gogebic range bank

Gogebic Range Bank (GRB) is a locally owned and operated bank. We make all loan decisions locally at our Ironwood and Bessemer, MI offices. Gogebic Range Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of West End Financial Corporation, a single bank holding company.

GRB opened for business on May 20^th 2002 with $ 3,250,000 in bank capital. Today we have exceeded $ 32,000,000 in bank assets. We are a full service bank with a complete line of deposit and loan products for both consumer and business customers. We also offer full-service brokerage services through PrimeVest Financial Services, Inc.

We currently employ 17 people with total banking and investment experience exceeding 200 years. We have a very dedicated, loyal, and hard working staff that is dedicated to providing the finest and best service to our customers.

We are fast becoming the local leader in all phases of banking.

Our motto is, “Large Enough to Compete, Small Enough to Care.”

	Mr. Neil J. Beckman is President and Chief Executive Officer of West End Financial, Corp. and of Gogebic Range Bank. Mr. Beckman started his banking career in 1991 as a management trainee with Michigan Financial Corporation and has worked as a teller, operations clerk, customer service representative, consumer lender, mortgage lender and commercial lender. Mr. Beckman is active in community organizations, currently serving on the Gogebic County Economic Development Commission, Gogebic County Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors, the Vice President of the Ironwood Industrial Development Corporation, and is the past past president of the Kiwanis Club of Ironwood. Mr. Beckman resides in Ironwood with his daughter, Ashley. Mr. Beckman is a graduate of Luther L. Wright High School and Northern Michigan University and is an eight year Air Force veteran.
	Mr. Michael Sejbl is Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer of Gogebic Range Bank. He brings more than 18 years of banking experience, including loan officer, assistant vice president branch manager of several branch banks, and, most recently as senior vice president commercial loan officer of the M&I Bank in Ashland, Wisconsin. Sejbl is a graduate of J.E. Murphy High School in Hurley and Gogebic Community College, where he received an associate degree in business administration. He is also a graduate of the Commercial Lending School at St. Norbert College in DePere, Wisconsin. He lives in Hurley with his wife, Sheryl, and their three children. Sejbl has been a member of the Hurley Volunteer Fire Department since 1987 and is currently the safety officer.
	Mrs. Judy Pietrocatelli is Operations Officer of Gogebic Range Bank. She brings more than 20 years of banking experience including teller, accounting , and auditing at the former MFC First National Bank of Ironwood, Michigan. Mrs. Pietrocatelli is a graduate of Luther L. Wright High School, Gogebic Community College and Northland College. She has 3 children and four grandchildren.
	Mrs. Cherie LaMarche is our Mortgage Officer. Mrs. LaMarche joined Gogebic Range Bank in May of 2005. She has over 16 years of Banking experience in several different areas including, deposit and loan operations as well as mortgage processing. Mrs. LaMarche is a 1990 graduate of J.E. Murphy High School in Hurley WI and a 1994 graduate of Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College. Mrs. LaMarche resides in Saxon, WI. with her husband Rod.
	Mr. Donald M. Armata is Gogebic Range Bank’s Branch Manager at our Ironwood office. Mr. Armata has more than 24 years of banking experience including bookkeeper, teller, collection department supervisor and loan officer at the former MFC First National Bank of Ironwood. Mr. Armata graduated from Ironwood Catholic High School and the Northern Michigan University School of Banking. Mr. Armata resides in Ironwood with his wife Marti and his son. Mr. Armata is a third degree member of the Knights of Columbus.
	Ms. Yvonne Morzenti is an investment representative and financial advisor through PrimeVest Financial Services. Ms. Morzenti started her banking career in 1978 at First National Bank in Ironwood as a bookkeeping data processing supervisor and later was in business development with MFC First National Bank. She is a 1987 graduate of the Northern Michigan School of Banking. In 1997, she received her Series 7 and 63 licenses and worked in the investment department of MFC First National and Wells Fargo Bank Ms. Morzenti lives in Montreal with her husband, Gary. They have four children and four grandchildren.

Mr. Robert L. Abelman is the Chairman of the Board of West End Financial Corporation and Gogebic Range Bank. Mr. Abelman has been a life long resident of the Bessemer community. He attended Northern Michigan University and graduated from Western Michigan University in 1970. He was a member of the Michigan National Guard for six years. Since 1970, Mr. Abelman has worked, been a partner, and then owner of the Abelman Company, which has served the Range area since 1887. Mr. Abelman is a member of the Bessemer Downtown Development Authority, Bessemer Brownsfield Commission, and Bessemer Projects. Inc. Mr. Abelman held a directorship with First of America Bank for nine years, four of which were as an Upper Peninsula Director.

Mr. Paul T. Malmberg is the Secretary of West End Financial Corporation and Gogebic Range Bank. Mr. Malmberg is the owner of the General Insurance Agency, an independent insurance agency in Bessemer. He also has minority ownership interest in Big Powderhorn Mountain Ski Corporation, a Bessemer area ski resort, and Bessemer Projects, Inc., a group of local investors formed to invest in Bessemer area developments.

Mrs. Robin Kafczynski is a Board Member of Gogebic Range Bank. She was born and raised in Ironwood and is a 1977 graduate of Luther L. Wright High School. She received an Associates Degree from Gogebic Community College is 1979 and graduated from Ferris State University in 1981 with a Bachelors Degree in Social Work. For the past 27 years, Kafczynski has worked for Chief Oil Company, Inc. and is President of the Corporation. She resides in Ironwood with her husband Joe, a teacher in the Ironwood Area Schools, daughter & son Cassie and Joey.

Mr. John M. Stempihar is Vice President of West End Financial Corporation and Gogebic Range Bank. Mr. Stempihar is the former owner of Stempihar Brothers Distributors, Incorporated offering a complete line of petroleum products. Mr. Stempihar, a native of Bessemer, Michigan, attended Gogebic Community College and then transferred to Michigan Technological University to complete a career in Civil Engineering. After working 16 years as a superintendent for commercial buildings and road building projects in Michigan and Northern Wisconsin, he retuned in 1979 to form Stempihar Brothers Distributors Incorporated based in Bessemer, Michigan. Mr. Stempihar is active in civic affairs and aids the general area with his membership and guidance on the local Downtown Development Authority and as a partner in Bessemer Projects, Incorporated.

Dr. Mark E. Stempihar is Assistant Treasurer of West End Financial Corporation. Dr. Stempihar has been a life-long resident of the Gogebic Range. Having graduated from Wakefield High School and Gogebic Community College, Dr. Stempihar majored in Zoology/Chemistry at the University of Michigan graduating in 1975. He went on to medical school and graduated from Wayne State University School of Medicine in 1979. After his residency at the Henry Ford Hospital, he retuned to the area in 1983 and started Great Lake Eye Specialists. Presently, he is employed by Grand View Health Systems His community involvement includes past Board Chairman of the Gogebic Community College Board of Trustees, and he is a current director for Grand View Health Systems and a member of the Lion’s Club International and Rotary International.

Mr. Raymond W. Brown is Treasurer of West End Financial Corporation and Gogebic Range Bank. Mr. Brown graduated from the Detroit College of Business with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting in 1972. He then moved to Bessemer, Michigan and started General Accounting Service, a public accounting practice, of which he is the owner and operator. He also was instrumental as organizer, director, and treasurer in Bessemer Projects, Inc., a building development company that was started in 1998 to help develop and promote businesses for the City of Bessemer and the surrounding area. His involvement with this organization continues today. Mr. Brown has been very active in community affairs, and is a member of the Bessemer Chamber of Commerce as well as the Bessemer Lions Club, serving as that club’s treasurer. Mr. Brown is currently President of the Civil Service Commission for the City of Bessemer and has maintained his membership in the Independent Accountants Association of Michigan. He has lived in Bessemer for the past 32 years.

Mrs. Cheri Constantini is a director of Gogebic Range Bank. She is a graduate of Luther L. Wright High School and Gogebic Community College and attended Northern Michigan University in Marquette. With her husband, they own and operate Constantini’s Furniture store in Ironwood and the Brite Spot liquor store in Hurley. Mrs. Constantini lives in Hurley with her husband. The couple has two children.