SouthState Onboards Middle Market Regional Director
8/13/2026 - By Rachel Ham - Stories and Insights
DALLAS – August 13, 2026 – SouthState (NYSE: SSB) announces the hiring of several veteran producers, including a new leader to support middle market banking in the Dallas-Fort Worth market.
“The bankers’ collective expertise will significantly enhance SouthState's position in high-growth markets. By tapping into their deep understanding of these areas, we aim to expand our reach and better serve our North Texas clients, ensuring that customer needs are met with innovative solutions and exceptional service,” said Wes Guinn, SouthState’s North Texas division president.
Andrew Widmer has been tapped to lead SouthState’s North Texas region for middle market banking. He recently served as the senior managing director of middle market banking for a regional bank in Dallas. He’s served clients across the North Texas business community through middle market and corporate banking groups for more than 23 years, always with an intense focus on building lasting and trusting relationships. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University.
“The bankers’ collective expertise will significantly enhance SouthState's position in high-growth markets. By tapping into their deep understanding of these areas, we aim to expand our reach and better serve our North Texas clients, ensuring that customer needs are met with innovative solutions and exceptional service,” said Wes Guinn, SouthState’s North Texas division president.
Andrew Widmer has been tapped to lead SouthState’s North Texas region for middle market banking. He recently served as the senior managing director of middle market banking for a regional bank in Dallas. He’s served clients across the North Texas business community through middle market and corporate banking groups for more than 23 years, always with an intense focus on building lasting and trusting relationships. He is a graduate of Texas A&M University.
Additional producers joining SouthState’s Dallas/Fort Worth banking team include:
Tristan French – regional director of equipment finance, McKinney – is a veteran relationship banker with 15-plus years’ experience in commercial banking & equipment finance. Before joining SouthState, he spent 9 years at Comerica Bank.
Ariel Marin – wealth advisor, Dallas – has a wide-ranging, 17-year career in finance, tax and law. He most recently worked as a family enterprise advisor at Cadence Bank working specifically with business-owning families.
Jeremy Mitro – commercial relationship manager, McKinney – has 25-plus years’ experience in builder finance, primarily supporting client coverage, but also in underwriting and portfolio management roles. He comes to SouthState after 12 years at Regions Bank.
Jennifer Smedsrud – senior treasury management sales officer, McKinney, Texas – is a veteran sales officer with over 20 years in the banking industry. She joins SouthState from Wells Fargo.
Tristan French – regional director of equipment finance, McKinney – is a veteran relationship banker with 15-plus years’ experience in commercial banking & equipment finance. Before joining SouthState, he spent 9 years at Comerica Bank.
Ariel Marin – wealth advisor, Dallas – has a wide-ranging, 17-year career in finance, tax and law. He most recently worked as a family enterprise advisor at Cadence Bank working specifically with business-owning families.
Jeremy Mitro – commercial relationship manager, McKinney – has 25-plus years’ experience in builder finance, primarily supporting client coverage, but also in underwriting and portfolio management roles. He comes to SouthState after 12 years at Regions Bank.
Jennifer Smedsrud – senior treasury management sales officer, McKinney, Texas – is a veteran sales officer with over 20 years in the banking industry. She joins SouthState from Wells Fargo.
SouthState Corporation (NYSE: SSB) is a financial services company headquartered in Winter Haven, Florida. SouthState Bank, N.A., the company’s nationally chartered bank subsidiary, provides consumer, commercial, mortgage and wealth management solutions to more than 1.5 million customers throughout Florida, Texas, the Carolinas, Georgia, Colorado, Alabama, Virginia and Tennessee. The bank also serves clients nationwide through its correspondent banking division. Additional information is available at SouthStateBank.com.
