VOL. 133 | NO. 38 | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Memphis Newsmakers
Weaver Joins Paragon Bank As Senior Loan Officer
By Kate Simone
Steve Weaver has been appointed senior vice president, senior loan officer, at Paragon Bank. He brings with him more than 27 years’ experience in the banking industry, most recently at Simmons Bank, where he served as Southwest Tennessee market president and spearheaded the institution’s entry into the Memphis market in 2013.
In his new role, Weaver is responsible for the origination and infiltration of commercial lending, private banking and real estate construction lending for Memphis-based Paragon.
Hometown: Columbus, Mississippi
Experience: Market president, Southwest Tennessee, Simmons Bank (2012-2018); senior loan officer, Commercial Bank and Trust (2004-2012); Education: BBA, MBA, Mississippi State University.
What talent do you wish you had? I wish I knew how to play the piano.
Who has had the greatest influence on you and why? My father’s father, Robin Weaver Sr., had the greatest influence on me. He grew up in the early 1900s with very little and put himself through law school. He literally changed generations because of his hard work and selflessness. He retired at the age of 90 and was the most honorable man I have ever known.
What attracted you to Paragon Bank? Paragon Bank is locally owned (over 20 percent by the employees) and all of the decision-makers are in Memphis. They love this city and give back to the community more than any other business that I know. And they are consistently voted one of the top places to work in Memphis.
What are your goals in your new position? Paragon Bank was already on a great growth trajectory while maintaining excellent credit quality. I hope to assist the management team with continuing their ongoing success.
The recent tax legislation is having a wide-reaching impact for businesses in many sectors. Are you seeing an uptick in commercial loan applications from people wanting to invest in their businesses? I do see an increase in commercial loan applications. Most every business owner I have spoken with is very encouraged about the opportunities this legislation brings and many are interested in investing in new equipment and infrastructure. There is a lot of optimism in the economy.
What’s the outlook for interest rates in 2018? I believe short-term rates will continue to rise slowly, but given the lengthy low-rate environment we have been in for a number of years, I believe the economy is well-positioned to absorb these increases and remain strong for the foreseeable future.
What do you consider your greatest accomplishment? My greatest accomplishment is seeing my children grow into successful adults.
What do you most enjoy about your work? I love both helping my co-workers succeed and learning from them at the same time. I’m surrounded by an experienced team of bankers that are so generous and fun to work with!
If you could give one piece of advice to young people, what would it be? You were given two ears and one mouth. Primarily because you have a lot to contribute but much more to learn.
Nicky Hitching has been appointed development director of The Exchange Club Family Center. Hitching, whose career includes extensive experience in business-to-business journalism, writing and editing, comes to the Family Center after six years at Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, where she served as grants manager and was responsible for a wide range of fundraising initiatives.
The Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence has awarded Donald C. Fisher, executive director/CEO of Mid-South Quality/Productivity Center (MSQPC) – The Quality Center in Memphis, the 2018 Ned R. McWherter Leadership Award. The annual honor recognizes an individual who exemplifies outstanding leadership in the pursuit of performance excellence and has worked to further performance improvement beyond the boundaries of his or her organization. Fisher will accept the award Wednesday, Feb. 21, at the TNCPE’s 2018 Excellence in Tennessee Awards Banquet.
Common Table Health Alliance recently added Amy Campbell, Dr. Gina Moore Dudley and Thomas “Tad” Feeney to its board of directors. Campbell is an associate professor of law at the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law and serves as director of the Institute for Health Law & Policy at the U of M. Dudley is medical director at UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Tennessee. Feeney, who previously served on the board from 2010 to 2014, is a senior financial executive and owner and principal of Feeney & Associates.
Lester Brown, a vice president/relationship manager with First Tennessee Bank’s Private Client Services, has joined The Arc Mid-South’s board of directors.
Five Memphis-area engineering professionals have been selected to participate in the 2018 Tennessee Leadership PE class, a leadership program directed by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Tennessee that is designed to sharpen the skills of high-potential engineering leaders and current mid-level and senior leaders. The local class members are: Adam Belew, structural engineer, A2H Inc.; David Hilgeman, environmental scientist, EnSafe Inc.; Ray Mullins, operations, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Memphis District; Jason Simpson, hazardous waste inspector, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Division of Solid Waste Management; and Nick Taylor, project manager, Smith Seckman Reid Inc.
Crye-Leike Real Estate Services reports it sold $6.5 billion in real estate in 2017 and closed 32,583 transactions corporate-wide, making it the highest sales performance year in the company’s more-than-40-year history. Crye-Leike has more than 3,200 sales associates and 128 company-owned and franchise offices across nine states and Puerto Rico.
The Germantown Area Chamber of Commerce recently held its annual Celebration of Excellence awards ceremony. Honorees include: SRVS, Nonprofit of the Year; Marco’s Pizza, Small Business of the Year; One & Only BBQ, Large Business of the Year; and Charles Speed, owner of Germantown Lumber Co., the 2017 Rob Edgerton Ambassador of the Year.