MERIDIAN —     Archie R. McDonnell, Jr., president and CEO of Citizens National Bank, has announced several recent promotions at the Bank.

    Shane Callahan has been promoted to the position of Chief Information Officer.

    Callahan began his career with Citizens National in July of 2000 after having held the position of Senior Network Engineer with the Boeing Corporation. He was appointed as manager of the Bank’s Technology Department in 2006 and promoted to Senior Vice President in 2007.

    In his new position as Chief Information Officer, Callahan’s responsibility will expand to include the processes and practices supporting the flow and strategic use of information.  Callahan will also participate in a number of the Bank’s strategic committees, including Pricing, Asset Liability Management, and work closely with the Bank’s Executive Leadership Team, Marketing and Risk Management.

    Originally from Decatur Alabama, Callahan is a Microsoft Certified Engineer, a Certified Novel Administrator and a Cisco Network Administrator. He and his wife, Angel, have three children: Nicola, who is 18; Noah, who is 12; and Emma Grace, who is 6. He and his family are actively involved in Faith Baptist Church and the “LoveNow” organization, which focuses on local mission projects.

    Thomas L. McCracken, J.D., has joined the Wealth Management Division of the Bank as a Trust Administrator. With extensive legal experience to his credit, Thomas owned and operated his own law firm in Dallas, Texas, specializing in the areas of probate, estate planning, and general civil litigation. He also has prior experience with Henry Oddo Austin & Fletcher, P.C. of Dallas, where he specialized in the areas of real estate, transportation, and general civil litigation.

    He has been a member of the State Bar of Texas since 1995, and the Mississippi and Lauderdale County Bar Associations since 2011.

    His education includes a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in August 1992; a Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, in May 1995; a Doctor of Jurisprudence from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, in May 1995; and a Master of Divinity from Texas Christian University in May 2000.

    Lee Meyer, Chief Trust and Investment Officer, said: “Thomas brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our capabilities here at Citizens. He has already proven to be a valuable resource in our retail banking legal accounts processes and excels at working directly with bank clients on a very broad range of financial matters. It is evident he will be a great benefit to our clients working with Relationship Bankers, Personal Bankers and in our Wealth Management areas.”

    McCracken is married to the former Lea Davis, a Meridian native and Associate Minister at First Christian Church. They have one son, Kerby, who is 8; and two daughters - Marcy, who is 6, and Henley, who is 3. In addition to being a member and Sunday School Teacher at First Christian Church, Thomas is a Coach with the Meridian Youth Soccer Organization, and a member of the Poplar Springs Elementary PTA.

    Virgie Palmer has been promoted to the position of Sales and Service Officer. Palmer joined the Bank in February 2003 as an Administrative Assistant, and has served as the Executive Assistant to the President and CEO, and as a Personal Banker. Since February 2008, she has served as manager of the Bank’s Bonita Lakes Banking Centre.

    With 25 years of banking experience to her credit, Palmer will manage the sales and service standards for the Bank’s 27 bank locations.

    Originally from New Albany, Virgie is married to Jimmy Palmer, who is General Manager of Fred’s Stores of Meridian. The couple has lived in Meridian since 1995. They are the proud parents of one son, Justin, and a daughter, Leann. Leann and her husband, Kyle, have a 5-month-old little boy, Myles Allan Naylor.