The Chattanooga Area Food Bank, Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia’s largest hunger relief organization, announced Tuesday the appointment of Gina Crumbliss as president and chief executive officer, effective June 1. Ms. Crumbliss will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Food Bank, lead the organization to achieve a long-term strategic growth initiative, and engage the community in the fight against hunger.
As senior vice president, private banking executive at FirstBank, Ms. Crumbliss joins the Food Bank with a successful track record as a bank executive, a strong reputation for achieving desired results, and a passion for leading non-profit organizations to advance social good, said officials.
"We are delighted to welcome Gina as president and CEO. She is the right person at the right time for our organization,” said Tom Sullivan, chairman of the Chattanooga Area Food Bank Board of Directors. We are confident that her vast experience in cultivating key community partnerships and proven ability to achieve organizational strategic goals will accelerate a real movement to solve hunger in our region.”
In her role as senior vice president at FirstBank—Tennessee’s largest independently-owned bank—Ms.Crumbliss has worked to grow the organization’s customer base, cultivate strategic community
partnerships, and build brand awareness. Throughout her career, Ms. Crumbliss has collaborated with the Board of Directors, president and CEO, and the bank executive management team to build strategic plans, guide brand development, and achieve business growth. During her tenure, Ms. Crumbliss established several community partnerships including positioning FSG Bank as the “Official Bank of UTC Athletics.”
Ms. Crumbliss brings over 30 years of non-profit experience to her role at the Food Bank. Serving in a variety of capacities—including senior staff member, board member, committee chair, and volunteer— Ms. Crumbliss has worked to strengthen the Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia community through her involvement at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga, the Chattanooga Zoo, and the Rotary Club of Chattanooga Hamilton Place.
“I have admired the Chattanooga Area Food Bank and its extraordinary efforts to reach our most
vulnerable community members," said Ms. Crumbliss. "I look forward to joining the organization’s dedicated team and continuing to unite and inspire diverse constituents to help end hunger for every person in our region. Together, we will provide nourishing food so that no one in our community knows what it is to be hungry.”
A Chattanooga native, Ms. Crumbliss graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Covenant College. She is a graduate of the American Bankers Association School of Bank Marketing & Management and a graduate of Leadership Chattanooga. In April 2016, Ms. Crumbliss was recognized as a 2016 Women of Distinction Honoree.
Leading a network of over 300 partners in Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia, the Chattanooga Area Food Bank works to eliminate hunger and promote better nutrition in a 20 county service region.