Harland “Skip” Ferry, Market President, Commerce Bank – Metro East Region
Spotlight on Southwestern Illinois: Banking and Finance
Harland “Skip” Ferry, Market President, Commerce Bank – Metro East Region
By KERRY L. SMITH
Few bankers across Southwestern Illinois haven’t come in contact with Harlan “Skip” Ferry, market president of Commerce Bank’s Metro East region. With 40 years of banking industry experience and a lifetime resident here, Ferry’s devotion to what he does and to whom he serves is clear.
“We have remained committed to supporting our communities where we live and work,” said Ferry, who is celebrating seven years at Commerce.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Illinois is a vivid example of the bank’s mission to support area nonprofits with employee volunteer effort as well as corporate financial support.
Belleville’s three high schools are also examples of Commerce’s support to the community. Each year, says Ferry, the bank awards a $2,000 scholarship to a graduating high school senior from each school and continues to provide $2,000 per year for all four years.
“It’s nice, quiet support of our young people and their education beyond high school at a college or vocational school,” Ferry said.
Commerce Bank’s Community Service Award recognizes outstanding volunteers in the bank’s service area for their generous service to the Metro East. A special grant is awarded to the nonprofit agency of the honoree’s choice.
On the business side of things, Commerce’s five branch locations — two in Belleville and one each in Edwardsville, Shiloh and Columbia — remain focused on products and services that manifest the bank’s mission to “ask, listen and solve.” Its diverse offerings to business clientele include an electronic payment management program known as ControlPay AP Payments. Ferry says the service, which is available to Commerce’s business customers, can be used as a purchasing card to manage travel and entertainment expenses and automate their accounts payable department. ControlPay AP works with the business’ existing accounting system and can provide a monthly revenue share associated with the volume of each client.
Another business-specific service for which Commerce Bank sees increasing demand is equipment financing. Municipalities also call upon the bank regularly, Ferry says, to structure tax-exempt and taxable equipment leases. “We’re privileged to count cities, counties, school districts and fire districts among our regular Metro East clients,” he said.
A graduate of Illinois State University, Ferry is a lifelong Metro East resident.
Costello joins Holland Construction
SWANSEA – Matt Costello has joined Holland Construction Services as a project engineer.
He is a 2011 construction management graduate of Missouri State University. He comes to Holland with three years’ experience as a project coordinator and manager, with experience working on large multi-family projects.
Diel & Forguson adds three to staff.
O’FALLON — Diel & Forguson LLC has added three people to its staff.
Robyn G. Lane, CPA has joined the tax department and will prepare individual and corporate tax returns. She passed the Certified Public Accountant exam 11 years ago, changing her career to accounting after 17 years as a registered nurse. She lives in Edwardsville. She will work on an as-needed basis, transitioning to full-time at the start of tax season.
Jill E. Voyer has joined the payroll department as a part-time payroll specialist. She attended Husson College in Bangor, Maine, and the University of Maryland-Asia in Okinawa, Japan, and has more than 30 years of bookkeeping experience. Her responsibilities will include payroll processing, automatic payroll tax payments, W2s, and payroll reports. She recently moved to Mascoutah.
Alissa Vollmer has joined the firm as manager of the accounting services department. A native of O’Fallon, Ill., she has 13 years in public accounting. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from McKendree University in Lebanon. Her responsibilities include client financial statements, sales tax returns, QuickBooks consulting, and on-site controllership. She lives in Columbia.
Memorial holding Medicare open houses
BELLEVILLE — Memorial Hospital and Memorial Medical Group are holding a series of open houses related to Medicare plans that Memorial is accepting in 2015.
They will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 12, and Tuesday, Nov. 25, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Memorial Health Education Center located at 706 East Highway 50 in O’Fallon.
The hospital will be participating in the following Medicare options for 2015: Traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans, including Coventry Health Care, Essence Healthcare, Humana Medicare and United Healthcare (national PPO plans only). Representatives from the health plans will be present to answer questions.
For more information call (618) 257-5649.