Front Row (L - R): Paul Patel (past Chairman, deceased December 2022), John Hall (President and CEO), Mike Gilstrap (Vice Chairman),
Ajitkumar (Adam) Patel, a founding organizer of American Pride Bank, has served on the boards of American Pride Bank and its holding company American Bancorp, Inc. since the forming of the bank. He previously served as Vice Chairman and was recently elected as the Chairman on January 18th, 2023.
Mr. Patel has over 42 years of management and development experience in the hospitality industry. He has owned, operated, and been involved in the construction and development of numerous franchise hotels including but not limited to, Best Western Inn & Suites, Comfort Suites, Fairfield Inn & Suites, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Springhill Suites. Mr. Patel’s professional hotel qualifications include Certified Hotel Administrator since 1995. He was a member of the Choice Economy Brands Owner Council and served on the Macon-Bibb County Convention Visitor Bureau. He is currently a Governor for Best Western International and has served on the National Marketing Committee for Best Western. He is also serving his local government by being a Director of the Eisenhower Business Improvement District for Macon, GA. Mr. Patel has played an essential role in the Asian Indian Community in Middle Georgia, as one of the founding members of the Hindu Temple in Macon, GA. Mr. Patel has been part of the middle Georgia community for 32 years and is committed to philanthropy and education for the underserved. Adam Patel has helped build a high school in his parents’ name in his hometown of Sarsav, Gujarat India, and is committed to growth and development of middle Georgia.