Adam Banter, MBA, has been named Vice President for Finance & Operations and CFO at Bethel University, and began his tenure August 25.
Banter is a strategic and mission-driven leader with 20+ years of experience in banking, finance, operations, higher education, real estate and business ownership. He has proven expertise in fiscal management, organizational leadership and operational oversight across the education, banking and real estate sectors, as well as a strong background in strategic planning, property and asset management and cross-functional team leadership. Adam is committed to Christ-centered service, institutional growth and the responsible stewardship of resources in support of academic and student success.
“I’m thrilled to announce our new CFO, who brings a wealth of experience and innovative spirit that Bethel needs in this season,” says President Dee McDonald. “He has a unique blend of technical expertise and higher education context that will help us build successful models and relationships to help Bethel thrive.”
Banter is the Founder and Managing Partner of Legacy Relations Investment Group, where he has focused on renovation, leasing and sale of residential and commercial properties since 2009. In this role, he oversees budgeting, capital allocation, vendor/contractor management and long-term investment strategy and has built scalable systems to support long-term portfolio growth, sustainability and team expansion.
From 2018 to 2025, he also served as Director of Client Development & Strategy at Liberty Creative Solutions in Tinley Park, Ill. There, he led daily operations for the internal sales division, with a focus on the education sector. He served at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill., for six years as Director of Transfer Admissions (2012-2018), where he led recruitment efforts resulting in the largest incoming transfer class in Olivet’s history. He has eight years of experience in banking as an Assistant Branch Manager, Licensed Financial Consultant and Branch Partner at PNC Bank (2004-2012), where he directed branch operations, including compliance, team leadership, customer relations and financial reporting.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology & Criminal Justice from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill., and a Master of Business Administration (MBA), also from Olivet. He and his wife, Abbey, are relocating to Mishawaka with their four children and are so excited to invest their lives in the Bethel community.
“I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to join Bethel University and serve alongside such a dedicated community. I look forward to contributing to the mission, stewarding our resources with excellence, and helping create pathways for growth and impact that honor the Lord. This is an exciting season, and I’m eager to see all that we can accomplish together,” Banter says.