About Us | History | Directors | Organizers | Executive Management & Officers

Professional, Experienced Bankers – Focused on Service, Strength, Stability

Pinnacle Bank's management team brings years of financial, industry and entrepreneurial experience and all have deep roots in our community.

Susan K. Black, President and Chief Executive Officer
Ms. Black brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in the banking industry to Pinnacle. Past assignments include serving as President of the Community Banking Group of Greater Bay Bancorp in Palo Alto, as well as serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of Mid-Peninsula Bank, and as an Officer of the Greater Bay Bancorp Foundation.

Bruce H. Kendall, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Kendall has over 25 years of experience in financial management positions including 15 years as the chief financial officer or senior level financial officer for commercial banks. Most recently Mr. Kendall was a director, executive vice president, corporate secretary and chief financial officer for Legacy Bank in Campbell, California. Mr. Kendall has worked at Silicon Valley Bank and Coast Commercial Bank as their chief financial officer. Mr. Kendall began his career with Deloitte & Touche and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Robert C. Blatter, Executive Vice President, Chief Credit Officer
Mr. Blatter began his career in banking in 1985 with Bank of America. At the beginning of 1989, Mr. Blatter joined Bank of Salinas as a loan officer. He considers this a milestone year as one week after starting with the bank the first of his two daughters was born. Over the next 17 years, as Bank of Salinas became Community Bank of Central California, Mr. Blatter became SVP/Loan Administrator and was instrumental in contributing to it's growth. Mr. Blatter graduated from Colorado State University and received his MBA degree from Santa Clara University. Mr. Blatter has extensive community involvement both in the Hollister and Salinas areas.

Denise Brown, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer
Mrs. Brown has over 20 years experience in the banking industry and brings a wealth of knowledge in the areas of client service and operations. Prior to joining Pinnacle Bank, Mrs. Brown held the position of Senior Vice President of the Service Management Group for Greater Bay Bank. Mrs. Brown is a graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School.

Sandra Hunter-Ferris, Senior Vice President, SBA Department Manager
Ms. Hunter-Ferris has nearly 27 years of experience working with several government agencies in assisting small-to-medium sized businesses in several areas, including business start-up, acquisitions, expansion, equipment and tenant improvements, and construction and/or purchase of commercial real estate. Ms. Hunter-Ferris has spent the last 15 years working for Community/Rabobank as the SBA Loan Department Manager. She is very active in the community and was named "Business Woman of the Year" by the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Hunter-Ferris currently resides in Salinas with her husband.

Steve Wotherspoon, Senior Vice President, Real Estate
Mr. Wotherspoon has over 27 years of real estate and construction lending experience. This experience covers the whole real estate spectrum from residential/subdivisions to retail centers and industrial projects. He has been active in markets from Silicon Valley/ Bay Area to Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties. Mr. Wotherspoon was 1st Vice President/Manager of the Real Estate Department with Community/ Rabobank before joining Pinnacle Bank. Mr. Wotherspoon currently resides in Salinas with his wife and two sons.

David Soares, Senior Vice President, Senior Relationship Manager
Mr. Soares has more that 35 years of senior management experience working in banking and a variety of businesses and industries. Mr. Soares handled all phases of commercial lending as a senior officer for Rabo Bank. Mr. Soares was a consultant for California State University Monterey Bay in the areas of real estate development/investments and government contracts. In addition, he was an assistant to the CFO of Reiter Affiliated Companies, a leading international agribusiness firm. Mr. Soares has a MBA and BS degree from the University of Santa Clara.

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