Retta Gardner has been recognized as one of the leading women in the US mortgage industry by being listed in the 2018 edition of Mortgage Professional America's Elite Women
President and CEO
Guaranty Trust Company
Retta Gardner is only the second CEO in the history of Guaranty Trust Company, which assists more than 5,000 borrowers each year, closing in excess of $1 billion in annual volume. Gardner joined the Tennessee-based company in 1996, and through the years, she has held a variety of positions that have allowed her to build skills in management, marketing, sales, IT and human resources. Before being named CEO in August 2013, she served as executive vice president at Guaranty.
In 2005, Gardner became a member of the adjunct faculty at Middle Tennessee State University [MTSU], where she taught courses in the management and marketing department for five years. Later this year, she will begin teaching mortgage banking classes for the MBA program.
Gardner is the recipient of the Jennings A. Jones College of Business Exemplar Award, which honors her personal commitment to community service and her dedication to promoting a culture of social responsibility in the workplace. She also currently serves as the president for the Tennessee Mortgage Bankers Association and chair for the community impact committee for the United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties, sits on the Rutherford County Read to Succeed board, and is a member of the MTSU Business College advisory board.
