Adrienne White Carden brings a rare blend of corporate acumen, nonprofit insight and community commitment to her work at SouthState Bank. As Senior Vice President and Not-for-Profit Relationship Manager in Atlanta, Carden partners with local nonprofit leaders to implement the financial solutions and banking tools that best fit their needs.
“My focus is to make nonprofits’ financial lives easier so they can achieve their goals in the community,” Carden says. Her work spans everything from structuring bank accounts to identifying lending solutions and protecting against fraud, yet at the heart of every client relationship is a personal connection. Carden notes, “Our clients benefit from working with local bankers who have the power to make decisions rather than being transferred to someone who doesn’t understand the local environment. I’m fortunate to work at a relationship-driven bank where we have a local focus backed by the technology and resources of a regional bank.”
Community Leadership and Impact
A former CPA, Carden previously worked at Ernst & Young, The Coca-Cola Company, The Center for Civil and Human Rights and another bank. In her current role, Carden works with a wide range of nonprofits, including Agape Community Center, KIPP Charter Schools, Park Pride and the Meliora School. “I enjoy being a thought partner for existing and potential clients and connecting them with resources within our bank and beyond,” she says. For example, she recently teamed up with a Georgia state senator to host a workshop for more than 100 nonprofit leaders, teaching them how to navigate the congressional district spending process. “I wanted them to understand how to submit effective applications for appropriations and to have an opportunity to connect with the senator’s staff,” she explains.
She views her current position as the culmination of all her experiences. “In corporate settings, I was focused on optimizing performance. In my nonprofit roles, I delivered on mission work with constrained resources,” she notes. “Now at SouthState Bank, I have the opportunity to support mission-driven organizations while also having the resources to bring information and programs forward to help nonprofits succeed.”
Carden is also an avid volunteer and community advocate, serving in leadership roles with organizations such as Hands On Atlanta, Grove Park Foundation, and the Atlanta Track Club. She’s especially proud of her role as board treasurer at Grove Park Foundation, where she helped oversee finances for a $53 million project to build a new public school, complete with an early learning center and public health clinic.
Community involvement is a way of life for Carden. Earlier in her career, her impact caught the eye of leaders in Atlanta, earning her a spot on the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s coveted 40 Under 40 list.
Deepening Connections in Gwinnett
While Carden’s offices are in Atlanta, she has lived in Gwinnett for more than 20 years and is intentional about building professional ties closer to home. “Relationships are the foundation for everything,” Carden says. “The Gwinnett Chamber is the nexus of business activity in the county and provides excellent opportunities for deeper connections, especially in the Chairman’s Club.”
Her advice to fellow members is simple: “Show up and follow up. Networking isn’t just about attending events,” she notes. “It’s important to be present, engage with others and then follow up with new connections to cultivate the relationship and see how you can help each other.”
She also challenges business leaders to extend their impact by volunteering with nonprofits. “Serve on nonprofit boards, share your expertise, help connect nonprofits with people in your network,” she encourages. “When we share our abilities and resources, the impact we have goes far beyond a single moment in time.”
