MCCF News

Ron Zeltwanger Receives Leader of the Year Award from Leadership Marshall County

(left to right) Ron Zeltwanger, 2009 Leader of the Year, and Chris Eberly, Chair, Leadership Marshall County Board

5/13/09 - Leadership Marshall County (LMC), a program of the Marshall County Community Foundation and the United Way of Marshall County, presented Mr. Ronald W. Zeltwanger with the first Leader of the Year Award on May 13, 2009. The award is in recognition of his outstanding leadership in Marshall County, his passion for community service, his ability to encourage, develop, motivate and influence people, and his ability to identify and address community problems.

Mr. Zeltwanger currently serves as the Regional President, Community Banking Division at 1st Source Bank. In that capacity he is responsible for managing nine branches (five located in Marshall County) and approximately 80 employees. In 2006 Ron was recognized with the Ernestine M. Raclin Community Leadership Award. Mrs. Raclin, chairman emeritus of 1st Source Bank, strongly demonstrated the spirit of volunteerism throughout her career. The award was established to recognize others who have created an atmosphere where volunteerism is support and encouraged. Prior to joining the bank in December 2001, Ron served as Senior Vice President at Wm. Leman Company for 11 years and as Vice-President at Farmers State Bank of Wyatt for four years.

LMC Class XIV member, Nicole (Niki) Clemons nominated Mr. Zeltwanger for the award. Niki serves as a Client Services Specialist at the 1st Source Bank Plymouth Banking Center. In her nomination she wrote: "Ron Zeltwanger demonstrates daily the heart of a servant and a dynamic leader. His passion is not only for his team of employees but for our customers and the communities we serve. I feel that Ron leads his employees, customers, and his community, not by pushing or pulling them along, but by standing beside them and offering his support whenever it is needed. Ron has made 1st Source Bank a great place to work, and Marshall County a great community to live in."

Seven 1st Source Bank Banking Center Managers enthusiastically endorsed Ron's nomination for Leader of the Year. Rene Burton, Argos and Winamac Banking Center Manager said it best: "What makes Ron an exceptional leader is his ability to coach his staff with patience and wisdom, inspiring each one of us to personal growth and service to others. He is full of energy, enthusiasm and fresh ideas which enables him to be a great problem solver and an inspiration to the people he leads. He uses wisdom when correction is needed, not provoking us but challenging us to rise above the circumstances and become part of the solution. Ron's passion for others and for the community is evident in his lifestyle, his family and his relationships with the people he serves.

Mr. Zeltwanger currently serves on the Board of Directors of the United Way of Marshall County. He is a member of their finance committee and financial stability project committee. Ron is also an elder at the Community Gospel Church in Bremen. In the past he has chaired the Bremen Division of the United Way annual campaign and was a board member of Leadership Marshall County from 2004 to 2006. Ron was instrumental in the creation of Jane's Park in Bremen serving on the successful fund raising committee. Among the many other civic and charitable activities Ron has participated in, he was also involved in establishing two endowment funds with the Marshall County Community Foundation: the Three C's Memorial Scholarship and the Michael Charles Albert Scholarship Fund.

After Ron graduated from Bremen High School he attended Purdue University earning a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics degree in May 1982. He continued his education at the Wisconsin Graduate School of Banking in Madison, Wisconsin.

Ron was the guest speaker at the LMC Class XIV graduation on May 13, 2009. At the graduation he was presented with a Leader of the Year plaque of recognition by Mr. Chris Eberly, LMC board chair. He also received an award check in the amount of $500 for the not-for-profit organization of his choice.

For further information contact Jennifer S. Maddox, Executive Director, Leadership Marshall County, c/o Marshall County Community Foundation/United Way of Marshall County, P. O. Box 716, Plymouth, IN 46563, or call (574) 935-5159 or email: LMCinfo@marshallcountycf.org.