North Bay Business Journal

Deborah Meekins

SANTA ROSA – Deborah Meekins will serve as the new president and CEO of Santa Rosa-based First Community Bank, succeeding founding president and CEO, Kathy Pinkard on Aug. 1.

Ms. Meekins joins the bank from her former role as executive vice president and California market president for Spokane Washington-based Sterling Financial Corporation, which owns Santa Rosa-based Sonoma Bank.

A long-time Santa Rosa banker, Ms. Meekins joined what was Sonoma National Bank as vice president and CFO in 1985. She became president in 1990. After Sterling acquired the bank in 2007, she was appointed chief production officer. She was appointed market president in March.

Kathy Pinkard

Also a long-time Santa Rosa banker and businesswoman, Ms. Pinkard has served a number of executive roles since her banking career began as a teller in 1980. Prior to First Community Bank, Ms. Pinkard was chief administrative officer of Sonoma County manufacturer O’Hagin’s, Inc. She has also served as president and CEO of North Coast Bank, and held leadership roles at the former Stockmans Bank of Commerce and Quincy-based Plumas Bank.

Ms. Pinkard has chosen to leave the bank to focus on health issues, according to a release.

Founded 2004, the eight-branch First Community Bank focuses on commercial lending, including loans backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The bank, which most recently reported $628.7 million in assets, loaned the greatest amount of dollars in the North Bay through the SBA’s 7(a) program in the 2011 fiscal year.