Farmers National hires Gulas as COO

staff report

Farmers National Bank has hired a chief operating officer as it looks to grow.

John Gulas, who has 25 years of bank management experience, has been hired by the Canfield-based bank.

Frank Paden, company president and chief executive, said Farmers intends to expand its business in the Mahoning Valley and Gulas will help with some new strategic initiatives. The bank is looking at adding new services and lines of business, Paden said.

Gulas said he thinks Farmers has an opportunity to increase its market share and he thinks the area’s economy is headed for an upturn. He added that Farmers has avoided the negative effects of the mortgage crisis that many banks have experienced.

Gulas was president and chief executive of Sky Trust Co. in Cleveland from 2005 to 2007. He also has held leadership roles at UMB, Wachovia and Dollar Savings Trust, working in Youngstown, Kansas City and Atlanta.

He is a graduate of Austintown Fitch High School and Youngstown State University. He earned a law degree from the University of Toledo.

Farmers has 16 branches in Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties and $825 million in assets.