Meet the SEED Speakers – Planters Bank

For those interested in starting or expanding

their business.

Get to Know the Speakers

Talia Bateman

As a professional Sales and Leadership Coach for Southwestern Consulting, Talia has a passion for developing sales professionals and leaders to their full potential. She believes that coaching can foster the personal and professional growth we need to reach our goals and build a life we love. With her people-first approach to business, Talia believes personal connections are essential for creating opportunities and growth.

Talia has a background in direct selling and has consistently ranked in the Top 1% of her company for the last nine years. She has recruited and led over 9,000 people to succeed effectively and ethically in a direct sales environment.

Talia has received numerous awards over the years that include but are not limited to:
• Grew an organization’s retail sales from $0-$40 million.
• Millionaire Award Recipient.
• Featured in “THRIVIN” magazine.

Prior to this experience, she taught music at various levels for schools in the United States and English to students in South Korea. She is well traveled, well versed and always looking to help those around her.

Talia is also a certified Health and Life Coach and enjoys serving as City Ambassador for a local and high-energy networking organization for professionals. She brings a multi-dimensional approach that couples business coaching with health and life best practices to create the ideal balance.

Sarah Whitaker

Sarah Whitaker is the owner of Williams Advertising, a full-service marketing agency that also specializes in creating branded merchandise, promotional products and apparel.

Sarah and her team help small businesses and organizations grow by creating and implementing marketing strategies that align with business goals. The Branded division of Williams Advertising designs and produces branded merchandise for businesses nationwide.

In addition to leading Williams Advertising, Sarah is currently the Chair of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Small Business Policy Council. Sarah's previous volunteer roles include serving as President of the Pennyroyal Arts Council, Founding Chair of Hopkinsville Young Professionals Engage, President of Junior Auxiliary of Hopkinsville, and as a board member for the Hopkinsville Convention & Visitors Bureau. In 2019, Sarah was named a top promotional products professional under 40 by Print + Promo Magazine.

Sarah is a Murray State Racer, earning an undergraduate degree in marketing and a master’s in business administration from Murray State University. Sarah’s favorite titles include mom to daughter Ellery and wife to husband Phillip.

Chris Wooldridge

Chris serves as an instructor in the Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business in the areas of finance, banking and economic development. He also serves as the director of the Center for Economic and Entrepreneurial Development in a regional outreach capacity connecting community and campus seeking to develop student academic learning opportunities, as well as create jobs and wealth to improve the economic conditions in the region.

He managed regional outreachas well as the operations and staff of the two main regional centers to ensure delivery of business consulting services throughout 24 counties of western Kentucky.

Mr. Wooldridge is a former entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in the banking & financial services community as well as over 16 years in business and industry consulting and university outreach.

Eric D. Coleman

Eric D. Coleman is a retired business executive with over 25 years of corporate experience in engineering, sales, marketing, business development and general management. He has over 25 years of experience as an entrepreneur.

He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering from the University of Kentucky and the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a Master of Business Administration degree from Northwood University. He also has an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from West Virginia State University. Eric and EDC Financial have been in partnership with Planters Bank for its a Wealth Builder program since April 2021.

Eric has been married to his wife and business partner, Joan W. Coleman, for 26 years. They have two adult sons – Johnnie and Eric Christopher.

Planters Bank Experts

Schedule a 1:1 Finance Session - Details in Registration

Ryan Batson: VP Commercial Banking

Wes Sumner: SVP Commercial Banking

Landan Stallons: VP Commercial Banking

Katey Barnett: AVP Commercial Banking

Patrick Wilkinson: VP Commercial Banking