Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/857596
74 | M A C O N M A G A Z I N E A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 7 CENTERSTATE BANK Robert J. "Robby" Redmond Vice President & Commercial Lender 577 Mulberry Street #700 | (478) 803-9385 CenterStateBank.com Why did you choose banking as a career? Funny enough, banking kind of chose me. While I was finishing school, I worked as a teller in the NationsBank Kroger in-stores. These allowed for great flexibility and afforded me the opportunity meet and serve the people in our community. I learned a lot about banking and customer service and decided to continue my career path in Commercial Lending. I have worked for several community banks here in Middle Georgia and most recently was given the opportunity to help establish a footprint for CenterState Bank here in Macon. What do you enjoy most about banking? I enjoy community banking. I like getting to know people on a personal level, understanding their business and providing financial needs to help them grow and expand their business. There is great pleasure in watching a business succeed and having a small part in it. Banking and financial needs are not the same for everyone, which is why it's critical to know your customer and maintain that relationship in order to understand what's best suited for your customers. Why did CenterState Bank come to Middle Georgia and what is your position with the bank? CenterState Bank is the second largest community bank in Florida with $6.8B in assets. We have chosen to continue expanding our footprint in Georgia. CenterState Bank chose Middle Georgia because Macon is a strategic banking community with excellent hospitals, universities and a viable downtown. We currently have a Commercial Loan Production office with plans to build two to three branches in Middle Georgia. As a Commercial Lender, I'm responsible for originating Commercial Loans but most importantly building long lasting banking relationships. VILLAGE MARKETPLACE Brendan Rowley, Owner 2381 Ingleside Avenue | (478) 254-8722 Facebook.com/VillageMarketplaceMacon April marked one year for you in business here in Ingleside Village, what have you learned? I learned how much I still need to learn, and hopefully I am able to learn something new every day! I tell people that we have a lot of fun here. We get to seek out new products, sample them and bring them into the market. We meet some amazing people every day. We can talk to customers and find out their special dietary needs and help with solutions. That's really gratifying and an eye opener. Describe what you carry in your store. We consider our store to be a specialty food store. We love local products, organic foods, and we love Georgia Grown. Not everything is local and organic and Georgia Grown, but that's the starting point for us. Our goal is to add a couple of new products on a regular basis, so there's usually something new to check out. What's your favorite thing about what you do? I love the excitement that builds as seasons change and new produce comes in. As we get to know the farmers, it's exciting just listening to what is new that they've never grown before. Produce comes in year round…we just want to have what the local farmers have coming out of the ground right now! What do you want to focus on more in the coming year? I would like to see us grow our gift and gift basket business. We have baskets so customers can build their own, and we have themed gifts already assembled. We even have some vendor specific gift boxes to grab and go. We've gotten a lot of good ideas from our customers who put their own spin on different gift occasions. Our gift baskets are unique, delicious and readily consumed! They are a great idea for corporate and professional gifts, teachers and just about anyone who loves good food!