Florida Banking October/November 2024

IN REMEMBRANCE

Remembering Dr. Ernest ‘Ernie’ Swift: A Pillar of Banking Education

in the College of Business. His expertise and leadership were recognized when he served as interim dean. After years of sharing his knowledge and inspiring students, Dr. Swift retired from Georgia State University, but his commitment to education continued. Beyond his work with the FBA, Dr. Swift's expertise in finance led him to teach banking programs across the United States and around the world. His global perspective enriched the experiences of his students and contributed to the advancement of banking education on an international scale. As the Florida banking community reflects on Dr. Swift's contributions, we are reminded of the profound influence one dedicated educator can have on an entire industry. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations of bankers and financial professionals.

The Florida banking community mourns the loss of a beloved educator and mentor, Dr. Ernest "Ernie" Swift, who passed away July 3, 2024, at the age of 78. Dr. Swift's impact on the banking industry, particularly through his long-standing involvement with the Florida Bankers Association (FBA) School of Banking, leaves an indelible mark on countless professionals in the field. For over two decades, Dr. Swift served as the instructor for BankSim at the Florida School of Banking. His dedication to this role helped shape the careers of many Florida bankers who now hold influential positions in the industry. Dr. Swift's passion for education was evident throughout his life, beginning with his Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Oklahoma in 1974. Dr. Swift's academic career was centered at Georgia State University, where he was a professor of finance Kudos, Continued from page 27 The inaugural Pinnacle Awards program recognized individual communicators, agencies and teams performing exceptional work in public relations and communications, not tied to a specific project. Awards included Silver and Gold Pinnacle Awards in these S martBank is proud to announce it has been Certified™ by Great Place To Work® for the first time this year. This prestigious recognition is based entirely on what the bank’s associates say about working at SmartBank. This year, 94 percent of the bank’s associates said SmartBank is a great place to work – significantly higher than the average U.S. company. Great Place To Work® is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and the leadership behaviors that drive market-leading revenue, employee retention and increased innovation. “We are thrilled to be Great Place To Work Certified™,” said Billy Carroll, President and CEO of SmartBank. “Our associates are the heart of our

categories: Small Agency of the Year, Medium Agency of the Year, Nonprofit Team of the Year, Government Team of the Year, Corporate Team of the Year and Communicator of the Year.

SmartBank Earns 2024 Great Place To Work Certification

organization, and their commitment and passion are what drive our success. We celebrate and thank them for everything they do to make SmartBank an incredible place to work.”

28 — FLORIDA BANKING THE VOICE OF FLORIDA BANKING