“Our grand opening festivities brought out so many different people,” Ryan Carter, a specialist with their community outreach team, said. “We got to hear from existing members thrilled to have a location closer to home, and people meeting us for the first time were excited to learn how easy it is to become a member.”

Offering the same products available at the credit union’s Midland headquarters, the team at 5420 Gratiot Road began welcoming new members a month ago during the facility’s soft opening.

Chief Financial Officer Sanjay Ahluwalia believes many in the community identified the credit union as their best option to maximize earnings. As of September, the award-winning institution’s high-yield savings account carries annual percentage yields (APY) up to seven times the national savings average’s APY, according to NerdWallet. Furthermore, Dow Credit Union’s certificate of deposit (CD) rates ranked among the best in the nation, earning recent accolades from Business Insider, Investopedia, and The Wall Street Journal.

“As a credit union, we are member-owned, and as such we can return value directly to our members, rather than to Wall Street shareholders,” Ahluwalia said. “We have developed a loyal member base over many years that has in turn created a very efficient cost structure for us. This means we can provide our members with better rates than they would find elsewhere.”

In addition to favorable rates, branch manager Emily Migut believes the credit union’s Member Giveback program on eligible products was instrumental in recent successes. For decades, Dow Credit Union has marked the end of the fiscal year by returning a board-approved percentage of annual earnings to members through rebates and rewards. Though never guaranteed, the board has approved a giveback every year since 1980, awarding $14 million to members in 2022 alone.

The Great Lakes Bay Region-based credit union presently serves over 80,000 members and boasts assets of over $2.1 billion. Though originally established for Dow employees, membership in the institution is now accessible to everyone through different membership options.“

Just like any new home, we want to share our home with you,” CEO Michael Goad said. “We invite you to come in, see our new branch, and meet our team. Let us show you what Dow Credit Union can do for you and your family.”

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Tri-Star was founded in 2000 with Larry Preston, Tim Clark, and Gene Pickelman joining forces to create a wealth management firm that offered comprehensive financial planning, total objectivity, and a desire to be integrated into the communities that it served. Preston, Clark, and Pickelman believed in the mission of simplifying life by creating wealth solutions through understanding. The foresight of these three individuals led to creating a firm that has grown to 4 locations and a team of 54 community-minded individuals serving over 2,000 clients.

“I have worked with Gene since the beginning,” shares Tri-Star’s Board Chair, Mark Flegenheimer. “He began his career as a founder and President and was named President and CEO in 2019. Under his leadership, we created a caring, loving workplace culture filled with opportunity, growth, and development. He keeps the client at the center of it all and creates win-win-win relationships. I have always valued his commitment to clients, the community, and all of Tri-Star’s stakeholders.”

While Gene will be stepping down from his day-to-day leadership role at Tri-Star, he will continue to provide guidance and support through various other avenues. In retirement, Gene will remain on Tri-Star Trust’s Board of Directors, be a significant shareholder, and continue serving as the Tri-Star Charitable Foundation’s President, of which he was a founding member. Gene will also continue to be a champion for the communities Tri-Star serves.

“Tri-Star’s success is a team effort. It has been my honor and privilege to work alongside our dedicated and caring team, building relationships with world-class strategic partners, developing our emerging leaders, and creating a culture that has led to an 85% employee satisfaction rating and 99% client retention,” said Pickelman. “In preparation for my succession, we have cultivated and developed a solid leadership team to be the foundation of our future. The Board and I have selected Pavel Konecny, current Chief Financial Officer and Chief Investment Officer, as President and CEO, effective January 1, 2024.”

Konecny joined Tri-Star in June 2018 as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In his nearly 5 years with Tri-Star, he has taken on the additional role of Chief Investment Officer as well as overseeing IT, Human Resources, and market growth developments. In addition, he has proven to embody Tri-Star’s higher purpose of building caring, genuine relationships that strengthen families and the community.

Before joining Tri-Star, Konecny served as Corporate Treasurer at Chemical Bank. He received his bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Marketing Management and his Master of Business Administration from Northwood University. He also holds a CFA designation. Konecny lives in Midland with his wife, Jana, and their son, Benjamin. He serves on the Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance, and the Midland Country Club finance committee. He is a graduate of Leadership Saginaw and Leadership Midland.

“Tri-Star has changed me,” shares Pavel Konecny. “The people here are different. I feel it. We care deeply, listen intently, and go above and beyond to serve our clients, the community, and each other. I am honored to have been selected as Tri-Star’s next President and CEO. From operations to client interactions to our Board of Directors, Tri-Star’s success is a team effort. The Strategic Team and I are committed to the mission and vision of Tri-Star and will continue to build on our strong foundation.”

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“This is an exciting opportunity to partner with the Farnsworth family,” said Richard J. Garber, President of Garber Management Group. “Our commitment to the staff, customers, and community are perfectly aligned. We look forward to working with Randy and Alexandra to continue to serve the Canandaigua community for many years to come.”

“Joining the Garber Automotive Group was a natural fit for us given the Garber family’s history, longevity, and reputation as a family-owned business,” said Randy Farnsworth, owner of Farnsworth Chevrolet and Randall Buick GMC Cadillac. “They will provide resources and opportunities that will benefit our associates and exceed the expectations of our sales and service customers in Canandaigua, Rochester, the Finger Lakes, and beyond. We could not be more excited about our organization’s future.”

The Randall Farnsworth Auto Group is a family-owned business that has served the Canandaigua community since 1917. Randy Farnsworth will be staying on as Executive Manager of Garber Randall Chevrolet, while Alexandra Farnsworth will be the Executive Manager of Garber Randall Buick GMC and Garber Randall Cadillac.

Garber Automotive Group has been family owned and operated since 1907 and is based out of Saginaw, Michigan. Garber Management Group is the umbrella organization for 24 new-car dealerships that represent 17 franchises across six states.

Garber Randall Chevrolet will continue to serve the Canandaigua community at 2350 Rochester Rd. and Garber Randall Buick GMC and Garber Randall Cadillac will continue to operate at 5375 Thomas Road.

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According the the CMURC website, the program will help members develop a custom work plan, designed to accelerate their business with trackable milestones. They will engage in monthly workshops with peer discussions to build community connections, develop skills, and collaborate with other program participants, and they will have the opportunity to network with executives, local business owners, and community members.

Businesses will be promoted across multiple sectors that make up the CMURC membership ecosystem and members will have access to technical assistance that supports the continued growth of Black owned businesses.

To be eligible for the Lift ME program, participants must identify as Black and must own a for profit, pre-established businesses within Saginaw. Franchisees or businesses affiliated with a national chain are not eligible for this program.

To apply, fill out the online form on CMURC’s website. Applications close on March 31.

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