The Akron Legal News

Van Buskirk to retire in 2014 as head of Ohio Bankers League; Adelman new CEO

RICK ADAMCZAK
Special to the Legal News
Published: September 27, 2012

Bankers generally are known as cautious and conservative, making each move deliberately, so it should come as little surprise that Ohio Bankers League President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Van Buskirk gave his board of directors fair notice of his planned retirement date.

Make that a lot of notice. Fifteen years, in fact.

Van Buskirk said he told the board 15 years ago of his plans to retire. Now he’s made it official and has made it public — well ahead of time, too.

Van Buskirk will retire from the post he will have held for 22 years effective Dec. 31, 2013.

On Jan. 1, 2014 Michael Adelman, the Bankers League vice president of state government relations for the past nine years, will take over as president and CEO.

Until then Adelman, who was chosen among several good internal candidates, according to Van Buskirk, will serve as executive vice president and chief operating officer during the transition.

“The OBL must serve an important public policy role federally and in Ohio to help construct a real safety net that will prevent abuse and allow the state’s FDIC-insured banks to effectively and efficiently play their role as a financial catalyst of the state’s economic recovery. Mike Adelman’s professional background has prepared him very well to head that effort,” said Van Buskirk.

As vice president of state government relations Adelman has been the industry’s point person with the Ohio legislative and executive officials.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with dedicated bankers during my career and look forward to a larger role in helping them serve their customers and communities. The OBL has a talented professional staff embarking on exciting initiatives that will seize tremendous opportunities for banks and thrifts across our state,” Adelman said.

For Van Buskirk, his retirement ends a tenure that’s included many changes and challenges in the state’s banking industry, not the least of which was the financial crisis that struck in 2007, and to some extent still lingers.

“I majored in economics in college and that went beyond anything in theory. It showed the strength of Ohio’s banking industry, but I hope no one has to go through that again. A lot of people got hurt,” he said.

While there’s plenty of blame to go around, Van Buskirk directs much of it toward Washington D.C.

“Congress still has failed to change the structure (of bank regulations) to protect the consumer and the industry. It’s still hamstrung the good guys,” he said. “A good deal of the blame is at Congress’ feet.”

In fact, when the crisis hit the OBL board asked Van Buskirk to reconsider his retirement plans, thinking they didn’t want to undergo such a significant change during uncertain times.

“But we’re seeing some light on the horizon. I feel pretty good about the organization and the industry,” he said.

Van Buskirk says he’s enjoyed his time leading the state’s top banking advocacy organization and banking is still very close to his heart.

“I was always interested in banking. It’s corny but I always felt it was an opportunity to make a difference. Driving around your hometown you see stuff there that wouldn’t have been there without a banker,” he said.

“I believe that banks are a unique institution because they have a vested interest in the health of (the local economy).”

He said he’s enjoyed the “hands-on” relationship he’s had with the state’s bankers over the years.

“I’ve had a lot of joys helping (bankers) help their customers,” Van Buskirk said.

After graduating from The Ohio State University and then earning his master’s degree from Georgetown University he remained in Washington to work in Congress, namely with the banking committee.

He eventually went to work for Bank One in Central Ohio and then for a West Coast company where he consulted on banking initiatives.

Known as the Ohio Bankers Association back then, the group’s search committee recommended Van Buskirk to become its next president, even though he was hesitant because he had no experience directly working for an association before accepting the job.

“I had some ideas about how to make this co-op more useful to the industry ... and Columbus was home,” he said.

As for 2014 and his golden years? That’s yet-to-be-determined, he said, though he will devote more time to charity work.

Meanwhile, Adelman will take over with much experience in the organization, including the development of the Next Generation Advisory Board, a group of 19 young banking professionals, nominated by the state’s banks.

The group conducts research and develops recommendations for the OBL board.

Areas of emphasis include identifying and recruiting Ohio’s best young talent for careers in banking and developing bankers to be effective leaders in their communities.

Before joining the OBL Adelman served in a number of budget and policy leadership positions in state government.

He received his master’s degree in public administration and bachelor of arts degree from Ohio University. He also is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin.

Adelman is a trustee of the Community Capital Development Corp., a member of the advisory committee of Ohio University’s Voinovich Center for Leadership and Public Affairs, and an advisor to Ohio United Way.

He lives in Columbus with his wife and three daughters.

[Back]