Financial Services Archives - Tampa Bay Economic Development Council

Republic Bank

Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Republic Bank has grown to become the largest locally-owned community bank in Kentucky. With 45 banking centers in Kentucky, Indiana, Florida, Tennessee and Ohio, and $5.1 billion in assets, Republic is dedicated to meeting the needs of consumers, small business owners and large corporations by offering a full range of competitive products and services while providing highly personalized service.

James E. Kirkpatrick

James E. Kirkpatrick is the Florida Market President of Republic Bank which has seven (7) Banking Centers in Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties. Jim joined Republic Bank in 2017 as the Hillsborough Market Manager and moved into his current role in 2019. A native of Philadelphia, Jim moved to the Tampa Bay area in 2012 following a 28-year banking career which included the role of Chief Lending Officer at Roma Bank of Robbinsville, NJ and at the former Leesport Bank (Tompkins Financial) in Reading, PA from 1998 through 2012.

Jim is active with numerous Boards and Non-Profit organizations in the Tampa Bay Region to include Advisory Board at Ronald McDonald House Charities, Board Member on the Urban League of Hillsborough County, Board Member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – North Florida Region, Executive Committee of the Gasparilla Bowl 2022, Past President of the Rotary Club of Tampa – Westshore and was recently named to the Board of Directors for the Florida Bankers Association.

James E. Kirkpatrick

Florida Market President

BMO Bank

BMO is a leading bank driven by a single purpose: to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. Everywhere we do business, we’re focused on building, investing, and transforming how we work to drive performance and continue growing the good. BMO’s expansion into Tampa was driven by the diversity of industries in the region and the surge of companies relocating here. The commercial banking team is focused on a variety of industries, including manufacturing, wholesale, distribution, engineering and construction, food and business services – providing customers with access to BMO’s full array of financial services and industry expertise. commercial.bmo.com. BMO Bank N.A. Member FDIC.

John Astrab

West Florida Managing Director of Corporate and Middle Market Banking

Hancock Whitney

Since the late 1800s, Hancock Whitney has embodied core values of Honor & Integrity, Strength & Stability, Commitment to Service, Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility. Hancock Whitney offices and financial centers in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas offer comprehensive financial products and services, including traditional and online banking; commercial and small business banking; private banking; trust and investment services; healthcare banking; certain insurance services; and mortgage services. The company also operates a loan production office in Nashville, Tennessee. BauerFinancial, Inc., the nation’s leading independent bank rating and analysis firm, consistently recommends Hancock Whitney as one of America’s most financially sound banks. More information is available at www.hancockwhitney.com.

Jingyi Blank

Hancock Whitney welcomes Jingyi Blank as Vice President & Middle Market Banker. She is responsible for growing new business relationships for companies with annual revenues of more than $20 million. With over 16 years of corporate finance & consulting experience, she held leadership positions in New York & Hong Kong before returning to Florida with her family in 2022. Most recently, she served as a Financial Services Consultant with Spencer Stuart. She earned a BA & Masters from Rice University.

Jingyi Blank

Vice President - Middle Market Banking

Suncoast Credit Union

Suncoast Credit Union is the largest credit union in the state of Florida, the ninth largest in the United States based on membership, and the 10th largest in the United States based on its $17.1 billion in assets. Chartered in 1934 as Hillsborough County Teachers Credit Union, Suncoast Credit Union currently operates 78 full-service branches and serves more than one million members in 41 Florida counties. Since its founding in 1990, the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation has raised and donated more than $32 million to organizations and initiatives that support the health, education and emotional well-being of children in the communities that the credit union serves.

Jennifer Wade Bolivar

With more than 17 years of professional experience in the financial services industry, Jennifer Wade Bolivar is the Senior Vice President of Business Transformation & Retail Branching for Suncoast Credit Union. Bolivar began her career at Suncoast in 2011, transitioning from working with credit unions across the country to becoming an essential part of the credit union movement.

As Senior Vice President of Business Transformation & Retail Branching, Bolivar’s areas of responsibility include accelerating business outcomes across the enterprise and overseeing the agile framework that supports internal application development, portfolio management, and the enterprise project management program. Bolivar also supports propelling the member experience through our retail network, the human brand of Suncoast Credit Union. She oversees 78 retail locations, operations support, education and development along with market optimization and strategy. Bolivar is an experienced, results-driven, leader, motivator, and problem solver. She finds passion in enabling others to see past limiting beliefs and reimaging possibilities.

Jennifer Wade Bolivar

SVP, Business Transformation & Retail Branching

Marcum CPA and Advisors

With over 300 partners and employees, we operate out of four offices and offer an array of business and financial advisory services to individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations. We serve clients in industries that include real estate and construction, financial services, manufacturing and distribution, professional services, retail, health care and life sciences. Current practice areas include accounting and auditing, tax, business and HR consulting, employee benefits, exit planning, financial services, information service technology, international tax, investment management, marketing, sales and local tax, staffing, small business, transaction advisory services, and valuation and litigation advisory services.

Patty Hamilton

Patty Hamilton works in the Accounting and Auditing group in Tampa, Florida. She works primarily with closely held businesses and has extensive experience with industries that include manufacturing, distribution, construction and real estate development, financial institutions, insurance brokerages, professional employer organizations and nonprofit organizations. In the Tampa office, she is responsible for the oversight of the accounting and auditing staff group. Patty actively participates in recruiting and mentoring of staff at all levels.

Patty is also in the process of creating a firm charitable foundation to provide a centralized vehicle to capture the various charitable work and donations already taking place at Marcum LLP, and plans to grow the foundation into a meaningful organization that provides value to the firm and the communities where we live and work.

Patty Hamilton

Partner

SouthState Bank

SouthState operates as one of the largest community bank franchises headquartered in the state of Florida. Both the Company and its nationally chartered bank subsidiary are based in Winter Haven, Florida, between Orlando and Tampa. With over $10 billion in assets, the Bank provides traditional retail, commercial, mortgage, wealth management and SBA services throughout its Florida branch network and customer relationships in neighboring states. The Bank also has a national footprint, serving clients coast to coast through its correspondent banking division.

Angel Gonzalez

Angel Gonzalez is the Hillsborough Regional President for SouthState, the largest Community Bank in Florida. He has been with SouthState since 2007 where he began his career as a Management Trainee. He graduated with a B.S. in Finance from Southeastern University. As he rose through the ranks, Angel exceeded expectations in production and leadership. He was responsible for the successful launch of the banks current underwriting and approval software. As a Commercial Loan Officer, he was consistently a top performer finishing in the top 3 year after year. During his short time as the Marion County Market President, he successfully restructured the leadership team, met the market’s production goals for the first time in 5 years, and doubled its ROA in a single year.

SouthState Bank found its first opportunity to enter the Tampa Bay Market in 2017, creating an opportunity for Angel to join a larger market. He is responsible for managing the staff and the growth of the loan and deposit portfolios. The Hillsborough Market was created by acquiring four banks in 2 years. Angel is a true community partner, taking every opportunity to be involved in the continued progress of the communities he serves. He has served on multiple boards for non-profits and government services agencies. He has also been honored with the designation of “40 under 40” by both the Tampa Bay Business Journal and the Business Observer.

Angel has been married to Rosalie Gonzalez for 14 years and they have 2 children. As a family, they are involved in multiple civic organizations, including Keeping Tampa Bay Beautiful, Voices for Children, the YMCA, the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, and the Guardian Ad Litem Agency. He enjoys golfing and traveling with his friends and family.

Angel Gonzalez

Tampa Bay Market President

Warren Averett

The Warren Averett Tampa office has been providing superior service for over 40 years to the Tampa community. Warren Averett provides clients with experience and technical resources of a national firm, yet local roots and traditions provide a superior level of personal attention and service. Warren Averett has 15 office locations and ranks among the top 35 firms in the U.S. Their services span beyond audit and tax to include wealth management, staffing and recruiting, technology and risk solutions, finance team support and a variety of advisory services such as transaction advisory, M&A, risk and compliance, estate planning and much more. With more than 800 employees, they offer experience in a variety of industries including manufacturing, government contracting, nonprofit and public sector, financial services, healthcare, construction, real estate, retail, life sciences and technology. To learn more about the firm visit www.warrenaverett.com.

Michelle Sanchez, CPA

Michelle Sanchez is a Member of the Firm and has been practicing in the public accounting profession in the Tampa Bay area since 1994. She is a leader of our Nonprofit Industry Service Team, as well as a member of our Manufacturing and Distribution Industry Service Team. Michelle is an active member of both the professional and philanthropic communities in Tampa. She is a Board Member of Network of Executive Women, was recognized as a Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Business Woman of the Year Finalist in 2012, member of Leadership St. Petersburg in 2012 and nominated for FICPA Women to Watch Awards, Experienced Leader Finalist in 2013. Michelle resides in St. Petersburg, Florida with her husband of more than 20 years, and their two children.

Michelle Sanchez, CPA

CPA, Audit Member

Synovus

Synovus’ humble beginnings date back to a Georgia textile mill and a simple act of kindness. One day, a worker’s hard-earned savings spilled from the hem of her dress after it became entangled in factory machinery. Taking notice, an executive offered to secure her money in the company vault and pay her interest – a service soon extended to all workers at the mill. Their deposits marked the beginning of the company that would become Synovus.

Synovus is one of the strongest regional banks in the Southeast with over $30 billion in assets. Synovus provides commercial and retail banking in addition to a full suite of specialized products and services including asset-based lending, treasury management, private banking, mortgage services and international banking. These specialized offerings, combined with traditional banking products and services, make Synovus a great choice for all retail and commercial customers.

Synovus Bank was recognized as America’s Most Reputable Bank by American Banker and the Reputation Institute in 2017, and was named “Best Regional Bank, Southeast” by MONEY Magazine for 2016-17.

John Acosta

John Acosta joined Synovus as market president for the Tampa Bay (FL) area in 2022, bringing four decades of local banking experience to the role. John joined Synovus from Cadence Bank, where he was executive vice president and led the business and commercial banking line of business. At Synovus, John leads a team inspired by the success of business and residential clients in communities across Tampa Bay and committed to enhancing the reputation of Synovus as a trusted financial partner.

John currently serves on the boards of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission and the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council. A native Floridian and alumnus of Florida State University, he previously served on the board of governors of the FSU College of Business. He and his wife call the Tampa Bay area home, as do their two grown sons.

John Acosta

Market President, Tampa Bay

Valley Bank

As the principal subsidiary of Valley National Bancorp, Valley Bank is a regional bank with approximately $31 billion in assets. Valley is committed to giving people and businesses the power to succeed. Valley operates more than 220 branches across New Jersey, New York, Florida and Alabama, and is committed to providing the most convenient service, the latest innovations and an experienced and knowledgeable team dedicated to meeting customer needs. Helping communities grow and prosper is the heart of Valley’s corporate citizenship philosophy. To learn more about Valley, please visit www.valley.com.

David Ogburn

David Ogburn is a SVP and Market Executive for Valley National Bank in Hillsborough County. He is responsible for all Middle Market and Business Banking lending in Tampa. David is a 34 year commercial banking veteran all within the Tampa Bay market. He began his career as a Management Trainee and spent 15 years in commercial lending at First Union/Wachovia Bank. He joined Colonial Bank as Tampa’s Commercial Banking Manager in 2002 and subsequently became the Professional and Executive Banking manager for USAmeriBank in 2010. He has been with Valley Bank for 13 years via Valley’s acquisition of USAmeriBank.

Mr. Ogburn is very involved in the community as evidenced by his current Board membership in the Corporation To Develop Communities of Tampa, Inc. and University Community Ministries, Inc. He has served in various capacities at each organization including Board President, Secretary and Treasurer. He has been an active volunteer and Board member for each organization over the last 25 years.

David is married to his wife Becky of 25 years and has two adult children, Megan (23) & Ryan (21). He enjoys boating, fishing and other outdoor activities.

David Ogburn

SVP and Market Executive

UBS Global Wealth Management

As one of the world’s leading wealth management firms, UBS Global Wealth Management has the resources and solutions to help clients pursue their most important goals. But their culture of consistently putting client needs front and center is what truly cultivates successful financial advisor and client relationships.

Greg Kadet

Since 2009, Gregory Kadet has served as UBS’s Managing Director, Market Head – Greater Florida. He joined UBS in 1997 and has held various sales management positions over the course of his tenure.

Kadet holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Arizona State University and has completed several UBS training programs, including the Key Talent Leadership Program in Zurich, Switzerland, the Management Development and Program, and Private Coaching through Right Management Consultants.

Active in the community, Kadet serves as a board member with the Tampa Hillsborough EDC, chair of Tampa General Hospital’s Planned Giving Committee, board member of the Tampa Downtown Partnership, board fellow of the University of Tampa, youth soccer coach, and was a member of the Leadership Tampa class of 2013.

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Greg Kadet

Managing Director, Market Head – Greater Florida

USAA

The USAA family of companies provides insurance, banking, investments, retirement products, and advice to over 12 million current and former members of the U.S. military and their families. Known for its legendary commitment to its members, USAA is consistently recognized for outstanding service, employee well-being and financial strength. USAA membership is open to all who are serving our nation in the U.S. military or have received a discharge type of Honorable – and their eligible family members. Founded in 1922, USAA is headquartered in San Antonio.

Keith O’Malley

Keith O’Malley is the Regional Site Director for USAA’s offices in Tampa, Florida. Keith’s primary area of responsibility is serving as the Chief of Staff to the Regional Vice President. He also works to strengthen USAA’s brand and reputation in the community, promote a safe work environment and enhance campus operations through strong leadership, communication, and integration.

Keith has nearly 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, with all but three of those years with USAA. Throughout his career, he has held a variety of leadership positions and has lived in several cities across the USA to include Virginia Beach, VA, Phoenix, AZ and Tampa, FL.

Keith is a graduate of Old Dominion University with a B.A. in Business (Economics) and is a proud Navy brat. He is an active member of the community and enjoys volunteering his time. Keith enjoys spending time with his wife Lisa and their four children.

Keith O’Malley

Regional Site Director

Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation

The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) has operating facilities and data centers around the world, and through its subsidiaries, DTCC automates, centralizes and standardizes the post-trade processing of financial transactions for thousands of institutions worldwide. With 40 years of experience, DTCC is the premier post-trade market infrastructure for the global financial services industry, simplifying the complexities of clearance, settlement, asset servicing, global data management and information services for equities, corporate and municipal bonds, government and mortgage-backed securities, derivatives, money market instruments, syndicated loans, mutual funds, alternative investment products and insurance transactions. In 2012, DTCC’s subsidiaries processed securities transactions valued at approximately $1.6 quadrillion. Its depository provides custody and asset servicing for securities issues from 131 countries and territories valued at $37.2 trillion. DTCC’s global trade repositories record more than $500 trillion in gross notional value of transactions made worldwide.

Marie Chinnici-Everitt

Marie Chinnici-Everitt is Managing Director and Chief Marketing Officer with responsibility for DTCC’s global marketing and corporate communications functions, including overseeing the firm’s global corporate image and positioning, business marketing, and branding initiatives, as well as internal and external communications for DTCC, its subsidiaries, and their respective business lines. She is a member of DTCC’s Operating Committee and serves as Vice Chair of DTCC’s Diversity & Inclusion Council. Additionally, she serves as head of DTCC’s Tampa office, where she oversees the day-to-day operations of the site across all businesses and support functions. Chinnici-Everitt sits on the Board of the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation and represents DTCC at the Tampa Bay Partnership. She has over 25 years of marketing and communications experience in the financial services industry. Prior to DTCC, Chinnici-Everitt served as managing director and head of international business planning and enterprise events at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where she led international business planning across all marketing and corporate affairs disciplines in Europe, Latin America, and Asia.

Marie Chinnici-Everitt

Managing Director

Citi

Citi, the leading global bank, does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management. Citi’s core activities are safeguarding assets, lending money, making payments and accessing the capital markets on behalf of our clients.

The Tampa site, established in 1983, supports more than 20 different lines of business including: Anti Money Laundering Operations, Shared Services, Global Banking Functions, an Institutional Client Group and Technology operations, including Citi Private Bank. Citi maintains proactive relationships with 20 community partners and has given nearly $250,000 throughout the Tampa Bay community.

Nicholas DelleSerra

Managing Partner

Regions Bank

Regions Financial Corporation is a member of the S&P 500 Index and one of the nation’s largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, trust, securities brokerage, mortgage and insurance products and services. Through its subsidiary, Regions Bank provides the backing of a top U.S. financial institution and the local focus of a community hometown bank. This means customers receive the quality services of a financial industry leader in addition to the confidence and convenience of banking with people at a neighborhood company they know. Their company mission reflects what customers say they want from a bank — simple, easy, reliable. While Regions’ financial solutions will help customers get more from their money, it is their purpose to help them get more out of life. As a company that has been around since 1856, Regions knows that banking relationships are founded on trust.

April Grajales

April currently serves as the Tampa Bay Market Executive and Commercial Banking Manager for Regions Bank Commercial and Industrial Banking Team (Commercial, Middle Market, Institutional / Not-for-Profit). She is responsible for ensuring the seamless delivery of the broad suite of products, services and capabilities of Regions Financial Corporation in support of their commercial clients, stakeholders, employees and communities.

April Grajales

Tampa Market Executive and Commercial Banking Leader

JPMorgan Chase

JPMorgan Chase is one of Tampa Bay’s largest private employers with 5,700 employees working in the region. The firm serves consumers and small businesses through more than 60 local Chase branches and 200 ATMs. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.7 trillion and operations worldwide. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase & Co. serves millions of customers in the United States and many of the world’s most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com.

Christopher Brandriff

Christopher Brandriff is a Managing Director and Market Manager for J.P. Morgan Private Bank’s Greater Florida market. He is responsible in overseeing the Firm’s Private Banking business in our Tampa, Sarasota, Naples and Orlando offices. Chris leads a group of bankers and specialists to help affluent families bank, borrow, invest and plan. They work in concert to design integrated strategies that are tailored to the specialized needs of each individual.

Chris fosters an environment of excellence to advise families, business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals in a customized and high-touch manner. He uses a solution-based process to deliver the strengths of J.P. Morgan, including the intellectual capital and investment platforms available through the global capabilities of the firm.

A graduate of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), Chris earned a B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering. While there, he was an NCAA Division I Track & Field athlete and an ESPN First Team Academic All-American. Chris’s involvement in an investment committee at VMI drove his interest in the markets and led him to further his education. He holds an M.B.A. from the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia.

With more than ten years of experience, Chris began as an Investment Banker in the Power & Energy Group at Citigroup, advising clients on strategic alternatives and efficient capital allocation. Pivoting toward personalized wealth management, he joined the Private Bank at its headquarters in New York City as a Client Advisor for successful individuals. In 2017, Chris relocated to Tampa Bay to help build out the private wealth management business on the West Coast of Florida. He is a former member of the Advisory Council, a cross-disciplinary team that provides long-term strategies for major initiatives undertaken by the firm.

Chris, his wife Meagan, son Lawson and daughter Parker are grateful to now live in a climate that allows them to participate in outdoor activities year-round. In his free time, Chris enjoys sports, fishing, and cooking for his family.

Christopher Brandriff

Managing Director & Market Manager

Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $2.0 trillion in assets. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 8,300 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 42 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 263,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 25 on Fortune’s 2017 rankings of America’s largest corporations. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.

James M. Themides

Jim Themides is the regional vice president for the Wells Fargo Tampa Bay/Gulf Coast Regional Commercial Banking Office (RCBO). A 30 year financial services veteran, Jim is responsible for a team of professionals who serve middle market businesses with annual revenue greater than $25 million.

Prior to his current role, Jim served as Wells Fargo’s area business banking manager in Southwest Florida, where he was responsible for leading seven business banking teams and one credit analyst team throughout the Greater Gulf Coast Region and the Treasure Coast. In addition, Jim has served as regional president in two markets, Tampa Bay and Baltimore, and was responsible for the overall success of all lines of business in each region. Before assuming the regional president role in Baltimore, Jim served at Wells Fargo predecessor Wachovia as the commercial banking executive for the Mid-Atlantic Region. He started his career with Wachovia in 1986.

Jim holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in business administration from Barton College in Wilson, North Carolina. He also completed an executive leadership program with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Active in the community, Jim serves on the Boards of Directors of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and the Tampa Downtown Partnership.

James M. Themides

Executive Vice President, Commercial Banking

Fifth Third Bank

Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Established in 1858, the company has $130 billion in assets and operates 17 affiliates with 1,311 full-service banking centers and 2,605 ATMs in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Georgia and North Carolina. Fifth Third operates four main businesses: Commercial Banking, Branch Banking, Consumer Lending and Investment Advisors. Fifth Third is among the largest money managers in the Midwest, and as of December 31, 2013, they had $302 billion in assets under care, of which it managed $27 billion for individuals, corporations and nonprofit organizations. The Tampa Bay affiliate operates 48 banking centers throughout Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Polk counties.

Cary Putrino

Regional President, North Florida Region

Bank of Tampa

The Bank of Tampa is one of the largest community banks in the Tampa Bay area. It has been privately held by its employees, directors and clients since the bank’s inception in 1984. It has offices in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Sarasota counties, as well as a loan production office in Pasco County. The Bank of Tampa’s assets total more than $3.3 billion, with outstanding loans greater than $1.4 billion. Its wealth management practice has more than $1 billion total assets under care. To learn more, visit www.thebankoftampa.com, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Scott C. Gault

Scott Gault serves as Hillsborough and Pasco County Market President at The Bank of Tampa. In this role, he leads the strategic direction for The Bank of Tampa’s Hillsborough and Pasco offices. Additionally, he holds enterprise responsibilities for the bank’s Middle Market and SBA areas. Scott brings nearly 30 years of experience in the financial services industry.

Scott is passionate about giving back to the community, serving on the board of directors for WEDU PBS, St. Anthony’s Hospital Foundation, as well as the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, he serves on the Executive Advisory Council for the University of South Florida’s Muma College of Business.

Gault holds an MBA in international finance from Florida Metropolitan University, as well as an undergraduate degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey. In 2019, he completed the Columbia University Business School’s Advanced Management Program. Additionally, he has completed the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business’s Bank Financial Leadership program. Scott is also a GE Capital trained Six Sigma Green Belt.

Scott C. Gault

Executive Vice President, Hillsborough and Pasco County Market Director

Truist

Are you ready for a better banking experience? BB&T and SunTrust have combined to bring you even greater access to your finances while maintaining the personal support and advice you’ve come to know. Truist is dedicated to transforming tomorrow for the people we’re so proud to serve. We want to build a better future for our clients, employees and communities. Here’s what we’re doing to make sure we deliver on those promises.

Lindsay August

Lindsay August is a long-time commercial banker who has worked with countless Tampa Bay businesses over the past 17 years. She takes a collaborative, pragmatic approach with her clients, finding creative solutions to meet their goals and objectives. Lindsay works with businesses and not-for-profits to provide strategic credit, cash management, capital markets, retirement services, risk management solutions, and much more. BB&T now Truist’s community banking model, coupled with its “big bank” capabilities, allows Lindsay to provide comprehensive solutions and exceptional service.

Lindsay August

Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties Market President

GTE Financial

GTE Financial is a leading not-for-profit financial cooperative with more than $1.6 billion in assets and 21 Community Financial Centers located throughout West Central Florida. GTE Financial offers every needed financial product and service for individuals in the community, such as checking and savings accounts, business services, personal, home and auto loans, credit cards, insurance and investments, but typically at better rates and with fewer fees than traditional banks. Chartered in 1935, GTE Financial remains locally owned and operated in the Tampa Bay area and currently serves more than 212,000 individuals and businesses.

Brian Best

As President and CEO of GTE Financial, Brian Best’s approach to leadership is all about serving others and ensuring that people always come first. With the support and guidance of a seasoned Board of Directors and an invaluable Executive Management Team, he is focused on maximizing return and value to the GTE membership and local community. Through elevating the employee experience, members gain a caring financial advocate that ensures they earn more, save more and live better. Additionally, GTE is focused on providing innovation through a service lens, ensuring the credit union stays relevant within an ever-changing industry permeated by new technology and sophisticated services.

Prior to joining GTE, Best worked at Grow Financial Federal Credit Union where he served as the Chief Lending and Operations Officer. He has been in the financial services industry for over 20 years, holding senior management positions at some of the nation’s most preeminent banks and credit unions. He brings a diverse background in commercial and consumer banking, collections, operations, retail strategy, process improvement, investment and risk portfolio management, organizational branding and troubled business restructuring.

Best holds a bachelor’s in marketing from Wright State University, as well as a master’s from Saint Leo University. He has also graduated from the RMA School of Commercial Underwriting and Portfolio Management, and has received his accreditation with Six Sigma as a master black belt.

Brian Best

President and CEO