Directors › Fortress Bank

Lee H. Garlach

Chairman of the Board, President of First State Bancorporation, Inc.

Lee is the Chairman and CEO of Fortress Bank and principal shareholder, key organizer and President of the Bank’s parent company, First State Bancorporation, Inc. He is responsible for the strategic planning for the Bank and for the development of the Bank’s activities in its northern markets. Lee is an entrepreneur with considerable experience in the merger, acquisition and operations of small businesses. His experience in banking includes working as a bank and bank holding company examiner for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and as an accountant and loan review specialist for a Denver CPA firm. He is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Finance degree from the University of Wyoming. Lee received his master’s degree from the University of Denver.

Andrew J. Bastert

Regional President, Fortress Bank

Andy is Fortress Bank’s Western Illinois Regional President. Andy’s lending career began over 30 years ago as a loan officer for Mississippi Valley Production Credit Association. After five years with the Farm Credit System, he joined the Carthage branch of First Midwest Bank which would soon become part of First State Bank and later served as senior vice president overseeing the lending function. Andy obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from Western Illinois University and is a graduate of the Madison Graduate School of Banking. Andy is a long time trustee of the Carthage Public Library District and also serves on the boards of the Hancock County Health Department, Western Illinois Community Development Corporation, and Carthage School Foundation and the Hancock County Development Corporation.

Dean A. Heinzmann

President, Fortress Bank

Dean is the President of Fortress Bank, responsible for the leadership of the Bank and for the development of the Bank’s activities in Central Illinois, with a focus on the Peoria market. Additionally, Heinzmann is Executive Vice President and Director of First State Bancorporation, Inc., which is the holding company for Fortress Bank. He served as an organizer of the holding company in connection with its acquisition of the Bank in 2008. Prior to 2008, Dean served as Senior Vice President and Division Manager for LaSalle Bank National Association (acquired by Bank of America) and Senior Vice President of Bank One Illinois, N.A. (currently JP Morgan Chase). A graduate of the University of Illinois (B.S. Finance) and Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville (MBA), Dean’s community activities include Metropolitan Airport Authority of Peoria, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Illinois, Lutheran Hillside Village, FC Peoria and Heart of Illinois United Way.

Jay Morrison

Corn & Soybean Farmer

Jay worked in banking for 29 years. He started his career in 1984 as a loan officer at State Bank of LaHarpe. In 1994 he went to State Bank of Colusa as Vice President and Loan Officer. He later became Executive Vice President and then President. In 2008 State Bank of Colusa merged with First State Bank and Jay continued working in Colusa and Carthage until 2013. At that time, he decided to go from farming part time to full time. Jay graduated from Western Illinois University with a degree in Ag Business. He served on the board of directors of State Bank of Colusa, First State Bank of Western Illinois and LaMoine Bancorp, Inc. He presently serves on the board of directors of Western Illinois Electrical Cooperative and McDonough Telephone Cooperative. Jay is also a volunteer fireman for the Colusa Fire Department.

George Morrison

Grain & Cattle Farmer

George is a corn, soybean and cattle farmer in Bowen, IL and has been for 36 years. He attended Southeastern Community College and Western Illinois University. Mr. Morrison has served on numerous boards including those for the Chili Park District, Rock Creek Township, Hancock Grain Company, West Central FS, Memorial Hospital and Hancock County Nursing Home. He served as a Director for the State Bank of Colusa for 33 years before the merger with First State Bank of Illinois in 2008.

P. Joseph O'Neill

Chief Executive Officer, G & D Integrated

Joe is the CEO of G & D Integrated, a logistics firm in Morton, Illinois, providing supply chain management services to heavy industry including Caterpillar and Komatsu. Mr. O’Neill is a graduate of Creighton University School of Business and Creighton University School of Law. He has served on various non-profit boards throughout his business career, including the St. Vincent de Paul Education Commission, Lakeview Museum, Catholic Charities, Methodist Hospital and Illinois Valley Public Telecommunications, Inc. (the local public TV station for Central Illinois).

Max Rodeffer, DMD

Dentist

Max has been practicing dentistry in Hamilton, IL for 20 years. He received his undergraduate degree in Biology and his DMD from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Dr. Rodeffer is an avid golfer, a member of Saint Peter and Paul Church in Nauvoo and serves on the board for the Hancock County Health Department where he was involved in establishing their dental clinic.

Charles Weaver

Partner, Development & Construction Company

Chuck received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from Bradley University and his Law Degree from DePaul University. He was first Chief Operating Officer and then President of Weaver Enterprise, a Kentucky Fried Chicken Franchisee from 1985-2003. During that time he was elected President of the American Kentucky Fried Chicken Franchisee Association. Mr. Weaver is currently a partner in Peoria Builders, one of Peoria’s largest residential development and construction companies. He is currently the Chairman of the United States Polo Association and is also immediate past Chairman of the three state Heartland Region Young Life Committee.

Robert Larsen

CFO, Von Maur

Bob has been the CFO for Von Maur since 2008. He graduated from Iowa State University and worked as a CPA with McGladrey & Pullen in both Dubuque and the Quad Cities before joining Von Maur. Bob has been a very active volunteer in the Quad City communities serving on the boards of the John Deere Classic, Genventures, Inc., Niabi Zoo, and Short Hills Country Club to name just a few. His wife, Karen, is the Business Manager at Seaton High School and they have three children, Blake, Garrett, and Mackenzie.