| A. Parrish Clark Jr., Vice President of Guardian Bank, is Georgia's 2007 Financial Services Champion |
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A. Parrish Clark Jr., Vice President of Guardian Bank in Valdosta, has been selected the 2007 Financial Services Champion of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Clark also received the SBA Regional Award for the same category. He helped launch the business plan contest in Valdosta. This SBA Champion Award goes to a person who, outside of regular business duties, provided support and assistance to small businesses in obtaining financing. The winner should also be an advocate for changes in the financial services industry to assist small companies. In his nomination, it was noted that Parrish had been instrumental in “leading, guiding and supporting a new culture of entrepreneurship in Valdosta.” His nomination letter noted that he committed $10,000 from Guardian Bank as the first prize for a new business plan competition sponsored by the Valdosta Chamber of Commerce in 2005. He later increased it to two cash prizes for 2006. “His leadership and commitment helped in the creation of the rules and regulations, the promotion of the contest and garnering additional in-kind support from local professionals,” said Suzanne Barnett, the SBDC Area Director who nominated Parrish for the award. Barnett said that over 200 people have been exposed to entrepreneurship as a career alternative in Valdosta as a result of the business plan competition. “A critical component of this contest is the requirement to attend ‘How to Start a Business’ classes and the availability of one-on-one consulting from the SBDC as well as other community volunteers,” she added. A native of Valdosta, Clark graduated from Furman University in 1997 with a concentration in Business. He later earned a Master of Business Administration Degree from Valdosta State University and attended the Graduate School of Banking at LSU in June 2004. He joined Guardian Bank in 1997 and served as a Banking Officer for three years until he was made a Vice President in 2001. Parrish served as Group 8 Chairman of the Georgia Bankers Association in 2005-2006 and is currently on the United Way Board of Directors in Valdosta. A. Parrish Clark Jr., Vice President
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