Fore Bank: Forte Bank Promotes Gary Heckendorf to Senior Vice President & Chief Lending Officer

Forte Bank is pleased to announce the promotion of Gary Heckendorf to Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer (SVP/CLO). In this expanded role, Gary will continue to lead the bank’s Commercial Banking team and oversee the Retail and Mortgage Lending teams, further strengthening the bank’s lending operations and strategic direction.

Gary has been with Forte Bank for five years and has played an integral role in the bank’s commercial lending success. With over 30 years of experience in banking, including more than 20 years in commercial banking, Gary’s leadership, industry knowledge, and relationship-building skills have been invaluable to the bank’s growth and success. Gary will work closely with Executive Vice President Aaron Lensink in his new position to develop and execute the bank’s overall lending strategy for 2025 and strategic plans for 2025-2027.

Gary holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Graduate School of Banking in 2008.

Gary is also actively involved in his community, serving in various leadership and volunteer roles. He is a member of the Greater Jackson Area Business Alliance and the Slinger Business Network, among other local organizations, and he serves on several local boards.