GAINESVILLE - GB&T Bancshares, Inc. named new officers at its annual shareholders' meeting on May 20.<br>
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Abit Massey, who has served as chairman of Gainesville Bank & Trust and its holding company since their beginning, was named chairman emeritus of both boards. Massey is executive director of the Georgia Poultry Federation.<br>
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"GB&T and GB&T Bancshares are fortunate to have the leadership and counsel of such a well-respected individual like Abit Massey to provide direction regarding our companies' growth and expansion," said Richard Hunt, president and CEO. "From the early days when he personally sold bank stock, Abit has provided hands-on leadership for GB&T, and we are pleased he will continue to play an active role in these organizations."<br>
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Philip Wilheit was elected chairman of the board of GB&T and GB&T Bancshares. Wilheit, who is a founding member of both boards, is president of Wilheit Packaging and immediate past president of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce.<br>
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Sam Oliver, an attorney with Hulsey, Oliver & Mahar, was elected vice chairman and Alan Wayne, of Tanners Creek Development, was elected secretary.<br>
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The GB&T Bancshares family of financial services companies now includes Gainesville Bank & Trust, United Bank & Trust in Polk County, Community Trust Bank in Paulding and Cobb counties and Community Loan Company. <br>
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Since being listed with NASDAQ in 1999, GB&T Bancshares has surpassed $500 million in<br>
assets.<br>
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GB&T Bancshares' growth strategy has found strength in the economies of scale its member companies attain at the holding company level and the autonomy its community banks retain to operate independently in their respective markets.<br>
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For the past three years, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has ranked GB&T Bancshares as one of the state's best performing companies in its annual "Georgia 100 Best of Business" listing.<br>
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