This month, Dave Rose, Market President of Porter County Indiana, announced his retirement from Horizon Bank after serving the company for 37 years. Rose, a recent winner of the prestigious, Sagamore of the Wabash award, has experienced a storied and illustrious career with Horizon Bank and in the communities which he has served.
Rose received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance from Indiana University in 1980 and, afterward, he started his banking career with Horizon. In those 37 years, Rose has served in the capacity of Senior Auditor, Senior Operations Officer, Senior Retail Officer and most recently as Market President.
Ever serving as a champion of working to make local business into community partners, Rose promoted a “give back” mentality with those around him, both personally and professionally. Whether working with fellow employees, community members, or local businesses, he has always been the first to roll up his sleeves and help in any community project.
Not only has Rose had a tremendous impact on many local businesses and community organizations which he has served over the years, but he’s also made an impression on those who have worked alongside him at Horizon. Some of Rose’s Horizon Bank colleagues took some time to convey their thoughts on Rose and the legacy he leaves behind.
Horizon Bank Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Craig Dwight, said, “Dave and I have both worked together as peers for over 30 plus years at Horizon Bank. Dave was a loyal, hardworking and thoughtful leader for Horizon Bank throughout his 38 years of service. In addition, he was always looking for the good in every situation and his positive, can-do attitude was always appreciated.”
“Dave was a past recipient of Horizon’s Burton B. Ruby Community Service Award, which is the highest honor given by Horizon Bank to an employee who serves their community through demonstrated leadership, volunteerism and contributions,” Dwight added. “Dave has always enjoyed volunteering and is one of those volunteers who keeps his commitment both in time and in dollars. Dave’s volunteer efforts often placed him in leadership positions with the not-for-profit entities that he served. More recently Dave was honored by receiving the Sagamore of the Wabash recognition from Governor Eric Holcomb. Porter County and Northwest Indiana is truly fortunate to claim Dave and Linda Rose as one of their own. We wish Dave and his family good health, happiness and wonderful travels in their retirement.”
Michael E Sarver, Portage Branch Manager, worked alongside Rose for 16 years growing the Porter County market.
“It has been a real pleasure working with Dave over the years,” said Sarver. “Dave led by example and his community involvement showed me how important it was to be an advocate for the communities in which we live and work. Dave’s commitment to the community has inspired me over the years to be more involved with nonprofits and various community organizations. Dave has worked very hard over the years, and he deserves a fabulous retirement with his family.”
Carla Kanney, Senior VP of Retail Banking, has partnered with Rose in various roles over the last 25 years at Horizon Bank, saying, “Dave managed the support areas of the bank while I managed the branches. Total opposite sides of the spectrum of serving customers, but he was always willing to put the customer first when working through challenges. He was my direct supervisor eventually for many years in working with the branches. We built new branches in many different markets, we worked acquisitions together across different markets, and in any capacity Dave worked side by side with team members.”
“He has a creative streak that definitely knows how to bring laughter into a discussion,” reflected Kanney. “Dave thinks outside the box and he brought fresh perspectives into discussion – sometimes some really off the wall ideas that could silence the room. Dave is a loyal friend, brings his heart with him, and extends a helping hand across all business lines. He leaves Horizon as a legend and supplied us with great stories to tell for years.”
Looking back on his career, Rose says, “Working for one outstanding financial institution like Horizon, its committed employees, and communities that we serve for almost four decades is truly a rare opportunity that I will never forget and will always continue to support.”
Rose is very active in the communities around him. He currently serves on the Boards of Porter Regional Hospital, Porter County Community Foundation and Valparaiso Economic Development Commission. Rose has served on the Board of Directors of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce, Boy Scouts of America Calumet District, United Way of Porter County, Dollars for Scholars, Porter Starke Services, Valparaiso Rotary, John G. Blank Center for the Arts, and the Michigan City Redevelopment Commission. He is the past recipient of several distinguished awards, including the Valparaiso Community Leader of the Year, Horizon's John A. Garrettson Leadership and Burton B. Ruby Community Service Awards.
As for the next chapter for Rose, he says he plans to spend a great deal of time traveling and looking for new opportunities to support our communities.