Synovus selects winners of annual Chairman’s Awards

COLUMBUS, Ga., Feb. 6, 2024 — Synovus Bank has selected winners of its annual Chairman’s Awards, the company’s top honors within its Circle of Excellence program. 

Now in its 11th year, the seven Chairman’s Awards honor high-performing team members who exemplify Synovus’ award-winning culture, including its focus on leadership, client satisfaction, community outreach and innovation. The winners of the awards are chosen from nominations submitted by team members.

This year’s winners are:

Emerging Leader Award – Brad Beard, senior director of middle market banking, Atlanta, Georgia, and Erik Horsch, senior director of treasury management sales, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 

This award recognizes team members who exemplify leadership, courage and influence while inspiring motivation, dedication and organizational or team success.

Exceptional Client Experience Award – Kerri DeShazo, market executive, Dothan, Alabama and Sheree Hendon, director of wholesale relationship services, Birmingham, Alabama.  

This award recognizes client-focused team members who excel at living the company’s purpose to enable people to reach their full potential.

Exceptional Internal Partner Award – Joel Bodiford, senior director of corporate credit administration, Columbus, Georgia, and Laura Hanley, executive director of marketing, Columbus, Georgia.

This award recognizes team members for their commitment to making outstanding contributions to the company.

Game Changer Award – Stephanie Wise, executive director of anti-money laundering/Bank Secrecy Act compliance, Atlanta, Georgia.

The Game Changer Award recognizes a high-performing team member who has led change that impacted client or team member experiences and the company’s financial performance.

Here Matters Community Outreach Award – Kristy Stewart, senior relationship associate, Birmingham, Alabama.

This award is given for outstanding community outreach.

Leadership Excellence Award – Dake Madray, corporate treasurer, Atlanta, Georgia.

This award recognizes a high-performing team member whose leadership produces positive results for the company.

Synergy Award – Treasury Payment and Solutions Connect team

The 13-member team is comprised of:

Alabama:

Lisa Dupree, senior director, business excellence, Phenix City 

Shantora Flowers, director, treasury management sales associates, Birmingham

Jacquese Hill, treasury management sales support and implementation, Birmingham

Georgia: 

Joy Coker, enterprise business architect, Columbus

Michael Keeney, manager, information technology, Columbus 

Jessica Mercon, director, Salesforce Center of Excellence, Atlanta

Keri McKinney, senior director, digital products, Atlanta 

Theresa Radney, digital products senior manager, Columbus

Remote:

Justin Hockert, treasury management strategic enablement consultant

Kim Daniely, director, treasury management service implementation 

Sundharesh Sivashanmugam, information technology application analyst 

Rod Terrel, supervisor, operations

Linda Zamaitis, enterprise project manager senior

This award is presented to a cross-functional team for their delivery of meaningful and measurable results in executing projects or initiatives.

In addition to the Chairman’s Awards, the Synovus Sales Awards recognize team members for exceeding sales goals and making extraordinary contributions in multiple areas. See all winners of this year’s Sales Awards.

Synovus Bank, a Georgia-chartered, FDIC-insured bank, provides commercial and consumer banking in addition to a full suite of specialized products and services including private banking, treasury management, wealth management, mortgage services, premium finance, asset-based lending, structured lending, capital markets and international banking. Synovus has branches in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee. Synovus is a Great Place to Work-Certified Company and is on the web at synovus.com, and on X, formerly known as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.