Fidelity Bank is making changes to key leadership

roles following its most protable scal year to date.

Fourth-generation family member and bank leader
Aaron Bastian has moved into the position of chief
executive ofcer of Oklahoma Fidelity Bank. Wichita
commercial business lending manager Jeff Ronen
has been promoted to replace Bastian as president of
Oklahoma Fidelity Bank.
These changes are made with an eye to the future and will position
us to build on our record performance, said Clark Bastian, chairman
and chief executive ofcer of Fidelity Bank. We expect additional growth
in Oklahoma under the leadership of Aaron and Jeff.
In his new role, Aaron Bastian will focus on long-term strategic
initiatives for Oklahoma Fidelity Bank. In just 10 years in the
Oklahoma City metro area, we have made great strides in our retail,
consumer lending and commercial banking divisions, said Aaron
Bastian. However, we must continually evaluate the ways we support
our customers and the products we offer. This means understanding the
challenges that business owners face and ensuring they have access to
comprehensive cash management, credit and capital solutions.
Ronen brings a background of banking, corporate capital
development and small business ownership to Oklahoma Fidelity Bank.
Ronen will oversee the administration and daily operations of the banks
six-ofce market presence. Our Oklahoma division has experienced
tremendous growth under Aarons leadership, Ronen said. Im honored
to continue the work and lead the great team he put in place. With the
foundation we have, the future is very bright.
The leadership role transitions have begun and will be fully completed
by August.
Aaron Bastian
The Boards of Directors of both the Altus Chamber
of Commerce and the Altus Southwest Area Economic
Development Corporation recently selected Brian Bush,
of Edmond, to serve as the new Chamber of Commerce
CEO, where he will serve simultaneously as head of the
economic development efforts. In addition to managing
the operations of the Chamber of Commerce, Bush will
work closely with community, educational and business
leaders to further the economic growth of Altus and create
an environment where businesses can succeed.
Bush was born and raised in Altus and earned his bachelors degree
from Harding University and a law degree from the University of
Oklahoma. His career includes public service as an assistant district
attorney in Oklahoma County under Wes Lane, small business experience
as an attorney in Norman, and private higher education experience as
assistant dean of students at Harding University in Searcy, Ark.
He also has taken on volunteer roles in the Edmond community,
including with the Edmond Area Chamber of Commerce, youth sports
leagues and he has served as a member of The Edmond Suns Community
Editorial Board.
I am honored and excited to be selected to lead the Altus Chamber
and the communitys economic development efforts. No matter where
my education or my career has taken me over the last several years, I
have always called Altus home, and it is an honor to come home to help
the community that has given me so much, Bush said. Altus has all of
the components needed to grow its economy, including great schools,
strong support for our Air Force base, a resilient agriculture sector and
committed business leaders who give us all a better quality of life through
their hard work.
I look forward to working with the community to put together a
program to grow our local businesses and create new ones, Bush said. My
wife and I are thrilled that we will have the opportunity to raise our children
here.
Bush has a 12-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter. He and his wife,
Becca will be moving to Altus as soon as possible. He was expected to start
in his position July 1.
Bush takes on Altus chamber role
Fidelity Bank announces leadership changes
BUSINESS BRIEFS
Diana Vermeire, an Of Counsel attorney with
GableGotwals, has been named to Lawyers of
Colors Second Annual Hot List, which recognizes
early- to mid-career minority attorneys working as
in-house counsel, government attorneys, and law rm
associates and partners.
Vermeire is an attorney with extensive experience
in the corporate and nonprot sectors. Her practice includes state and
federal litigation; administrative, regulatory and legislative advocacy;
policy analysis and management for a diverse client group. Ms. Vermeire
has experience representing clients in the area of compliance review
and providing external reviews for companies that includes an analysis
of workplace policies and procedures, identifying areas of exposure for
potential litigation and offering solutions that not only ensure compliance,
but also the adoption of better corporate practices. Vermeires practice
also involves issues related to privacy and First Amendment matters as well
as government relations and representing clients with policy makers in
order to negotiate compromises that are best for all parties.
The honorees were chosen through a two-pronged process. The
selection committee spent months reviewing nominations and researching
bar association publications and legal blogs in order to identify promising
candidates. Nominations from mentors, peers and colleagues were
accepted. The selection committee also made editorial picks of attorneys
who had noteworthy accomplishments, especially those active in legal
pipeline initiatives.
Vermeire named to Lawyers of Colors 2014 Hot List Mercy Clinic in Oklahoma announces new chief operating ofcer
Mercy in Oklahoma strengthened its commitment
to patients on the frontline of clinic care with the
appointment of Gary Jepson as the Chief Operating
Ofcer of Mercy Clinic.
Jepson previously worked as the Chief Executive
Ofcer for Progressive Health System in Illinois and will
be responsible for 65 Mercy Clinics across Oklahoma.
Our clinics are often the rst contact with patients and Mercy is
committed to making that initial patient interaction a rst step in a
lifelong relationship of caring. That commitment starts at the top with
quality administrators like Gary Jepson, said Dr. Cullen Thomas, Mercy
Clinic President. Garys extensive experience in this region of the
country makes him an ideal choice to lead our vital clinic operations.
Jepson earned his Masters in Health Administration from Trinity
University in San Antonio, Texas after completing a degree in Business
Administration from Walla Walla University in College Place,
Washington. He is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare
Executives and has served on many council and advisory boards during
his career. His career has also included a variety of health administration
positions throughout Oklahoma and Texas.
Gary Jepson
Brian Bush
Diana Vermeire
July 2014
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The Business Times 28