Business Portfolio – Aug. 2, 2015

BANKING

Gayle Woolard, Joe Pierce, Perry Revell and Matt Rushton have been promoted to senior vice president positions by the board of directors of AB&T National Bank.

Woolard was promoted to Senior Vice President – Consumer Services. A native of Albany, Gayle has more than 18 years of banking experience, notably in the area of private banking.

Pierce becomes Senior Vice President and Senior Credit Officer. He has an extensive business and banking background. Luke Flatt commented, “We believe that Joe’s leadership and business experience will continue to shape the future of our organization in a very positive way,” said Luke Flatt, AB&T president.

Revell has been named Senior Vice President – Relationship Development and Marketing. An Albany native, Revell attended the University of Georgia, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration and Marketing. Since joining AB&T his focus has been on effectively managing commercial relationships.

Rushton was promoted to Senior Vice President – Commercial Banking. Matt attended Albany High School. He later went on to the University of Georgia, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics. He is expected to expand AB&T’s commercial lines and agricultural lending.

AB&T National opened its doors in 1999 as Albany Bank & Trust.

LEGAL

Melody Ellis has joined the law firm of Gardner, Willis, Sweat & Handleman, LLP as an associate.

An Albany native, Ellis attended Valdosta State University and received a bachelor of science degree in applied mathematics, magna cum laude. She received her juris doctorate degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Georgia in 2004. She began her legal career serving as a law clerk for the judges of the Dougherty County Superior Court. She also has served as a special assistant to the attorney general of Georgia by representing the Department of Family and Children Services in nine south Georgia counties in cases involving child abuse and neglect.

Immediately prior to joining Gardner, Willis, Swear & Handleman, Ellis was an assistant district attorney in the South Georgia Judicial Circuit, where she was responsible for the prosecution of both felony and misdemeanor crimes.

She and her husband, David, have two children, Cameron and Jordan. Her areas of practice include business law, commercial, litigation and representing financial institutions. She is a member of the Georgia Bar.

FOOD

Josh Mullins, managing partner of LongHorn Steakhouse in Albany, and Chris Miller, managing partner of LongHorn Steakhouse in Tifton, have attained the company’s diamond Club status which is given to just 22 managing partners from the company’s 480 restaurants in North America.

Mullins and Miller were cited for the company as top performers based on a variety of criteria based on guest experiences.

PROFESSIONAL

Chancey Washburn, a dentist in Cumming and a former Albany resident, has received the Mastership Award from the Academy of General Dentistry at the group’s annual meeting recently in San Francisco. The Mastership Award is the group’s highest honor. Washburn completed 1,100 hours of dental continuing education to earn the recognition.

Washburn graduated from the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry in 2001. He and his wife, Moriah, have three children, Calvin, Wyatt and Iris. He graduated from Albany High School in 1993 and is the son of Allyson and Fred Washburn of Albany.