Meet the Team

As a Founding Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Lawrence M. Heard brings over 35 years of community banking and business experience to Alliance Standard Trust Bank. He also serves as Chairman of the Executive Loan Committee, Chairman of the Asset Resolution Committee, and as a member of both the Audit and Funds Management Committees.

Heard has been an active member of the Tampa Bay area community, supporting the work of the Outback Foundation, the Brandon Foundation, the National Association of Industrial and Office Parks, the Homebuilders Association of Tampa, and the Pinellas County Builders Council.

Heard received a B.S.B.A. in Management from the University of Florida and is a graduate of the Louisiana State University School of Banking, Leadership Tampa, and the Robert Morris School of Loan Management. He lives in Valrico with his wife and enjoys fishing during his time off.

Jerry M. Kyle is President and CEO of Alliance Standard Trust Bank and is also a founding member of the Bank’s Board of Directors. Kyle brings over 40 years of community banking experience to his leadership role.

In addition to his roles at the Bank, Kyle is a member of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce, the Real Estate Investment Council, the Tampa Chamber of Commerce, the Florida Bankers Association, the Independent Community Bankers of America, and the Tampa Bay Builders Association.

Kyle was previously involved with Leadership Brandon, Leadership Tampa, and the University of South Florida College of Business Executive Council. He also served as Chairman of the Military Affairs Committee of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce.

Kyle received a B.A. in business management and a B.S. in finance at the University of South Florida. He is married with two children and enjoys boating and traveling.

Philip R. Carroll is a Director of Alliance Standard Trust Bank and serves on the Funds Management Committee. He is also the President of Carroll Air Systems, Inc., and Vice President of Processed Compressors, Inc.

Carroll is a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers and Westshore Alliance. He is also a member and has served as President at several clubs, including the Tampa Auburn Club, the Merrymakers Club of Tampa, the Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club, and Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla.

Carroll received a B.S. from Auburn University. He is married with two children and enjoys golfing, fishing, hunting, and boating.

Ross S. Elsberry is the Founding Director of Alliance Standard Trust Bank and a current member of the Board of Directors, the Audit Committee, the Funds Management Committee, and the Executive Loan Committee.

Elsberry is a member of the YMCA Community Advisory Big Bend. He has also been involved with the Hillsborough County Community College Foundation Board and is a former member of the Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla.

Elsberry lives in Ruskin and has strong ties to the agricultural community. He is a former member of both the Hillsborough County Farm Bureau Board and the Florida Nursery Growers Association.

He enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren.

Bringing over 39 years of experience as a community banker, Ken D. Ely serves as the President of the Polk County Region and has been on the Board of Alliance Standard Trust Bank since 1998 when he helped to start Alliance Standard Trust Bank in the Lakeland market.

Outside of the bank, Ely currently serves on the Leadership Lakeland Alumni Board, the Lakeland Economic Development Board, and the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Circle, supporting the work these valuable institutions provide to our community. He has also delivered professional expertise to other important nonprofits, including Goodwill Industries, Lakeland Sister Cities, and the Kiwanis Club of Lakeland.

Ely is a graduate of Polk Community College and the Florida School of Banking, and the Bank Administration Institute. He currently lives in Lakeland with his wife and has two grown sons and one grandson.

Dr. W. Edward Gonzalez, Jr., is a founding member of Alliance Standard Trust Bank and current member of the Board. He serves as the Chair of the Funds Management Committee and is a member of the Executive Loan Committee.

Dr. Gonzalez has served as President of the Brandon Chamber of Commerce and on the Board of Trustees at Hillsborough Community College. He is also a member of the Hillsborough County Dental Society.

He established the Pediatric Dental Center in 1975 and is currently a medical and surgical staff member at Brandon Regional Hospital.

Dr. Gonzalez received a B.S. from St. Leo University, his D.M.D. from the University of Louisville, and Board Certification in Pediatric Dentistry from The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He and his wife live in Valrico, where they enjoy visits with their children and grandchildren. He also appreciates time spent outdoors flying, boating, hunting, and fishing.

Robert F. Harper IV has served as a Director on the Board of Alliance Standard Trust Bank since 2010. He is a member of the Audit Committee and the Executive Loan Committee.

Harper has a background in real estate and development, and is affiliated with Land South Group, Bankers South High Yield Fund, and Tall Tower Capital. He is also a member of the Florida Cattlemen’s Association and the National Association of Broadcasters.

He is actively involved in the community, working with Lakeland Christian School, First Baptist Church at the Mall, The First Tee Lakeland, Peace River Center, Lighthouse Ministries, Florida Baptist Children’s Homes, and the Lakeland Economic Development Council.

Harper received his B.A. in business administration from Middle Tennessee State University. In addition to appreciating time spent with his wife and three children, he enjoys hunting, fishing, diving, and traveling.

Amy Carey Lee is a Founding Director of Alliance Standard Trust Bank. She also serves as Chair of the Audit Committee and as a member of the Executive Loan Committee. Her strong banking background and community involvement are invaluable in her service to the Bank.

In addition to many committee roles, Lee serves as Treasurer of the Booster Club Board at Nativity Catholic School and on the Board of Bloomingdale Senior High School, where she is also actively involved with the PTSA. She is also currently involved with the Brandon Junior Woman’s Club and the Bill Carey Brandon Boys & Girls Club.

Past affiliations include leadership roles with the American Cancer Society, the Center Place Fine Arts and Civic Association, the American Heart Association, and the Brandon Chamber of Commerce.

Lee received an MBA from the University of South Florida and a B.S.B.A. from the University of Florida. She is a native of Brandon and enjoys spending time with her children, traveling, and doing volunteer work.

Richard E. Straughn proudly began serving as Director of Alliance Standard Trust Bank in 2010. As the President of the law firm Straughn & Turner, P.A., he brings his expertise in business law, real estate, and commercial litigation to the Bank.

He serves as a member of the Board of Directors, member of the Audit Committee, and as a guiding member of the Executive Loan Committee.

Straughn’s strong commitment to community has positioned him to serve in leadership roles for various local businesses and nonprofits. He currently serves as a Board member at Winter Haven Hospital, as General Counselor, Secretary and an Advisory Board member of Comcar Industries, Inc., and as a member of the Judicial Nominating Commission for the Tenth Circuit. Straughn also serves as Vice Chairman of Winter Haven Hospital and President of Grace Lutheran Church.

In recognition of his service to the community, Straughn is an honored recipient of the Winter Haven Banker’s Cup “Man of the Year” award.

Straughn is a member of the Florida Bar, the American Bar Association, and the U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida. He received a Juris Doctor from the University of Florida and currently resides in Winter Haven with his wife.

Joseph M. Williams brings over 30 years of experience in construction, recycling, real estate, technology, banking, and insurance to his role as Director of Alliance Standard Trust Bank. In addition to serving on the Board, he is also a member of the Audit Committee, the Funds Management Committee, and the Executive Loan Committee.

He also serves on the Board of the Kimmins Terrier Foundation and has been involved with the YMCA, the Boys & Girls Club, and the Hillsborough Education Foundation. He is a member of FICPA and AICPA.

Williams enjoys hunting, fishing, skiing, scuba diving, and missions work. He also values family time with his wife, children, and grandchildren.