Citizens Bank & Trust Co. is pleased to announce the addition of two new directors to our Board of Directors. Both bring valuable experience and a demonstrated commitment to serving and supporting our local community. We are pleased to welcome Heather Knorr and Eric Lipke and look forward to the perspective and leadership they will bring to the Board.
Heather Knorr
Since 2005, Heather has been employed with Relay Networks, Inc. in Minnetonka. She has managed all of the accounting work for Relay since its inception. Heather has also been an active member of several committees at Citizens Bank & Trust Co., including the Marketing and Credit Committees. Further she serves as the Treasurer of the Citizens Bancshares Board.
Heather is also an active volunteer in the Hutchinson community. She has served as Treasurer for the Hutchinson Tiger Trap team, President for H-Town Tennis Association and served on the Board for Hutchinson Center for the Arts.
Heather and her husband Brian raised their three children in Hutchinson. They have been very active members and volunteers at St. Anastasia Church and School. Heather served for 10 years on the St. Anastasia Education Committee and was Chair for four of those years. She recently rejoined the school committee.
Heather is most proud of the work she has done with her family’s foundations. She joined the I.J. Burich Family Foundation in 2008, became Vice Chair in 2009 and has been Chair since 2011. She also oversees the management and administration of The Burich Foundation and the Buzz Burich Family Foundation.
Knorr graduated from the University of St. Thomas with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting. Heather and Brian have three children, Hayden, Haley and Brady. They enjoy traveling, being at the lake and spending time with family. Heather is also an avid runner.
Eric Lipke
Eric Lipke is President of Midwest Industrial Tool Grinding, Inc. (MITGI), where he has been with the company since 2000. Prior to joining MITGI, he served as Director of Operations for Stewart Energy Products, Inc. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gustavus Adolphus College, where he majored in Biology and History.
Eric has a long history of involvement in the Hutchinson community. He currently serves on the Hutchinson EDA Finance Committee and the HealthPartners Hutchinson Board. He has also served on the Ridgewater Foundation Board, Ridgewater General Advisory Council, Ridgewater Machine Tool Technology Advisory Board and St. Anastasia School Committee.
Through his leadership at MITGI, Eric has been a strong supporter of giving back to the community. He has been actively involved with the TigerPath program, providing financial support, volunteering his time, helping develop new programs and creating internship opportunities for students. He has also supported students through Ridgewater scholarship reviews and scholarship opportunities provided by MITGI. In addition, he has been active at St. Anastasia Church and previously volunteered with its religious education program.
Eric and his wife, Kathy, have three children, two of whom have graduated from college and one who is currently completing college.
