Avenue Bank Expands Team

Avenue Bank Chairman and CEO Ronald L. Samuels has announced a round of hirings, as well as a promotion in the company’s Nashville offices.

Paula Gaines has joined Avenue as Treasury Management Specialist, and brings with her 25 years experience in the financial services industry. She is a Certified Treasury Professional and currently serves as VP of the Nashville Chapter of the Association for Financial Professionals. Most recently she held the post of VP, Treasury Management Sales with First Tennessee.

Tony Grubbs has become a part of Avenue’s team as Mortgage Originator. Most recently, he was a Senior Mortgage Analyst with Eagle Bank in St. Louis, and has 20 years experience in residential lending.

Erika Lamanna Small has been promoted to Private Client Banking Assistant. She originally came on board at Avenue in May 2011 as a Concierge Banker. She received her M.A. in Economics from Vanderbilt University in 2011, and her B.A. in Economics from Elon University in 2009.

Finally, Alex Yates has been named to the team as Concierge Banker at the Cummins Station branch. She graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2010 with a B.A. in Banking & Finance.