Cook to Lead Church and Non-Profit Division at Reliance Trust

Cook will be responsible for the direction and the strategic development of that division’s activities for Reliance Trust. He will also work with Reliance Financial Corporation’s senior leadership to advance several of the company’s long-term initiatives and programs, according to the firm.

The Church and Non-Profit division of Reliance Trust has served the industry since 1975, offering financial services to churches and bondholders and providing trustee, paying agent, registrar/transfer agent, escrow agent and loan fund administration services for non-profit organizations.

Cook had previously served on the Board of Directors of Reliance Trust Company for 30 years. He has been involved in representing Reliance Trust as legal counsel since its formation in 1975. Throughout his career he worked to help create denominational loan funds, real estate investment trusts and other lending entities to provide financing for church and non-profit entities.

“We are excited to have such an accomplished professional join our executive team,” said Jim Maxwell, Chairman and CEO of Reliance Financial Corporation, parent company of Reliance Trust. “Cook brings more than 40 years of experience to the Company in the areas of non-profit finance, commercial real estate development and finance and has represented banks, mortgage companies, REITs and securities firms. He will be a valuable resource to Reliance Trust and our clients.” 

Prior to joining Reliance Trust, Cook was one of the founding partners of Parker, Johnson, Cook & Dunlevie, in Atlanta, Georgia, which merged with Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC in June, 1996.  According to the announcement, he has extensive experience in real estate acquisitions and development, construction contracting, project finance, leasing, joint ventures, workouts (including bankruptcies), entity formations, securities transactions (including securitization of debt obligations), regulatory enforcement actions and regulatory compliance. He has been heavily involved with the development of privatized student housing projects financed through the issuance of tax-exempt bonds.

Cook received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University and his Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt University School of Law. He is a member of the Atlanta Bar Association, the State Bar of Georgia, the American Bar Association and the Bank Counsel Section of the Georgia Bankers Association.