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First Freedom Recognizes Employees with All Stars Awards

Written by Trey Watkins on . Posted in Bank News, Press Releases.

At First Freedom Bank we like to recognize employees for their outstanding job performance. These employees went above and beyond for our customers and exceeded the goals for the bank. We want to congratulate and thank those staff members for their distinguished performances!

Pictured above is our Middle Tennessee All Stars recipients from left to right: Trey Watkins, Providence Personal Banker, John Lancaster, Chairman & CEO, John Bradshaw, President/COO & CLO, Holly Wolfe, Lebanon Senior Personal Banker, Meagan Brown, Lebanon Senior Personal Banker, Sarah Poss, First Vice President & Director of Retail Banking, Kaye Fajardo, Providence FSR Manager & Personal Banker, Brooke Weldy, Assistant Vice President & Mt. Juliet Office Manager, Kaitlin Wattenbarger, Providence Personal Banker, Sydney Hughes, Jacob Shiarla, Mt. Juliet Senior Personal Banker, Tatum Ortlepp, Assistant Vice President & Retail Banking Sales Manager, Chrissy Wright, Lebanon FSR Manager & MT Training Coordinator

Pictured below is our Upper Cumberland All Star recipients from left to right: Meleah Payne, Cookeville FSR II, Abby McCann, Cookeville Assistant Office Manager, John Bradshaw, President/COO & CLO,  Sara Beth Kinnaird, Gainesboro Senior Personal Banker, Gracie Rhoten, Gainesboro FSR II, Hannah Philpot, Algood Assistant Office Manager, Ashley Tippet, Gainesboro Assistant Office Manager, Bryan Sweet, Accounting Officer, Sarah Poss, First Vice President & Director of Retail Banking, Rebecca Birman, Gainesboro FSR Manager, John Lancaster, Chairman & CEO, Tatum Ortlepp, Assistant Vice President & Retail Banking Sales Manager

We are thankful to have a team that exceeds expectations everyday. They are instrumental to our successes in all that we do. To learn more about our bank or to see what are staff are doing in the community, click the buttons below.

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Staff Recognition

First Freedom Promotes Ring & Weldy

Written by Trey Watkins on . Posted in Bank News, New Hires/Promotions, Press Releases.

Kayla Ring has been promoted to Vice President. Kayla previously served as an Assistant
Vice President. She will continue to serve as Construction Manager for the bank,
overseeing the bank’s residential construction lending program.

“I am delighted to see Kayla continue to grow within our company. She is a top-tier member
of our team here at First Freedom and it shows in her job performance on a daily-basis.
Kayla’s dedication to her clients and to our bank is second to none. In every position she
has held at the bank over the years she has excelled,” stated J.B. Owens, Executive Vice
President of First Freedom.

Kayla joined our team in August of 2013 as a FSR at our Lebanon Office. She then moved
into the FSR Manager role, before joining our lending team in 2017

Kayla grew up in Lebanon, and now resides in Bethpage with her
husband Michael, and their son. Kayla and her family attend New
Rivers International Church where she is actively involved. Kayla
volunteers annually for Christmas for All, Imagination Library, and
Wilson County CASA.

Brooke Weldy has been promoted to Assistant Vice President and Mt. Juliet Office
Manager. Brooke previously served as a Personal Banker at our main office in Lebanon.

“Customers are at the heart of our operations, and Brooke exemplifies that in everything
she does,” said Sarah Poss, First Vice President and Director of Retail Banking. “I am proud
to see her grow in her role with our team and have no doubt her passion for helping others
and banking expertise will lead the Mt. Juliet office to further successes.”

Brooke joined our team in April of 2022 as Financial Services
Representative at our Lebanon Office. During her time with us she
moved into a management role as the FSR Manager at the Mt. Juliet
Office, shortly thereafter going back to the Lebanon Office as Personal
Banker. She has shown exceptional technical skills and customer
service in all her career stages, as well as consistently performing as a

Brooke grew up in Lebanon and still resides there with her husband and their 4 children.
They attend Hillcrest Baptist Church, where she has been a life-long member and part of
the choir team.

About Us
Wilson County

First Freedom Recognizes Employees for Exceptional Performance & Years of Service

Written by Trey Watkins on . Posted in Bank News, Press Releases.

Each year we recognize employees for their exceptional performance and years of service. Awards winners are selected by their coworkers and they are models of outstanding service, be it externally to our customers or internally to their fellow team members. We also acknowledge those that have been part of our team for five years as a show of appreciation for their work and commitment.

Holly Wolfe, Senior Personal Banker, Meagan Brown, Senior Personal Banker, and Veronica Acuña, Deposit Operations Clerk were presented with First Freedom Jackets in recognition of their five-years of service.  Thank you for your dedication!

Kaye Fajardo was presented with the Red Carpet Service Award. Kaye started with us in 2023 as an FSR and now is our FSR Manager and Personal Banker for our Providence office. Kaye always has a warm smile for customers and a great attitude to go along with it. She provides next level customer service and is an esteemed co-worker!

Jaylan Clemmons was presented with the Internal Service Award. Jaylan joined our operations team in 2024 and has been a helping hand from the start. Jaylan works diligently to serve his colleagues and always maintains a bright and positive demeanor that delights everyone that works with him.

We are thankful to have a team that exceeds expectations everyday. They are instrumental to our successes in all that we do. To learn more about our bank or to see what are staff are doing in the community, click the buttons below.

About Us
Community News
Ashley at TSSB 2025

Montgomery Graduates Southeastern School of Banking

Written by Sarah Poss on . Posted in Bank News, Press Releases.

This past month, First Freedom Bank’s Ashley Montgomery graduated from the Southeastern School of Banking. This prestigious two-year program is held at Belmont University where it focuses on critical baking functions, developing analytical skills, and honing management techniques. Ashley, who is our Mount Juliet office manager and Vice President, helped lead her team to first place in the school’s bank simulation assignment.

We are very proud of Ashley and her accomplishments inside and outside the bank. She is such a valuable part of what we do here at First Freedom and exemplifies leadership in her work with the bank and in the community.

Ashley Montgomery has been working in our Mt. Juliet market since 2015, and is a familiar face in the community. To learn more about the Mt. Juliet Office or to read about our involvement in the area, click the buttons below.

Mt. Juliet Office
Mt. Juliet Involvement
Christy Thompson

First Freedom Promotes Thompson

Written by Sarah Poss on . Posted in Bank News, Press Releases.

Christy Thompson, CRCM, has been promoted to First Vice President, announces John Bradshaw, President / COO & CLO. With this promotion, Christy will continue to serve as Chief Compliance & BSA Officer.

“Christy is beyond deserving of this promotion,” said Bradshaw. “She is a pivotal part of our team thanks to her indomitable work ethic and keen discernment and insight. We could not ask for any better leadership in these departments.”

As a legacy employee who was part of the original team that launched First Freedom, Christy’s contributions have spanned multiple departments and have had wide range of positive impacts. While she will be celebrating her 20th year with our bank this coming December, her banking career spans four decades.

Christy’s hands-on bank experience is complimented by her continued education. She earned her General Banking Diploma from the American Bankers Association (ABA), she is a graduate of the Southeastern School of Banking from the Tennessee Bankers Association (TBA) and earned the prestigious Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager designation (CRCM) from the ABA. Christy is also a member of the TBA’s Chief Compliance Officer and BSA Officer Forum.

Christy has been recognized with First Freedom’s Commitment to Excellence Award, a testament to her dedication and pride in her work. Continuously active in her hometown of Lebanon, Christy is a graduate of Leadership Wilson, has volunteered with Junior Achievement and is a lifetime member of Immanual Baptist Church. She and her husband of 39 years, Mark, reside in Lebanon and have two children and three grandchildren.

We prioritize promoting from within and are always excited to have the chance to recognize a staff member’s hard work and talents. We know that our successes are only possible with a great team, and we are proud to have that. To learn more about our team’s growth and development, click the buttons below.

Staff Recognition
Bank Promotions
Pictured L-R is Trace Blankenship with Sarah Poss, TBA scholarship recipient.

First Freedom’s Poss TBA Washington Scholarship Recipient

Written by First Freedom Bank on . Posted in Bank News, Press Releases.

First Freedom’s Sarah Poss, First Vice President and Director of Retail Banking, was the recipient of The Tennessee Banker Association’s 2025 Washington Conference Scholarship.

This scholarship is awarded to a 2024 second-year student of The Southeastern School of Banking through a partnership between The Tennessee Bankers Association Young Bankers Division and the Government Relations Committee. With this scholarship, Sarah was able to attend the TBA’s annual Washington Conference, a three-day visit to D.C. which brings bankers together with bank regulators, national banking associations, and Tennessee’s congressional delegation.

Pictured above is Trace Blankenship, TBA Government Relations and Legal Committee member and partner at Spencer Fane, with Sarah Poss. Pictured below are conference attendees on the last day of congressional visits.

Sarah Poss is a member of our leadership team in her role as retail director. Each member of that team knows the importance of keeping pace with industry changes and supporting organizations like the Tennessee Bankers Association. To learn more about others in leadership, or read more blogs on staff recognition, click the buttons below.

Leadership Team
Staff Recognition

First Freedom Announces Staff Promotions

Written by First Freedom Bank on . Posted in Bank News, New Hires/Promotions, Press Releases.

We are excited to announce the following staff promotions at our bank:

Sarah Poss – First Vice President from Vice President

Sarah joined our bank in 2015 as a Financial Service Representative and currently serves as the Director of Retail Banking.  Sarah has a B.S. in Anthropology from Middle Tennessee State University and is also a graduate of The Southeastern School of Banking and the Tennessee Bankers’ Retail Banking Leadership Series.  She is currently enrolled in the MBA program at Tennessee Tech University. 

Phillip Vance – First Vice President from Vice President

Phillip joined our Bank as a Relationship Specialist in 2014 and currently serves as a Relationship Manager. Phillip has a B.S. in Accounting from Tennessee Tech University and is also a graduate of the prestigious Stonier / ABA Graduate School of Banking at University of Pennsylvania. He is a Board Member of the Lebanon Wilson County Chamber of Commerce, currently serving as Chairman-Elect, and is also a member of the Lebanon Breakfast Rotary Club. He previously served as a Board Member of the United Way of Wilson County.

Ryan Woodall – Vice President from Assistant Vice President

Ryan joined our Bank as a Relationship Manager in 2019 and continues to serve in this role.  Ryan has a B.S. in Political Science from Tennessee Tech University and an MBA from Cumberland University.  He is also a graduate of the Southeastern School of Commercial Lending. Ryan is a Board Member of the Kiwanis Club of Lebanon, currently serving as President-Elect, and is also a Board Member of the United Way of Wilson County.

Ashley Montgomery – Vice President from Assistant Vice President

Ashley joined our bank in 2015 as a Financial Services Representative and currently serves as the Office Manager for our Mt. Juliet Office.   She is an honor graduate of the Southeastern School of Lending, having graduated in the top 10%, and is currently enrolled in the Southeastern School of Banking and the American Bankers Association General Accounting Program.  Ashley is a Board Member of the Mt. Juliet Noon Rotary Club, presently serving as Club Membership Chairman.

Rachel Honaker – Vice President from Assistant Vice President

Rachel joined our bank in 2021 as a Personal Banker and currently serves as the Putnam County Market Manager.  She has a BS in Finance from Tennessee Tech University and is a Graduate of the Tennessee Bankers’ Retail Banking Leadership Series.  Rachel is a Board Member of CASA of the Tennessee Valley and an Advisory Board Member of Tennessee College of Applied Technology.  She is also a Member of the Rock House Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. 

Denise Bingham – Vice President from Assistant Vice President

Denise joined our Bank in 2017 as a Personal Banker and currently serves as the Office Manager for our Providence Office.  Denise has an extensive career in the banking industry. Prior to joining our team, she served as an Officer and Branch manager with a large corporate bank.

Tatum Ortlepp – Assistant Vice President from Bank Officer

Tatum joined our bank in 2018 as a Financial Service Representative and currently serves as the Retail Banking Sales Manager and our Shareholder Services Representative. Tatum has consistently been ranked as a top performer and was voted by her peers as the bank’s Red Carpet Service Award winner in 2021.

Blair Fry – Assistant Vice President from Bank Officer

Blair joined our Bank in 2019 as a Financial Services Representative and currently serves as a Credit Analyst in the Commercial Division.  Blair has a B.S. in Accounting from Middle Tennessee State University.

Conner Bostion – Bank Officer

Conner joined our Bank in 2022 as a Financial Services Representative and currently serves as a Relationship Specialist in the Commercial Division.  With this promotion, Conner will serve as a Relationship Manager.  Conner received his B.S. with a double major in Finance and Economics from Tennessee Tech University.

We prioritize promoting from within and are always excited to have the chance to recognize our staff’s hard work and talents. We know that our successes are only possible with a great team, and we are proud to have that. You’ll find most of the people mentioned here make it a point to be a part of their community, and you can learn more about that by clicking the “Community News” button below. If you’d like to learn more about who we are as bank, click the “About Us” button.

Community News
About Us

First Freedom Recognizes Employees for Exceptional Performance & Years of Service

Written by Sarah Poss on . Posted in Bank News, Press Releases.

Each year we like to recognize employees for their exceptional performance and years of service. Those that receive awards are nominated by their coworkers and they are models of outstanding service, be it externally to our customers or internally to their fellow team members. We also like to acknowledge those that have been part of our team for five years as a show of appreciation for their work and commitment.

Kaitlyn Kovalchik and Kayla Ring Awards
Kaitlyn Kovalchik & Kayla Ring

Kaitlyn Kovalchik was presented with the Internal Service Award. Kaitlyn has been with us since 2018 and currently serves as an officer in our accounting department. There is no better person to have as part of your team than Kaitlyn. Not only is she exceptionally knowledgeable, but she is quick to help others and does so with a positive and upbeat attitude.

Blake Smith & Blair Fry Years of Service
Blake Smith & Blair Fry

Kayla Ring was presented with the Red Carpet Service Award. Kayla joined our bank in 2013 and currently serves as AVP / Construction Manager. You will never get less than top-notch service with Kayla. She truly wants to build genuine and long-lasting relationships with her customers, and she succeeds at it! Anyone that has the chance to work with Kayla knows quickly that they are in good hands. 

Blair Fry, AVP / Credit Analyst, and Blake Smith, Accounting Clerk, were presented with First Freedom Jackets in recognition of their five-years of service.

We are thankful to have a team that exceeds expectations everyday. They are instrumental to our successes in all that we do. To learn more about our bank or to see what are staff are doing in the community, click the buttons below.

About Us
Community News
Teola Ragland

First Freedom Promotes Ragland

Written by Sarah Poss on . Posted in Bank News, Press Releases.

Teola Ragland has been promoted to Assistant Office Manager at the Algood Office, announced John Lancaster, Chairman and CEO. Ragland’s prior role was Financial Services Manager (FSR) and Personal Banker.  

“I’m very pleased to see Teola move into this Assistant Manager role,” said Lancaster, “She is very knowledgeable, community minded, and takes pride in providing top-shelf customer service!”  

Ragland has been with First Freedom Bank for eight years, having joined the bank in 2016 as a Personal Banker / FSR at the Gainesboro office. In 2022, she relocated to the Algood office where she undertook the role of FSR Manager and Personal Banker. Before joining the bank, Ragland worked for two years in the tax industry.

Community involvement has been an important facet of Ragland’s career. She is a member of the Young Professional Highland and is involved in Mom Co., a non-profit organization that supports mothers of young children to reach their potential as mothers, women, and leaders through partnerships with local churches. Ragland is also an active volunteer with Life Church, where she participates as part of their Dream Team at the Baxter Campus.  The Dream Team manages the logistics and organization of the church services and extracurriculars.

Ragland currently resides in her hometown of Baxter with her two children.

First Freedom joined the Putnam County community in 2016, where we continue our legacy as an independent, community-focused, full service bank. Learn more about our two Putnam County offices by clicking the buttons below.

Algood Office
Cookeville Office
First Freedom Recognizes FSRs with Chairman's Cup Award

First Freedom Recognizes Employees with Chairman’s Cup Award

Written by Sarah Poss on . Posted in Bank News, Press Releases.

First Freedom recognized several Financial Services Representatives (FSR) this past quarter for exceptional job performance and for exceeding their individual goals for enhancing and broadening customer relationships. Their outstanding performance earned them the prestigious honor of Chairman’s Cup Member for the quarter.

Congratulations to the following staff for qualifying for Chairman’s Cup:

Abby McCann, Cookeville FSR Manager

Alexia Borrero, Lebanon FSR

Blake Smith, prior Lebanon FSR Manager, now Accounting Clerk

Chrissy Wright, Lebanon FSR Manager

Jessica Boyd, Cookeville FSR

Kaye Fajardo, Providence FSR

Miah Lamb, Providence FSR Manager & Personal Banker

Rebecca Birman, Gainesboro FSR Manager

Shelby Meadows, Gainesboro FSR

Teola Ragland, prior Algood FSR Manager & Personal Banker, now Algood Assistant Manager

Abby McCann received additional recognition as the Chairman’s Cup Top Performer for achieving the highest overall performance score among all participants.

Pictured back row and left to right is Kenny Beavers, Retail Executive, Miah, Shelby, Rebecca, and John Lancaster, Chairman & CEO. Pictured front row and left to right is Sarah Poss, Vice President & Director of Retail Banking, Kaye, Alexia, and Tatum Ortlepp, Retail Banking Sales Manager.

At First Freedom Bank, we look for opportunities to recognize and reward team members for exceptional performance, as we know that they are critical to our success as a bank. We have great people at all of our offices and in all of our markets. If you would like to learn more about these locations, or even just about us as a bank, click the buttons below.

Office Locations
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