NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Genesis Bank (“Genesis” or the “Bank”), announced today that Ruben A. Smith, Managing Shareholder of AlvaradoSmith, has been appointed to Genesis’ Board of Directors, effective June 7, 2022. Additionally, Genesis announced today the concurrent voluntary retirement of Richard Sanchez from the Bank’s Board of Directors.
Stephen H. Gordon, Founding Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “I am deeply proud to welcome Ruben to our Board of Directors. His extensive and exemplary professional and community background and experience will be invaluable towards fulfilling his governance, oversight, risk management, fiduciary, and community impact roles and responsibilities.”
Mr. Gordon, added, “Over the years, Ruben has always been widely regarded as a prominent leader in the majority minority communities that we serve across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties, California, through his contribution of time and service to numerous non-profit organizations, in the areas of education, business development, and healthcare. As one of only two diverse, multiracial Minority Depository Institutions in the U.S., I am confident that Genesis Bank will greatly benefit from his veteran experience professionally, as well as his deep roots and connectivity in the community.”
Mr. Gordon, concluded, “On behalf of the Genesis team, we’d like to thank Richard Sanchez for his contributions and commitment to the formation and launch of the Bank. We hold Richard in the highest regard and wish him only the best in his future endeavors.”
Mr. Smith has over 38 years of experience as an attorney, currently serving as a Managing Shareholder of AlvaradoSmith, one of the largest minority owned business law firms in California, which he co-founded in 1993. With locations in Santa Ana, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, California, AlvaradoSmith handles public law, business, corporate, employment, real estate, environmental, and financial institution matters for Fortune 100 corporations, mid-sized companies, emerging businesses, nationally recognized non-profit organizations, and public agencies throughout several major industries including, banking, infrastructure, energy, education, and technology. Over the course of his extensive career, Mr. Smith has provided advice and guidance to structure transactions and solve business and legal problems encountered in a variety of real estate, redevelopment, transportation projects, affordable housing, water, school, and business and public dispute resolution strategies, both on a domestic and international basis. Mr. Smith is also deeply involved with the community and is a founding member of the Hispanic Education Endowment Fund and is currently Chair of the Latino Food Industry Association, and Trustee of the University of California, Irvine, Foundation Board of Directors. Additionally, Mr. Smith has been in leadership roles with numerous non-profit organizations, including the Orange County Business Council, Latino Coalition, St. Joseph’s Hospital in Orange, Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and several public education entities. Mr. Smith holds his Bachelor of Science degree in Public Affairs and Master of Public Administration in Inter-Governmental Management from the University of Southern California, and Juris Doctor from Yale Law School. Mr. Smith is also an active member of the State Bar of California.
About Genesis Bank
Genesis Bank is a California state chartered commercial bank, organized by a group of highly experienced and successful bankers, investors, and business professionals. The Bank focuses on serving the financial needs of small to mid-sized businesses and owners, and investors in income-producing multifamily and commercial real estate located in the Bank’s Target Markets of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, California. Additionally, Genesis is an MDI, and is only the second diverse, multi-racial MDI in the U.S. The Bank is powered by GenTeckSM, a groundbreaking combination of best-in-class technologies, which are tightly integrated to give clients a seamless, digital first, and transparent experience. The Bank’s products, services, and solutions primarily include traditional commercial business, Small Business Administration (SBA), income property, and owner-occupied commercial real estate loan and deposit products, as well as treasury management services and solutions. Genesis Bank is headquartered in Newport Beach, California, and can be found online at www.mygenesisbank.com. Genesis is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC.
