Marion Market Manager receives “Community Ambassador” award

PRESS RELEASE: 

Asheville Savings Bank (ASB) recently recognized David Wooten, Vice President and Market Manager of the Marion and Black Mountain banking centers, with its Community Ambassador Award. Established in 2014, the Community Ambassador Award was created to honor and celebrate an employee who exemplifies the bank’s core value of commitment to the local community with both their time and financial resources. This award is given out each year at the ASB STARS event, an annual event organized to thank, reward and celebrate the performance of the bank’s 160 employees throughout the previous year.

A western North Carolina native who has lived in McDowell County for the past 22 years, Wooten is passionate about giving back to the community where he lives and works.

“I am so honored to be recognized by Asheville Savings Bank,” said Wooten. “I strive to live by the motto of Rotary International which is ‘Service Above Self.’ I believe that giving back is the right thing to do and there is no better feeling than knowing my contributions have made a difference to our local community and to the people who live here – my friends and neighbors.”

In addition to this newest accolade, Wooten has previously received the town of Marion’s “Citizen of the Month” honor, the McDowell County Citizenship Award from the Chamber of Commerce in 2001 and the “Most Outstanding Banker in McDowell County” award, which is voted on by readers of McDowell News and has been presented to him on several occasions. Additionally, Wooten is also a past president of the Rotary Club of Marion, where he was named “Rotarian of the Year” in 2014 and received the “Service Above Self” award in 2006. He has also served at the district level of Rotary in several capacities.

Wooten continues his service to the community by serving on the board of directors for the McDowell Economic Development Association.  He is also involved with the Corpening Memorial Foundation and the McDowell Trails Association.
“David Wooten is a great example of how being a good corporate citizen leads to new opportunities both personally and professionally,” said Suzanne DeFerie, President and CEO of Asheville Savings Bank. “Local community commitment is one of the core values of Asheville Savings Bank and David embodies this commitment through his actions every day.”

In addition to Wooten’s award, several members of the Marion banking center team were also recognized with distinctions at the STARS event. ASB honored both Debra Smith, teller, and April Ketterman, senior teller, with “Length of Service” awards for 20 years and 10 years of service, respectively.

About Asheville Savings Bank:

For almost 80 years, Asheville Savings Bank has been the “local bank.” With 13 banking centers and approximately 160 employees in the counties of Buncombe, Henderson, McDowell, Madison and Transylvania in Western North Carolina, it is the largest community bank chartered and headquartered in Asheville. Asheville Savings Bank’s employees and directors volunteer over 460 hours monthly to approximately 75 unique community and civic organizations. The bank’s decisions are all made locally and we strive to develop strong relationships with our customers and the communities that we serve. We are proud to have been recognized for the past three years as the #1 BEST Bank, #1 BEST Bank for Small Business Services and #1 BEST Bank for Mortgages by readers of the Mountain Xpress newspaper. Asheville Savings Bank is an equal housing lender and member FDIC. Visit Asheville Savings Bank at AshevilleSavingsBank.com.