SouthState Expands Wealth, Small Business, Commercial Teams

WINTER HAVEN, Fla., April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SouthState announces a group of new hires and promotions in the Private Wealth, Small Business and Commercial Banking divisions. The bankers represent talent developed and promoted from within, veteran bankers given new roles and new team members joining SouthState from other financial institutions.

"SouthState is committed to providing our small business clients with what they need to succeed long term and our wealth clients with tools and expertise to plan for a secure future. We confidently expect these bankers to enhance our existing services and uphold the level of relationship banking we strive to maintain," said Richard Murray, SouthState president.

SouthState also announces the promotion of Joseph Brice and Rob Pregnolato. Brice, a member of SouthState since 2013 serving as regional area manager in the Foothills region and North Georgia, will serve as Small Business Banking Group Leader for the Northern Group. Pregnolato, also promoted from regional area manager, will continue serving the Treasure Coast region as Small Business Banking Group Leader for the Southern Group.

Working under Brice and Pregnolato are four new Small Business bankers, including:

Peter Bevel – small business banker, Birmingham, Alabama – most recently worked as a SouthState branch manager with previous experience in retail banking at PNC and Wells Fargo. He holds a bachelor's degree from Carson-Newman University and has extensive experience in credit analysis and underwriting standards. A banker since 2010, his strategic approach helps businesses and individuals achieve their financial goals while fostering growth and success.

Andrew Leech – small business banker, Daytona, Florida –spent 29 years serving clients in a variety of banking roles including financial sales representative, branch manager, senior market manager and retail banking administrator. He specializes in providing an excellent client experience and being a local leader with focus on growing relationships with businesses and customers in his community. He is actively involved in the community through several non-profit organizations, his church and numerous charities.

Tanesha Thrash – small business banker, LaGrange, Georgia – joined SouthState in 2016 as a branch manager where she developed relationships with individual and business clients. Previous roles include customer service representatives and teller at Community Bank and Trust. Thrash earned an associate degree from West Georgia Technical College.

Christy Truitt – small business banker, Auburn, Alabama – has worked in banking for 25 years in various roles including branch manager, loan originator and relationship manager. She joined SouthState in 2023 as a branch manager. Truitt received her bachelor's degree from Auburn University and holds ABA certification in small business banking and branch manager.

New Private Wealth advisors include:

Will Barlow – portfolio manager, Atlanta, Georgia – joins SouthState from Wells Fargo where he spent 16 years working with high-net-worth clients. He is a Certified Investment Management Analyst® and Certified Private Wealth Advisor and earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

April Croasmun – wealth and fiduciary advisor, Jacksonville, Florida – has 20 years' experience managing trusts and developing estate plans. A trust professional since 1998, she worked for a philanthropic organization before moving to a large financial institution. She obtained her bachelor's degree in business administration from Florida State College at Jacksonville and her Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor® designation from the American Bankers Association.

Jennifer Thompson – wealth and fiduciary advisor, Hilton Head, South Carolina – serves the Savannah, Hilton Head, Bluffton and Beaufort markets. A wealth management professional since 1997, Thompson has deep expertise managing client relationships and delivering comprehensive wealth management solutions. She earned an MBA from the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia and Bachelor of Arts in economics and political science from Duke University. Her certifications include Certified Financial Planner™ professional, Certified Trust & Fiduciary Advisor®, Chartered Financial Consultant®, and Chartered Life Underwriter®. She has been a member of the Hilton Head Area Council of Estate and Financial Advisors since 1999 where she served in several roles including president. She is also a board member of the Saint Luke's Foundation and the Esther Project.

Steven Wickline – senior portfolio manager, Charleston, South Carolina – focuses on developing investment strategy and investment portfolios for his clients. Prior to joining SouthState in 2024, he spent 18 years in various investment-related roles including portfolio management and alternative investments. He received a bachelor's degree and master's degree from the University of Lynchburg and is a Chartered Financial Analyst®. He is also board member for the Chartered Financial Analyst Society of South Carolina and The Formation Project.

SouthState also welcomes three new members of the Commercial Banking team:

Lauren Ervin – commercial relationship manager, Jacksonville, Florida – brings over 20 years of financial services experience and a wealth of commercial banking and real estate knowledge to her new role.  She was most recently with The Claxton Bank as a commercial real estate account executive and previously at Everbank where she helped drive over $1B in transactions over her career. Dedicated to the Jacksonville community, Ervin actively volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters, HerSong, a Tim Tebow Foundation, and Ronald McDonald House at Wolfson Children's Hospital.

Matt Mehr – private capital solutions relationship manager, Raleigh, North Carolina – joins SouthState from Leyline Renewable Capital where he served in a portfolio management role overseeing 15 renewable energy projects across North America. Additional career experience includes two years as senior portfolio analyst at Banc of California, where he provided capital call lines of credit to venture capital and private equity firms. Mehr received his bachelor's degree in business administration from North Carolina State University.

Douglas Tuttle – commercial relationship manager, Athens, Georgia – is a veteran banker with experience in roles including business development officer, regional director for the East coast and relationship manager. He joins SouthState from Bancorp where he worked in small business lending. Tuttle received his MBA from the University of Georgia.

SouthState Corporation (NYSE: SSB) is a financial services company headquartered in Winter Haven, Florida. SouthState Bank, N.A., the company's nationally chartered bank subsidiary, provides consumer, commercial, mortgage and wealth management solutions to more than 1.5 million customers throughout Florida, Texas, the Carolinas, Georgia, Colorado, Alabama, and Virginia. The bank also serves clients nationwide through its correspondent banking division. Additional information is available at SouthStateBank.com.

SOURCE SouthState Bank N.A.