We are pleased to announce that Shanon Stewart of Rabun County, GA has been named Chief Operating Officer (COO) of ACE, serving as the primary strategic and management partner to the President and Chief Executive Officer. In addition to overseeing and executing the operational functions of the organization, Stewart will also be charged with designing and implementing business operations, and establishing policies that promote Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs’ culture and vision. As the COO, Stewart will have primary day-to-day responsibility for planning, implementing, managing, and controlling all loan and program services-related activities of the company.
Mr. Stewart joined the leadership team as Interim Chief Credit Officer in 2022 when he was promoted from his previous role as Senior Credit Analyst. In 2023 he was named the Chief Credit Officer where he led the lending operations team and was responsible for the overall risk of the ACE lending portfolio. “We are very pleased to have Shanon in this role,” said Grace Fricks, President & CEO of ACE. “He has done so much for our organization, and brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and commitment to ACE and to the small business community.”
Stewart has more than 25 years of banking experience serving in various roles as Assistant Vice President/ Sr. Branch Manager at South State Bank, Vice President of Operations and Information Technology with Mountain Heritage Bank, and as a Commercial Loan Officer with Regions Bank.