Choate Construction

The construction company — and many of its employees — banks with Ameris. Originally founded in Atlanta, the bank has hired Choate to build more than 40 of its branch buildings. They’ve been active regional partners for more than three decades, now with seven offices across the Southeast.

“We've grown together, as two Atlanta-based businesses,” says Matt Brewer, Choate President and CEO. “Over that course of time, everywhere you've seen a Choate sign, Ameris has been a part of it, and together we've built so many iconic projects.”

Notable Choate projects include the Shepherd Center in Atlanta; Riverworks at Eastern Wharf in Savannah; the Commonwealth mixed-use development in Charlotte; Marsico Hall, the cancer research complex on the UNC Chapel Hill campus; the Credit One Stadium in Charleston; and Greenheck manufacturing facilites around the U.S.

“As we've grown from Atlanta through the Southeast, we've done it together, aligned with the same common culture,” says Brewer of the builder-bank partnership. “It’s a symbiotic relationship, where neither of us is just the customer. That connection between our two companies is what makes it so special.”

Throughout all those years, Choate has had the same bank rep: Jeanie Blanc, the very person who pitched Ameris to founder Millard Choate in 1992. 

“I want to be there regardless of what it is, the time of day, the day of the week. And believe me, that has happened, but I take great pleasure in getting that call,” says Blanc, who is now Ameris Bank’s retail business development officer. “You know I'll get the job done, and I'm here to do it for you.”

A Blueprint for Trust

“That level of responsiveness has been key to the long relationship. It is a direct result of Blanc taking the time to understand the construction business. 

Nothing gets done without paying our trade partners, and paying them promptly,” says Rob Glazier, Choate’s CFO. “Their work is what makes a project possible, and we want to honor that by being one of the most reliable in the industry when it comes to payment. It’s something we hold ourselves to.”

Consistent, same-day response has won over Choate’s leadership, time and time again. Glazier notes that the high level of customer service wins over its building partners, too. Choate counts on Ameris to explain complex financial structures to its private equity partners. “It takes a sophisticated bank, with people who understand our business, to be effective in our industry,” he says. 

Responsiveness has also been crucial when things haven’t gone quite as expected. “Challenges are going to come up in an organization of our size. To have a partner that can respond quickly, and in many cases is proactive, is really invaluable.” Brewer says. He trusts Blanc and other Ameris team members to expertly handle whatever issues come their way. “Banking is a very procedural, policy-driven industry, but the way Ameris empowers their people to critically think and to solve problems - that's a wonderful thing.”

Building a Legacy

Beyond day-to-day financial needs, Ameris also helped Choate navigate its biggest project 10 years ago: the transition from a privately-owned business to a fully employee-owned entity. “We had a lot to learn about the complexity of that transaction,” Brewer says. But Ameris was there every step of the way, helping ensure its success. “We're building great careers for our people, and Ameris has been a part of that. We know Ameris is going to be by our side as we continue to achieve our goals.”

One of the joys of the construction business, Glazier says, is witnessing the evidence of those achievements. Whether the product is an amenity-rich senior living facility or a beautiful and functional addition to a medical center, there is satisfaction in contributing in a physical way to the community. 

“I take a lot of pleasure in seeing what we're building tangibly across the Southeast, and we build it with Ameris. We build for Ameris, too,” he says. “So our partnership is valued from both a customer and a vendor perspective. We're really fortunate to have that kind of strong relationship as we continue to grow.”

Adds Brewer: “Atlanta has grown so much, and we’re honored to have been a part of that alongside Ameris.”