EXECUTIVES
CEO — James PriceMr. Price himself is perhaps best described as a true entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in multiple industries including the financial services industry. After attending college at Eastern Washington University, Mr. Price served 3 years in the U.S. Army. Upon his honorable discharge he moved to Maryland and began his career as a successful stockbroker. Over a 10-year span as a broker and office Principal, he worked at JW Gant, Cohig and Associates, AG Edwards and Sons and Global Financial. Licenses held; series 7, 63, 24 life and health.
Over his extensive management career, Mr. Price has either formed, been President, CEO and/or interim CEO’s of several public and private companies including: JP Anderson, Greenzone Ventures, Papa Bello Enterprises, Benacquista Galleries, Columbia Financial Group, UC Hub, Leone Asset Management, Global Brands International, Global Mobile Technologies, Trunk Health and others.
Mr. Price founded Nataliia’s House to assist with the crisis in Sierra Leone and has formerly sat on the board of directors for the YMCA, was the Chairman of the I AM Foundation and currently is the Chairman and co-founder of the Leone Asset Foundation and is the Founder and Chairman of Nataliia’s House.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chairman — James Price
Board Member — Ben BatesBen Bates, Jr. is a 1967 graduate of Valdosta State College and came to Palatka in 1967 as a high school teacher and coach at Palatka High School. After three years of teaching and coaching he was drafted and served his country in the U.S. Army for two years, receiving an honorable discharge in 1973.
Upon his discharge he came back to teach and coach at Palatka High School from 1973 to June of 1975.
In 1975 Ben formed a real estate agency, Caldwell Banker Ben Bates and an insurance agency Bates Hewett & Floyd Insurance. In 1984 Ben became affiliated with Caldwell Banker and presently operates two real estate offices with over forty agents and has been the number one real estate agency in Putnam County for over 30 years.
In 2001, Ben became a partner in the GM Auto Dealership in Palatka and Starke and just remodeled the facility in Palatka to come a state of the art dealership in rural America. The dealership offers Chevrolet, GMC and Buick as well as full service for the parts department.
In 1989 Ben became the founding member of Putnam State Bank and served on its Board until it was acquired by Harbor Community Bank in 2012.
Ben has served on numerous boards and organizations and chaired most some of which are:
Palatka Toastmasters Club
Palatka Boosters Club
Northeastern Florida Association of Realtors
Rodeheaver Boys Ranch
Palatka Kiwanis
Putnam County Zoning Board
First Baptist Board of Trustees
Putnam Community Medical Center Board of Trustees
United Way of Putnam County
Boy Scouts of America
Florida Association of Insurance Agents
Life South Blood Bank
Putnam First Cancer Board
Putnam Behavioral Board
Ben has received numerous awards over the years for service to his community.
Ben has been married to Kathi Pelham Bates for forty-four years. They have two sons, one granddaughter and one grandson.
Board Member — Eric MaderEric has over 15 years’ experience in the beverage, sports nutrition, and direct selling industries on a national business development level. He has worked for minor and major league professional sports teams in baseball, hockey, arena football, Canadian football and the 1996 Summer Olympics. He has had positions from account executive, Director of New Business, Operations Manager, Managing Partner, CEO and Chairman of the Board. He was a member of the 1986-1990 Clemson University Varsity Football team. He participated in 5 major bowl games and 3 ACC Championships. Eric is a 1990 graduate of Clemson University and a 1995 graduate with a Juris Doctor from the Florida State College of Law.