in 1986, holds an undergraduate degree from Northeast Missouri State University (now known as Truman State University) and is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at University of Wisconsin.


Expertise:
Strategic planning, bank management, financial and regulatory accounting, financial analysis, regulatory compliance, asset and liability management, investment portfolio management, capital management, vendor management and contract negotiation, investor relations, corporate management and administration, audit and risk management, and corporate tax planning.

Affiliations, Present/Past:
Former treasurer and board member Greater Beloit Economic Development Corporation, board member of Beloit 200, board member Beloit Health System Foundation, and board member Beloit Library Foundation. Todd is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Illinois State Society of CPAs.


David K. Adkins

PRESIDENT & CEO, BLACKHAWK BANK
COO, BLACKHAWK BANCORP, INC.

In 2018, Dave was appointed President & CEO of Blackhawk Bank. He is also Chief Operating Officer of its parent, Blackhawk Bancorp. Inc.

Starting as the leader of the Mortgage Division, Dave ascended to leadership of both the Commercial Banking and Mortgage Divisions since coming to Blackhawk in 2004. In January 2014, he was named Chief Operating Officer. He’s a graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University and the Graduate School of Banking in Madison, WI, and has more than three decades of banking experience.

Expertise:

Strategic planning, company profitability; local and regional economics, community banking principles, community reinvestment; client development, retention and advocacy; interest rate rises and declines; new and refinanced mortgage loans, primary and secondary mortgage markets; sales and service platforms, incentive programs; product development & delivery channel expansion; policies, systems and processes of regulatory compliance; consumer financial safety.

Affiliations, Present/Past:

Treasurer of the Belvidere Family YMCA, Finance Committee Chair for St. James Catholic Church, Dave also serves on the Board of the Catholic Foundation of the Rockford Diocese and serves on the Board of the Belvidere School District Charitable Foundation. Past Chairman and Treasurer of the Belvidere Vision 100 Referendum Committee. Adkins has held leadership roles with the Boone County 911 Board, the Belvidere Cosmopolitan Club and many other community organizations.


Eric R. Anderberg

DIRECTOR

Eric is Vice President and Secretary of Dial Machine, Inc., Rockford, IL, a family-owned contract machine shop, since 1993. He is a sitting member of the Industrial Round Table - Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and current President & Board Member of Rockford Tooling and Machining Association.

Eric is an active advocate for American Manufacturing and has appeared on nationwide news programs and numerous publications. Eric has testified before The Congressional Small Business Committee on behalf of Small Metalworking Businesses and the NTMA. In addition, Eric is active on his family farm and is an IHSA Football official.

Eric received his Bachelor's degree in Finance and Marketing from Augustana College and earned his MBA from Loyola University Chicago in Family Business.


Todd Buehl

DIRECTOR

As Chief Financial Officer of ABC Supply Company, Inc., headquartered in Beloit, WI, Todd Buehl is responsible for the oversight of a variety of functions that are vital to ABC Supply’s continued growth, including corporate development, accounting and financial reporting, financial planning and analysis, treasury, tax, internal audit, risk management, and credit.

Todd previously served as ABC’s Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer and as Executive Vice President of Hendricks Holding Co. Inc. (HHC), which is affiliated with ABC Supply through common ownership. During his time with HHC, Todd advised ABC Supply on many key acquisitions and financings, including the 2010 acquisition of Bradco Supply and related transactions. He has served on ABC Supply’s board of directors since 2008.

Todd began his career with William Blair & Company, an investment banking firm, where he focused on merger and acquisition advisory services.

He has a Master of Business Administration degree from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

A community advocate, Todd has served as a Board Member of the Janesville Generations Community Fund, the Rock Prairie Montessori School, and Forward Janesville. His other affiliations include the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) and the National Association of Wholesalers (NAW). 


Steven A. Ceroni

DIRECTOR

Steven A. Ceroni became a member of the Board of Directors of Blackhawk Bancorp, Inc. at the Annual Shareholders Meeting in May 2014.

Steve Ceroni, President and Owner of Ceroni Piping has been in the construction industry since 1980. He is licensed in the State of Illinois as a Master Plumber/Designer and is also State Licensed for UST/ AST tank installations with International Code Council certification. A member of Local #23 Plumbers and Pipe fitters, he served on the National Plumbing Bureau Labor Estimating Manual development committee in 1984. Today this is the national labor standard for many companies. He earned an Advanced Piping Estimating certification from Alexandria, Va. in 1985 and certification from the University of Texas, including MCAA Construction Management in 1987-1989, Construction Law Studies in 1990 and Isometric power plant piping design in 1991. He currently serves as an officer on the Board of the Piping Industry Counsel of the Rockford Area (PICRA).

Located in Belvidere, Illinois, Ceroni Piping Company started in 1998 and has grown to a staff of over 50 people in construction management and field-skilled tradesmen. Ceroni provides Process Power Piping, Plumbing and Fabrication, a highly efficient and sought after construction method to food manufacturers, utility companies, the automotive industry, defense contractors and other industrial and commercial customers. Ceroni is fast becoming recognized as a leading provider of construction services for these industries. Customers range from medium sized local companies to fortune 500 companies as far away as Ohio. Ceroni Piping is proactive about finding solutions for clients that best achieve their goals in a safe and cost-effective manner.

Steve Ceroni is a member of Faith Community Church in Davis, Illinois and serves the church as an Administration Board Elder. Additionally, he volunteers for the Rockford Rescue Mission in Rockford, Illinois.


Lucas R. Derry

DIRECTOR

Lucas Derry is President and Owner of Header Die and Tool, Inc. in Rockford IL. Founded in 1954, Header Die specializes in precision short run machined parts and tooling that supports cold forming and other Industries worldwide.

Lucas is highly engaged and believes strongly in continuous improvement.He implemented the innovative methodology of Quick Response Manufacturing to reduce external and internal lead times throughout the company. Lucas is very active in promoting local manufacturing and has worked with the Rockford Public School District’s EMITT Academy to promote manufacturing and engineering.

Lucas received his bachelor’s degree in General Management from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. He currently serves as Past President of the Rock River Tooling and Machining Association and Vice President of Scandinavian Cemetery.


April Glosser

DIRECTOR

April Glosser is the president and founder of Thrive Market Intelligence. Thrive, based in Rochelle, IL, was started in 2007. It supports clients in making data driven and evidence-based decisions on new market entrance, sales intelligence, product development and competitive analysis. Thrive’s methodology provides clients with analytical insights for navigating an increasingly complex and competitive business environment.

Glosser is a graduate of the University of Illinois where she received a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She served as a director for the Rochelle Area Community Foundation for six years and now serves on their advisory board. She’s a member of the Strategic and Competitive Intelligence Professionals and the Academy of Professional Intelligence. Her previous work experience includes a variety of analytical, service and marketing management positions with Woods Equipment Company of Oregon, IL.

April’s expertise will provide valuable intelligence as the Company considers diversification into new markets.


Ben Holmstrom

DIRECTOR

Ben Holmstrom was appointed to the Board of Directors of Blackhawk Bancorp, Inc. effective May 2022.

Ben is President of William Charles Construction, a full-service heavy civil contractor, supporting the public and private sectors in building highly dependable civil infrastructure. This IEA company manages and self-performs a full range of heavy civil construction and mining and materials production services.

A graduate of Illinois State University, Ben holds a Bachelor’s degree in Construction and Business Management. He holds the title Chairman of the Board for Milestone, Inc., and serves as a Board Member with Germfree Laboratories, Inc. and William Howard Charitable Trust. 


Paul L. Palmby

DIRECTOR

Paul Palmby was elected to the Blackhawk Bank Board of Directors in May 2019. He is the President, Chief Executive Officer and Director for Seneca Foods Corporation, a publicly traded food procurement and processing company based in Janesville, WI. His career at Seneca Foods has spanned more than 30 years with increasing levels of responsibility providing broad experience in P&L responsibility, mergers & acquisitions, manufacturing and food processing. Paul brings additional depth and expertise to the Board of Directors, as it relates to the Bank’s existing portfolio and growth opportunities in those sectors.

Paul grew up on a farm in southeastern Minnesota and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business from Iowa State University. He has participated in Agribusiness Seminars at Harvard Business School and has attended The Chicago Executive Institute through the University of Chicago School of Business.

Paul’s involvement in various organizations and activities shows his passion for helping people, businesses and communities on local, state and national levels. He currently serves on the board of directors of Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. He is a past director of the Midwest Food Processors Association and Northwest Food Processors Association boards. He was a board member of the Wisconsin FFA Foundation and chairman of the Wisconsin FFA Foundation Sponsors Board. He is a former executive committee member and board of trustees’ chairman of the Produce for Better Health Foundation.

A proponent of agriculture, Paul remains active in industry-related Farm Bill advocacy, having testified twice in front of congressional committees on Fruit and Vegetable Industry matters. In 2004, 2006 and 2018, Paul was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to the USDA Fruit and Vegetable Advisory Committee. Former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker appointed Paul to the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Board of Directors, where he is currently serving his 2015-2021 term. 


Bruce Ware

DIRECTOR

Bruce Ware is a Corporate Vice President at DaVita Inc., a NYSE listed Fortune 500 Company.  At DaVita, Mr. Ware leads the continental U.S. joint venture partnership capital raising activities.

Mr. Ware started his career on Wall Street as an investment banker at Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette focused on corporate finance advisory and mergers and acquisitions activities. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, an MA from the University of Texas at Austin and a BBA in Banking and Finance from the University of Mississippi, where he was a member of Mortar Board and Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Societies.

Mr. Ware serves on the Executive Committee on the National Board of Directors of the Ole Miss Alumni Association and is a Trustee Elect for Mortar Board National Honor Society.

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