Florida Banking April 2024

At the corporate level, the bank sponsors the Chattanooga Motorcar Festival, the proceeds of which support Alzheimer’s and neuroscience research through Fifty Plus Foundation, Inc. Leadership agreed that Alzheimer’s is something that impacts every family, every customer; research is a critical part of solving the puzzle. The bank provides flexible schedules to its employees to allow them to participate in community outreach that is important to them. Employees partner with local school systems to conduct financial literacy programs or organize food drives for the local food bank. Most recently, a group of bank employees volunteered with the United Way to help the Homeless Coalition count the homeless for the census. “Sometimes it’s the smaller, individual needs that get overlooked. Meeting those needs often resonates with people more than if we wrote a big check,” Norris said. “Off-the-radar service is so impactful.” Norris also acknowledged the bank’s role in providing jobs within the community. “In smaller communities, the types of professional jobs we provide are important. These are nice career jobs for people. Someone can come to a small community bank and have a rewarding career while staying in their own community,” Norris said. She hopes that the next generation will find banking to be a rewarding and valuable profession, and that young bankers will have the same industry opportunities that she was afforded. “Banking is a noble profession. We make dreams come true for people,” Norris said. “When it comes to one’s financial situation, it encompasses their business, their family. As bankers, we’re invited into really sacred areas for people; it’s an important role that we play.” Norris and her team take this charge seriously and find joy in helping members of the community achieve their financial goals. “We are in great markets with plenty of opportunities for organic growth,” Norris said. “We will continue to capitalize on those opportunities and stay focused on growing with our clients and communities.”

SUZANNE NORRIS, FLORIDA REGIONAL PRESIDENT Suzanne Norris serves as the Florida regional president of Tennessee-based Millennium Bank, managing the strategic operations of the bank’s four locations in Lake City, Gainesville and Ocala. She also serves on the Millennium Bank Board of Directors, including Asset Liability and Loan Committees. Norris joined Millennium Bank in 2020, where she was instrumental in integrating the bank’s recently acquired Florida branches, previously owned by Columbia Bank, to create one community bank headquartered in Chattanooga under the Millennium Bank brand. Norris has more than three decades of banking experience, serving communities throughout the North Florida market. She began her career as a commercial banking officer for NCNB National Bank of Florida and has enjoyed success leading teams for community, regional and large banks, including TD Bank and Ameris Bank. A strong advocate for the communities in which she lives, Norris currently serves on the Florida Gateway College Board of Trustees, the Gainesville Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the United Way of Suwannee Valley Board of Directors. She also serves on various committees for the Diocese of St. Augustine, Epiphany Catholic Church and St. Francis Catholic Academy. An avid Gator, Norris was honored to serve as president of the National Alumni Association for the University of Florida. Norris earned her undergraduate degree from the Warrington College of Business at the University of Florida.

WWW.FLORIDABANKERS.COM APRIL 2024 — 11