Ken LaRoe

Kenneth E. LaRoe In 1999, Mr. LaRoe founded Florida Choice Bank and was its largest shareholder, chairman, CEO, and president. He grew the bank to over $400 million in assets by 2006 when the bank was sold to Alabama National Bancorp in April, 2006. Mr. LaRoe began his career with Flagship Bank in Tavares, Florida and rose to the position of vice president and branch manager. He joined SouthTrust Bank in Deland, Florida in 1987 as senior lender and rose to county executive for Lake County. In 1996 Mr. LaRoe joined Colonial Bank as president of the Lake County bank and was instrumental in the conversion of a troubled thrift to a viable commercial bank. He has served on numerous civic and non-profit boards including The Sunrise ARC (Association for Retarded Citizens), BankServe, and The Florida Bankers Association. He served as chairman of Group 5 of the Florida Bankers Association and also as chairman of Florida BankPac. He is a member of the Florida Bar Association, The Lake County Bar Association, and the Orange County Bar Association. A committed environmentalist, he served as chairman of Preserve Lake, a political action committee instrumental in passing a bond referendum for $36 million to purchase public land. He currently serves as chairman of the PLAAC (Public Lands Acquisition Advisory Committee) for the Lake County Board of County Commissioners. Born, raised, and schooled in Eustis, Florida, where First Green Bank will be located, Mr. LaRoe earned a B. S. in management at Florida State University and a J.D. at The University of Florida College of Law.