Board of Directors

Rome, Georgia

Mr. Cawthon moved to Rome, GA in 1977 after graduating from Columbus College with an Accounting degree. He owned and operated two Shoney's restaurants in Rome, GA and one in Carrollton, GA. Mr. Cawthon currently has a real estate license and owns and operates The Country Sportsman in West Rome.

Mr. Cawthon joined the Heritage First Bank Board of Directors in 2010 and serves as a member of the ALCO Committee, Audit Committee, Loan Committee, Marketing & Business Development Committee and the Regulatory Compliance Committee. Mr. Cawthon was named Chairman of the Board in October 2011. Mr. Cawthon is also a member of the Heritage First Bancshares, Inc. Board of Directors.

Ryan Earnest's career in banking began in 1995 in Rome, GA. He joined the organizing staff at Heritage First Bank in October 2002 and in 2005 assumed the role of Senior Vice President and Senior Lending Officer until being elected as the Bank's President in 2008.

Ryan received a Bachelor of Arts from West Georgia College in 1990 and he completed the requirements of Diploma from the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University in 2008.

Mr. Earnest is a member of the Seven Hills Rotary, the YMCA Board of Directors, the Harbin Clinic Sports Health Foundation and Rome & Floyd County Commission on Children and Youth Board of Directors. Mr. Earnest also serves on the Annual Fund Committee of the Floyd Medical Center Foundation.

Mr. Earnest has been a member of the Board of Directors since May 2008. In addition to the Board of Directors, Mr. Earnest also serves on the Heritage First Bank Loan Committee and ALCO Committee. 

Wade Hoyt has been the managing partner for The Hoyt Firm, Attorneys at Law from 1990 to present. He holds a JD Degree from the University of Georgia, School of Law. Mr. Hoyt has served as the County Attorney for Floyd County.

Mr. Hoyt joined the Heritage First Bank Board of Directors in 2005 and is a member of the Heritage First Bank ALCO Committee, Loan Committee and Regulatory Compliance Committee.

Mr. Land is an Executive Vice President with J. L. Todd Auction Company, a position he has held for 24 years. He has a degree in Electrical Engineering from Coosa Valley Technical School and graduated from the Georgia School of Real Estate. Mr. Land also attended the Mendenhall Auctioneering School and the Certified Auctioneers Institute, University of Indiana.

Mr. Land served as member of the Heritage First Bank Advisory Board beginning in 2002 prior to the Bank opening and has been an active member of the Heritage First Bank Board of Directors since that time. In addition to the Board of Directors, Mr. Land currently serves on the Heritage First Bank Audit Committee, Loan Committee and Regulatory Compliance Committee.

Mrs. Mauer is a Registered Nurse and works in the Radiology Department of Redmond Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Mauer received her Nursing Degree from Floyd College.

Mrs. Mauer serves on the Board of Directors for Cancer Navigators, is a sustaining member of the Junior Service League of Rome formerly chairing the group's Nominations Committee. Mrs. Mauer has also been active with Good Neighbor Ministries.

Mrs. Mauer was appointed to the Board of Directors in April, 2011. In addition to the Board of Directors, Mrs. Mauer serves on the Audit Committee, Loan Committee and Marketing & Business Development Committee. Mrs. Mauer also serves on the Heritage First Bancshares, Inc. Board of Directors.

Mrs. Mumber is the Owner and Business Manager of Many Streams Ranch, LLC and Secretary of Real Estate of Rome, LLC. Mrs. Mumber earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Masters in Teaching from the University of Virginia.

Mrs. Mumber is a former head coach of Three Rivers Swim Team of Rome and currently volunteers as Swim Coach at Darlington Middle School. Mrs. Mumber is the former Vice-Chair and Secretary of Saint Mary's Schools Advisory Council and Financial Committee.

Mrs. Mumber was appointed to the Board of Directors in April, 2012. In addition to the Board of Directors, Mrs. Mumber serves on the Marketing & Business Development Committee. Mrs. Mumber also serves on the Heritage First Bancshares, Inc. Board of Directors.

Mr. Vick is the majority owner and President of Southern Bracing Systems, a cargo securement business; Honeycomb Products, a packaging materials business; and Southern Strapping Systems, a tie-down strap business, all based here in Rome, Georgia. Mr. Vick's businesses have customers all over the United States and abroad.

Mr. Vick served on the Floyd County Airport Commission for eight years, the last year as Airport Chairman. Mr. Vick spent over 15 years coaching Little League and Youth baseball in addition to serving for ten years on the Hazardous Materials Advisory Council in Washington, DC. Mr. Vick is a long time member of A.O.P.A. and E.A.A.

Mr. Vick joined the Heritage First Bank Board of Directors in May, 2012. In addition to the Board of Directors, Mr. Vick serves as Chairman of the Marketing & Business Development Committee. Mr. Vick also serves on the Heritage First Bancshares, Inc. Board of Directors.

Mr. Watters has been self employed since 2001. Prior to that, he was part owner and Vice President of Sales for Syntec Industries, Inc. Mr. Watters holds a degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology and is a graduate of Darlington School.

Mr. Watters serves as Vice President of Administration for the Northwest Georgia Council of Boy Scouts of America, is Chairman of the Georgia Alliance of the Boys & Girls Club for the State of Georgia, serves on the Executive Committee and is a past President of the Boys & Girls Club of Northwest Georgia and serves on the Board of Directors of Cancer Navigators.

Mr. Watters joined the Heritage First Bank Board of Directors in 2003 and also serves on the Heritage First Bancshares Board of Directors. Mr. Watters currently serves as Chairman of the Heritage First Bank ALCO Committee and is a member of the Audit Committee, Loan Committee and Regulatory Compliance Committee.

In Mr. Wilkes' 38 year banking career, he has served as CEO of several community banks as well as Regional Executive/City President of several regional banks. Mr. Wilkes holds a B.S. degree from Georgia Tech, attended LSU Banking School of the South and is a graduate of Northwestern University National Graduate Trust School and First Union Executive Leadership Academy.

Mr. Wilkes joined Heritage First Bank in April, 2009 as Chief Executive Officer of the Bank and Heritage First Bancshares, Inc., the bank holding company. Mr. Wilkes serves on the Board of Directors of Heritage First Bank and Heritage First Bancshares, Inc. Mr. Wilkes also serves on the Heritage First Bank ALCO Committee and Loan Committee.