Brentwood welcomes new banks

Red Mountain Bank makes it official

Movement from inside the cool confines of Red Mountain Bank out into the 90-degree weather for the bank's official ribbon cutting Tuesday took a while. No one seemed in a hurry to step outside to the parking lot.

But when everyone got there, Market President Rick Archer Jr. made quick work of it, introducing the bigwigs from the Birmingham home office, his Brentwood staff and special guests.

"You've made a big improvement to this corner," Mayor Betsy Crossley told Archer and the crowd of about 40. "It's absolutely beautiful."

Then not half as slowly as they came out, everyone filed back in, where a serious buffet of goodies and cold drinks waited.

I could grow to like ribbon cuttings, I think, with grow being the operative word.

Weight Watchers. The Martin Center. Tomorrow.

Reliant opens first Brentwood branch

And this news just arrived in the BrentWord home office:

Reliant Bank has officially opened the doors in Maryland Farms. The bank acquired the Brentwood location of Magna Bank making it Reliant’s third location and second expansion within just 10 months.
The new location at 5109 Peter Taylor Park, is located just off Maryland Way in Brentwood. The full-service branch offers consumer, business, investment and mortgage services.
Branch Manager Mike Buffler previously served as the assistant branch manager for the bank’s main office. Sarah Johnson the location’s commercial lender, joins Reliant from Magna Bank.
“This is a great opportunity for Reliant to further our footprint and meet the needs of those looking for a better banking experience. We have a great team of employees who are ready to serve the area,” Buffler stated. “Being located in Maryland Farms also provides excellent growth opportunity for the bank.”

A big open house celebration is planned later this month.

Demetria's next career? Comedienne

Emmy-winning anchor entertains and informs
I didn't plan to report on today's Women in Business luncheon. I was using it as an excuse to put on a dress and get out of the BrentWord home office for a few hours.
But as soon as the guest speaker, Channel 4 anchor Demetria Kalodimos, started talking, I pulled out a pen, folded the flyer announcing "Brentwood Cool Springs Chamber Day at Costco" and started writing.
More than 100 businesswomen turned out to hear Kalodimos' presentation at the Fifty Forward Martin Center and I doubt if anyone went home disappointed. How could they when she shared her life history with one liners that entertained as well as informed.
The Illinois Wesleyan grad attended college on a flute scholarship and at one point dreamed of leading an orchestra. When she started working at the university's radio station, however, she found a new love.
"My mother would say I fell in love with the sound of my own voice," she quipped.
Of her early years in broadcast news, she talked about working at a small station where the daily Trading Post feature was as important as the daily news. After earning a graduate degree in journalism, she had job offers from WSMV here and from a new upstart network called CNN in Atlanta. She chose Nashville, she said, because she was convinced that CNN "will never go anywhere."
A fun fact to know and tell is that she keeps her Illinois teaching credential up to date -- a Plan B in case this broadcasting gig doesn't pan out. And her professional name hasn't always been Kalodimos.
At her first TV job, she became "Demetria Kay" much to her chagrin. Apparently the name her grandfather brought with him from Greece was a bit much for the tiny station in the heartland.
"Is that stupid or what?" she asked the crowd.
Channel 4 turned out to be a bit more progressive about Kalodimos. "They said 'We like that name. You can use it if you want to.'" And she has for all but that one small blip of time .
Demetria shared that the past year had been a tough one both personally and professionally. Her dad died last year, and more recently, her longtime co-anchor Dan Miller. Both her mother and sister received breast cancer diagnoses. And yet she smiled her way through her address, shared two favorite news stories via DVD and told those attending that she still loves what she does.
Someone asked if she'd had job offers elsewhere over the years. She said yes, including one with a major network. But in the end, Nashville's kept her here.
"What's not to love about this area?"

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On a positive business note, Reliant Bank's marketing director, Marion Ingram, announced at the meeting that the bank's new Maryland Farms branch will open August 3. With this and other expansions, Reliant has made 14 new hires in recent months, going against the trend.