Members of the Georgia Bankers Association (GBA) have elected and installed officers and five new members to the Leadership GBA Board of Directors for the 2025-2026 program year.

Robert Duvall, first vice president and branch manager at Bank of Madison, was installed as chair. Members elected Zach Giddens, senior lender and executive vice president at SunMark Community Bank in Warner Robbins, as chair-elect. Luke Lanier, city president at Durden Banking Company in Meter, was elected vice chair. 

“Leadership GBA plays a vital role in cultivating the next generation of Georgia’s banking leaders,” said Philip G. Williams, GBA chairman and executive vice president and Georgia banking president at The Claxton Bank. “This year’s board brings an outstanding mix of talent, energy and experience to the table. I’m confident they’ll continue building on our strong foundation and help ensure our industry remains well positioned for the future.” 

A section of the Georgia Bankers Association, Leadership GBA supports the advancement of career bankers by providing leadership development training, serving as a forum through which career bankers can network and exchange ideas and promoting industry advocacy activities at the local, state and federal levels. 

In addition, four new board members representing the association’s geographic divisions have been elected by their peers or appointed to At Large positions. They are: 

• North Group: Chelsea Colclough, CPA, chief financial officer, First American Bank & Trust Company, Athens

• Central Group: Candy Crawford, senior vice president and chief financial officer, First National Bank of Griffin

• South Group: Adam Smith, senior vice president and senior risk officer, PrimeSouth Bank, Waycross

• At-Large: Chris McLaughlin, Augusta market president, Colony Bank, Augusta. 

Cody Shepherd, executive vice president at CSRA Business Lending in Augusta, was elected to the Leadership GBA Board of Directors as an Associate Member representative.