Markle leaves EDC for Central Bank & Trust

Gary Markle has been named market president of Central Bank & Trust in Colorado Springs.

He starts Aug. 8.

Markle’s banking background includes commercial lending, bank auditing and interest rate risk management. He left banking to form Sendero Corp., a software company that developed the first modeling tools for bank interest rate risk management.

He served on the board of State Bank & Trust until its acquisition by Vectra Bank, and more recently he has served on the board of Central Bancorp, the parent company of Central Bank & Trust.  As a member of the board of Central Bancorp, Markle influenced the development and integration of the bank and its related operations of wealth management, mortgage banking and insurance.

“He has been a valuable part of our board for many years, and we are thrilled to now have Gary’s talents full-time,” said Ron Johnson, CEO of the bank’s holding company, Central Bancorp.

Markle most recently held the position of vice president of local industry for the Colorado Springs Economic Development Corporation. Before that, he guided the Colorado Springs Technology Incubator in its first eight years, leaving in 2008.

“This is the right time for a new assignment,” Markle said in a prepared statement. “My time with the EDC and the Colorado Springs Technology Incubator exposed me to the needs of local businesses, which caused me to seek out ways in which I could better support their continued success and growth. Joining the team at Central Bank & Trust, I believe, will be the perfect opportunity for me to do so,” Markle said.

Central Bank & Trust opened its doors nearly two years ago and has realized steady growth in deposits and loans.  During this period, the bank’s SBA lending department, headed by Tony Leveque, has become one of the top two SBA loan originators in El Paso County.

“We have made progress on many fronts, and we think this is the perfect time to step up our growth efforts,” Johnson said. “We are a well-capitalized, innovative lender committed to this community, and we believe Gary will be a key in helping us identify local businesses and individuals that can benefit from our products and our service model.”

Markle’s exit from the EDC is the second management position to become vacant in recent months. President and CEO Mike Kazmierski resigned earlier this year, under pressure from the board. The EDC and the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce are in talks to merge the two organizations.

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