Professional Business Bank Forms Community Board

Professional Business Bank, a Pasadena-based bank that serves business customers in the San Gabriel Valley, announces the formation of the Professional Business Bank Community Board, an advisory group comprised of distinguished Pasadena business and civic leaders dedicated to promoting economic growth and community development throughout Pasadena. The Professional Business Bank Community Board is the first of its kind in Pasadena to bring together local community bank executives with prominent area business leaders, philanthropists and community advocates to address and solution economic challenges in the wake of the 2008 recession. 

The Professional Business Bank Community Board is chaired by Mary Lynn Lenz, CEO of Professional Business Bank and an active leader in the Pasadena community. Lenz is the driving force behind the Community Board and an ardent believer in the collaborative impact the group will bring to bear.

“We have assembled a terrific cross section of community leaders that are passionate about resolving the economic challenges facing Pasadena businesses today,” said Lenz. “The Community Board is represented by an excellent mix of individuals and organizations in Pasadena, many of whom have spent decades working to build a better local business community.”

The Professional Business Bank Community Board will consist of eleven of the area’s top leaders, each from various sectors of Pasadena’s economy and culture. The board will convene quarterly in a confidential forum that fosters an unrestrained exchange of ideas on local economic issues, potential solutions and new growth opportunities.

“The central feature of this Community Board is the fantastic diversity of thought and experience among the members,” said Lenz. “We have leaders from all walks of Pasadena – business, philanthropy, the arts, real estate, life sciences, Tournament of Roses, and more. Their broad perspectives will generate fresh new ideas as we all work to make Pasadena a stronger community,” said Lenz.

The Community Board roster includes: Michael Amerio, Managing Partner of the accounting firm of Lucas, Horsfall, Murphy and Pindroh; Bruce Blomstrom, President, Pasadena Bioscience Collaborative; Gene Buchanan, President of construction firm AJB Enterprises; Jennifer DeVoll, Executive Director, Pasadena Community Foundation; George Falardeau, Senior Vice President, Art Center College of Design; Bill Galloway, owner of real estate firm Summit Enterprises; Armando Gonzalez, Founding Principal, Gonzalez Goodale Architects; Scott McKibben, Executive Director, Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association; Joe Scully, President, Financial Guaranty Insurance Brokers; Joel Sheldon, President of Vroman’s Bookstore; and John Symes, President, Symes Automotive Group. Rounding out the management team with Lenz is John Nerland, President, Professional Business Bank, and Community Board Coordinator Nat Read of Read Communications. 

“Let’s face it, the last two to three years have been hard on everyone in the region,” said Lenz. “The economic recovery is a boot-strap, ground-up effort for all of us, and it begins with stronger local communities. Professional Business Bank is committed to fostering business growth in Pasadena, and this new Community Board is a step in that direction,” said Lenz.