Team
Our team’s experience runs the gamut from finance to law. Buttressed by senior leadership within Synovus and experienced partners, you can be confident that we’re ready to take on any challenge.
Core
FOUNDER, Gracestone
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT / INVESTMENTS, Synovus Securities
TRUST OFFICER, Synovus Trust Company
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT / INVESTMENTS, Synovus Securities
TRUST OFFICER, Synovus Trust Company
Vice President / Investments, Synovus Securities
Vice President / Investments, Synovus Securities
Synovus Leadership
Kessel Stelling
Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, Synovus
- Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors, Synovus
- Past Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, Synovus
- University of Georgia – Bachelors of Business Administration, Banking & Finance
- Louisiana State University – Graduate School of Banking of the South
- University of South Carolina – Honorary Doctorate, Business Administration
- Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, Board Member and Past Chairman
- Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Board of Directors
- Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors
- Georgia Historical Society, Board of Directors
- Georgia Power, Board of Directors
Kevin Blair
President and Chief Executive Officer, Synovus
- President and Chief Executive Officer, Synovus
- Past President and Chief Operating Officer, Synovus
- James Madison University – Bachelor of Business Administration, Economics & Management
- George Washington University – Masters of Business Administration, Finance
- Georgia Research Alliance, Board of Directors
- Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Board of Directors
- United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley, Board of Directors
Partners
Robert Nobles
Chief Investment Officer, Synovus Trust
EDUCATION & LICENSING
- University of Notre Dame – Bachelor of Business Administration, Accountancy
- University of Notre Dame – Master of Business Administration, Finance
- CIMA® Certification – Technical Portfolio Construction
- CFA® Designation – Chartered Financial Analyst
- CPA License (Georgia)
- CFA® Society of Atlanta
- Investments & Wealth Institute
- Christ Community Church of Columbus, Board of Directors & Leader of Ministry
- Columbus Convention & Trade Center, Former Board of Directors
Michelle Bailey
Private Wealth Advisor, Synovus Bank
- Private Wealth Advisor, Synovus Bank
- Former, Senior Private Banker, Legal Specialty Group, Wells Fargo Atlanta Private Bank
EDUCATION
- University of Georgia, Bachelor of Science, Economics
CIVIC AFFILIATIONS
- Handshake America, Coach
- Lakeside High School, Soccer Booster Club
- Oak Grove United Methodist Church
Kim Brannen
Professional & Executive Banker, Synovus Bank
- Senior Vice President, Manager – Private Client Group, Synovus Bank
- Former Manager, Private Client Group, Sea Island Bank
- Georgia Southern University – Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, Banking
- The Tyson Foundation, Past President
- CSRA Business Lending, Former Board of Directors
- Statesboro-Bulloch Chamber of Commerce, Former Board of Directors
- Leadership Bulloch, Former Board of Directors
- Joseph’s Home for Boys, Former Executive Committee
- Youth Leadership Bulloch, Founding Member
- Leadership GBA, Former President
- The Statesboro Service League, Former President
Meg Hoffmann
Vice President & Senior Trust Relationship Manager, Synovus Trust
- Vice President & Senior Trust Relationship Manager, Synovus Trust
- Former Trust Officer, Reliance Trust Company
- East Carolina University, Bachelor of Science in Economics
- Cannon Financial Institute Trust School
- Estate Planning Council of North Georgia
- North Fulton Chamber of Commerce
- Meals by Grace, Volunteer
- No Longer Bound Treatment Program, Volunteer
Fran Lacy
Manager, Repurchase Services / Institutional Sales, Synovus Securities
- Manager, Repurchase Services / Institutional Sales, Synovus Securities
- Washington & Lee University – Bachelor of Science, Business Administration
- FINRA Licensing:
- Series 7 – General Securities Representative
- Series 24 – General Securities Principal
- Series 63 – State of Alabama Registration
Cindy Lester
Vice President & Senior Trust Relationship Manager, Synovus Trust
- Vice President and Senior Trust Relationship Manager, Synovus Trust
- Former Senior Vice President and Private Client Services Executive, SunTrust Bank
- University of Georgia, Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
- Southern Trust School, Birmingham, Alabama
- The Cancer Foundation of Northeast Georgia, Board of Directors
- Mercy Health Center, Advisory Board of Directors
- Athens Area Community Foundation, Finance & Investment Committee
Blake Lewis
Vice President, Investment Advisory Services, Synovus Securities
- Vice President, Investment Advisory Services, Synovus Securities
- Former Institutional Trade Specialist & Senior Compliance Analyst, Sterne Agee
- Former Bank Examiner, Alabama Department of Banking
- University of Alabama – Bachelor of Science in Commerce and Business Administration, Finance
- FINRA Licensing:
- Series 7 – General Registered Representative
- Series 66 – Uniform Combined State Law
- Freshwater Land Trust, Junior Board
- Glenwood Autism & Behavioral Health Center, Junior Board
Mary Jo Pearson
Sr. Commercial / Private Wealth Assistant, Synovus Bank
- Sr. Commercial / Private Wealth Assistant, Synovus Bank
- Former, Personal Banker, Regions Financial Corporation
- Thirty years of experience in commercial, private wealth and retail banking
FAVORITE QUOTE:
“Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.”
CIVIC AFFILIATIONS
- American Heart Association, Volunteer
- United Way of Chattanooga
- Junior Achievement
- Dallas Bay Baptist Church
Cindy Pope
Investment Associate, Synovus Securities
- Investment Associate, Synovus Securities
- FINRA Licensing:
- Series 7 – General Securities Representative
- Series 66 – Uniform Combined State Law
Maggie Tanner
Private Wealth Advisor, Synovus Bank
- Senior Vice President, Private Wealth Advisor
- University of Mississippi — Bachelor of Science: Business Administration - Banking & Finance and Insurance & Risk Management
- FINRA Licensing:
- Series 7 – General Securities Representative
- Series 66 – Uniform Combined State Law
- University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Planned Giving Advisory Council
- Chattanooga Hamilton County Medical Alliance
- Medical Society Chattanooga and Hamilton County / MGMA
- Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute
- Leadership Chattanooga, 2015-2016 Class
- Junior League of Chattanooga (formerly Birmingham, AL and Huntsville, AL)
- Public Affairs Research Committee of Alabama
- Alabama Leadership Initiative
- Young Professional of the Year Finalist, Huntsville Chamber of Commerce
- Leadership Huntsville
- Committee of 100, Young Professional Initiative, Huntsville
Kimberly Woody
Senior Portfolio Manager, GLOBALT Investments
- Senior Portfolio Manager, GLOBALT Investments
- Member of Investment Policy Committee, GLOBALT Investments
- Emory University – Bachelor of Arts, Mathematics
- FINRA Licensing:
- Series 65 – Uniform Investment Adviser