Lee Hornberger, a Traverse City arbitrator and mediator, announced today that he has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2026 for arbitration and mediation.
Best Lawyers in America is the oldest peer-review publication in the legal profession. A listing in Best Lawyers is widely regarded by both clients and legal. professionals as a significant honor, conferred on a lawyer by his or her peers. For more than three decades, Best Lawyers lists have earned the respect of the profession, the media, and the public.
Hornberger is a member of the National Academy of Arbitrators. He is a Diplomate Member of The National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals. He is a former Chair of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section of the State Bar of Michigan, Editor Emeritus of The Michigan Dispute Resolution Journal, former member of the State Bar’s Representative Assembly, former President of the Grand Traverse-Leelanau-Antrim Bar Association, and former Chair of the Traverse City Human Rights Commission. He is a member of the Professional Resolution Experts of Michigan (PREMi), an invitation-only group of Michigan’s top mediators. He is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. He is also a Fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation.
He has received the Distinguished Service Award from the State Bar’s ADR Section in recognition of significant contributions to the field of dispute resolution. He has received the George Bashara Award from the ADR Section in recognition of exemplary service. He has received Hero of ADR Awards from the ADR Section.
The Community Bankers of Michigan (CBM) has announced the Best of Community Banking award recipients to be recognized at the CBM Annual Convention & Expo, September 10-12 in Traverse City.
Doug Ouellette, Mercantile Bank Chief Community Banking Officer, and David Williams, Upper Peninsula State Bank President and CEO, will both be recognized for their positive impact and dedication to the community banking industry at the CBM banquet held Thursday evening at the convention.
The Best of Community Banking Award recognizes the contributions and success of Michigan community bankers.
Special recognition is given to community bankers who have made significant contributions to their communities and the community banking industry.
“I am so pleased both Doug and David were selected to receive the 2025 Best of Community Banking Award. They both personify the term “community banker” in so many ways, including long and successful careers in the industry; notable community engagement; and steady involvement in advocacy and service to our industry at both the state and national levels,” said James North, CBM President and CEO.
Ouellette has held a variety of positions during his 36-year banking career. From his start in 1989 as a credit analyst to his current role as Chief Community Banking Officer, Doug has been an integral member of leadership helping Mercantile Bank grow to the largest community bank founded, headquartered, and serving Michigan. He has earned the respect of peers, customers and colleagues through a deep commitment to both people and purpose.
Williams’ career started at a small community bank in Houghton Michigan, then he spent many years in larger banks in lower Michigan and Ohio with a long-established personal goal of returning to the Upper Peninsula and running and growing a community bank. He has guided Upper Peninsula State Bank’s brand of banking from one market to now several communities all with a focus on customer and community service. He has been committed to community service throughout his career and currently sits on the UP Health System Board of Trustees, as well as active involvement with the CBM board, the ICBA, and is a long-standing member of FIS’s Strategic Planning Advisory Council.