Huntington Bank exec and community supporter William Shivers plans retirement in March

CANTON – Huntington Bank's top local executive William C. Shivers — who has been a key player in the Stark County business and nonprofit community for years — is retiring in March.

While leading Huntington's operations in Canton and the Mahoning Valley, Shivers has served on boards for more than a dozen local and regional organizations, including the Stark Economic Development Board and Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. 

"We share a commitment for looking out for people," he said Friday in an email. "I was given an incredible opportunity to serve as the regional president for 12 years. I really want someone else to have to opportunity. I am most proud of our commitment to our community and I feel very privileged and honored to have had the chance to give back. I encourage my successor to give back as well."

Shivers joined Columbus-based Huntington in 2007 after several years in community banking for KeyBank. He has worked 29 years in the banking industry.

When he joined Huntington, Shivers served as vice president and team leader for  commercial banking, before being named in 2010 as the regional president for Canton and Mahoning Valley.

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In addition to his civic and community engagement, Shivers is credited with successfully leading Huntington’s growth and investment in the Canton and Mahoning Valley regions.

"He's just got a big heart. He's a good man. And he's got a great business mind," said Ray Hexamer, president of the Stark Economic Development Board. "For us, I hope he continues doing the community work he does because he's such a gifted leader."

Dennis Saunier, president and CEO of the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, also said he hopes that Shivers will remain active in Stark County.

"Bill Shivers has been a very important leader over the past many years in our community," he said. "He has chaired a number of major organizations and initiatives. Because of Huntington's presence in the Canton market, Bill has been able to participate on a daily basis in community issues both large and small."

'Hard-working, kind and authentic.'

Huntington executives praised Shivers.

"It’s been a true honor to work with Bill and get to know him personally and professionally,” Sandy Pierce, private client group and regional banking director and chair of Michigan, said in a news release announcing Shivers' retirement.

She described him as "hard-working, kind and authentic, with a deeply ingrained passion for strengthening the community and looking out for people.”

Huntington Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Steinour called Shivers a great leader and partner for the bank.

“His many contributions will continue to serve Huntington well as will the strong relationships he’s built with customers and colleagues alike," Steinour said.

Who is taking over?

Huntington plans to have Nick Browning, currently the regional president for Akron, assume leadership for Canton and Mahoning Valley after Shivers retires.

Steinour said Huntington remains committed to continued growth in the region, and is confident in Browning's leadership.

Shivers and Browning will work through a transition period. Huntington plans to have George Glasser remain the community president in Canton, while Sam Houston continues as community president in Youngstown.

Browning has been with Huntington since 2016 after the acquisition of Akron-based FirstMerit. Browning hasdserved as FirstMerit's executive vice president, Akron president and CEO. He was was responsible for coordinating retail, wealth and commercial banking for the Akron region. Prior to joining FirstMerit, Browning worked as a commercial banker with Ameritrust Bank and NCNB.

'You always want to try to make a difference.'

After years of work with local organizations, Shivers received the Award of Merit in 2016 from the Greater Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce.

At the time, he noted that he learned from his parents the importance of giving back to the community. 

"You always want to try and make a difference and try to make things better," Shivers said in a 2016 interview.

Last week he stepped forward to help with ongoing efforts to expand U.S. Route 30 east, improving the community's access to Pittsburgh.

Through the years Shivers has served as: 

• Trustee for the Stark Community Foundation.
• Board member of the Community Building Partnership of Stark County, the Downtown Canton Land Bank.
• Vice chairman, executive committee member and co-chairman for the capital campaign for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.
• Member of the advisory panel Canton's Comprehensive Steering Committee.
• Member of the Strengthening Stark governance committee.
• Member Stark County Coming Together advisory committee.
• Board member of the Better Business Bureau of Mahoning Valley, the Youngstown Business Incubator; the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce; the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce; and the Akron Urban League.
• Campaign chairman in 2018 for the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley.
• Business Advisory Council member for the University of Mount Union.
• Past executive committee member and 2015 annual campaign chairman of the United Way of Greater Stark County.
• Past leadership advisory council for Junior Achievement of East Central Ohio.
• Trustee of the Alliance Area Development Foundation board and executive committee.
• Member and past chairman for the Stark Economic Development Board.
• Past parish council member and chairman of St. Ann’s Church.