Debbie Crowder, President and CEO SunTrust Bank’s East Tennessee region recently announced the appointment of Kathy D. Smith to the SunTrust Bank East Tennessee Knoxville Advisory Board of Directors.

Kathy D. Smith, owner and President/CEO of NetGain Corporation, has more than 30 years of experience in the security industry within both the government and private sectors. Her areas of expertise include physical and personnel security, information management, labor relations, construction management, and substance abuse prevention programs. Since 1999, Ms. Smith has been responsible for the overall management and operation of NetGain, a multi-million dollar security services company headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. NetGain received the 2007 Pinnacle Award for Minority Business Excellence from the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce and was recently listed as #231 on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Hot 500 List of Fastest Growing Businesses. Ms. Smith was the recipient of the 2007 U.S. Small Business Administration’s Regional Minority Small Business Person of the Year Award for Region IV. She serves on the Oak Ridge Chamber Board of Directors and chaired their 2007 Political Action Committee.

In addition to Ms. Smith’s success in the business world, she is making a large impact on the local community. She is a passionate supporter of the East Tennessee branch of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, where she serves on the Board of Directors. NetGain provides a variety of support to other local charities including Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and Habitat for Humanity through corporate sponsorship, monetary donations, and volunteer work.