Jeff Shrader Retires; Collaborated on Numerous Boards at Critical Times
Born and raised in Findlay, Jeff Shrader jokes that when he worked in Columbus just after college, it shows he was a “real risk taker.” After two years, he returned to the town he loves – to stay.
Shrader married his wife of 37 years, Elsa, raised two sons, and spent 41 years (and two summers) working as a banker. Through his work, opportunities came to serve the community. And in his retirement on April 1, Shrader leaves Findlay a much better place, because again and again, when the chance to make a difference came, he said, “Yes.”
Jeff Shrader retired as Senior Vice President of F & M Bank. (Photo and message credit: F & M Bank)
Career
After graduating from Findlay High School, Shrader majored in finance at Miami University. His career in banking began when, in 1983, he shifted from summer lifeguarding to work that would bolster his resume, signing on at First National Bank in Findlay as a teller. Being a teller – especially then – was challenging.
“It was fun, but hard,” he explained. “Back in the day we had six tellers at the main branch, and there was always a line. People came inside the bank for everything – for a simple deposit, to make a loan, make a payment, to cash their paycheck. Of course, nothing was online. It was always busy and you always had to be ‘on’ and have a smile on your face. And at the end of the day, you had to balance your window.”
Two instances working as a teller stuck with Shrader for life. During one, a patron who knew the bank president, Tom Donnell, called to inform him that Shrader had accidentally given him $100 too much in the teller line.
“I got a call from the president of the bank that day, it was a little embarrassing,” he said, chuckling. To rectify the error, Shrader retrieved the overage at the person’s house and returned it to the bank.
In another instance, Shrader accidentally gave a woman less than 10 cents excess when she stopped to cash a check at the bank’s drive thru. (At least he never shortchanged anyone.)
“She originally came through during the lunch hour but then came back at the end of the day to return the overage,” he said. “It was pennies. It surprised me and really left an impression. I decided, ‘I will never wrongfully take change and keep it if it’s to my benefit.’ It wasn’t too much later; I was still in college and went to buy some beer. This was tough for someone in college. I gave the cashier a $10 bill and he gave me change for $20. I realized it after we left and said, ‘I’ve got to go back. I’ve got to give this money back.’”
Shrader’s first official job was with Bank One in Columbus. His first-year salary? $17,200. But Findlay (and Elsa) were calling, so he moved back in 1987 to continue his career at Fifth Third Bank, providing car loans and as a consumer lender. He and Elsa married in 1988.
Shrader’s next role at Fifth Third was in commercial lending.
One of Shrader’s last days at his F & M office. Shrader is holding his groundbreaking shovel from three new school buildings constructed as a result of his shared work on the Findlay City Schools Board of Education. The legendary plant behind him has been a staple of Shrader’s office for a long time. A gift when he received a promotion in 1996 at Fifth Third Bank, the now 30-year-old plant’s vines once spanned 50 yards. (There was an office competition to find out!)
As his experience grew, Shrader was part of the commercial lending team that managed larger accounts, some of which were Cooper Tire & Rubber Company, Blanchard Valley Health System, and the University of Findlay. Banking opened the door “to work with top quality individuals” and learn from them. He enjoyed the relationships he formed and the people he met along the way – and he met a lot of people.
“I really enjoyed building those relationships,” he said. “As a banker you have freedom; you’re not tied to your desk. Really, if you’re a banker and you’re in your office all the time, you’re not doing your job.”
Looking back, he was proudest, as a lender, to be involved with the construction of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church’s new facility, completed in 2005; a housing addition to Hillcrest; the Fox Run and Deer Lake subdivisions; and the Burger Kings of Northwest Ohio. It meant a lot to Shrader that the owner of the Burger Kings worked with him at Fifth Third, then later at F & M Bank, sticking with him through career changes.
Shrader worked for Fifth Third for 28 years, then decided to switch it up, selling wind turbines for One Energy in 2015.
“Sometimes commercial lenders are known as job hoppers; I was proud to have worked there 28 years,” Shrader said. “One Energy was interesting and I had fun, but I had an opportunity to come back into banking in 2018 when F & M was coming to town. You know, the best time to find a job is when you don’t need a job.”
Shrader built the commercial side of F & M from the ground up. Reflecting upon the time, he was glad he was able to help small businesses obtain Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans during the Covid epidemic. And he’s proud of where the bank stands now.
“We started up with zero,” he said. “We had zero clients, zero deposits, zero loans, and we built it up to respectable. Banking in this community is tough and very competitive. There are lots of bankers, lots of banks and lots of opportunities, but I was able to grow the branch for F & M and am very thankful for the opportunity.”
He retired as senior vice president of F & M after eight years.
Service to the Community
Jeff Shrader was inspired to follow in the footsteps of his father, James C. Shrader, who, when he passed away in 2025 at the age of 87, left a remarkable resume of service to the Findlay community. One could argue he passed the baton to his son.
Open Arms Domestic Violence & Rape Crisis Services was the first board Shrader served on, for six years. He served with the United Way of Hancock County, and spent six years on the Findlay Family YMCA’s board, through a $7.5 million renovation in the late 1990s. Recalling the ribbon cutting ceremony in 2000, Shrader said the facility was completely gutted to construct what is still enjoyed today. He recently rejoined the YMCA board of directors as leaders again look to improve YMCA facilities.
After his election, Shrader began service on the board for Findlay City Schools in 1999. A 1981 FHS graduate, it meant a lot to have the opportunity to join the board, for which he was also vice president and president. He attended Lincoln Elementary and Donnell Middle School (as an Atom). Shrader grew up on Lime Street across from Donnell and the football stadium.
“As a kid I skated on the pond, and I may have hopped the fence to play on the field,” he said, smiling.
During her career, Shrader’s wife, Elsa, was a special needs hearing impaired teacher at Lincoln Elementary. All Shrader really ever wanted was to be her boss. (A joke, of course.) During his board tenure, their sons, Greg and Jonathan, were making their way through the school system. For a contest, Jonathan submitted logo designs for the Findlay Trojan and Millstream Career Center. Both were selected to represent the schools and are still used today. The boys graduated in 2009 and 2011, and as a member of the board, Shrader got to hand each of his sons their diplomas.
Shrader considers his time serving on the school board a high point of his career.
“It was a highlight that we were able to pass the bond levy that built the two new middle schools and Millstream,” Shrader said. “After the flood of 2007 in Findlay, the community passed a sales tax for the county, an income tax for the city, and the school levy to build those buildings. We taxed ourselves, and that was during an economic downturn. We were trying to build the community back up and needed all three levies, and they all passed in one night. It was one of the coolest things this community did to springboard itself back out of the economic downturn in the 2007, 2008, 2009 time period.”
Groundbreaking ceremonies were held for Donnell and Glenwood on May 16, 2011, while Millstream’s was May 23 that year. Shortly after the ceremonies, after 12 years, Shrader transitioned off the board. Shrader’s groundbreaking shovel maintained a spot in the corner of his office at F & M, a quiet reminder of the achievement that brought state-of-the-art facilities to Findlay students.
Inside Donnell Middle School, Shrader sits beside a plaque commemorating leaders who played a role in the construction of the new building, which opened for students in January 2013.
Jeff Shrader with his father, James C. Shrader. The elder Shrader was an inspiration to his son, who followed in his father’s footsteps, serving extensively in the community with quiet humility.
“Both served on the board at pivotal times in the organization but also in the community,” Neubauer said. “They were two individuals who shared a lot of core values but executed them in their own ways. They were each very community minded and took care in what they did, and how they served. We’re thankful to both of them for making a huge impact not only on our organization, but the community as a whole.”
Shrader was also part of a group of business leaders who, after the flood of 2007, collaborated in the Northwest Ohio Flood Mitigation Partnership, under CEO Tony Iriti. In time, the newly formed Alliance board selected Iriti – former mayor of Findlay, city councilman, and county auditor – as the first director of FHCED under the new model within The Alliance.
“Being a banker, you’re involved in the community – it really allows you to be a part of the community,” Shrader said. “I think, from a selfish standpoint service just makes you feel good, but I got to do a lot of cool stuff – I was lucky to be a part of some exciting organizations during times of change and growth that made this community better. I grew up in this community with cool things and wanted my kids and all kids to have a place to live and thrive.”
In 2011, Jeff and Elsa lost their son, Greg. Through the Community Foundation, the Shraders established, with son Jonathan, two funds in his memory — The Gregory James Shrader Memorial Scholarship and The Gregory James Shrader Memorial Fund.
Greg Shrader loved swimming. He was a competitive swimmer at Findlay High School and captain of the team during his senior year, graduating in 2009.
“We have felt so touched because it took the community to build those funds up; it was not really our dollars,” Shrader said. “It was made up of donations from people over time, to make the legacy of Greg last forever in this community. We have been humbled by the support.”
Greg’s Memorial Fund is donated toward youth activities that benefit the community. Funding has been awarded to Findlay Family YMCA; Findlay City Schools’ playground equipment; the YMCA’s Early Learning Center; Miracle Field of Findlay; and mission trips for the Shrader’s church, St. Mark’s United Methodist Church. At the YMCA, a program called “Swim with a Smile” honors Greg, with the goal that “every child in Hancock County will learn to swim.” A beautiful plaque inside the downtown YMCA lobby commemorates Greg’s legacy.
For eight years with another couple, the Shraders have led a Grief Share class at St. Mark’s to help others walk through their grief journey. The class is open to anyone, not only members of the church. Jeff Shrader has been a faithful member of St. Mark’s since childhood.
Shrader and wife Elsa, stand with a plaque that memorializes their son, Greg, in the lobby of the downtown YMCA. The YMCA began a program, Swim with a Smile in his honor, with the goal that all children in Hancock County learn to swim.
Volunteerism, Petoskey Stones and Golf
In Shrader’s retirement, volunteerism will continue to rank very high in importance. He will continue serving terms for current boards, Findlay Family YMCA and Blanchard Valley Health System, and on a committee for The Community Foundation. Shrader will also continue serving as a Rotarian; he has been a member since the mid-1990s.
Shrader’s family shares a cottage in Petoskey, Mich., that he plans to spend more time enjoying with Elsa and family. You’ll see him on the golf course, or perhaps lounging with a good historical fiction book. He wants to travel to see the western U.S. and visit Europe. And he’ll have more time to search Michigan beaches for Petoskey Stones. Shrader enjoys grinding the stones to smooth them, then gives them to friends.
“I’ve been lucky that I’ve been able to be in this community for 63 years of my life and contribute, and achieve retirement status,” Shrader said. “We’re not going anywhere – Findlay is just a great place; it’s a great place to raise a family. There is a lot of opportunity, we’ve got a great quality of life, and it’s a progressive town. I don’t know what a lot of other communities are like, but when people come here, they don’t want to leave. Why would we?”
And when he looks back on his career, what did he learn?
“Show up. Be early. Out hustle. First impressions are very important, so you’ve got to be on your game when meeting clients. Present yourself well. You don’t have to be an expert on everything, but you have to show your commitment. Provide great customer service. Don’t blame others. Nothing good happens after 9pm.”
Throughout his career, Shrader also said “yes,” when opportunity arose and when called to serve. It’s exactly what he did when he agreed to run for the school board.
“I think the way it went was, I participated in a levy campaign as a committee member and then I was asked about the school board. I don’t want to make it out to anything more than it was…
“I said, ‘Yes.’”
It was as simple as that – a willingness to help and one “yes” of many that together, created a stronger Findlay – and a legacy.
The Shraders enjoy a meal together in Michigan. (L-R) Son Jonathan Shrader and his wife Emily, (Jeff’s dad) James Shrader, Jeff, and Elsa.
Jeff and Elsa enjoy a visit to downtown Detroit with Jonathan and Emily.
(L-R) Jeff, Jonathan, Elsa and Greg Shrader.
