FOUNDER, CHAIRMAN, FIRST FOUNDATION
WHY: Started as wealth manager in 1990, added bank in 2007. Has built bank to $7.1B in assets, wealth manager to $4.3BA UM, trust assets under advisement to $981M. Has 493 employees in 20 locations in California, Nevada, Hawaii. Company has nearly $600M market cap. Company on Business Journal’s Civic 50 list in 2019.
RECENT: After the coronavirus hit, transitioned 85% of employees to work from home in less than week. Funded $170M in Paycheck Protection Program. 1H net income up 31% year-over-year.
NOTABLE: Helped steer University of California investment committee through 2008 financial collapse. UCI trustee 15 years. Has served boards for Hoag, diabetes, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, city of Irvine and Charles Schwab. Founding member, UCI Center for Investment, Wealth Management. San Diego State University grad in finance.
