Gloria Ender Joins St. Joseph Banking Center Community Advisory Board

STURGIS, Mich., June 1, 2022 – 

            Sturgis Bank is pleased to announce that Gloria Ender, Chief Executive Officer and Owner of Freedom Finishing in Benton Harbor, has joined their St. Joseph Banking Center Community Advisory Board.

            Bob Burch, St. Joseph Community Bank President, said “We are ecstatic that Gloria has joined our board.  She is a highly respected community leader who will bring a valuable point of view to our organization. I have served on a number of boards with Gloria, and she is a consummate team player. She gives back to the community in so many ways, and that mindset aligns perfectly with Sturgis Bank’s community banking focus.”

Gloria was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, and worked as an elementary bilingual teacher for five years until she started Freedom Finishing along with her husband, Erik, in 1992. Freedom Finishing produces around 300,000 electrocoat and powder coated parts per day for businesses that include Honda, GM, Ford, Whirlpool, and Herman Miller. Ender became the 100% owner and Chief Executive Officer in 2005, and Freedom Finishing is now minority-owned, woman-owned, Green Certified, and ISO Certified small business. Gloria is an avid community volunteer, with both hands-on and board service to many southwest Michigan organizations, including Lake Michigan College, Cornerstone Alliance, Southwest Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Angel Food Ministries, and the Boys and Girls Club. She holds degrees from Lakeland Michigan College and Indiana University – South Bend.

Regarding her appointment to the board, Gloria stated “If we want to change the world and make a difference, we must start within ourselves and our community.”

            The St. Joseph Banking Center Community Advisory Board of Sturgis Bank also includes Jeff Curry, retired President of Express-1; John Curtis, Owner of Lakeshore Petroleum, Inc.; Keene Taylor, Owner of Real Property Management Realty Executives; Jeff Upton, Chairman of the Frederick S. Upton Foundation; and several Sturgis Bank team members.