Mr. Miller brings over 25 years of commercial banking, retail banking, operations, and sales and marketing experience to the board. He graduated from Columbia University and began his career with MBNA America in their management development program, where he held a variety of roles during his 12-year tenure. 

Mr. Miller then moved overseas to Taiwan and worked with GE Money in a joint venture. He spent several years with HSBC Indonesia running their small business segment and was later recruited to join Alliance Financial Group in Malaysia, a local community bank focused on the small business segment. He spent six years in Malaysia overseeing Group Business Banking, which included corporate, commercial, small business, and micro-financing. The bank was rated as the best small business in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East for two years during his tenure. 

After returning to the United States in the summer of 2015, Mr. Miller was recruited to join FFB Bank as the President and CEO, where he has been since October 2015. During his tenure, the bank has been consistently ranked as one of the top-performing community banks in the country. 

Mr. Miller is married with four children. He is active in the community and serves on the boards of the Fresno Mission and the Fresno County Boys and Girls Club.

Mr. Plourd was appointed as a director of the Company and the Bank on April 1, 2024, following the completion of the Company’s acquisition of CWBC and CWB, where he had previously served as a director since 2011. He also served as President of the Company from April 1, 2024, through March 31, 2026. Mr. Plourd has more than 44 years of experience in the banking industry. From 2009 to 2011, he worked as a consultant on engagements involving bank strategic planning, acquisitions, and regulatory compliance. From July 2005 to July 2009, he served first as Chief Operating Officer and then as President and a director of Temecula Valley Bank in Temecula, California. Prior to that, Mr. Plourd spent 18 years with Rabobank/Valley Independent Bank in El Centro, California. Mr. Plourd is a graduate of the Stonier Graduate School of Banking and California State Polytechnic University. He is active in community and professional organizations, currently serving as a Trustee for the Foundation for Cottage Rehabilitation & Goleta Valley Cottage Hospitals, where he serves on the Finance, Audit, and Investment Committees. He is also a board member of the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara and a member of the Rotary Club of Goleta. In addition, he serves as Immediate Past Chair of the California Bankers Association and as an advisory board member for the College of Agriculture at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona). Mr. Plourd’s extensive banking leadership and industry involvement provide the Board with valuable insight into bank operations, lending practices, and strategic planning.

Kevin McPhaill was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Bank of the Sierra on April 1, 2015.

Mr. McPhaill’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree from Fresno Pacific University, a master’s degree in business administration from California State University, Fresno, and the successful completion of post-graduate training at the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University. 

He has over 30 years in the banking industry. He has been employed by Bank of the Sierra since June 2001, starting as the regional manager of the Hanford area, and eventually progressing to his current role as the bank’s President and CEO.

Todd Lewis joined Column N.A. DBA Northern California National Bank and served as the executive vice president and CFO from 2007 to 2015, before being named the bank’s president and CFO. From 2005 to 2007, he served as vice president and controller of Community Business Bank in West Sacramento, California. Earlier in his career, Lewis served as the Controller of School Innovations and Advocacy in Rancho Cordova, California from 2002 to 2005.

Lewis earned a B.S. in Accounting and Information Systems from Brigham Young University and earned a Certified Public Accountant designation while employed with Arthur Andersen in Sacramento, California.

Mike Kimball serves as Executive Director of State and Local Government Relations for JPMorgan Chase & Co. for the Central and Western regions of the United States. Mr. Kimball has worked in public policy and government relations for more than 20 years, with over 15 years of experience in financial services.

Mr. Kimball previously represented non-profit community clinics for a California trade association, working on legislation and regulatory issues impacting clinics and their patients. Mike also worked as a senior consultant in the California Legislature, focusing on issues relating to economic development and health care.

Mr. Kimball graduated from New York University and the University of California at Davis School of Law.

Mr. Lasher attended the University of California Riverside and started his career in banking as a teller at Wells Fargo Bank. He joined Community Commerce Bank in 2017 as Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer and assumed the role of President and CEO in January of 2021.

He founded Titanium Investment Group developing key areas in events, marketing, sales, and manufacturing within the automotive world.

He is also the founder of the UTV Racing Association & International Side by Side Association working to create a unified set of classes and rules for a developing class of off-road racing.

Mike was a key player in the Save the Hammers organization that worked to save a large area of land known as the Hammers in Johnson Valley, California from being acquired by the 29 Palms Marine base.  Through this process they were also successful in having the Hammers recognized as a Congressionally designated OHV area.  

He is currently completing his third year at PCBS.  In 2018, Mike was recognized by BAI as an emerging leader in banking.

Mike is happily married to a fellow banker and proud father of three. They enjoy spending their free time in the summers on the lake in Lake Havasu City, AZ, and exploring the outdoors in the southwest.

Megan Schoettmer, a recognized leader in the financial services industry, is known for her dynamic expertise and unwavering dedication to women’s financial empowerment. With an impressive leadership career spanning two decades, Megan leverages her experience and network to drive positive change and create opportunities that support women’s financial independence.

As Regional President for PNC Bank in Northern California, Megan plays a pivotal role in business development initiatives, partnerships, fostering strong client relationships across Northern California’s fast-paced industries including technology, healthcare, real estate, non-profit, small business, and more. She also spearheads impactful philanthropic initiatives across Northern California communities.

Megan has a proven track record of building strong, positive work cultures with high-performing collaborative teams that consistently exceed expectations. Her deep understanding of Corporate Banking and a drive to challenge the status quo, continues to redefine the way Megan approaches her work.

Megan takes an active role in the community and serves on the boards of the Bay Area Host Committee Advisory Board, How Women Lead Silicon Valley Executive Board, Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, California Bankers Association, and the Bay Area Council. Through these organizations Megan is helping to shape and provide resources for the educational foundation of Northern California’s youth and their families, the economic landscape of the region, entrepreneurs, and women leaders looking to advocate for each other and take the next step in their career journey. For all her professional and community efforts, Megan has been recognized as Silicon Valley Business Journal’s 40 under 40, a Silicon Valley Business Journal Women of Influence, one of San Francisco Business Times Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business and a 2025 Newsmaker 100.  

Megan holds a B.S. in Business Administration from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and an MBA from Santa Clara University.

Jeremiah Z. Smith was named President & Chief Executive Officer of First Northern Community Bancorp and its subsidiary, First Northern Bank, effective January 1, 2023. He served as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of First Northern from 2014 to 2022 and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 2010 to 2014. Jeremiah joined the Bank in 2003, was named Assistant Controller in 2005 and was promoted to Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller soon after.

Jeremiah is also a member of both the Bancorp and Bank’s Board of Directors. He serves on the following Board committees: Asset Liability, Asset Quality, Directors Loan, Information Services Steering, Profit Sharing, and is a voting member of the Management Loan Committee.

Jeremiah is a member of the American Bankers Association (ABA) Bank Pac and Payment Systems Administrative Committees, a member of the California Bankers Association (CBA) Board, member and past chairman of CBA’s State Government Relations Committee and a member of CBA’s Agricultural, Membership, and Federal Government Relations Committees. Jeremiah is a board member for the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, Solano Economic Development Corporation, and the West Sacramento Chamber of Commerce. Jeremiah serves as chairman of the Community Reinvestment Coalition. He is also a member of the Rotary Club of West Sacramento. He served as Honorary Commander of Travis Air Force Base from 2014 to 2016.

Jeremiah received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from California State University, Sacramento. In 2008, Jeremiah graduated from the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Kevin Gould is president and CEO of the California Bankers Association (CBA). In his role, he is responsible for executing the association’s mission and vision. Kevin works closely with CBA’s executive committee and board of directors to develop and implement strategic plans to serve our members and the banking industry.

He joined CBA in 2004 and is involved in all aspects of the association’s operations. Before being named president and CEO, Kevin led the association’s state and federal government relations department. He continues to serve as one of CBA’s registered lobbyists.

Kevin is a Pacific Coast Banking School graduate and the 2016 recipient of the Almon McCallum Award for distinguished and meritorious service to the California banking industry.
 

As CBA’s senior vice president, chief operating officer, and corporate secretary, Yvette Ernst orchestrates the executive office's operations and nurtures pivotal relationships with CBA's members, partners, and service providers. In her role, she spearheads the planning and execution of board meetings while fulfilling the responsibilities of corporate secretary.

As an integral part of CBA's senior management, Yvette additionally facilitates the association's strategic planning process, aligning objectives with the CEO's vision and ensuring cohesive implementation of strategic initiatives. Prior to her current role, she excelled as the assistant vice president of state government relations, showcasing her commitment to advancing CBA's advocacy efforts.

Tina Cota is a seasoned finance executive with over 30 years of experience in nonprofits and business financial management. She is a CPA and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). Tina has held various leadership roles, including CFO and VP positions, where she effectively managed finances for organizations with diverse revenue streams and local and national footprints. Tina’s background includes experience at a Big 4 accounting firm where she audited financial institutions and developed a strong foundation in financial systems, workflows, compliance, and controls.

Tina graduated from Stanislaus State University with honors. She earned a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting. She is a member of the Sacramento Financial Executives International.

Jason Lane is senior vice president, director of government relations for the California Bankers Association and leads the advocacy efforts for CBA, which involves analyzing legislation and regulatory activity, and the development of policy positions. Lane is one of four lobbyists at CBA, and he also lobbies on behalf of the association on issues related to the state budget, privacy, bank operations and consumer lending legislation.

Before joining CBA in May 2006, Jason Lane served as director of government affairs for Providian Financial and managed the bank’s financial privacy compliance program, as well as tracked and analyzed the impact of federal legislation and rulemaking for the company.

Elizabeth Clayberger joined the California Bankers Association (CBA) in 2022 and serves as the senior legislative assistant. She oversees CBA’s State and Federal PACs, including managing fundraising requests, building relationships with campaign staff and fundraisers, and PAC donor management and engagement. She also provides direct administrative support to the CBA government relations team.

Elizabeth has always been passionate about the legislative process and non-profit work. She graduated from UC Davis in 2022 with a B.A. in Political Science Public Service. This passion is reflected not only through her position at CBA but also through more than five years of experience in management and executive-level support.

Samantha DeMelo joined the California Bankers Association (CBA) in 2026 and serves as the communications, marketing, and media relations manager. She oversees CBA's communication efforts, leading the association's communications strategy, media relations coordination, digital and social communications, member and internal communications, and marketing initiatives.

Samantha joins CBA with nearly 20 years of experience leading communications, marketing, and public affairs across some of California's most prominent organizations. She graduated from CSU Sacramento with a degree in Government-Journalism.

Jane Faull joined the California Bankers Association (CBA) in 2026 and serves as the PAC administrator and government relations assistant. She oversees CBA’s State and Federal PACs, including managing fundraising requests, building relationships with campaign staff and fundraisers, and PAC donor management and engagement. She also provides direct administrative support to the CBA government relations team.

Jane has extensive experience with grassroots outreach, political organizing, and fundraising. With over a decade in both service-oriented and campaign roles, Jane brings an ever-growing passion for public service and civic engagement.

Janae Kimpel joined the California Bankers Association in 2023 and serves as Events Coordinator and Database Specialist. In this role, she supports the professional development team by managing event registrations, and member communications, while ensuring smooth operations for conferences and on-site events. Janae also oversees the association’s CRM database, maintaining data integrity, optimizing processes, and organizing information for efficient access and analysis.

Vanessa Lugo serves as senior legislative advocate for the California Bankers Association (CBA). Her advocacy portfolio includes housing, economic development, labor and employment, trust and estate, public contracts, and corporate governance.

Before joining CBA, Vanessa worked for the California State Legislature, representing the most competitive district in the state and the Majority Leader of the California State Assembly. During her tenure in the legislature, her portfolio included agriculture, government and organization, banking and finance, economic development, insurance, and other issues.

Most recently she spent 12 years in government relations, working for Check Into Cash and Equifax. Vanessa graduated from CSU Sacramento with a degree in English and a minor in Political Science.

Nikki Patel joined the California Bankers Association (CBA) in 2017 and serves as the controller. In this role, she oversees the accounting for CBA, Banker Benefits, and the ERISA Trust. Nikki works closely with the CFO, maintaining accounting records, creating financial reports for all entities, and collaborating with other managers during the budgeting season. She leads the team during the audit process and works closely with the auditors. Nikki also processes payroll for CBA.

She has more than 20 years of accounting experience within the non-profit sector. Prior to joining CBA, Nikki served as an accountant at the Crocker Art Museum for 10 years.

Chris Shultz joined the California Bankers Association in December of 2024. As vice president of government relations, he lobbies on a wide range of issues impacting the banking industry.

Chris has expertise in financial regulation, insurance, consumer financial protection law, cannabis regulation, affordable housing, and California’s rulemaking process. Before joining CBA, Chris served as chief deputy director at three state departments, including the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. He also served at California’s housing finance, consumer protection, and insurance departments. Earlier in his career, he was a contract lobbyist in Oregon, advocated for a technology trade association in California, and was a chief of staff and legislative director in the state capitol.

Gina Titus joined the California Bankers Association (CBA) in 2021 as a professional development coordinator and currently serves as assistant vice president of conferences. In her current capacity, Gina works closely with the Professional Development team, contributing her expertise to craft and deliver impactful programs for bank employees, executive officers, and beyond. Her passion lies in creating meaningful experiences that resonate with the diverse needs of the banking community. Before joining CBA, Gina served as a corporate event planner at the Hayes Mansion in San Jose.

Glenn Younger joined the California Bankers Association (CBA) in 2015 and serves as the senior events manager. In his role, he is responsible for overseeing technology for CBA conferences, including virtual programming. In addition, Glenn provides on-site support for the association’s conferences including event planning, and audio-visual coordination.

Glenn holds a BA in Economics with a minor in Managerial Economics from the University of California, Davis. Before joining CBA, Glenn worked as a Senior Associate at State Street Corporation.