Ryan Hunt
Senior Vice President
Classic City Bank
Athens, GA
2018 Honor Graduate, Georgia Banking School
Q: What was your first job, and was there a lesson you learned there that you still use today?
A: I started my first paying job at the age of 12 working for my dad in construction. I would have been considered a manual laborer as I possessed very little technical knowledge at the time. I worked with him every summer and after school, schedule permitting. It did not take long to realize that being a self-employed contactor wasn’t for the faint of heart – especially when working outside in Georgia during the summer months. My father was very disciplined and possessed an unmatched work ethic. I like to think that some of his grit and determination rubbed off on me.
Q: What drew you to the banking/financial services industry?
A: I graduated from the University of Georgia in 2008, right as the recession was unfolding. At the time, I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do, so I decided to take a job working for a boutique accounting firm in Atlanta. I had a great boss and the experience was instrumental in building a good financial foundation, but after several years, I realized I needed more human interaction. In 2015, a close friend of mine helped to arrange a meeting with the CEO of a community bank in Athens and the rest is history. I have always been intrigued with numbers and enjoy building relationships, so banking provided the perfect weld between both worlds.
Q: Describe your experience at the Georgia Banking School. How has attending the school affected your career?
A: Invaluable! If you are provided the opportunity to attend, do not turn it down. I started banking school in 2016, just one year after entering the banking arena. Frankly, I was intimidated and apprehensive going into it – without a lot of ‘real world’ banking experience, I thought I might be a fish out of water. Those fears were squashed on day one. The faculty and my fellow classmates were always there to assist when needed. The curriculum is very well-rounded and provides a glimpse into almost every facet of banking – from the lending and credit functions to the operational and budgeting functions. After graduating from the three-year program, I felt like a “Renaissance Banker” – well-versed in many of the banking fundamentals that I would otherwise have no exposure to.
Q: If you could thank someone for becoming the professional you are today, who would it be and why?
A: Hands down, my parents. Like most parents do, they made enormous sacrifices to provide me and my siblings with the greatest chance of success. I certainly was not aware of it at the time, but now with three young sons of my own, hindsight really is 20/20.
Q: What would someone be surprised to learn about you?
A: I had the privilege of working as a safari guide in Africa for seven months after graduating college. I worked primarily in Botswana and Namibia. Being on a different continent, not speaking the native language and not having any friends/family around was a huge catalyst for building my self-confidence. The experience was unfiltered, untamed and enlightening.