Meet Our Board

Bios and information on the California Bank of Commerce Board of Directors.

Andrew Armanino, a resident of Danville, California, is a founding member and has been a Director of the Bank since 2013. Mr. Armanino has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Santa Clara University. Mr. Armanino retired as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors with Armanino LLP at the end of 2018. Under his guidance, Armanino LLP grew to the 21st largest CPA and Consulting firm in the United States. Mr. Armanino continues to serve as Chairman of the Board of Moore Stephens North America, a $3 billion accounting network. 

Stephen Cortese, a resident of Lafayette, California, is a founding member and has been a Director of the Bank since 2007 and Chairman of the Board of Directors since 2010. Mr. Cortese has a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance from University of California, Berkeley, as well as a Master’s Degree in Real Estate Appraisal and Investment Analysis from University of Wisconsin, Madison. Mr. Cortese is Managing Partner for Cortese Investment Company, which is involved in the acquisition, development, and management of commercial real estate. 

Kevin Cullen, a resident of Lafayette, California, is a founding member and has been a Director of the Bank since 2007 and serves as the Chairman of the Loan Committee. Mr. Cullen has a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts with an emphasis on English from University of the Pacific. Mr. Cullen is part owner and Chief Financial Officer of Olson & Company Steel, which fabricates architectural metals and structural steel. 

Stephen Dathe, a resident of Orinda, California, is a founding member and has been a Director of the Bank since 2007. Mr. Dathe has a Bachelor of Science in Manufacturing Engineering Technology from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Mr. Dathe is the President of A & B Die Casting Company, and President/CEO and majority owner of Benda Tool and Model Works, Inc. Together, the companies provide die cast aluminum components and assemblies to customers and industries worldwide. 

Rochelle “Roxy” Klein is a founding member, has been a Director of the Bank since 2007 and serves as the Chair of the Asset/Liability Committee (ALCO). Ms. Klein has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Stanford University and a joint Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration from University of California, Los Angeles. After a long career with Goldman Sachs, Ms. Klein retired from finance in order to spend more time with her family and philanthropic causes, including serving on Boards at Stanford University, National Charities League, Guideposts Foundation, and Pacific School of Religion. In addition, she continues to consult and most recently served as an Advisory Director for Ocean Gate Capital Management. 

Julie Levenson, a resident of Woodside, California, began her tenure as a Director of the Bank in 2021. Ms. Levenson graduated with Honors in Philosophy at Dartmouth College and received a JD/MBA from The University of Pennsylvania Law School and The Wharton School of Business. She is a Founding Partner of La Honda Advisors, a Silicon Valley-based boutique advisory firm that provides M&A and capital markets advice to companies in the technology, consumer, and health-tech industries. She previously served as the Head of Private Capital Markets for Cowen & Company, Head of Private Equity Financing at Houlihan Lokey and Head of Private Placements at Merrill Lynch.

Frank Muller, a resident of Woodland, California, began his tenure as a Director of the Bank in 2020. Mr. Muller has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Managerial Economics from U.C. Davis. He is the owner of M Three Ranches, LLC and the Chairman of the Board for Pacific Coast Producers. Mr. Muller previously served on the Board of Directors for the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation and California Custom Foods. He is the previous President of Muller Ranch, LLC and is an active community volunteer with the Yolo County 4-H and Yolo Arts.

Steve Shelton, a resident of Lafayette, California, has been Chief Executive Officer and a Director of the Bank since 2018. Mr. Shelton has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Finance from California State University, Fresno. In addition, he has a Master of Business Administration in Management from Golden Gate University. He has worked in financial management and commercial banking since 1983. Prior to his appointment as CEO, Mr. Shelton served as an Executive Vice President of the Bank since the Bank’s founding in 2007. 

Millicent Tracey, a resident of Park City, Utah, began her tenure as a Director of the Bank in 2021. Ms. Tracey earned a JD at Mitchell Hamline School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Science & Law from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She serves as an Advisor to several FinTechs: Fundid, Revelock & BlytzPay. She currently serves on the Boards of Park Place Payments, an early-stage start-up that offers small businesses client-focused payments solutions using a primarily female sales force, and Kidfund.us, a for-profit fintech that is focused on empowering lower income families to create meaningful savings and enable financial health. Previously, she led B2B product management and digital banking solutions for Wells Fargo for just under 20 years.  

Ted Wilm, a resident of La Quinta, California, joined as a Director in 2023. Mr. Wilm graduated from Villanova University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and has held certified public accountant licenses in several states, including California. He had a lengthy career with PricewaterhouseCoopers, including being admitted to the partnership as an audit partner, and serving as the office managing partner of PwC’s Orange County office until his retirement in June 2021.

 

 

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