SPARTA, Mich., July 1, 2025 – ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc., and ChoiceOne Bank (NASDAQ: COFS) (“ChoiceOne”) are pleased to announce Commercial Lenders Patricia Brown, Jacob Burke, and Kayleen Byrne have successfully completed Community Banker University’s® Certified Commercial Loan Officer Program and have earned the professional designation Certified Commercial Loan Officer – CCLO.
“ICBA's Commercial Lending Institute provides a comprehensive understanding of the complex and multifaceted commercial lending process and the environment in which community banks operate today,” said ChoiceOne CEO Kelly Potes. “As Commercial Loan Officers, Trish, Jacob, and Kayleen play a significant role in the growth of our Bank. Their insight into advanced commercial lending will help guide us as we grow our community bank franchise in Michigan and fulfill our mission to provide superior service, quality advice and show our utmost respect to everyone we meet. Congratulations!”
Community Banker University, the education division of the Independent Community Bankers of America®, offers 11 certification programs, which are accredited by the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA). To earn certification, Brown, Burke, and Byrne attended the recent ICBA Commercial Lending Institute and successfully completed the certification examinations covering the analytical processes needed to be an effective Commercial Lender.
Patricia Brown, Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer – West Market
Brown began her career with ChoiceOne in 1996 as a Teller and progressed through the organization to Branch Manager in 2011, Vice President Regional Branch Manager and CRA Officer in 2015, and to her current position as Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer in 2018.
Brown has a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Management from Baker College, Muskegon. She also graduated from the Michigan Bankers Association Perry School of Banking, Lansing and the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.
Active in the communities she serves, Brown is currently on the board for Mid-Michigan Banking Group. She formerly served as Treasurer for the Coopersville Area Chamber of Commerce and Secretary for West Michigan CRA Association. Brown was also instrumental in overseeing ChoiceOne’s Partnerships with Muskegon and Newago Counties to launch their Kickstart to Career Child Savings Account programs.
Kayleen Byrne, Commercial Loan Officer – Central Market
With 19 years of banking experience, Byrne joined ChoiceOne in 2021 as a Portfolio Manager. She was promoted to Commercial Loan Officer in 2025. Byrne has a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Finance from Northwood University, Midland. She is also a 2024 graduate of the Leadership Bay County development program offered by the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce in Bay County.
Jacob Burke, Commercial Loan Officer – Central Market
Burke has 11 years of banking experience. He joined ChoiceOne six years ago as the Branch Manager for the Grand Blanc and Farmington Hills branch locations. He progressed to Credit Analyst and to his current position as Commercial Loan Officer in 2025. Burke is a graduate of the Michigan Bankers Association Perry School of Banking.
“With this CCLO certification Trish, Jacob, and Kayleen have demonstrated a mastery of key banking concepts for professional development and to contribute to helping ChoiceOne Bank achieve its business goals and objectives,” said ICBA Group Executive Vice President Lindsay LaNore. “I commend Trish, Jacob, and Kayleen on reaching this milestone in pursuit of lifelong learning.”
About ICBA Education
The goal of ICBA Education is to deliver top-tier education and training to support the nation’s community bankers. In the ever-changing financial services landscape, one constant is certain: the need for community bankers to power their potential through ongoing education and training. We provide community bankers with premier and industry-specific education for every career stage. Our proven, comprehensive curriculum of best-in-class education is offered through multiple delivery channels to fit the needs and busy schedules of today’s community bankers.
About ICBA
The Independent Community Bankers of America® has one mission: to create and promote an environment where community banks flourish. We power the potential of the nation’s community banks through effective advocacy, education, and innovation. As local and trusted sources of credit, America’s community banks leverage their relationship-based business model and innovative offerings to channel deposits into the neighborhoods they serve, creating jobs, fostering economic prosperity, and fueling their customers’ financial goals and dreams. For more information, visit ICBA’s website at icba.org.
About ChoiceOne
ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. is a financial holding company headquartered in Sparta, Michigan, with assets over $4 billion, and the parent corporation of ChoiceOne Bank. Member FDIC. ChoiceOne Bank operates 56 offices in West, Central and Southeast Michigan. ChoiceOne Bank offers insurance and investment products through its subsidiary, ChoiceOne Insurance Agencies, Inc. ChoiceOne Financial Services, Inc. common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “COFS.” For more information, please visit Investor Relations at ChoiceOne’s website choiceone.bank.