Knoxville, Tenn. – SmartBank recently announced the addition of Cathy Ackermann to its Board of Directors.
Ackermann is the founder and CEO of Ackermann Marketing & PR headquartered in Knoxville, TN. The 40-year-old firm is consistently recognized as one of the Top 100 Independent PR firms in the U.S. by PR Week magazine and earned a place on Forbes’ Top 100 PR firms in 2021.
“We are excited to bring Cathy’s history and experience of adding measurable value to businesses and organizations to our SmartBank board. As an expert in marketing, communications, and organizational growth, we look forward to working with her,” said Billy Carroll, SmartBank President & Chief Executive Officer.
She previously served as Director of Corporate Marketing for the 1982 World’s Fair after graduating from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Her recognitions include a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Public Relations Society of America, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Tennessee College of Communications and Information, an Entrepreneurial Excellence Award from Working Women magazine and the YWCA Tribute to Women Award.
“Contributing to businesses that I believe in is important to me,” Ackermann said. “I am delighted to be joining such a forward-thinking and growth-oriented organization and hopefully contributing to SmartBank’s very promising future.”
Ackermann is a former member of the Board of Directors for the U.S. Council for PR Firms in New York, a founding member of the Croft Society, and serves on numerous community boards, including Legacy Parks Foundation, YMCA, Great Smoky Mountain Institute at Tremont, and East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.
“We welcome Cathy to our corporate board of directors,” said Miller Welborn, Chairman of the SmartBank board. “We believe that her skills and leadership abilities will serve us well as we continue to grow and serve our multi-state customer base.”
For more information on SmartBank, visit www.smartbank.com.
About SmartBank
Founded in 2007, SmartBank is a full-service commercial bank providing banking, investment, insurance, and mortgage financial services, with 40 branches spanning Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida. Recruiting the best people, delivering exceptional client service, strategic branching and a disciplined approach to lending have contributed to SmartBank’s success. For more information on SmartBank, visit www.smartbank.com.