Mobile, Ala. – 22nd State Bank is pleased to announce the addition of Christopher Watkins and Jeff Mizukami as the newest members of their team.
Board Member – Christopher Watkins
Christopher Watkins has been appointed to the Board of Directors of FEB Bancshares and 22nd State Bank.
Watkins began his career in 1998 as an analyst in the Procurement Department with Hood Industries in Hattiesburg, Miss. In just a few short years, he became the Procurement Manager of Hood’s Metcalf Mill in Metcalf, Ga., before taking part in an endeavor with two friends capitalizing on the newly announced Mobile Container Terminal (now known as APM) in Mobile, Ala.
In late 2006, the three partners started an asset-based flatbed and container drayage company called Point Logistics LLC. Watkins served as the Managing Partner for three years before accepting a position in Business Development for the Mississippi Export Railroad in Moss Point, Miss.
In 2015, Point Logistics, LLC merged its assets with Southern Intermodal Xpress, and, later, Watkins accepted a new opportunity in 2016 to manage and grow the truck brokerage and industrial service areas of Point Logistics.
In 2017 this partnership expanded once more into Hardwoods Unlimited, LLC, a lumber remanufacturing and flooring company in Bay Minette, Ala.
Watkins received his B.S. from Birmingham Southern College in economics and his M.S. in Forestry from Mississippi State University. He lives in Mobile, Ala. with his wife Sarah and his two children, daughter Austin and son Will.
Executive Vice President of Government Guaranteed Lending (GGL) – Jeff Mizukami
Effective March 2021, Jeff Mizukami has been hired to fill a new role within the bank as Executive Vice President of Government Guaranteed Lending (GGL).
For more than 22 years, Mizukami has specialized in implementing GGL platforms for community banks in three different states. His responsibilities include facilitating eligibility, structure, and underwriting of credit, coordinating funding, managing secondary marketing positioning of the loan portfolio for sale, promoting new business, and maintaining superior customer relations.
Mizukami has previously held positions as Senior Commercial Lender, GGL Director, and Market President at multiple community bank headquarters in Northern California, Illinois, Arizona, and most recently in Tacoma, Wash.
As the recipient of the 2013 Arizona SBA Lender of the Year Award (Financial Services Champion), he is respected by his colleagues and peers and possesses a constant dedication for professionalism and hard work. Mizukami pursued and obtained a bachelor’s degree (finance and economics) from California State University-Sacramento. He has been a lifelong supporter of community civic organizations through his affiliations with Rotary International, local Chamber of Commerce groups, Boys and Girls Club, and has held various board positions with non-profit drug and alcohol addiction/homeless/at-risk adult advocacy groups. He currently resides in Daphne, Ala., with his wife Kelly and daughter Kallie.