Robert Dozier leads Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union, guiding a 300-employee organization with nearly 90 years of history. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of South Carolina.

In April 2025, Palmetto Citizens broke ground on its new corporate headquarters in downtown Columbia, marking the largest new office development in the area in nearly two decades. In November 2025, the credit union entered a definitive agreement with Southern Bank to acquire four branches near Augusta, Georgia, pending regulatory approval. Dozier also led the institution’s expansion into Whitmire, purchasing a building to open a branch in early 2026 after the town lost its only financial institution.

Dozier serves on the Midlands Business Leadership Group, Palmetto Citizens Foundation Board, Columbia Area Development Partnership Board and Prisma Heath Corporate Board.

“People tend to support what they help create,” Dozier said when asked about the best advice he has received.

Michael Edens leads First Reliance Bank as market president, bringing over two decades of banking expertise to South Carolina’s financial sector. Edens earned a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from Wofford College in 1998 and furthered his banking education through Louisiana State University Graduate School of Banking in 2006.

Throughout his career, Edens has demonstrated exceptional commitment to community service and industry leadership. He serves as chair of the South Carolina Bankers Association BankPAC and on the association’s board of directors. His civic involvement extends to leadership roles including Hammond School Board treasurer and the American Heart Association Heart Ball chair in 2024.

His dedication to banking earned him recognition as South Carolina Young Banker of the Year in 2008 and placement among The State newspaper’s Top 20 under 40 in 2010. Edens has the Certified Lender Business Banker designation.

“If the people I work with, be it my clients or my fellow employees, are successful then I have succeeded,” Edens said.

Tommy Flinn joined Synovus as Market Executive for Upstate South Carolina in 2024, bringing more than 15 years of increasing responsibilities in commercial and middle market banking. His specialized expertise includes corporate and investment banking, primarily in the manufacturing and distribution sectors.

Flinn and his team focus on delivering ideas and insights that help clients fulfill their strategic priorities. His community involvement includes prior board service with Greenville First Steps, Greenville Zoo Foundation, Meals on Wheels Endowment and Safe Harbor. He is also a Leadership Greenville Class 41 graduate.

“It is hard to beat the Upstate of South Carolina,” Flinn said. “The Upstate has many characteristics that make it a great place to live and work, but the people here are what make it special.”

Flinn and his wife have two young daughters and are active at St. Paul’s Church. An avid golfer, he treasures spending time with family and friends.

Charlie Griffin has built a distinguished career in business and commercial banking focused on driving growth and transformation. Griffin earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Francis Marion University.

In his first banking role out of college, Griffin was honored as Rookie of the Year for the entire company. When asked how he achieved this, he said, “Focus on the role and the respect will follow; otherwise, it is just about your ego.”

Griffin previously served as Senior Vice President, National Client Acquisition Executive and South Carolina Business Banking Executive. He was recognized as a 2020 South Carolina Business Icons and Phenoms honoree and received the 2009 Richland School District 2 Partner in Education honor for financial literacy work.

Griffin is stepping into a new executive opportunity aligned with his passion for creating lasting impact. He serves on the Original Six Foundation board and previously served on boards including the Columbia Chamber and South Carolina Young Bankers Association.

Jimmy Gulledge brings more than 29 years of banking industry experience to his role overseeing First Citizens Bank’s South Carolina Upstate Area. He manages a network of 34 branches across Greenville, Spartanburg, Chester, Fort Mill, Great Falls, Kershaw, Lancaster, Rock Hill and York, with direct responsibility for retail and business banking segments.

Before joining First Citizens in 2005 as Commercial Area Executive, Gulledge helped start and run a successful community bank. He advanced to South Carolina Upstate Division Executive in 2011, overseeing retail and commercial sales across a region with approximately $1.36 billion in assets. In 2014, his division achieved $891 million in loan production and $1.8 billion in deposits. He assumed his current position in December 2014.

Gulledge earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Clemson University. He serves on the First Baptist Church Finance Committee and Greenville Country Club Long Range Planning Committee and is a corporate solicitor for United Way Greenville County.

Justin Hawkins leads Wells Fargo consumer and small business banking operations across South Carolina and Greater Georgia. Hawkins oversees 125 bank branches and $30 billion in deposits while representing the company in all community aspects, including philanthropic giving.

During his 21-year tenure with Wells Fargo, Hawkins has held multiple leadership positions throughout South Carolina. He previously served as area president of the Upstate market, guiding the region’s banking operations. His career progression included roles as financial center manager, service leader, district manager and regional sales and marketing manager for South Carolina.

As region executive, Hawkins manages the strategic direction of consumer and small business banking across two states. His responsibilities encompass branch operations, customer relationships and community engagement initiatives. The role positions him as Wells Fargo’s primary representative throughout the region’s business and philanthropic communities.

Trent Holland serves as senior managing director at Huntington Bank, which reported $11.96 billion in revenue for fiscal year 2024 and employs 19,932 people worldwide. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina.

In July 2025, Huntington announced the acquisition of Veritex Holdings, doing business as Veritex Community Bank, which closed in October 2025. That same month, Huntington announced the acquisition of Cadence Bank.

Holland serves on the presidential council of the board of visitors for Charleston Southern University and is a member of the Charleston CFO Council and the South Carolina Bankers Association Legislative Committee. He is a South Carolina Chamber board member and served as a South Carolina Ports Authority ambassador. He was named to Charleston’s 50 Most Influential for 2024.

“You’re never wrong to do the right thing,” Holland said of the best advice he has received.

Holland began his career building swimming pools for a small family business in Laurens.

Cal Hurst earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Economics from Furman University in 2004. He now serves as president of Southern First Bank, where he leads the organization’s team of 310 employees.

Hurst remains actively engaged in community leadership throughout the region. He serves on the United Way of Greenville County Board of Directors and was the 2023 chair of the Greenville Chamber Board of Directors. His many contributions to the business community have been recognized as he was named Greenville Business 50 Most Influential in both 2024 and 2025, as well as Greenville Business Best & Brightest Under 35.

Reflecting on the banking industry’s future, Hurst said that relationships and hospitality matter most, emphasizing the importance of embracing new technologies while remaining focused on caring about people, serving them well and building relationships.

Beyond his banking career, Hurst also serves as the public address announcer for Furman Men’s Basketball and announces at the SEC Women’s Basketball Tournament and NCAA Basketball Tournaments when held in Greenville.

David Lominack began his banking career as a summer teller before his senior year in college, an experience that shaped his professional path. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Presbyterian College and a banking degree from Stonier National Graduate School of Banking.

As South Carolina Market President for TD Bank, Lominack has become a prominent figure in the state’s banking and business community. He was named to the Greenville Business Magazine 50 Most Influential Hall of Fame and served as chair of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors from 2022-2023.

Lominack’s civic engagement is extensive, including his role as a Liberty Fellow and executive board member of United Way of Greenville County. He previously chaired boards for the South Carolina Bankers Association, Greenville Chamber and United Way of Greenville County. He also served on boards for Prisma Health’s Upstate Affiliate and Peace Center for Performing Arts.

“Trust is earned in drops and lost in buckets,” Lominack said.

Melinda Davis Lux earned a Bachelor of Arts from Wellesley College, an MBA from Clemson University, a juris doctor from Yale Law School and a Master of Laws in Taxation from NYU School of Law.

Davis Lux serves as executive vice president, chief administrative officer and general counsel at United Community Bank, a community bank focused on providing legendary customer service. She leads the organization’s legal, administrative and governance functions.

Davis Lux serves on the boards of directors of the Community Foundation of Greenville and the Peace Center. She previously served on the boards of Build Carolina, Upstate International, Greenville Symphony Orchestra and Greenville First Steps.

She is a board member of the Bank Counsel Section of the Georgia Bankers Association, serves on the Government Relations Council of the Florida Bankers Association and is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

“Who you work with matters more than anything else,” Davis Lux said. “Surround yourself with people from whom you can learn and who have leadership characteristics, work ethic and integrity that you admire.”

Brian McKay leads Spero Financial as president and chief executive officer, guiding the 180-employee credit union through industry challenges including over-regulation and competition from financial technology companies.

A University of South Carolina graduate with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications, McKay earned his master’s degree in business administration from Anderson University. His first job at Walmart pushing carts and working layaway taught him that hard work and consistent attendance get noticed in any role.

“Do it YOUR way,” he says, advice that has shaped his leadership approach.

McKay serves as vice chairman of the Carolinas Credit Union League and chairs Anderson University’s Board of Trustees Finance Committee. His community engagement extends to coaching varsity girls soccer at Greenville Technical Charter High School and membership in Greenville Rotary.

He defines success through helping others reach their potential, finding fulfillment in watching people grow and develop under his leadership.

A member of the Advisory Council for Homes of Hope and Rocky Creek Church Finance Committee, McKay harbored childhood dreams of becoming a marine biologist and still aspires to live on a boat.

Fallon Meyer earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business in 2010, followed by her MBA from the same institution in 2015.

As senior vice president and Charleston market president at Encore Bank, Meyer leads Charleston operations for the 300-employee institution. She emphasizes a hospitality-driven approach prioritizing relationship building and customer service paired with innovative technology.

Meyer maintains extensive community involvement, serving on the One80 Place Board of Directors and Next Child Fund Board of Directors. She previously chaired Dee Norton Child Advocacy’s board in 2021 and served as immediate past chair in 2022. Her volunteer work includes Junior League of Charleston and Junior Achievement classroom activities.

Her leadership has earned recognition including SCBIZ/Charleston Regional Business Journal’s 2022 “Forty Under 40” and SCBIZ/Charleston Regional Business Journal’s 2024 “Women of Influence.”

Meyer’s mentor Michael Sharpton often advises that “the story matters,” she said, a principle she applies to understanding customers and colleagues.

R. Arthur “Art” Seaver, Jr., founded Southern First Bank in 1999, growing it from a startup in his dining room to South Carolina’s largest bank headquartered in the state. The institution now operates 12 locations across South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia with approximately $4.1 billion in total assets.

A 1986 Clemson University graduate with a degree in financial management, Seaver left Regions Bank at 35 to pursue his vision of a values-driven banking institution. “We only have one chance to do it right,” he says.

Under his leadership, Southern First achieved this growth organically without acquisitions, rising from the 94th largest bank in South Carolina to its current top position. Beyond banking, Seaver serves on the Phillis Wheatley Community Center board and previously chaired United Way of Greenville County and the Palmetto Society. His community involvement spans organizations including Leadership Greenville, Greenville Chamber of Commerce, Junior Achievement, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council, demonstrating his commitment to making a difference in the Greenville community.

Scott Sharp leads a team of nine business bankers serving clients from Hilton Head to Myrtle Beach, playing an integral role in TD Bank’s regional growth. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the State University of New York at Cortland and a Master of Education degree in mathematics from Converse College.

In August, Sharp helped launch TD’s inaugural Women Small Business Owners and CEOs Forum in Charleston, bringing together more than 30 local leaders for networking and collaboration. He is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion at TD and remains active with the bank’s mentoring program.

Sharp volunteers with organizations including Operation Home and Charleston Education Partners. Under his leadership, TD Bank has advanced major community investments, including a $100,000 grant to MUSC Hollings Cancer Center and renewed sponsorship with Coastal Carolina University Athletics through April 2043. Sharp remains actively engaged in the bank’s support of the International African American Museum and Emanuel Nine Memorial.

Sharp founded South Carolina’s first high school lacrosse program and continues his passion watching his two sons, Avery and Harrison, play at Wando HS.

R. Bruce White serves as CEO and chairman of Bank of Travelers Rest, leading an organization with 169 employees. White earned his Bachelor of Science from Clemson University before building his career in banking.

Throughout his tenure, White has demonstrated extensive commitment to community service. He currently serves on the Endowment Committee for the Blue Ridge Council Boy Scouts of America. His previous civic contributions include board positions with the Greenville Area Development Corp., service as a trustee for the Greenville Hospital System, and treasurer for the Greenville County C-Funds Committee. He has also contributed to the Greenville Mental Health Board, Public Education Partners and the Greenville YMCA’s Endowment Committee.

White’s leadership has earned him the Order of the Palmetto and recognition among Greenville’s 50 Most Influential People. He served as past president of both the Independent Bankers Association of South Carolina and the Blue Ridge Council BSA.

Reflecting on career guidance, White said the best advice came from Dr. Bruce Yandle: “To stick to your knitting.”

Bart Willey joined Truliant Federal Credit Union in June 2022 as Upstate Commercial Market Executive, focusing on commercial real estate financing for members. He was promoted to Senior Vice President in April 2024. In his current role, Willey leads Truliant’s Upstate commercial lending team, oversees the regional business office and develops business outreach across the market.

Before joining Truliant, Willey served as Commercial Relationship Manager and Senior Vice President at United Community Bank from April 2019 to December 2020, working with small to middle market commercial businesses in North Carolina. He previously held commercial banking positions at Capital Bank from July 2014 to March 2019, NewBridge Bank and First Citizens Bank, where he spent seven years in relationship management and lending to medical, professional and locally owned businesses.

Since January 1999, Willey has been an angel investor, focusing on transportation, fintech and manufacturing sectors. He specializes in partnering with driven business owners and supporting high-quality ventures.