First National Bank, Optimae LifeServices, Community 1st Credit Union

Howard promoted at First National Bank

The Board of Directors of First National Bank in Fairfield recently approved the promotion of Sue Howard to vice president of consumer loans.

Howard first joined the bank in 1972 as a bookkeeper and teller. Since 1991, she has worked in various roles in the loan department at the bank.

Howard and her husband Ed have four children and seven grandchildren.

Range joins Optimae LifeServices

Optimae LifeServices announces that Bryan P. Range has joined the Life Solutions staff.

Range is a temporary licensed marriage and family therapist and a professional mediator. He received his bachelor?s degree from Eastern Illinois University. He participated in the honors college during most of his undergraduate education and graduated with university honors in 2009. He obtained his master?s degree in family therapy and mediation training at Saint Louis University. He received his master?s degree in May 2012 and became a certified mediation in August 2011. He is certified with the Iowa Association of Mediators. He holds certification in collaborative law and is trained in applied suicide intervention skills training and life crisis.

As a mediator, Range has received additional training at Saint Louis University Law School and was involved with the domestic relations department of the Family Court of St. Louis County after being certified as a mediator. He also has undergone mentorship from highly trained and experienced mediators.

Range is a member of Association for Conflict Resolution both divorce and workplace mediation section, the American Bar Association dispute resolution section, International Academy of Collaborative Professionals and the Collaborative Lawyers of Eastern Iowa.

As a therapist, Range has worked with a wide range of clientele and issues. He has worked with individuals, couples and families on various issues, such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, ADD, ODD, infidelity, sex/pornography addiction, adoption, parenting, attachment disorders, substance abuse, domestic violence, stepparenting and various other mixed/blended family related issues. He also has worked with adult and youth substance abuse and sex offender groups as well as co-facilitated mandated domestic violence groups for men.

He belongs to the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and is a pre-clinic member.

Phelps joins Optimae LifeServices

Rochelle Phelps has joined Optimae LifeServices?s therapy staff at Life Solutions Behavioral Health, serving clients at Optimae?s Fairfield, Ottumwa and Bloomfield offices.

Phelps was raised in Manchester and graduated from West Delaware High School. She earned her bachelor?s and master?s degrees in social work from the University of Iowa. Upon graduation, she relocated to Algona, where she worked as a school social worker until 2003.

In 2003, Phelps began working as a contractor for the U.S. Air Force based at Misawa Air Base, Japan. Since then, she worked in various capacities for the Air Force, Navy and Army. She was the program lead for early intervention services at Camp Zama, Japan, working primarily with children with autism. She also implemented behavior intervention work with school-age students ages 3 to 21, with a variety of disabilities and mental health issues. She was a certified trainer for sexual assault response, suicide prevention and teaching classes in anger and stress management. She also has extensive training in the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

After a decade of living overseas working with the military, Phelps has returned to Iowa to further her clinical experience. She will provide therapy to children and adults. She has one child who is currently a sophomore at the University of Iowa.

Thornton new C1st branch manager

Kathy Thornton has been named the Community 1st Credit Union Fairfield branch manager.

Thornton has more than 12 years of experience at the Fairfield branch as a loan officer and a personal representative. She joined the Jefferson County Community Credit Union staff in June, 2001 and became a personal representative when the credit union merged with Community 1st in 2006.

She succeeds Renee Rebling, who will become Community 1st Credit Union?s business development manager this month.

Thornton and her husband Steve reside in Fairfield and have two married sons and four grandchildren, all in the Fairfield area.

Community 1st Credit Union is headquartered in Ottumwa, with branches in Albia, Amana, Bloomfield, Cedar Rapids, Centerville, Chariton, Fairfield, Grinnell, Indianola, Mount Pleasant, Oskaloosa, Ottumwa, Pella and Washington. The Fairfield branch moved into a new building in December.