From mom and homemaker to small business owner to cover girl.
That’s where Carol Rutledge, owner of Great Harvest Bread Co., finds herself today — on the cover of Synovus’ 2007 annual report.
“We were ecstatic that they selected Carol,” said Angie Lewis, president and chief executive officer of Citizens First Bank in Rome. Citizens First is an affiliate of Synovus, the Columbus, Ga.-based financial services holding company.
Synovus had asked its affiliated banks to suggest small business owners for the annual report’s cover.
“We immediately thought of Carol,” Lewis said. “We knew that she’d be the perfect fit.”
“I was very thrilled, because Citizens First has worked so well with me,” Rutledge said. “They’re good customers, and they helped me get this business open and going.”
Romans may already have noticed Rutledge in Citizens First marketing and ads. Like the cover, those pictures portray Rutledge at Great Harvest, but without her ever-present baseball cap. Click here to read a previous report about Rutledge and Great Harvest.
At 606 Broad St., Great Harvest is just a few steps down from Citizens First, and the bank has a group of regulars who eat breakfast and lunch there.
“It helps that we love the food,” Lewis said. “And Carol’s always just on top of everything. It’s like we’re all part of a family.”
