Community Spirit announces promotions

RED BAY – Billy Bolton, Chairman of the Board at Community Spirit Bank, announced that veteran bankers Brad Bolton and Tammy Montgomery have been promoted to key leadership roles at the Red Bay-based bank.
Brad Bolton has been named President and Chief Executive Officer, while Montgomery has been promoted to Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
In his new role, Bolton will also continue his responsibility as the bank’s Senior Lending Officer. He is a 1995 graduate of Red Bay High School and attended Northwest Shoals Community College. He earned his Bachelors degree in Business Administration from the University of West Alabama and has completed studies at both the Alabama Bankers School, conducted at Samford University and the Barret Graduate School of Banking, held at the University of Memphis.
Bolton began his banking career with Community Spirit Bank in 1996 and entered the bank’s Loan Officer Training program in 1997. One year later, he served as a Loan Officer and also managed the bank’s Collection Department and Classified Assets. In 2002, he became a Branch Manager and Loan Officer, two years later being named a Vice President and Senior Lender Trainee. In 2006, he was named Senior Lending Officer.
He is active in a host of civic, youth and economic development endeavors throughout the area. Bolton is a member of the Red Bay City Council and the Lion’s Club. Additionally, he is a Board member of Leadership Community Bankers where he serves as Vice Chairman and is a past member of the Franklin County Water Service Authority where he served as Secretary and Treasurer. He volunteers as a member of the Red Bay Youth Basketball League Board and the Red Bay Park and Recreation Board. Bolton is also a Deacon at First Baptist Church in Red Bay. He and his wife, Julie, have three children.
Montgomery will assume the Chief Operating Officer position in addition to serving as Director of Human Resources.
She is a 1986 graduate of Red Bay High School and attended the University of North Alabama. She received her Diploma in Business Administration from Northwest Community College in 1992 and has completed numerous industry and professional schools including The Community Banking School, held at Samford University; the Human Resources Management School and Advanced Human Resource Management School as part of the Graduate School of Banking conducted at the University of Wisconsin. In addition, she has completed numerous courses offered by the American Institute of Banking and has been certified through multiple Human Resource courses.
Montgomery was a member of the 1996 Leadership Red Bay class and she is active in professional and civic organizations. She served as Secretary, Treasurer, Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Alabama Young Bankers Association, where she was the first recipient of the PEP Banker award and the President’s Award. She held similar positions with the Community Bankers Association of Alabama, where she also was an 11-year Board member. She continues to serve on the Association’s Chairman’s Council and has been awarded a number of honors for her work in economic education and for her efforts in local schools. Additionally, she served on the City of Red Bay Centennial Committee and as Chairman of the Banner Committee that bears responsibility for the city’s Main Street banners.
She joined Community Spirit Bank in 1985 and has worked in a variety of capacities during her tenure there, being named an Assistant Vice President in 1997 and, in 1999, Vice President of Administration. In 2003, she also was promoted to Director of Human Resources.
She and her husband, Mike, have two children and are active members of the First Baptist Church in Red Bay, where she serves as Chair of the Personnel Committee; a charter member of the His Hands & Feet Ministry; the voice and handbell choir. Montgomery also served on the Board of the Red Bay Educational Foundation.
“Both Brad and Tammy have worked diligently to earn their respective promotions,” Bill Bolton said.
“Over the years, we have prepared each of them to assume greater responsibility and our Board joins me in expressing absolute confidence that they will be exemplary leaders, just as we have confidence in our entire management team at Community Spirit Bank.”
“Employees are the most valuable assets of any organization,” he continued. “In this era, the banking industry is undergoing significant changes both from an operational slant as well as in regulatory issues. It’s essential that we have well-trained and diligent members of our management team including these key leadership posts.”
Regarding the economic issues facing our nations’ banks, Bolton said that community banks, such as Community Spirit Bank, “will prosper in the future even though the banking industry is hampered by additional regulations governing bank operations.” “Community banks did not cause the ‘meltdown’ that occurred in the banking industry,” he said.
“We have a strong bank with more-than-ample capital and good performance, and we take great pride in being the oldest business in Red Bay, with 103 years of service.”
Other leadership positions at the Board level will remain unchanged. Billy Bolton will continue as Chairman of the Board, while Executive Vice President Patricia A. Nelson will maintain her role as Vice Chairman while relinquishing her role as Chief Operating Officer to Montgomery. Nelson also serves on various bank committees and maintains responsibilities at the holding company level.