JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI – April 13, 2022 – Curt Gabardi, President and CEO of First Commercial Bank (firstcommercialbk.com) today announced that hospitality executive Micajah P. Sturdivant, IV and University of Mississippi Medical Center strategic development executive Candie L. Simmons, have been appointed to the bank’s Board of Directors. Mr. Sturdivant joined the Board in March; Ms. Simmons was added this month.
“These two extraordinary business leaders bring to First Commercial’s Board a firm grasp of financial innovation and a fresh perspective on a highly competitive banking landscape, tempered with their years of proven industry experience,” Gabardi said in a written statement.
He added, “Micajah Sturdivant was already an invaluable asset in his prior service as a First Commercial Advisory Board member, making him even more well suited to serve on our Board of Directors.
“Candie Simmons is uniquely qualified for this appointment not only for her strategic leadership initiatives at UMMC and accompanying community services involvement, but also because of her 15 years of prior direct experience in helping guide marketing strategy in the financial services sector,” Gabardi said.
About Micajah Sturdivant
& Member of the Board of Directors,
First Commercial Bank
A native Mississippian, Sturdivant returned to his home state in 2006 to join MMI Hospitality Group, the family business of 65-plus years, headquartered in greater Jackson. Overseeing asset management and operating entities focused in the lodging and food and beverage businesses, Sturdivant’s professional background in commercial real estate well prepared him for his prior Advisory Board role and now his Board of Directors position.
As the third generation to lead MMI Hospitality Group, Sturdivant remains focused on expanding opportunities for all its stakeholders, but never at the expense of MMI's team members. He was named MMI CEO on January 1, 2021; he was promoted from the hotel management division to support the guest experiences of hundreds of thousands of locals and travelers.
Sturdivant is a graduate of the McDonnell-Barksdale Honors College at The University of Mississippi and Harvard Business School.
Sturdivant’s civic and community involvements include being a founding member of the Phoenix Club of Jackson, a graduate of Leadership Jackson, the past president of Fondren Renaissance Foundation, and current board member of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra Foundation and the Eudora Welty Foundation.
About Candie Simmons
of Principal Gifts & Strategic Planning
& Member of the Board of Directors,
First Commercial Bank
Simmons currently serves as Director of Principal Gifts & Strategic Planning with the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi, one of the state’s largest employers. In this capacity she plays a key role in the execution of the Office of Development’s strategic plan, as well as a multitude of related fundraising and donor relationship management responsibilities across the broad scope of UMMC’s operations.
Additionally she is an Advanced Applied Leadership Program (AALP) Adjunct professor with the Else School of Management at Millsaps College, which entails providing training for workplace professionals to foster personal and professional growth.
From early 2006 to the summer of 2021, Simmons was employed with Regions Financial Corporation, initially serving as marketing coordinator for numerous Regions branches in north Mississippi, then being elevated to Regional Marketing Director Vice President with responsibility for Mississippi, South Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas for nearly six years. Simmons was next promoted to Regional Marketing Director Senior Vice President, serving in that capacity through the spring of 2018. Most recently with Regions, she was Geography Marketing Strategist Senior Vice President, providing support for South Mississippi, Houston, Texas and Alabama and Louisiana.
Simmons received her Bachelor of Business Administration and her Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of Mississippi. She also earned her certification in 2018 as a Gallup Certified Strengths Finder Coach.
Her civic and community support includes serving as past Board member of the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi, the Mississippi Council on Economic Education, Make-A-Wish, the Community Foundation for Mississippi, and the Ole Miss Banking & Finance Advisory Board. Recognitions include the Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 50 Leading Business Women and Top 40 Under 40, and the University of Mississippi’s Outstanding Young Alumni recipient for 2017.