Pinnacle Financial Partners Continues Significant Growth in Atlanta with New Expert Advisors

Pinnacle Financial Partners continues to grow rapidly in Atlanta and surrounding communities with the addition of seven veteran financial services professionals across two Pinnacle offices. Mike Lowe, Morris Estes and Jennifer Phelps are based at the 3050 Northwinds Parkway office in Alpharetta, while Alice Dondelinger, Sam McElhaney, Jonathan Harris and Brittany Fegan are based at the firm’s 3333 Riverwood Parkway location in Atlanta.

“Pinnacle has assembled a group that can support nearly everything clients need right out the gate,” said Rob Garcia, Pinnacle’s regional president in Atlanta. “These associates bring decades of combined experience, expertise and a heart to serve to our team that will help us deliver on our promise of distinctive service and effective advice.”

Lowe is based at the Alpharetta location as a financial advisor and joins the firm with 29 years of experience in the banking industry. Prior to joining Pinnacle, Lowe was responsible for business development and management of privately held businesses for Wells Fargo, managing portfolios ranging from $100 million to $2 billion. He received his bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and took post-baccalaureate studies at Georgia State University.

Estes joins the Pinnacle team as a financial advisor with more than 33 years of financial services experience. In previous positions, Estes has grown and sustained an extensive network of relationships with health care companies, intermediaries and private equity firms both nationally and in the Southeast. In addition, he has led customers in the healthcare industry through every stage of market transactions. Estes earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia before receiving his MBA from Georgia State University.

Phelps, joins the firm as a credit advisor. She comes to Pinnacle with 10 years of specialized experience dealing with credit-specific advising. She served as the strategic initiatives' delivery officer for Truist Bank, where she was a critical partner in leading her clients through diverse strategies to drive greater efficiency. In her time with Truist, she sharpened her leadership and management skills, and guided her teams in consistently exceeding goals. Phelps received her bachelor's degree from North Georgia College & State University.

Financial advisor, Alice Dondelinger joins Pinnacle with more than 29 years of banking experience. She most recently served at Truist Bank, where she was a commercial banker. During her 21 years there, she established high-level customer service standards, worked toward client growth and success, and developed efficient solutions for a variety of business opportunities and client needs. Dondelinger studied at Kennesaw State University.

As a financial advisor, McElhaney advises clients through an array of specialized needs. With 20 years of experience in the banking industry, she has developed a skill set to benefit leadership development and client satisfaction. McElhaney has strong ties to the Atlanta community, most recently serving as a commercial relationship manager with SouthState Bank. She received her bachelor’s degree from Rhodes College.

Harris joins Pinnacle as a mortgage advisor with 23 years of financial services experience with expertise in the Atlanta mortgage market. In his previous positions, he helped his clients carefully execute unique strategies based on their needs. In addition, he has won several awards for managing portfolios of $24 million in mortgage production. Harris currently serves as vice president on the Atlanta Mortgage Bankers Association Board. He received his bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University.

Fegan serves as a credit advisor and comes to Pinnacle with 11 years of banking experience. She most recently served as a vice president for credit risk with JPMorgan Chase, where she managed loan portfolios, identified key risks for her clients, helped advise them toward personalized solutions and partnered with banks to build client relationships. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Riverside.

Pinnacle Financial Partners provides a full range of banking, investment, trust, mortgage and insurance products and services designed for businesses and their owners and individuals interested in a comprehensive relationship with their financial institution. The firm is the No. 1 bank in the Nashville-Murfreesboro-Franklin MSA, according to 2022 deposit data from the FDIC and is listed by Forbes as No. 27 among America’s Best Banks, higher than any other bank headquartered in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina or Georgia. Pinnacle also earned a spot on the 2023 list of 100 Best Companies to Work For® in the U.S., its seventh consecutive appearance, and was recognized by American Banker as one of America’s Best Banks to Work For 10 years in a row and No. 1 among banks with more than $11 billion in assets in 2022.

Pinnacle expanded to Georgia in 2020 by hiring a team of local financial services professionals to start an office in Atlanta. The firm was named to the list of Best Places to Work in Atlanta, medium company category, three years in a row by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, including a No. 1 ranking in 2022 and No. 2 in 2023.

The firm began operations in a single location in downtown Nashville, Tenn., in October 2000 and has since grown to approximately $46.9 billion in assets as of June 30, 2023. As the second-largest bank holding company headquartered in Tennessee, Pinnacle operates in 17 primarily urban markets across the Southeast.

Additional information concerning Pinnacle, which is included in the Nasdaq Financial-100 Index, can be accessed at www.pnfp.com.