The Board of Directors for Community First Banking Company, has announced that after 25 years, Newt Brill has retired as an active board director and been named director emeritus.
Brill began his service as a bank director in 1966 with First National Bank.
“In the summer of 1997, he and several other influential business people saw the need for a locally owned community bank that cared about their employees, customers and communities. He was instrumental in the organization of Community First,” said board members. “His leadership and guidance have been invaluable to the board and the bank.
NEWEST BOARD MEMBERS
Traci Wiley has joined the board as full director. Wiley has served as an Advisory Director since 2020. She is the owner of Wiley Insurance Agency and a lifelong resident of West Plains. Wiley has served the insurance needs of the community and all of Missouri and Arkansas for over 29 years.
Besides currently serving as a Community First Bank Director, she was appointed in 2019 by Gov. Mike Parson to the Missouri Fire Education and Advisory Commission, which oversees and provides training to all fire departments across the state.
She also serves in the South Central Ozarks Council of Governments/South Central Ozark Community Improvement Corporation well water loan board, the West Plains Lions Club as past president and current member, the Amelia Network Advisory board for promoting local women in business and several advisory panels for the insurance industry.
Wiley has also served two three-year terms on the Richards School board and community coalitions/advisory panel for West Plains High School, all while being an passionate advocate for quality education locally, and was a previous West Plains Community Foundation /board member and treasurer. The Community Foundation of West Plains fundraises and provides local grants for nonprofit entities.
Traci has been married to Todd Wiley, owner of Wiley Fence, for 30 years. They have two grown children, John and Jayden, and daughter-in-law Abbigail. They love to vacation together and spend time at Norfork Lake.
Chrys Fisher and Erik Montgomery have joined the board as advisory directors.
Fisher was born in Oklahoma, raised in Texas and spent most of his adult life in rural Missouri. He attended Westminster College in Fulton, Mo., and later graduated from Vermont Law School with a dual degree, Juris Doctor/Master in the Study of Law, magna cum laude.
He was licensed to practice law in Missouri in 1995. Since 1997, Fisher has tried many cases before both judge and jury in south central Missouri. He has argued numerous appeals before the Southern District Court of Appeals and the Missouri Supreme Court. He contributes his time on a pro bono basis to several local organizations seeking to make a positive difference in the greater Ozarks area.
Fisher is married to his wife Heather and they have two sons: Owen.19, a prelaw major attending Elon University in North Carolina, and George, 16, a sophomore at West Plains High School.
Erik Montgomery is a native of Willow Springs, where he is a business leader with a history of service to the local community. He attended Missouri State University in West Plains and then Springfield, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship in 2000.
Montgomery is president of Fuel Marketing Corporation and vice president of Coastal Energy and FMC Transport. As part of the family business, Montgomery recently launched commercial developments including Bear Crossing Shopping Center and Bear Crossing Truck Wash & Tire Center.
He is a former member of the Missouri State University-West Plains Development Board, along with Willow Springs Rotary Club. He is a past board member and current member of the Willow Springs Chamber of Commerce; he is vice chair for the city of Willow Springs Tax Increment Finance Commission.
Current service efforts also include service on the State of Missouri’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Advisory Committee, along with the CTE Oversight Committee in Willow Springs. This local committee is a partnership between the Willow Springs Community Foundation, the Willow Springs R-4 School District and the city of Willow Springs, designed to bring vocational opportunities to the community.
Montgomery, his wife and their two daughters make their home on the family farm outside Willow Springs. When he isn't at work, he enjoys spending time outside working around the house and farm. He also collects classic cars and baseball memorabilia. He attends Pomona Christian Church with his family, and works consistently with many local charities in the area.
