Interview by Emily Stewart, Gainesville High School senior and Abernathy Cochran intern
Meet Andy Stewart! Andy is the chief risk officer at Peach State Bank & Trust. He graduated from the University of Georgia receiving his masters of Business Administration. He is married to his wife Ellen and has two daughters. Andy has served on the Gainesville City School Board for since January 2018.
We want to thank Andy for sitting down with us recently and telling us more about his life and love for Hall County.
Question: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
Answer: “I’m married to the former Ellen Benson of Columbus. We have been married for 26 years. We have two daughters, Elizabeth (21) who is in Graduate School at the University of Georgia attending the Masters of Accounting program, and we have Emily (17) who is a senior at Gainesville High School.”
Q: Please tell us about your current career. What do you love most about what you do?
A: “I am a banker with Peach State Bank and Trust. I am the chief risk officer. The thing I love most about my career is making our customers’ financial dreams come true.”
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
A: “I love Avocados, and I wish Two Dog was still around. I recently had a very good experience at Centro, which has just opened within the past week.”
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
A: “I was born and raised in Gainesville and I started my career here in 1997.”
Q: Who is the most interesting person you have met here in our community?
A: “By far Abit Masey. He has made such an impact on this community. He knows everybody, he’s got the memory of an elephant, and he has just been a great asset to our community. It is sad that we’ve recently lost him.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
A: “There is so much of the western United States that I want to see, particularly a lot of states in the Rocky Mountain range.”
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
A: “My favorite movie of all time is ‘Saving Private Ryan.’ My favorite TV Show of all time is ‘Game of Thrones.’”
Q: What advice would you want to give or leave with people
A: “Always cherish your relationships with people you meet. You never know when they will be gone.”
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
A: “The Collegiate Grill.”
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative, with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would you meet them for this lunch?
A: “I would love to have lunch with Justin Bateman. He is such a talented individual – from acting to directing to writing, and I would meet him at Avocados.”
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community and secondly what is something you hope our community has or does in the future?
A: “I love the fact that whether you are a native or a transplant, everybody makes you feel welcome, and I hope that despite the growth that our community has had, anyone who moves here will always feel welcomed.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?
A: “Continuing to help the people of Gainesville grow in their financial lives.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “As mentioned before, there is so much of the western United States that I want to visit.”
Q: What is something you have been proud to check off your bucket list?
A: “Spending weeks in England and Spain.”
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
A: “Widespread Panic.”
Q: In hard times we can sometimes see and recognize greatness in those around us. Hard working. Positive attitudes. Helping on the front lines. Who is one of our local shining lights today?
A: “I would say George Jones. He has been so grateful, benevolent, and generous to this community. He is always friendly to everyone he comes around. You can tell that when he’s in the middle of a conversation that he is holding everyone in his hands.”
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
A: “The most beautiful place I have ever been is Augusta National Golf Course.”
Q: Favorite month? Favorite Holiday? And best single day on the calendar?
A: “December, Christmas, and December 25th is my favorite single day on the calendar because it reminds me of so many good memories growing up and into my adulthood.”
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
A: “A Georgia Bulldog football victory.”
Q: Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life?
A: “Matthew McConaughey – not because of the looks, but because he has the range to talk as slowly as I do.”
Q: What is one of two of your favorite smells?
A: “Cinnamon and that of a Christmas Tree.”
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
A: “I always think about my dad when I’m trying to do good and treat people well. He was such a great mentor and a dearly lost friend.”
