Officers and Staff

Executive Officers

Jim Engel, President & CEO - Jim is an Attorney and former partner with the public accounting firm KPMG with more than 21 years experience working with financial institutions. Jim also serves on the Board of Directors for The Peninsula Club and is a member of the Knights of Columbus, St. Mark Parish.

Jim serves on both the Executive Committee and the Asset Liability/Investment Committee.

Buddy Caldwell, Chief Credit Officer - Buddy has been involved in the banking industry for more than 30 years. For the past 19 years, he served as senior lender with First Charter Bank in Cornelius. There he established an enviable record of providing superior customer service, originating and servicing a very significant portfolio of commercial loans, and supervising junior lenders in expanding business in the Lake Norman Community. At Aquesta, Buddy is responsible for hiring and appointing lenders, supervise credit review processes, and share responsibility for the performance of the bank.

Paul Dougovito, Chief Investment Officer - Paul serves as Chief Investment Officer of Aquesta, bringing more than 35 years of experience with him including positions as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Executive Officer.

Paul serves on the Asset Liability/Investment Committee.

Cathy O'Nan, SVP Director of Retail Banking - Cathy brings 20 years of lending experience to Aquesta's family of banking professionals. Cathy was the leader of the dealer finance program and VP/Consumer Financial Services Manager for Bank South/Citizens & Peoples National Bank in Pensacola, Florida, and later became Branch Manager for Arcadia Financial in Atlanta. Cathy is also a CFP(R) certificant.

Cathy is involved in several community activities such as credit counseling for Habitat for Humanity and the School Leadership Committee for Davidson IB Middle School.

Kristin Parsons, Chief Financial Officer - Prior to working with Aquesta, Kristin spent nine years as controller with a $600 million community bank. Her responsibilities included management of accounting, preparing and reviewing reports for the Board and Audit Committee, regulatory agencies, proxy statements, and the SEC. Kristin served as Chairperson of the Disclosure and Budget Committees, and is a member of the Asset Liability, and the Strategic Planning Committees.