Pinnacle Financial Partners is growing its Jacksonville team with the addition of eight financial professionals, including two former statewide banking leaders. The group brings experienced commercial and retail bankers, a mortgage advisor and a financial advisor assistant, further strengthening the firm's capacity to serve businesses and individuals across the region. 

“Jacksonville continues to grow, and our clients here deserve experienced bankers who understand this market and are committed to serving it well,” said Bryan Taylor, Jacksonville regional president for Pinnacle. “Each of these new team members has built strong relationships in this community. They know the people and the businesses here, and they share our belief that banking works best when it’s personal, responsive and focused on long-term results.” 

The new team members bring decades of combined experience and expertise in commercial banking, small business lending, mortgage services and client support, leading teams and managing complex client relationships.  

• Emily Dawkins, area manager, will build and lead a team of commercial financial advisors. She joins Pinnacle from Ameris, where she served as state president. She has more than 25 years of experience in relationship management and business leadership. Dawkins earned a finance degree from the University of Florida. 

• Curt Cunkle, financial advisor, previously served as Florida banking president for EverBank. He brings 40 years of leadership experience in business, commercial and retail banking, as well as commercial real estate lending. Cunkle is a graduate of the University of Alabama. 

• Chris Altamore, financial advisor, joins from Valley Bank with extensive experience in commercial banking and business development. He is a graduate of St. Petersburg College. 

• Jack Baker, financial advisor, brings 18 years of experience in financial services and small business banking. He most recently served as a small business banker at SouthState Bank and attended Florida State College at Jacksonville. 

• Kevin Cannon, financial advisor, has more than 30 years of experience in financial services, most recently with Ameris Bank. He is a graduate of the University of North Florida. 

• Tyler Griffin, financial advisor, brings more than 10 years of experience in Small Business Administration lending, most recently at SouthState Bank and Synovus Bank, which just merged with Pinnacle. He earned his MBA from Georgia Southern University. 

• Reed Burchette, mortgage advisor, joins Pinnacle with experience in builder partnerships, physician loans and new home construction lending. He most recently served with First Coast Mortgage Funding and earned his MBA from Western Governors University. 

• Brenda Coleman, financial advisor assistant, brings 25 years of retail and commercial banking experience, having most recently supported bankers and their clients at Wells Fargo. 

With these additions, Pinnacle continues its strategy of hiring experienced revenue producers who bring established client relationships and deep local knowledge. The firm now has more than $119 billion in assets following its 2026 merger with Synovus, positioning it to serve clients with more sophisticated needs while maintaining local decision-making and personal service.