| H. Palmer Proctor |
H. Palmer Proctor is currently the Vice Chairman & Chief Executive Officer at Ameris Bancorp since 2022. He is also the Chief Executive Officer & Director at Ameris Bank since 2019. In addition, he holds the position of Lead Independent Director at Brown & Brown, Inc. He is a Director at Choate Construction Co., Secretary, Treasurer & Director at LionMark Insurance Co., and a Director at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. He is a Member of the Rotary Club of Atlanta and the Buckhead Lions Club Foundation, Inc. Formerly, Mr. Proctor served as the President, Chief Executive Officer & Director at Fidelity Bank from 2004 to 2019. He was also the Chairman of the Georgia Bankers Association, Inc. from 2017 to 2018. He held the position of Administrative Chairman at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, Inc. He served as the President & Director at Fidelity Southern Corp. from 1996 to 2019. He was a Director at Fidelity National Capital, Inc. from 2003 to 2005. He also served as a Director at Leadership Atlanta, Inc. and as a Trustee at Fernbank Museum of Natural History and Professional Association of Georgia Educators, Inc.Mr. Proctor completed his undergraduate degree at Auburn University and also attended the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking. |
| Doug Strange |
Doug Strange currently works at Ameris Bank, as Chief Credit Officer & Executive Vice President from 2024 and Ameris Bancorp, as Chief Credit Officer & Executive Vice President from 2024. |
| Jody L. Spencer |
Jody L. Spencer is currently the Chief Legal Officer & Executive Vice President at Ameris Bancorp and Ameris Bank. Prior to this, Jody worked as an Attorney & Partner at Rogers & Hardin LLP from 2008 to 2019. Jody holds a graduate degree from the University of Virginia and the University of Georgia School of Law, as well as an undergraduate degree from Chattanooga University of Tennessee. |
| Nicole S. Stokes |
Nicole S. Stokes currently works at Ameris Bancorp, as Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President from 2018 and Ameris Bank, as Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President from 2018. Ms. Stokes also formerly worked at Synovus Financial Corp., as Senior Auditor, PAB Bankshares, Inc., as Chief Financial Officer from 2005 to 2010, The Banc Corp. (Birmingham, Alabama), as Vice President & Controller from 2001 to 2004, and The Park Avenue Bank (New York), as Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President from 2009 to 2013. |
| Lawton E. Bassett |
Lawton E. Bassett is currently the Chief Banking Officer & Executive Vice President at Ameris Bancorp since 2017 and the President at Ameris Bank since 2017. Previously, he served as the President & Chief Executive Officer at Mabrey Bank and the President & Chief Executive Officer at Citizens Security Bank (Tifton, Georgia) from 2003 to 2006. |
| William D. McKendry |
William D. McKendry is currently the Chief Risk Officer & Executive Vice President at Ameris Bancorp and Ameris Bank. Previously, he worked as the Deputy General Auditor at First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (North Carolina) from 2004 to 2011 and as the Chief Risk Officer & Executive Vice President at Bank of North Carolina from 2011 to 2017. |
| Ross L. Creasy |
Ross L. Creasy is currently the Chief Information Officer & Executive VP at Ameris Bancorp and Ameris Bank. Previously, he served as the Chief Information Officer at Fidelity Bank (Atlanta, Georgia). He holds an MBA from Averett University. |
| Michael T. Pierson |
Michael T. Pierson is currently the Secretary, Chief Governance Officer & EVP at Ameris Bancorp and the Secretary, Chief Governance Officer & Executive VP at Ameris Bank. Previously, he held the position of Chief Risk Officer, Head-Commercial Banking, M&A at Fidelity Southern Corp. and Fidelity Bank (Atlanta, Georgia). |
| James A. Lahaise |
James A. Lahaise is currently the Chief Strategy Officer & Executive Vice President at Ameris Bancorp since 2018. He is also currently serving as the Chief Strategy Officer & Executive Vice President at Ameris Bank. Previously, he held the position of President & Chief Executive Officer at Coastal Bankshares, Inc. from 2003 to 2014. Additionally, he served as the President & Chief Executive Officer at The Coastal Bank (Savannah, Georgia) from 2013 to 2014. He also worked as the EVP-Sales & Performance Management at FLAG Financial Corp. in 2006. |
| James B. Miller |
James B. Miller is currently the Chairman & Chief Executive Officer at LionMark Insurance Co. since 2014, the Executive Chairman at Ameris Bancorp since 2019, the Chairman at American Software, Inc. since 2024, the Chairman at Berlin American Cos. since 1977, the Chairman at Trinity Apex Solutions, Inc. since 2006, the Executive Chairman at Ameris Bank since 2019, and the Chairman at Prescott Automotive Group since 2006. He is also a Director at The Atlanta Opera, Inc., a Director at Buckhead Coalition, Inc., a Member at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, Inc., and a Trustee at The Florida State University College of Business. Previously, Mr. Miller served as the Chairman & Chief Executive Officer at Fidelity Southern Corp. from 2006 to 2019, the Chairman & Chief Executive Officer at Fidelity Bank (Atlanta, Georgia) from 2004 to 2017, the Chairman at Dekalb County Pension Board, the Chairman at Fidelity National Capital, Inc. from 1992 to 2005, and an Independent Director at Interface, Inc. from 2011 to 2020. He also held positions as a Director at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, a Director at Dekalb History Center, and served as President of Decatur Rotary Club. Mr. Miller completed his undergraduate degree at Florida State University and his graduate degree at Vanderbilt Law School. |
| Daniel B. Jeter |
Daniel B. Jeter is currently the Chairman & Co-Owner at Standard Discount Corp., an Independent Director at Ameris Bancorp, and the Lead Independent Director at Ameris Bank. He has also held positions as a Director at Colquitt Loan Co., Globe Loan Co. of Moultrie, Inc., Globe Financial Services, Allied Business Systems LLC, Georgia Financial Services Association, Globe Loan Co. of Hazelhurst, Globe Loan Co. of Tifton, Personal Finance Service of Statesboro Georgia, Inc., Georgia Industrial Loan Corp., Co-Owner at Classic Insurance Co. Ltd., and President at Cavalier Insurance Co. Ltd. In the past, he worked as a Director at Peach Finance, Inc. Mr. Jeter obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia. |
| Jon S. Edwards |
Jon S. Edwards is Chief Credit Officer & Executive Vice President of Ameris Bancorp and Chief Credit Officer & Executive Vice President of Ameris Bank. |
| Claire E. McLean |
Claire E. McLean is an Independent Director at Ameris Bancorp and the Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President at Preferred Capital Securities LLC. She has an undergraduate and graduate degree from Auburn University. |
| William H. Stern |
William H. Stern is currently the President & Chief Executive Officer of Stern & Stern & Associates, Chairman of The South Carolina State Ports Authority, Independent Director of Ameris Bancorp, Director of Ameris Bank, and Director-Coordinating Council of South Carolina Department of Commerce. He is a former Director of First National Bancshares, Inc. (South Carolina), Carolina National Corp., and First National Bank of the South (Milledgeville, Georgia). |
| William Millard Choate |
William Millard Choate is the founder of Choate Construction Co., which was founded in 1989. He currently holds the position of Executive Chairman at Choate Construction Co. Additionally, he currently holds the positions of Independent Director at Ameris Bancorp, Director at Ameris Bank, and Member at Rotary Club of Atlanta. In the past, he held the position of Independent Director at Fidelity Southern Corp. from 2010 to 2019. He also served as a Director at Fidelity Bank (Atlanta, Georgia). Mr. Choate obtained his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University. |
| Gloria A. O'Neal |
Gloria A. O'Neal is an Independent Director and Director at Ameris Bancorp and Ameris Bank respectively. She is also a Director at Dahlonega Baptist Church and a Member of Woman's Missionary Union Foundation. Previously, she served as an Independent Director at Fidelity Southern Corp. and as a Director, Chief Risk Officer & Executive VP at Fidelity Bank (Atlanta, Georgia). |
| Jimmy D. Veal |
Jimmy D. Veal is an Independent Director and Director at Ameris Bancorp and Ameris Bank respectively, where he has been working since 2008. Prior to this, he worked as Vice Chairman at Golden Isles Financial Holdings, Inc. and The First Bank of Brunswick (Georgia) from 1989 to 2001. He was also a Founding Partner at Beachview Tent Rentals, Inc. |
| Elizabeth A. McCague |
Elizabeth A. McCague founded McCague & Co. Ms. McCague also currently works at Ameris Bancorp, as Independent Director from 2016, Ameris Bank, as Director from 2016, and Jacksonville Police & Fire Pension Fund, as Executive Director-Plan Administrator. Ms. McCague also formerly worked at Wachovia Bank NA (Charlotte, North Carolina), as Chairman, The University of Florida Foundation, Inc., as Chairman, Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, Inc., as Director, Jacksonville Port Authority (Florida), as Chief Financial Officer & Director, uReveal, Inc., as Chief Operational Officer & EVP, and First Union Bank (New York Branch), as President. Ms. McCague received her Masters Business Admin degree from Jacksonville University and undergraduate degree from the University of Florida. |
| Rodney D. Bullard |
Rodney D. Bullard is currently the Chief Executive Officer at The Same House. He also holds current positions as an Independent Director at Ameris Bancorp, a Director at Ameris Bank, and a Trustee at Leadership Atlanta, Inc. Previously, he served as an Independent Director at Fidelity Southern Corp. and a Director at Fidelity Bank (Atlanta, Georgia). He also held positions as the Executive Director at Chick-fil-A Foundation and the Vice President-Corporate Social Responsibility at Chick-fil-A, Inc. Prior to that, he worked as an Attorney at Northern District of Georgia. Mr. Bullard obtained an MBA from Terry College of Business and completed graduate studies at Duke University School of Law. |
| William I. Bowen |
William I. Bowen is currently the Vice Chairman at Tift Regional Medical Center and the Chairman at Southwell Ambulatory, Inc. He is also an Independent Director at Ameris Bancorp and a Director at Ameris Bank. Additionally, he serves as a Director at Georgia Funeral Directors Association, Inc. and a Trustee at Tift County Hospital Authority (Georgia). He is the President & Partner at Bowen-Donaldson Funeral Home and the Managing Partner at Bowen Farming Enterprises LLC, Bowen Land & Timber LLC, Fulwood Family Partnership, and Bowen Family Partnership LLP. Mr. Bowen completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Georgia. |
| Robert Dale Ezzell |
Robert Dale Ezzell is the founder of Wisecards Printing & Mailing, which was founded in 2001. He is currently an Independent Director at Ameris Bancorp and a Director at Ameris Bank. Previously, he was the President & Chief Executive Officer of Ezzell, Inc. from 1987 to 2000 and the Chairman of Southland Bank b from 1995 to 2006. Mr. Ezzell received his undergraduate degree from Auburn University. |
| Leo J. Hill |
Leo J. Hill is the founder of Advisor Network Solutions LLC, which was founded in 2006. He is the Owner of the company. Mr. Hill's current job(s) include being the Lead Independent Director at Ameris Bancorp since 2013, Director at Transamerica Partners Funds Group II since 2007, Director at Transamerica Asset Allocation Variable Funds since 2007, Director at Ameris Bank since 2013, and President of L.J. Hill & Co. since 1999. Mr. Hill's former job(s) include being the Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer at Barnett Banks, Inc. from 1991 to 1998, President & Chief Executive Officer at Barnett Bank of the Treasure Coast, Lead Director at Transamerica Income Shares, Inc. from 2010 to 2011, Director at Transamerica Partners Funds Gr, Senior VP & Senior Loan Administration Officer at Wachovia Bank of Georgia, NA from 1976 to 1991, Market President at NationsBank, NA (Charlotte, North Carolina) in 1999, and President-Sun Coast Florida at Bank of America Corp. (Florida). Mr. Hill's education history includes undergraduate and graduate degrees from Georgia State University and a graduate degree from the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University. |
| Robert P. Lynch |
Robert P. Lynch has held multiple positions throughout his career. Currently, he is an Independent Director at Ameris Bancorp since 2000, a Director at Ameris Bank since 2006, and the Chief Financial Officer & Vice President at Lynch Management Co. since 2010. In terms of education, he completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Florida. |
