Employee Spotlight – Elise Giles

Elise Giles, Senior Vice President & Specialty CRE Director| SouthStar Bank Steiner Ranch

Elise Giles is a Senior Vice President and the Managing Director for Specialty CRE, which stands for Commercial Real Estate. She has been with SouthStar Bank for over four years and is located at the Steiner Ranch Branch. One of Elise’s biggest accomplishments in her 34-year career is obtaining her CCIM Designation which she received in October 2019. The Southwest Texas alum earned the designation, which is like a CPA designation for commercial real estate. Elise’s natural connecting and problem-solving skills have allowed her success in the industry. She loves using her skills to create deals and make long lasting relationships with clients, builders, developers, and bankers. One of her favorite things now is sharing her knowledge with the next generation of professionals working their way up the ranks.

Outside of work, Elise is involved in multiple organizations in her community. She currently serves as the Treasurer for the Board of Commercial Real Estate Women and Designation Promotion Chair for CCIM Central Texas. Outside of her professional organizations, Elise is a member of Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church and their Chancel Choir. Elise volunteers with her church’s Flower Ministry where they create individual arrangements to give to those in hospitals, retirement homes, and that are home ill. She also supports Dress for Success which supports under privileged women in the Austin area with interview skills, resume writing, and business attire.

Elise is enjoys spending time with her husband and her three grown children. Elise has many hobbies including gardening, hiking, traveling, and power boating around Lake Travis. Over the next year, Elise will be helping her son and future daughter in law plan their wedding to be held in Austin in 2021! Her dream vacation would be to visit Australia and New Zealand. A secret talent of Elise’s is her singing ability. She was a voice performance major on scholarship in college and has performed as a soloist in many choirs including the Houston Symphony Chorus.

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