Bank adds big names to board

ST. PETERSBURG — Freedom Bank has made a number of executive personnel moves, naming Craig Sher and Ron Campbell to its board of directors and hiring Valarie Nussbaum-Harris as vice president of Small Business Administration lending and Darryl Feldman as vice president of business development and marketing manager.

Sher is executive chairman of The Sembler Co. and Campbell is principal and CFO of the Seminole Cos. According to a press release, Sher brings more than 40 years of experience in real estate and finance leadership to Freedom Bank, which is the only locally owned bank headquartered in St. Petersburg.

Campbell, meanwhile, has served as president of the Tampa Bay Lightning/St. Petersburg Times Forum and executive vice president and CFO of Palace Sports and Entertainment/Detroit Pistons.

“As we focus on growth strategies for 2019 and beyond the key to our success remains in the relationships forged by our directors and bankers,” states Neil Savage, chairman of Fourth Street Banking Co., Freedom Bank’s parent company, in the release. “Well-respected throughout the Tampa Bay area, Mr. Sher and Mr. Campbell bring great business depth and perspective to our company, along with an extensive history of leadership within the community.”

Nussbaum-Harris and Feldman join Freedom Bank in newly created roles.

Nussbaum-Harris, the release states, is a longtime St. Pete resident and has more than 30 years of commercial and SBA lending experience, while Feldman brings more than 20 years of experience in marketing and business development to his role.