Twenty-three bankers from around Alabama were honored Thursday at Business Alabama’s Rising Stars of Banking luncheon at the Harbert Center in Birmingham.
ABC 33/40 evening news anchor Ashonti Ford and Sheila Wardy, director of integrated marketing & events for PMT Publishing, emceed the awards after opening remarks from Alec Harvey, executive editor of Business Alabama magazine.
This year’s class includes leaders with decades of experience and those just beginning to make their mark; seasoned executives and rising professionals who have worked their way from teller lines to the top ranks of management,” he said. “Collectively, they represent the energy, innovation, and dedication that define Alabama banking today.”
Here are the 2025 Rising Stars of Banking:
KARLY ALLISON, Bryant Bank
Karly Allison, executive vice president, commercial banking for Bryant Bank in Birmingham, has 26 years’ experience in banking. She has spent 20 years in commercial banking as a commercial lender and in various leadership positions. She has served as company campaign chair for United Way of Central Alabama, volunteered with YWCA of Alabama and was a member of the Junior League of Birmingham. She also has supported Junior Achievement Lemonade Day and worked with the Central Alabama Food Bank. Allison lives in Vestavia Hills with her husband and two children.
JAY BAKER, SmartBank
Jay Baker, senior vice president, corporate banking manager at SmartBank, has more than two decades of experience in commercial banking and financial services. Baker has an expertise in low-income housing tax credits and middle-market financing. He has worked at BBVA, Compass Bank, Credit Suisse and Guilford Capital, where he honed his skills in relationship management and underwriting. Baker is a graduate of Auburn University at Montgomery with a degree in finance.
TIA BLAKE, First Citizens Bank in Luverne
Tia Blake is a loan processor for First Citizens Bank in Luverne, where she started working eight years ago as a bank teller. As a loan processor, she works daily with customers, loan officers, senior bank management, real estate closing attorneys and internal compliance. She says that what she loves most about her job is “serving our customers, working with our great bank team and solving complex matters in order to get the bank loan documents accurate and closing the loan on time.”
KERRI DeSHAZO, Synovus Bank
Kerri DeShazo is the Dothan market executive at Synovus Bank, where she leads banking teams in offering financial solutions for clients and supports the bank’s community outreach initiatives. With 30 years of banking experience, DeShazo started her career as a teller and joined Synovus in 2008. A Wiregrass native, she earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Troy University. She is active in area nonprofits and serves as an executive board member of the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce. DeShazo is a Leadership Dothan graduate and a 2023 recipient of the Synovus Chairman’s Award for Exceptional Client Experience. She enjoys competitive fitness and family road trips.
JUWAN DICKERSON, ServisFirst Bank
Juwan Dickerson, senior treasury management sales officer at ServisFirst Bank in Birmingham, began his banking career at AmSouth bank in the early 2000s. Since then, he has worked at Regions, BBVA and PNC before joining ServisFirst, where he says the bank’s “name is our mission” motto aligns with his skills and philosophy. “My focus is on building relationships from the ground up,” he says. Dickerson is a graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
KATHRYN ELLIS, Regions Bank
Kathryn Ellis is vice president and treasury management relationship manager at Regions Bank in Mobile, serving clients across the Alabama Gulf Coast and Florida Panhandle. A graduate of the University of Mississippi in accounting, she obtained her CPA license and worked as a tax accountant before moving into the banking industry more than 25 years ago. She’s involved in the community, working with organizations including Habitat for Humanity and the United Way. Ellis and her husband have two daughters and live in Daphne.
TIMOTHY GYAN, ServisFirst Bank
Timothy Gyan is senior Community Reinvestment Act analyst at ServisFirst Bank, performing data analysis, quality control and testing to assess compliance with CRA and Fair Lending Laws. A Mobile native and graduate of the University of South Alabama, Gyan served nine years as a commissioner on the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. He also served on USA’s National Alumni Association board of directors and was a loaned executive with the United Way of Southwest Alabama. Gyan, his wife and two children live in Birmingham.
JOSH HAISTEN, MidSouth Bank
Josh Haisten is market president and vice president for Houston County for MidSouth Bank, where he leads five branch locations around the Wiregrass. A graduate of Troy University, the Alabama Banking School and Bankers 2 Leaders, Haisten has been with MidSouth since 2007. He is active in the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce and a graduate of Leadership Dothan. Haisten has played a key role in organizing the chamber’s State of the Economy Luncheon and serves on the board of the Southeast Alabama Community Foundation, Region 6 Workforce Development and Dothan National League. Haisten and his wife have two children and live in Dothan.
LORI HALL, Bank Independent
Lori Hall is vice president and controller at Bank Independent, where she began her 22-year career while still in college. A graduate of the University of North Alabama, Hall received her MBA in 2008. She attained Certified Public Accountant designation and served on the Young CPA Cabinet with the Alabama Society of CPAs. She graduated from Alabama Banking School and from the Executive Development Program at Graduate School of Banking at Colorado. Hall also has served on the Finance Technical Advisory Council with the Alabama Committee on Credentialing and Career Pathway. Hall and her husband have a daughter.
ETHAN HOWARD, FirstBank
Ethan Howard is vice president in commercial banking at FirstBank. He began his career in public accounting before transitioning into banking. A CPA, Howard earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Samford University. He is a member of the Birmingham Monday Morning Quarterback Club and serves on the National Wild Turkey Federation board for the Birmingham chapter. Howard is a member of the Church at Brook Hills. He, his wife and son live in Birmingham.
MASON HOWELL, Renasant Bank
Mason Howell is a commercial relationship officer at Renasant Bank (formerly The First Bank) in Spanish Fort. He is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi and began working at The First Bank as a student. After graduating with honors, Howell began his banking career full time as a credit analyst in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. In 2019, Howell transferred with the bank to Baldwin County to begin his lending career, where he continues to grow relationships today. Howell and his wife live in Daphne, where he is an avid salt-water fisherman.
LAWRENCE JOHNSON, Friend Bank
Lawrence Johnson is an executive vice president at Friend Bank. Currently serving as investment officer, Johnson oversees the bank’s investment portfolio, marketing strategy and various CDFI initiatives. Johnson began his career at Ernst & Young, specializing in financial services. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accountancy from the University of Alabama and was valedictorian of his Alabama Banking School class in 2022. Johnson is a member of First United Methodist Church in Dothan and serves on boards including Wiregrass Habitat for Humanity, Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce, Alabama Bankers Association Bankers 2 Leaders and the Culverhouse College of Business Associate Board of Visitors. He and his wife have one son.
MARCIA JOHNSON, River Bank & Trust
Marcia Johnson serves as vice president of marketing and communications at River Bank & Trust. Since joining the bank, she has been instrumental in shaping and promoting the River Bank brand. A Prattville native, Johnson graduated from the University of West Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications. Following completion of the American Bankers Association Bank Marketing School, she earned its Certified Financial Marketing Professional designation. In 2024, she was recognized as a Women to Watch honoree by the Central Alabama Business Journal and has served as a marketing panelist for the Alabama Bankers Association.
CHARLES ‘CHUCK’ KRAMER III, United Community
is a commercial relationship manager for United Community in Birmingham. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama and has 23 years of experience in banking. His areas of concentration are CRE, C&I and SBA lending. Before joining United (then Progress Bank) in 2016, he was a Commercial RM with Iberia, Regions and Compass Bank. Kramer has served as a past board member of Birmingham Citywide CDC. He is a member of Asbury UMC and has served on the church’s finance committee. He currently serves as Spain Park High School Gridiron president. Kramer lives in Greystone with his wife and their two sons.
SHELBY PATTERSON, First Metro Bank
Shelby Patterson is special projects coordinator at First Metro Bank in Muscle Shoals. A 2019 graduate of the University of North Alabama with a degree in professional marketing, Patterson that year also completed the American Bankers Association Bank Marketing School. Her positions at First Metro have included teller, marketing assistant, marketing director and director of market development. In her current role, she was tasked with leading the bank’s core conversion project, collaborating across departments, vendors and stakeholders. Patterson led the project from inception to execution, including data migration, system testing and risk management.
BETH PLEMONS, Renasant Bank
Beth Plemons is an executive loan assistant at Renasant Bank with more than 25 years of experience in the banking industry. Throughout her career, she has played an integral role in multiple bank mergers, providing guidance to staff and clients to ensure smooth transitions. She also has served as a CreditQuest trainer, developing and leading training programs that strengthened commercial lending teams and enhanced internal processes. Plemons is married with three daughters. She has completed five marathons and will be traveling to Germany this fall to run the 2025 Berlin Marathon. She enjoys boating and spending time with her family on the water.
SEAN PLOUSE, CB&S Bank
Sean Plouse is a branch sales manager for CB&S Bank at the Perimeter Park branch in Huntsville. Originally from Pennsylvania, he graduated from Mount Aloysius College with a degree in business management. Plouse has been with CB&S Bank for four years, with more than 20 years of banking experience. Plouse is the treasurer for Community Bank Partners of Madison County, board chair for Disability Resource Network and mentor coordinator for the Synergy Chapter of BNI. Plouse has served as a mentor with The Cornerstone Initiative and sits on the organization’s board of influencers. He and his wife have one daughter.
KRISTIE RAY, Bryant Bank
Kristie Ray is senior vice president, private banking, with Bryant Bank in Huntsville. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Athens State University and is a graduate of the Alabama Banking School at the University of South Alabama. Ray has served on the board for Girls on the Run of North Alabama and currently serves as a professional adviser with the HudsonAlpha Foundation. Ray is a graduate of Leadership Huntsville/Madison County Focus Class 36 and was selected for Leadership Greater Huntsville’s Connect Class 28, which began in August. Her volunteer work includes the Food Bank of North Alabama and Manna Houses. She and her husband have one daughter.
HUNTER SINGLETON, PeoplesSouth Bank
Hunter Singleton is a city president and commercial lending officer for PeoplesSouth Bank. Singleton studied at Wallace State Community College and Troy University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. He worked in accounting and the oil field industry before moving to banking. He is active in the Wiregrass community as a member of the Headland Kiwanis Club, the Education and Workforce Development Committee for the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce, Dothan Young Professionals and Troy University Henry County Alumni Chapter. He, his wife and three children live in Headland, where they are members of First Baptist Church of Headland.
ALISA SINKFIELD, River Bank & Trust
Alisa Sinkfield is vice president and office manager at River Bank & Trust in Montgomery. Sinkfield attended Alabama State University and is actively involved in her church, First Congregational Christian Church, supporting global missions and local outreach efforts. Sinkfield works with Camp Sunshine, which empowers disabled adults through enrichment and inclusion, and mentors young professionals. A native of Abbeville, Sinkfield and her husband live in Montgomery.
JILL SMITH, Peoples Bank of Alabama
Jill Smith, a life-long resident of Guntersville, is a relationship banker III, specializing in commercial lending, with Peoples Bank of Alabama. Smith began her banking career as a high-school student, working in the work-based learning program. In her 33-year career, she’s worked for four banks, including Peoples Bank, which she joined in 2008. She has received the Summit Sales Club Award from the bank each year since 2021. A graduate of the Alabama Banking School, she and her team were the Bank Exec winners and received the Kay Ivey Outstanding Bank Award. Smith has three children and six grandchildren.
RUSTY STILES, SmartBank
Rusty Stiles is vice president/relationship manager for SmartBank’s North Alabama area. A Huntsville native and graduate of the University of Alabama, Stiles has more than 15 years of experience in the banking industry. He joined SmartBank in 2021. Stiles is a graduate of the Alabama Banking School and a Connect Class 20 graduate through Leadership Huntsville/Madison County. Stiles is the president of the board of directors for Friends Inc., a small nonprofit. He enjoys playing golf, doing yard work and fishing. He and his wife have two children.
BOB THOMPSON, Bank Independent
Bob Thompson is area president for Lawrence, Limestone and Morgan counties at Bank Independent, where he has been providing financial insight and guidance to customers and business owners since 2020. Thompson, his wife and two children live in Decatur, where he has deep ties with the local community. Thompson is a business graduate of Athens State University and has more than 15 years of commercial banking experience. Thompson previously had multiple tenures as treasury secretary and board chairman for Huntsville Community Drum Line and also served as a board member for the Limestone County Economic Development Association.
