Senior Management
Our management team is a group of highly experienced local banking executives who are committed to providing the superior personal service that helps small and mid-size businesses and professionals succeed. Well-known and well-connected in the market, they are all actively involved in projects that benefit the community.
Ashley F. Houser
President and CEO
Ashley brings 30 years of experience to the management team. He began his career at NCNB (now Bank of America) and has served in various executive positions including area executive (BB&T), chief credit officer (First Gaston Bank), regional executive, banking group president and bank director (First South Bank). Ashley has served in various executive banking positions in the Columbia, South Carolina market for 15 years and supervised the Hilton Head Island / Bluffton and Spartanburg areas for over 6 years. His involvement in community activities includes serving as a board member of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, past president of Family Connection of South Carolina, past chairperson of Children's Hospital of Richland Memorial, and past president of Men's Ministry at Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church in Lexington among others. Ashley graduated from the University of North Carolina and Stonier Graduate School of Banking.
Brian R. Samson
Executive Vice President, Chief Credit Officer
Brian has more than 20 years of banking experience. He spent 14 years with BB&T, including completion of the bank’s management development program. Key positions held at BB&T included regional credit analyst, commercial loan officer, and business services manager. Between 2000 and 2005, Brian was with First South Bank as regional commercial banking manager and area executive. In April 2005, he departed First South Bank to help found BankMeridian. Brian has served as an advisory board member for the American Heart Association. He is active in Boy Scouts of America, the Columbia Sertoma Club, and Union United Methodist Church. He graduated cum laude from the University of South Carolina in 1986 and was inducted as a member of The Phi Beta Kappa Society in the same year. In 1992, Brian attended and graduated with honors from The National Commercial Lending School at Norman Oklahoma.
David R. Renaker
Executive Vice President, Chief Banking Officer
David has more than 20 years of bank management experience. He began his career with NCNB (now Bank of America), where he was responsible for loan and deposit portfolio management. He managed the Professional Banking Group in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and Greensboro, North Carolina areas prior to leaving Bank of America. He worked as a private banker and commercial lender with Central Carolina Bank and First Financial. Most recently, David served as senior vice president and area executive of First South Bank in Bluffton / Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. He is currently serving on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Hilton Head Island and is the past treasurer for St. Andrew-By-The-Sea United Methodist Church. David is also a prior vice chairman of the board and chair of allocations for the United Way of Beaufort County and has been a leader in Junior Achievement for Hilton Head Island / Bluffton. He graduated from the University of South Carolina and South Carolina Banker's School.
Brian A. Murdoch
Regional President,Upstate
Brian has more than 14 years bank management experience. Most recently he was with First South Bank as senior vice president and area executive, responsible for a 19-member staff. He has served as chairman of the Spartanburg Advisory Board, and is currently an Upstate board member of Risk Management Associates. Brian is a graduate of Leadership Spartanburg, was elected to Leadership Spartanburg’s Board of Regents, and is a member of Spartanburg Young Professionals. He is a graduate of Gardner Webb University, as well as a banking graduate of Louisiana State University and The South Carolina Bankers School.
Allen P. Long
Chief Financial Officer
Allen has more than 15 years of bank management experience. Prior to joining BankMeridan, he was a Vice President with Carolina First Bank in Greenville, South Carolina, responsible for managing assets liability. Other positions at banks in South Carolina and Georgia include Comptroller, Commercial Banking Officer and Credit Analyst, Area Operations Specialist and Branch Manager. Active in his community, Allen serves as a deacon at Shannon Forest Presbyterian Church and is on the Finance Committee at Shannon Forest Christian School. He is a cum laude graduate of Clemson University with a Masters in Business Administration, and a graduate of The South Carolina Bankers School.
Jan C. Burt
Chief Marketing Officer
Jan has more than 25 years of banking experience. She began her banking career in 1978 at South Carolina National Bank while still in college. In 1983 she joined First Citizens Bank, where she held many leadership positions, ultimately serving as executive vice president, director of marketing and strategic initiatives. Jan serves on the Lexington County Health Services District Board of Lexington Medical Center and Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington counties. She also serves on the Midlands Citizens Committee on Judicial Qualifications, is a charter member and co-chair for Women in Philanthropy, and an immediate past board of trustees member for the Graduate Banking School of the South at Louisiana State University, of which she is a graduate. Jan is also a cum laude graduate of the University of South Carolina.
Catherine W. Batson
Chief Information Officer
Cathy has more than 23 years of bank management and administration experience. Most recently she was Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Alliances with CorePROFIT Solutions, Inc. in West Chester, Pennsylvania. During her 18 year tenure with The South Financial Group in Greenville, SC, Cathy held many leadership positions including corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer. When she retired in 2005, she was Executive Vice President, Director of Management Information and Financial Systems. A dedicated volunteer with United Way of Greenville County for 15 years, she served on the Board of Directors and was the lead volunteer of many cabinets, including the inaugural Community Impact Cabinet. A graduate of the School of Bank Administration, Cathy also attended Columbia College and Furman University.
Linda S. Laliberte
Loan Operations Manager
Linda brings more than 30 years banking experience to the management team. Earlier in her career, she was operations manager for MCAS Beaufort Federal Credit Union. She also served as senior vice president, operations manager, with Palmetto Federal in Aiken and most recently held the position of senior vice president, project manager and loan operations manager with Regions Financial in Montgomery, Alabama. In this position, she had responsibility for the South Carolina, Central Georgia and North Carolina regions. Linda previously served on the South Carolina Automated Clearing House Association Board of Directors and currently serves on the South Carolina Bankers Association's Bank Operations Committee. She is a member of the South Carolina and Jasper County Historical Societies and South Carolina Archives & History Foundation. Linda is a graduate of Limestone College, where she serves on the Limestone Alumni Association Board of Directors.
G. Baxter Donaldson
City Executive,Columbia Market
Baxter has more than 20 years of banking experience. Most recently he was a commercial banking officer with BB&T. He is a 1998 graduate of Leadership Lexington County, where he also served on the board of directors and was president of the Alumni Association. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Lexington Chamber of Commerce. He is past president (2004-2005) of the Rotary Club of Lexington and currently serves on their board. Baxter is a division chair for United Way of the Midlands. He is also active in fundraising with the Indian Waters Council of the Boy Scouts. Baxter is a graduate of Georgia Southern University.
David S. Deaton
City Executive, HiltonHead Island Market
David brings more than 23 years of banking experience to his role at BankMeridian, including 5 years as the private banker for NBSC in Hilton Head and Bluffton, and 18 years in executive and managerial positions with Bank of America and predecessor banks. He currently is a member of the Hilton Head Island Noon Lions Club and is on the board of directors for Camp Leo Council (for visually impaired children). David graduated from the University of North Carolina and the South Carolina Banker's School.
Sean R. Rogers
City Executive,Spartanburg Market
Sean has more than 12 years of bank management experience. Prior to joining BankMeridan, he was a Retail Sales Manager and Business Banking Manager with First Citizens Bank in Spartanburg. Sean is past President of the Kiwanis Club and Allocation Board Chair for the United Way, and is active in fundraising for the March of Dimes. He currently serves on the Boards of Junior Achievement and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Spartanburg, and is a 2005 graduate of Leadership Spartanburg. Sean graduated from Wofford College with a degree in Business Economics.