The Illinois Bankers Association (IBA) is proud to announce the election of its 2025–2026 Board Chair, Executive Committee, and new members of the Board of Directors. These appointments reflect the Association’s continued commitment to strong leadership and advocacy on behalf of Illinois’ banking industry.
The new Board of Directors was officially elected during the IBA’s 2025 Annual Conference, held this June in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
“We are honored to welcome these accomplished banking professionals to our leadership team,” said Randy Hultgren, President and CEO of the Illinois Bankers Association. “Their collective expertise and dedication will help strengthen the Illinois banking community and advance our mission to serve and support our members.”
T. J. Burge, President and Chief Executive Officer of Community Partners Savings Bank in Salem, Illinois, will serve as Chair of the IBA Board for 2025–2026.
In addition to Mr. Burge’s appointment, the following industry leaders were named to the IBA Executive Committee:
• Megan Collins, Chair-Elect - Bank of America, N.A.
• Frank Pettaway, Vice Chair - The Northern Trust Company
• Courtney Olson, Treasurer - First Bank Chicago
• Anthony Nestler, Immediate Past Chair - Hickory Point Bank & Trust
• Amy Randolph, At-Large Category - Busey Bank
• Lawrence Horvath, At-Large Category - Heartland Bank and Trust
The Illinois Bankers Association also welcomed newly elected board members who will serve for the 2025–2026 term:
John Armstrong (American Commercial Bank & Trust, NA)
John was born and raised in Ottawa, IL. After graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a B.S. in Finance, John embarked on his banking career with The Northern Trust Company in 2005. While there, he worked in operations before moving over to Corporate & Institutional Relationship Management, working with Fortune 500 companies. In 2012, John and his family relocated back to Ottawa and he joined The First National Bank of Ottawa (n/k/a American Commercial Bank & Trust, NA). He has held multiple positions with the bank, starting in operations and moving into the roles of Consumer and Commercial Lender. John joined the Management Team of the bank in 2018 and has served as Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer since 2021.
John is married to Christine Armstrong and they live in Ottawa with their three boys (J.C., Grady and Levi). John enjoys supporting and/or coaching his sons in their various extracurricular activities. He has served on the Ottawa High School Educational Foundation Board, the Youth Service Bureau of Illinois Valley Board and is currently Treasurer of Ottawa Buccaneers Athletics and Secretary of the Wallace CCSD 195 School Board.
Matthew Gambs (Wintrust Financial Corporation)
Matt Gambs is a banking executive with over 30-years of experience in financial services, and is currently an executive with Wintrust Financial Corporation. Prior to his employment at Wintrust Financial Corporation, Gambs served as the President and CEO of both Bloomingdale Bank and Trust and Diamond Bancorp. Prior to these appointments, Gambs held management and officer positions with PGT Industries and Alpine Banks of Colorado.
Gambs has served on the boards of numerous business and professional organizations, currently serves on the Board of Trustees at Regis University, The Will Group, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Intentional Sports, Brookfield Zoo Chicago, Illinois Joining Forces and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Foundation. Gambs is a past Chairman of the Heritage YMCA, past Chairman of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, past Chairman of the Board of Trustees at All Saints Catholic Academy.
Gambs served honorably for six years in the Marine Reserves. Like many active duty military personnel and veterans, Gambs was fortunate enough to be able to attend college on the GI Bill. During his time in the military, he graduated with a B.S. in Economics and a B.A. in Political Science from Regis University in Denver, Colorado. He also received his Master of Arts Degree from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois.
Matt and Chris Gambs have been married for 26 years and currently reside in Naperville with their sons Charlie and Mike.
Lawrence Horvath (Heartland Bank and Trust) – Newly appointed to the Executive Committee
Lawrence J. Horvath is Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer for the Company and Heartland Bank. He joined Heartland Bank in 2010 and currently oversees treasury management services and commercial lending for all Heartland Bank markets. Mr. Horvath has been active in the Bloomington community serving on boards of various community organizations. In addition, he currently serves on the loan committee for the largest community development corporation in the state and on the Executive Committee for Illinois Real Estate Title Center. Mr. Horvath holds a BS in Finance from Western Illinois University.
Joshua Ishmael (INB, National Association) – FLA non-voting member
Joshua Ishmael grew up in Pana, Illinois, and attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2001. In 2004, he graduated with a Juris Doctor degree from Southern Illinois University School of Law in Carbondale. His legal career began with a focus on insurance defense, along with work in family law and real estate. In 2007, Josh joined Marine Bank in Springfield and became Senior Vice President and General Counsel at INB, National Association (formerly Illinois National Bank) in 2013.
He has two teenage daughters and continues to commute to Springfield from his hometown, where he lives with his fiancée and her four children — creating their own version of the “Brady Bunch” with three boys and three girls. In his free time, Josh enjoys golfing, reading fiction, and writing.
Tim Mitchell (The First National Bank of Ava)
Tim is the President and CEO of First National Bank of Ava and began his career in banking in 1996 working as a part-time teller for Regions Bank (formerly Magna Bank) while attending college. He has held various management, lending, and credit positions within the industry prior to his arrival and service to First National Bank of Ava in June 2023 – the realization of a life-long career ambition.
In service to the industry and his community, Tim has had the privilege to serve the Southwestern Illinois Bankers Federation in the executive positions of Treasurer through President between May 2008 and May 2010. He currently serves as President of the School Board of Steeleville Community Unit School District No. 138, a role he has held since August 2017. Additionally, he serves as President of the Steeleville Community Unit School District No. 138 Educational Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization focused on fundraising to provide scholarships to graduating seniors of Steeleville High School. He has held this position since June 2016.
Tim’s educational background includes a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Illinois Springfield, earned in December 2011. He also holds a Graduate Certificate from the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, completed in August 2004.
Tim was born in Chester, IL, the first of two sons (Colonel Rick E. Mitchell, brother) born to Paul and the late Donna Mitchell. Additionally, his step-mother Germaine Mitchell and two step-brothers (Todd and Tyler Rubach) round out his immediate family. He and his wife, Dr. Sara B. Malone, reside in Steeleville, IL with their three children: Tyler (20), Shelby (15) and Isla (12). In his spare time Tim enjoys time with his family, his work and traveling.
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