Jacksonville News

New Appointment, Reappointment Announced for the Atlanta Fed’s Jacksonville Branch

JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta announces the appointment of Bemetra Simmons and Christy Budnick to the Jacksonville Branch board of directors. Simmons was appointed by the Board of Governors to a three-term ending December 31, 2027. Budnick was appointed by the Atlanta board of directors to a three-year term ending December 31, 2027. Simmons is president and chief executive officer of The Tampa Bay Partnership in Tampa. She is on the board directors of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission and Leadership Florida. Simmons is a graduate of Wake Forest University. Budnick is chair of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty in Northeast Florida. She is a graduate of the University of Lynchburg. Additionally, Brian Wolfburg has been reappointed by the Atlanta board of directors to serve a threeyear term ending December 31, 2027. Wolfburg is president and chief executive officer of VyStar Credit Union in Jacksonville, Florida, and a graduate of New York University. The other directors of the Atlanta Fed's Jacksonville Branch are: • Dana Kilborne, chief executive officer of Cypress Capital Group and president and chief officer of Cypress Bank & Trust in Melbourne (term expires December 31, 2026), • Edward Moratin, president of Lift Orlando in Orlando (terms expires December 31, 2026), • R. Andrew Watts, executive vice president, chief financial officer, and treasurer of Brown & Brown Inc. in Daytona Beach (term expires December 31, 2025), and • Lisa Palmer (chair), president and chief executive officer of Regency Centers Corporation in Jacksonville (term expires December 31, 2025). NEWS RELEASE Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta branch directors provide economic information from their industries and the branch territory to the district Bank's president and head office directors, who use the information in discussing monetary policy options and making discount rate recommendations. The Board of Governors appoints three of the Jacksonville Branch directors, and the Atlanta head office directors appoint four. About the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta serves the Sixth Federal Reserve District, which encompasses Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and sections of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. As part of the nation's central banking system, the Atlanta Fed participates in setting national monetary policy, supervises numerous commercial banks, and provides a variety of financial services to depository institutions and the US government