Tower Bank Logo

Access ID: 

Help | Demo

Access ID: 

Help | Demo

Board of Directors

Keith E. Busse

Keith E. Busse

Chairman, Tower Financial Corporation Board
Chairman, Tower Bank & Trust Company Board
President and CEO, Steel Dynamics, Inc.

Keith E. Busse is Chairman of the Board of Tower Financial Corporation and Tower Bank & Trust Company where he has been a member since the founding of the company in 1998. He is also Chairman and CEO of Steel Dynamics, Inc., a company he founded with two colleagues in 1993. From the time of its founding until May 2007, he served as President and CEO. He has been a director of the company since it went public in November 1996.

Mr. Busse holds a B.A. in business finance from Saint Francis College and an MBA from Indiana University. He has been awarded an honorary doctorate in business by the University of Saint Francis and an honorary doctorate of engineering from Purdue University. He is the recipient of numerous steel industry awards, including the Association of Steel Distributors’ “Steel Man of the Year” award in 2004, the Association of Iron and Steel Technology’s “Steel Maker of the Year” award in 2005, and the Steel Manufacturers Association’s Iverson-Selig Award in 2006 for outstanding contributions to the mini-mill industry.

Michael D. Cahill

Michael D. Cahill

President and CEO, Tower Financial Corporation
President and CEO, Tower Bank & Trust
Tower Financial Corporation Board Member
Tower Bank & Trust Company Board Member

Michael D. Cahill is the President and CEO of the Company. Mr. Cahill served as Executive Vice President of the Company from November 2004 to July 2008, and Chief Operating Officer of the Company from October 2006 to July 2008. Mr. Cahill is also Chief Executive Officer and President of our subsidiary, Tower Bank and Trust. From June 2004 to April 2007, Mr. Cahill also served as Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Mr. Cahill has over 20 years of senior financial management experience. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Cahill served as Chief Financial Officer for Physicians Health Plan of Indiana, CB Richard Ellis/Sturges and Northill Corporation. Mr. Cahill has served on the Tower Financial Corporation Board since 2007.

Kathryn D. Callen

Kathryn D. Callen

Trustee, University of St. Francis
Tower Financial Corporation Board Member
Tower Trust Company Board Member

Kathryn D. Callen is currently a member of the Board of Trustees at the University of Saint Francis, a position she has held since October 2000. Prior to this position, Ms. Callen served as Vice President of The Lutheran Health Foundation until 1994. Ms. Callen is a former President of Summcorp Financial Services, Inc. and a former member of the Board of Directors of Summcorp and Summit Bank in Fort Wayne.

Scott Glaze

Scott Glaze

Chairman and CEO, Fort Wayne Metals Research Products Corporation
Tower Financial Corporation Board Member
Tower Bank & Trust Company Board Member

Scott Glaze is Chairman and CEO of Fort Wayne Metals Research Products Corporation. He has been involved in national and international standards organizations for medical materials. Fort Wayne Metals has become the world's leading manufacturer of wire for the medical device industry. Mr. Glaze is a director of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, the Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance and the Northeast Indiana Corporate Council. Glaze also exhibits dedication to the Fort Wayne community through his involvement in the redevelopment efforts downtown and his membership on the board of the Downtown Improvement District.

Jerome F. Henry Jr.

Jerome F. Henry Jr.

President, Midwest Pipe and Steel Corporation
Tower Financial Corporation Board Member
Tower Bank & Trust Company Board Member

Jerome F. Henry, Jr. founded and is the President of Midwest Pipe & Steel, Inc., a company specializing in steel service, industrial scrap and steel brokerage. Mr. Henry has held this position since 1975. Mr. Henry is also President of Paragon Tube Corporation, a manufacturer of steel tubing, and Paragon Steel Trading, Inc., a distributor of steel coils. Each company is headquartered in Fort Wayne. He has held these respective positions since 1990 and 1995.

Leon Horn

Leon Horn

CFO, Grossnickle Eye Center
Tower Trust Company Board Member

Leon Horn is CFO of Grossnickle Eye Center. He also serves as CFO for Hand Industries, Inc, and he owned and operated a tax accounting practice for thirteen years. Mr. Horn taught business and math for seven years in Warsaw, Indiana. He is presently involved on the Board of Directors of Hand Industries, Inc., Board of Directors of Paragon Medical, Inc, Grace Village Retirement Home Board, and North Winona Brethren Church Board and Finance Committee.

Debra A. Niezer

Debra A. Niezer

COO and Treasurer, AALCO Distributing Company, Inc.
Tower Financial Corporation Board Member
Tower Trust Company Board Member

Debra A. Niezer has been the Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer of AALCO Distributing Company, a beer distributor in Fort Wayne, since January 2002. Prior to that time, beginning in April 1995, Ms. Niezer was Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of AALCO. From January 1989 to March 1995, Ms. Niezer served as Vice President and Employee Benefits Officer for NBD Bank, Indiana in Fort Wayne.

William G. Niezer

William G. Niezer

Managing Director, Wells Fargo Insurance Services
Tower Financial Corporation Board Member
Tower Bank & Trust Company Board Member

William G. Niezer is the Managing Director of the Fort Wayne operations of Wells Fargo Insurance Services, an insurance broker, a position he has held since February 2007. Mr. Niezer previously served as Managing Director of Acordia of Indiana, LLC, from September 1997 to February 2007.

Joseph D. Ruffolo

Joseph D. Ruffolo

Member, Ruffolo Benson LLC
Tower Financial Corporation Board Member
Tower Bank & Trust Company Board Member

Joseph D. Ruffolo has been a member of Ruffolo Benson LLC, a business investment firm located in Fort Wayne, since 1993. Ruffolo Benson LLC specializes in management buy-outs, capital sourcing and acquisitions. Mr. Ruffolo is also a director of Steel Dynamics, Inc.

Donald F. Schenkel

Donald F. Schenkel

Vice President of University Relations, University of St. Francis
Tower Financial Corporation Board Member
Tower Bank & Trust Company Board Member
Tower Trust Company Board Member

Donald F. Schenkel is currently Vice President of University Relations for the University of St. Francis. He previously served as Chairman of the Board of Tower Financial Corporation and Tower Bank & Trust from October 1998 until his retirement in December 2009. Mr. Schenkel also served as President and CEO of the Corporation from July 1998 to July 2008 and President and CEO of the Bank from October 1998 to October 2006. He is a native of Fort Wayne and has more than 40 years of experience in the banking industry. Prior to joining Tower Financial Corporation, he served as First Vice President of NBD Bank, Indiana. From 1993 to 1998, he served as Division Head of Retail Banking and Private Banking & Investments for NBD Bank, Indiana.

Gary D. Shearer

Gary D. Shearer

President and CEO, Tower Trust Company
Tower Trust Company Board Member

Gary D. Shearer has been an Executive Vice President of the Company and the President of Tower Trust Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company since January 2006. From January 2001 to December 2005 he served as the Senior Vice President and Trust Officer of the Bank. From August 1999 to December 2000 he served as Vice President and Trust Officer of the Bank. Mr. Shearer has over 20 years of banking and trust experience. From 1994 to 1999, Mr. Shearer served as Vice President and Investment Officer at Fort Wayne National Bank and Vice President and Regional Trust Manager at National City Bank of Indiana.

Kim T. Stacey

Kim T. Stacey

Chairman, Tower Trust Company Board

Kim T. Stacey is Chairman of the Board of Tower Trust Company and a retired Tower Bank team member with 37 years of trust experience. He holds a J.D. degree from Northern Kentucky State University, and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Cincinnati. Mr. Stacey’s community service has included numerous Not-for-Profit Boards. Presently he serves on the Allen County Parks and Recreation Board.

Kathleen M. Summers

Kathleen M. Summers

Board Member Canterbury School Foundation
Tower Trust Company Board Member

Kathleen M. Summers is a Board Member of the Canterbury School Foundation. Ms. Summers is a long standing member of the Fort Wayne Community. She is a community champion, having volunteered with the Fort Wayne Museum of Art, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and Canterbury School. Additionally, Ms. Summers served on the board of directors of Summers & Co., a Fort Wayne based Municipal Bond Brokerage house, founded by Homer B. & Thomas B. Summers.

Charles Surack

Charles Surack

President, Sweetwater Sound
Tower Financial Corporation Board Member
Tower Bank & Trust Company Board Member

Charles Surack is President and Founder of Sweetwater Sound. Mr. Surack, a dedicated member of the Fort Wayne community, started Sweetwater in 1979 and has since been recognized worldwide as a leader in the field of electronic music. He is a consultant to many major university music departments and has a wide range of community involvement. Mr. Surack serves on the boards of Fort Wayne Philharmonic, United Performing Arts Foundation, IPFW Community Advisory Board and is University of Saint Francis Advisory Committee Chairperson within the School of Creative Arts.

Robert N. Taylor

Robert N. Taylor

President and CEO, Do It Best Corp.
Tower Financial Corporation Board Member
Tower Bank & Trust Company Board Member

Robert N. Taylor is President and CEO of Do It Best Corp. Mr. Taylor served on the Do It Best Corp. board of directors from 1995 to 2000 and was appointed President and CEO in 2002. He is passionate about giving back to the community, which he demonstrates through his involvement in the Fort Wayne Park Foundation, Northeast Indiana Corporate Council, Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Downtown BluePrint Plus Committee and the Baseball+ Committee. Mr. Taylor also spent many years involved in charitable efforts for the United Way and the American Cancer Society.

John V. Tippmann, Sr.

John V. Tippmann, Sr.

Chairman, Tippmann Group
Tower Financial Corporation Board Member

John V. Tippmann, Sr. is Chairman of the Tippmann Group, a position he has held since 1985. The Tippmann Group, through its three subsidiaries, operates frozen/refrigerated distribution warehouses, specializes in the design and construction of frozen food process and cold storage facilities, and manages many commercial buildings and properties throughout the Midwest.

Irene A. Walters

Irene A. Walters

Executive Director University Relations and Communications IPFW
Tower Financial Corporation Board Member
Tower Bank & Trust Company Board Member

Irene A. Walters is the Executive Director of University Relations and Communications at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. Ms. Walters has held this position since 1995. Prior to that time, from 1990 to 1995, Ms. Walters was the Executive Director of the Fort Wayne Bicentennial Celebration Council.

Dave Widenhofer

David B. Widenhofer

Executive Director - Retired, Concordia Lutheran High School
Tower Trust Company Board Member

David B. Widenhofer is the Retired Executive Director of Concordia Lutheran High School. Mr. Widenhofer spent 40 years in education as a teacher and executive leader. He currently serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors for Ronald McDonald’s House Charities of Northeast Indiana and has served as Board Chairman. He is presently involved as a Consultant for Lutheran schools.