Donovan Bertsch, longtime member of the Starion Bank Board of Directors has retired, and his service was celebrated at the 2023 Annual Shareholder meeting in February. Bertsch previously served as a director of Security State Bank since 2007. He joined the Starion Bank board when Starion acquired the Dunseith-based bank in 2011.
“It’s been a pleasure and a treat to get to know the Larson family, and everyone at Starion Bank. Their family-owned model and mission are central to the organization’s success. It’s refreshing to see a bank that continually puts so much effort into building up communities and taking care of their employees,” says Bertsch.
The Starion Bank Board of Directors includes owners, senior executives, and community representatives who lead Starion Bank’s business principles, policies, and strategies.
At the same time as Donovan’s retirement from the Starion Bank Board, he was elected to the Starion Bancorporation Board of Directors.
Starion Bancorporation is the holding company, of which Starion Bank is the largest subsidiary. The holding company board consists of family owners and select representatives who give high level guidance.
“Over his years of board service, Donovan has exhibited an unwavering dedication to the Larson family. As a family-business owner himself, he understands and appreciates the complexities of running this type of business,” says Craig Larson, Chairman of the Starion Bank Board of Directors. “His commitment to high performance is a model for all of us to follow.”
Donovan shared, “The last eleven years have been a wonderful learning experience, and I’m thrilled to continue serving Starion through the Starion Bancorporation Board of Directors.”
Bertsch is president of Bertsch Holdings, LLC. and a partner in B&B Properties and Holdings and Stone Creek Operating. He also owned Theel, Inc., the Chevrolet and Buick automotive dealer in Bottineau, for 35 years.
Bertsch has previously served as a board member for the National Automobile Dealers Association located in Washington D.C., Chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association Political Action Committee, Auto Dealers of North Dakota; Bottineau EDC; Dakota College of Bottineau Foundation; Bottineau County Club; St. Joseph’s Foundation; Bottineau Park Board; St. Andrews Hospital; Sisters of Mary of Presentation Hospital Corporate Board; and Dakota College of Bottineau Logrollers. Bertsch has also served on the North Dakota Council for Vocational Education and the Governor’s Job Training and Education Forum.
