New Bridge president and CEO Pressley Ridgall (left) and Thomasville City Executive Tony Hyde prepare to cut the ribbon at a new location Thursday morning, as city leaders look on. Photo/Eliot Duke
Just a few hundred feet from where NewBridge opened in Thomasville more than two decades ago, the bank celebrated the launch of a new office at 919 Randolph St. A ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new two-story facility not only marked the end of NewBridge’s stay at its original building, but the beginning of a promise the bank made to Thomasville Area Chamber of Commerce.
“We are very happy to be part of this area and part of this city,” Tony Hyde, the Thomasville City executive for NewBridge Bank, said. “Twenty-three years ago this month we moved into the building next door. It’s only fitting that we unveil this building to the city. We are ecstatic to open our new Randolph Street location as we donate the former office to the Thomasville Area Chamber of Commerce.”
As part of an economic development plan called “Thomasville on the Move,” NewBridge Bank donated the building to the chamber, which in turn will transform the structure into its new home. Pressley Ridgill, CEO of NewBridge Bank, presented chamber president Doug Croft and Keith Tobin, chamber chairman, the keys to the building at 941 Randolph St., officially starting a process that should change the face of Thomasville business for the foreseeable future.
“This is an exciting time,” said Ridgill. “It’s always fun when you get to come do something like this and open a new branch, and this is one of the prettiest ones we’ve got for sure. We’re glad to be here.”
Croft said the chamber will start the transformation process immediately and the project is expected to take between eight to 10 months. Hopes are the new Thomasville Area Chamber of Commerce will be a more attractive headquarters for the organization, resulting in a better tool to lure prospective businesses to the city. “Thomasville on the Move” is a five-year, four-part strategic plan initiated by the chamber as a way to re-invest back to the city and make it a more viable option for businesses. Part of the plan included moving the chamber from its Main Street location to a new and improved building called the “First Impression Business Center” that will offer clients more work space and meeting rooms. “Thomasville on the Move” raised more than $1 million from local donors.
“I want to thank NewBridge for their confidence and investment into our community,” Tobin said. “This is such a great facility. As a chamber, we want to make sure we do things right. It’s not only the facility but what happens in that facility that is going to make a difference in our community.”
NewBridge’s new two-story facility is 6,000 square feet and offers an expanded teller line, five drive-through banking lanes and will be managed by Carolyn Charette. The branch at 725 National Highway will close on June 25 and all staff will merge into the new location.
Staff Writer Eliot Duke can be reached at 888-3578, or duke@tvilletimes.com.
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