B Gooding replaces Bicknell as president

By Debbie A. Knox

Publisher/Editor

dknox@campcountynow.com

A seasoned banker in Pittsburg since 1987, and with Cypress Bank since early 1998, B Gooding has now been named as president of the bank. Replacing Gary Y. Bicknell who has retired, but will remain as the chairman of the board, Mr. Gooding will run the day to day operations of the bank in Pittsburg and be at the helm of all four locations.

“Having worked with B Gooding for almost 20 years, I can confidently say B has proven himself as an exceptional, strong, capable banker with the vision and skills to continue Cypress Bank’s growth and traditions of superior service to our customers and community,” Mr. Bicknell said.

About a year ago, Mr. Bicknell told Mr. Gooding he would be retiring in 2016 during one of their daily 7:15 a.m. meetings. Mr. Gooding talked about how important those early meetings were.

“I guess it’s one of those times when hard work does pay off,” Mr. Gooding said. “He told me he was going to be retiring in 2016 and said the job ‘is yours to have.’ The directors honored me by showing their support and their faith in his decision.”

“I’m very lucky we have a good management team here and lucky to have them. We work well together. The bank is very healthy under Gary’s leadership. We’ve been able to grow capital. I’m very blessed that I am given a very healthy bank.

The bank hasn’t been without its challenges through the years with some of the changes being in the Pittsburg community.

Mr. Gooding is only the third president of the bank since it was organized and chartered Oct. 3, 1977. Craig Chesley was the first president and returned to Tyler in 1983. Mr. Bicknell was chosen as the bank’s second president and served 32 years.

Mr. Gooding and his wife Betsy have four children, Sarah Beth, Claire, Rachel and Grant.

Shelley Brown has been promoted to Senior Vice President and also serves as Controller of the bank. Mrs. Brown began her banking career in 1992 and joined Cypress Bank in September 2002. Her responsibilities include overseeing the operations and accounting functions of the bank which include tellers, new accounts, and debit cards, and accounting. Mrs. Brown also serves as the BSA Officer. Mrs. Brown says “I have been very blessed to have worked under the direction of Mr. Bicknell for 13 years, and I now look forward to the future under the direction of Mr. Gooding. Cypress Bank is a great place to work, and I have been blessed with a great staff that makes my job enjoyable.”

Mrs. Brown and her husband, Kirk Brown, live in Mt. Pleasant and own Murphy’s Pest Control. They have been blessed with 3 daughters, Kaci, Taylor, and Bailey and 3 grandchildren.

Sheri Russell has been named Vice President and Assistant Controller. Sheri started her banking adventure while in High School at Morris County National Bank in Naples. After college, she moved to Austin where she continued her career at a number of large and small banks. She has worked at the Pittsburg office for five years. Sheri moved back to the area six years ago and lives in Naples. Over the past 35 years, Sheri has worked in all areas of the bank. She considers herself a banker – one who does what she can to make the customer feel comfortable with their banking needs.

Another Cypress promotion is a veteran mortgage facilitator, Debra Russell, who has been named Senior Vice President of the Mortgage Department. Ms. Russell is from Hughes Springs. She started as a teller at the Lone Star Cypress Bank and then she worked as branch manager. In 1998, she came to work at the Pittsburg location in mortgage department and now she oversees the operations of eight employees in her department. “I process mortgage applications, which entails facilitating mortgage loans from beginning to the closing process.”

Ms. Russell has two children, John and Megan and two grandchildren.

Sheri Russell has been named vice-president and assistant cashier. She has worked at the Pittsburg office for five years. She has three children and three grandchildren.