Board of Directors

Jeffrey A. Johnson

Jeff Johnson graduated from the Pocahontas Community High School in 1977. Jeff then attended the American Institute of Business in Des Moines, Iowa, earning an Associate of Specialized Business Degree with an Accounting Major in May of 1979. Jeff purchased his tax and accounting practice in 1982 and established Jeffrey A Johnson LPA PC.  Jeff is Enrolled to Practice before the Internal Revenue Service, is a Licensed Public Accountant, is a Certified Financial Planner, and is a fellow of the National Tax Practice Institute.

Jeff is a member and past president of Accountant’s Association of Iowa, a member of the National Society of Accountants, and a member of the National Association of Enrolled Agents.

Jeff is a sole practitioner and has been in practice for forty years in Pocahontas, Iowa. He specializes in tax preparation of farm and small business tax returns, compilations for small businesses, and fee-only financial planning. Jeff joined the Availa Bank Board in December of 2014.

Jeffrey G. Scharfenkamp

Jeff began his employment with the bank in September of 1997. He started as a lending officer, was promoted to the role of Senior Ag Loan Officer in December of 1999 and became Executive Vice President and Senior Lending Officer in December of 2001.  Jeff became President and CEO and joined the Board in June of 2010. Prior to his formally joining the Board, he had attended the meetings for several years as the bank’s Senior Lending Officer.

Jeff is a 1984 graduate of Iowa State University and a former examiner with the Iowa Division of Banking from 1987 thru 1991. He is also a graduate of several bank training programs, including the Iowa Commercial Lending School, Iowa School of Banking and Graduate School of Banking in Madison. His civic activities have included the Rotary Club of Carroll, Carroll City Council, Carroll Area Development Corporation member, and St. Anthony Board of Directors member.

Jessica L. Morton

Jessica is an attorney with the Bruner, Bruner & Reinhart LLP law firm in Carroll. She is a member of the Carroll County Bar Association and is actively involved in several Carroll community organizations and boards, including Carroll Area Childcare Center and the Carroll Community Foundation.

Jessica has a Bachelor’s Degree from Cornell College and a Master’s Degree from Western Illinois University. She obtained her Law Degree from the University of Iowa in 2014. Jessica joined the Board in May of 2021.

Matthew D. Gronstal

(Family member — cousin of Tom and Bob Gronstal)

Matt has been with the bank since 2003 and a member of the Board since 2006. Matt established the bank’s presence in the Council Bluffs market in 2003 with the opening of a loan production office. He has played a key role in growing this market which currently operates out of two full-service branch locations.

Matt is a graduate of St. Mary’s University and a former national bank examiner with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Matt is also active in the Council Bluffs community where he is the Board Chair for the Iowa West Foundation, a board member of Southwest Iowa Nonprofit for Collective Impact (SINC), a member of the Mid America Center Commission, and a member of the Finance Council for the Catholic Diocese of Des Moines and the Finance Chair for St. Patrick’s Parish. Prior civic involvement includes being a member of the Council Bluffs City Planning Commission, as well as a board member of St. Albert Schools, Mercy Hospital, and the Historic General Dodge House.

Robert B. Gronstal

(Family Member — cousin of Tom and Matt Gronstal)

Bob has served as a director since December 1982 and is currently a CPA. He has taught accounting classes at Metropolitan Community College in Omaha NE for 46 years and also previously maintained a small tax practice for nearly 40 years. Bob graduated from Creighton University in 1969 with a degree in Accounting and received his MBA degree from University of Nebraska Omaha in 1982.

Stephen R. Baade

Steve began his affiliation with Carroll County State Bank when he was hired as a Lending Officer of the formerly affiliated Citizens State Bank of Pocahontas in July of 1985. Steve was elected President of Citizens State Bank in 1994 and continued in that capacity until November of 2014 when Citizens State Bank merged with Carroll County State Bank. Presently, Steve serves the banks as the Northern Region Manager and Pocahontas Market President. Steve has been a member of the bank’s Board of Directors since 1994.

Steve is very active in the community and is heavily involved in various Pocahontas civic activities. Currently, he serves as the President of the Pocahontas Community Foundation, Treasurer of the Pocahontas Service Club and board member for the Pocahontas County Cattlemen Association. He is also serving on the committee for the City of Pocahontas Revolving Loan Fund. In the past, he served on the Pocahontas Area Community School Board for 6 years and served as a former board member of the Pocahontas Chamber of Commerce. He also currently serves as the President of First Choice Financial Services, Inc. which offers insurance and investments as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Availa Bank.

Steve is a 1980 graduate of Westmar College. He also runs a farming operation.

Steve D. Goodhue

Steve D. Goodhue has been on the Availa Board since 2019. He is the President and Owner of Knapp Tedesco Insurance Agency in Ames. Knapp Tedesco is a multi-lines property and casualty agency that has been in existence since 1926. Goodhue purchased the agency in 2013. Prior to this, Goodhue was a Regional President for First American Bank. In this role, Steve oversaw five markets and seven locations of the bank. Steve is very active in the community and has served on the boards of over 20 local organizations.

Steve is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa and is married to Tami Goodhue. The Goodhues have two children. 

Thomas B. Gronstal

(Family member — cousin of Matt Gronstal and Bob Gronstal)

Tom currently serves as the Chairman of the Board. Tom began his employment with the bank in 1978 and served the bank for several years as its President and CEO. Tom relinquished the role of President in February of 2002 when he served as the Iowa Superintendent of Banking until January of 2011. Tom also served as chairman of the board of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors.

Tom is a 1973 graduate of Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. His civic activities have included serving as treasurer of the Iowa Bankers Association (1987-1989); president of the Carroll Chamber of Commerce (1989); president of the Iowa Bankers Association (1990); mayor of Carroll, Iowa (1994-1999); Governor’s Strategic Planning Council (1999-2000); and member of the Carroll Area Development Corporation (1999-2001).