Meet Our Team

Virginia Varela is the President and CEO of Golden Pacific Bank, a Sacramento based community bank with a mission of providing exceptional personal and business banking services and creating customer loyalty and satisfaction. Virginia is a seasoned banker with over 30 years of successful community banking experience, both as a bank executive and as a former banking regulator. Virginia held various positions of authority with regulatory agencies including the Federal Reserve Bank and the US Treasury Department. She was a manager of examinations and supervision, helped develop banking law, drafted Congressional presentations, and provided expertise to financial institutions of all complexities. After retirement from the Federal government, Virginia was President of San Luis Trust Bank in San Luis Obispo, CEO of the Bank of Rio Vista, and COO of the Bank of the Orient in San Francisco, responsible for managing ten branches, including three in Hawaii, and one in China.

In November 2018, Virginia was elected by California State banks and credit unions to represent them as a Director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco.

Also, in addition to her Golden Pacific Bank CEO job, Virginia is the Vice President and Western Region lead representative for “Friends of Traditional Bankers.” Virginia also serves as a Director of the Western Bankers Association, and is a Committee Associate of the American Bankers Association.

In the Sacramento area, as of January 2019, Virginia is President of the Sacramento Philharmonic Symphony and Opera Board of Directors. Virginia is also a Director of the Sacramento Metro Chamber, and on the Advisory Board of the Sacramento State University Business University. Virginia is also President of Mercy Pedalers (support for those experiencing homelessness).

Mr. Malcolm F. Hotchkiss (“Malcolm”) is GPB’s Chief Operating Officer (“CCO”). Mr. Hotchkiss brings great experience and insights to community banking. Mr. Hotchkiss enjoys a 30+ year career in commercial banking. He’s served as a Chief Operating Officer at three financial institutions, including Watsonville Federal Bank, Commercial Pacific S&LA in Santa Cruz, CA, and Pacific Coast Savings in Reno, NV. Mr. Hotchkiss was the CEO of United Business Bank (“UBB”) for more than 20 years. UBB was a successful OCC chartered community bank, headquartered in Oakland, CA, with branches in four states and more than $500 million in assets. Under the leadership of Mr. Hotchkiss, UBB successfully provided a wide range of financial services to its customers and rewarding returns to its shareholder base. In 2017 UBB was sold to BayCom Corporation. Mr. Hotchkiss was retained as a Director serving that Board.

In the past several years, Mr. Hotchkiss served on the Federal Reserve Board advisory committee, as well as the FHLB of San Francisco’s Community Deposit Reserve Committee. Mr. Hotchkiss is an active member of the California Bankers Association. He is well known and respected in the California banking industry. Mr. Hotchkiss is particularly skilled at mentorship, and under his tutelage over the years at least six Bay Area bankers advanced in their careers to executive positions at community banks.

Christine Whitney Luty is Golden Pacific Bank’s EVP / Chief Credit Officer. Christine brings an impressive background to our team. She provided lending and financial services to corporate clients at large corporate and middle-market banks before taking time off to focus on her family. In 2013, Christine re-entered the financial services world in community banking by joining GPB as a VP/Portfolio Manager. Christine also worked at another regional community bank before returning to GPB in 2016, and has done a terrific job in managing the credit administrative functions over the past many months. Christine’s credit focus and leadership are a cornerstone to Golden Pacific Bank’s successful lending program. Christine holds a MBA in Finance and Accounting from NYU Stern School of Business and a BA in Economics from Scripps College.

Mr. McClure is joining Golden Pacific Bancorp and its subsidiary Golden Pacific Bank, N.A. as Executive Vice President/Chief Business Officer. Mr. McClure has had an impressive 25+ year career in small business lending and economic development, in California, Montana, and Colorado and has held executive level management positions for over 15 years.

In 2013, Mr. McClure was appointed District Director for the United States Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Sacramento District Office. Under his leadership over a district that covers 22 counties in Northeastern California from San Joaquin in the south to Modoc and Siskiyou to the north and serves over 3.1 million constituents, SBA loan volume grew by over 30% and total dollars grew by over 55% from 700 loans totaling $306 million in FY 2013 to 928 loans totaling over $475 million in FY 2016. Mr. McClure first joined the federal agency in Montana and was the SBA District Director in Montana prior to coming to back to his home state of California.

Prior to his federal service, Mr. McClure worked in small business lending programs. He began his career in 1990 overseeing an SBA 504 lending program at the Lancaster Economic Development Corporation in Lancaster, California and transitioned to running the Los Angeles County Business loan fund for the L.A. County Community Development Commission’s Business Finance Center. He also led the efforts of the Economic Development Collaborative – Venture County (EDC-VC) as its 2nd Executive Director before moving to Montana.

In 2000, Mr. McClure was recruited to Billings to lead the largest publicly funded economic development agency in Montana; Big Sky Economic Development Authority. While in Billings, Mr. McClure personally oversaw the creation of a privately funded Economic Development Corporation, launched a small business revolving loan fund, and developed a new SBA 504 Certified Development Corporation (CDC) which has recently become the leading SBA 504 lender in Montana.

In addition, Mr. McClure also created a targeted industry recruitment program for Billings and Yellowstone County which resulted in the recruitment of 4 major employers, including General Electric and Cabelas, to the community and the creation of over 750 new high-quality jobs. With all four projects, he developed and negotiated multi-million dollar federal, state, and local incentive packages and worked with the local commercial brokerage community to identify and negotiate the purchase of commercial real estate sites for these new employers.

Mr. McClure graduated from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in International Business and lives in the Sacramento area with his wife and 2 of their 8 children.

After serving in the US Navy and graduating with a BA in Accounting and Finance from University of Washington in 1972, David Roche began his audit practice with Touche Ross & Co (later merged into Deloitte & Touche in 1989), making partner by the time he was transferred from Seattle to Portland office in 1986, leading the West Coast Enterprise Risk Management Practice from 1999 on until his retirement in 2002. Mr. Roche then served as VP of Global Audit Services with McAfee, Inc. until his retirement in February 2010. In 2006, Mr. Roche and six others founded Lewis & Clark Bank, a state chartered FDIC insured institution headquartered in Oregon City, Oregon. Mr. Roche continues to serve as non-executive Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chairman of its Audit Committee.

In 2010, David was invited to join the Board of Directors of EthicsPoint, Inc., a privately owned Oregon-based software company, which was sold in 2012 in a private equity transaction and merged with two complementary companies to form NAVEX. In 2011, Mr. Roche and two colleagues founded MiddleGate, Inc., a SAAS company focused on immediate detection of fraud, waste and abuse in the healthcare space. David serves as MiddleGate's Chairman and its acting CFO. David holds CPA Licenses in WA, OR, CA and ID (currently inactive).

Virginia Varela is the President and CEO of Golden Pacific Bank, a Sacramento based community bank with a mission of providing exceptional personal and business banking services and creating customer loyalty and satisfaction. Virginia is a seasoned banker with over 30 years of successful community banking experience, both as a bank executive and as a former banking regulator. Virginia held various positions of authority with regulatory agencies including the Federal Reserve Bank and the US Treasury Department. She was a manager of examinations and supervision, helped develop banking law, drafted Congressional presentations, and provided expertise to financial institutions of all complexities. After retirement from the Federal government, Virginia was President of San Luis Trust Bank in San Luis Obispo, CEO of the Bank of Rio Vista, and COO of the Bank of the Orient in San Francisco, responsible for managing ten branches, including three in Hawaii, and one in China.

In November 2018, Virginia was elected by California State banks and credit unions to represent them as a Director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco.

Also, in addition to her Golden Pacific Bank CEO job, Virginia is the Vice President and Western Region lead representative for “Friends of Traditional Bankers.” Virginia also serves as a Director of the Western Bankers Association, and is a Committee Associate of the American Bankers Association.

In the Sacramento area, as of January 2019, Virginia is President of the Sacramento Philharmonic Symphony and Opera Board of Directors. Virginia is also a Director of the Sacramento Metro Chamber, and on the Advisory Board of the Sacramento State University Business University. Virginia is also President of Mercy Pedalers (support for those experiencing homelessness).

John has four decades of proven expertise in local government management. As a top executive for public and nonprofit agencies, he has extensive experience in budgeting and public finance, economic and community development, human resources, public safety, and crisis management.  

John served in senior executive positions as city manager of Sacramento and Cincinnati, assistant city manager of Long Beach, and assistant chief administrative officer of Los Angeles County. He also worked as the executive director of the California Redevelopment Association and as legislative counsel for the National League of Cities.

His current positions include Senior Adviser at Hermocillo-Azevedo Strategic Communications, Member of the Board of Directors of Golden Pacific Bank, and Chair of the Board of Directors of The Natomas Basin Conservancy.

Major projects he has overseen include the development of the Golden 1 Center (entertainment and sports arena) in downtown Sacramento and development of the Central Riverfront Master Plan in downtown Cincinnati that led to the siting of two sports stadiums, a museum, a public park, and major mixed-use development.

John’s areas of focus include assessing strengths and weaknesses of organizations, leadership development, improving and measuring performance, making government services more effective, and managing public communications.

John is a Credentialed Manager through the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). He is a Fellow in the National Academy of Public Administration and was presented the National Public Service Award in 2014. He was honored with the Wes McClure Award of Distinction by the City Managers Department of the League of California Cities and the Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence from the International Economic Development Council.

John earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Southern California.

John is a Certified Master Official with USA Track & Field and has officiated numerous Olympic Trials, National Championships, and the 1996 Summer Olympic Games.

Mr. Aguallo holds over 33 years of investment management, benefits administration, and state and local government experience, including leading the investment activities of one of the largest public pension funds in the United States. More recently, he was the Managing Partner of Cardinal Americas private equity fund in Los Angeles. He is now an independent consultant advising clients on public pension fund investment management operations.

Mr. Aguallo served as the General Manager of the Los Angeles City Employees' Retirement System and was responsible for management of the funds trust assets of $11 billion and the administration of benefits for its 40,000 members. Mr. Aguallo was associated with California state government for more than 28 years, including 18 years in executive appointments. For 14 years, Mr. Aguallo worked for CalPERS, as the Assistant Executive Officer of Investment Operations and as the Assistant Executive Officer for financial and administrative services. Prior to joining CalPERS, Mr. Aguallo served in executive management positions with the California Department of Finance and Department of Aging.

In October 2004, Hispanic Business Magazine selected Mr. Aguallo as one of the "100 Most Influential Hispanics". Mr. Aguallo holds a Master of Arts degree in Political Science, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, from the University of California at Davis.

Patricia Fong Kushida is the President/CEO of the Sacramento Asian-Pacific Chamber of Commerce, joining the organization as Executive Director in 1998 after a highly successful career as an executive in merchandise management. Most recently, as a senior buyer for Federated Department Stores, Macy's division, she was responsible for a select group of businesses with annual sales of $14 million.

She has served as a member of the Sacramento Children and Families Commission, and on the boards of the United Way, California Capital Region, Hemispheres Art Academy, and the Broadway Downtown Partnership. She is currently serving as the Chair of the community benefits committee for Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, and was recently appointed to the board of Sutter Hospitals for the Sacramento region. She also serves on the Wells Fargo Community Advisory Board and was appointed to the California Utilities Diversity Council for the California Public Utilities Commission. She is a senior fellow and board member with the American Leadership Forum, Mountain Valley Chapter, and serves as one of the two business liaisons for the Council of Asian-Pacific Islanders Together for Advocacy and Leadership.

Ms. Fong Kushida holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, with a Minor in Communications, from California State University, Sacramento.

Anthony Russo, a partner at Russo McGarty & Associates, has a 26 year track record in government relations, political strategy and public policy. He specializes in providing strategic consulting to major corporations, professional associations, and initiative campaigns. Anthony previously was Group Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs for the Irvine Company, one of the nation's largest private real estate companies, known for its best-of-class portfolio of premier office, apartment, retail, resort and new community properties. There, he had responsibility for government affairs, political action, branding and communications.

Anthony participated in several successful political efforts including the successful 2006 Newport Beach general plan update and a 20-year extension of Measure M (Orange County's transportation half cent sales tax). Anthony also provided leadership to the successful 2006 statewide infrastructure bond campaign – providing billions in funding to schools, transportation and housing. Prior to joining the Irvine Company in 2003, Anthony managed several successful candidate and initiative campaigns as a sole proprietor and partner at McNally Temple Associates. These campaigns included two statewide school bonds, Linda Lingle for Governor of Hawaii in 2002, Ron George to the California Supreme Court, and over a dozen California legislators and members of congress.

Anthony graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Southern California with a master's degree in public administration and a bachelor's degree in political science. He also is a graduate of the California State Assembly Fellowship Program. Anthony and his wife, Jenifer Russo, were married in 1989. They have two sons, Ethan and Colin Russo.

Kelly Wong has over 28 years in the financial industry. He started his experience in 1987 as a bank examiner with the California State Department for six years and as an associate national bank examiner with the Office of the Comptroller of Currency for three years. He then helped a specialized CPA firm develop an internal auditing/consulting business that had the largest clientele of credit unions in the nation. He was with O'Rourke, Sacher & Moulton, CPA's for three years.

Mr. Wong was a CFO for two credit unions from 1999 through 2007 where he was responsible for planning, directing, and organizing all aspects of financial activities, as well as running the subsidiary of one of the credit unions and assisting in facility management. Following that, Mr. Wong joined BankVision, Inc., as a bank consultant and auditor. He then joined United Labor Bank (ULB) as EVP/Chief Financial Officer in 2008 through April 2014.  From April 2014 through December 2015, Mr. Wong served as ULB’s EVP/CFO and director; and, from January 2015 to May 2017 served as the President of First ULB Corporation, the Bank's holding company. Presently, Mr. Wong continues to serve as a director for First ULB Corporation.  Since August 2016, Mr. Wong serves as VP FG&A of ConnectSolutions, Inc., a software managed services company. He earned his BS degree in Business Administration from the University of California at Davis and holds an MBA in Finance from Cal State University, Hayward.

William “Bill” Smith’s career includes decades of legal experience. He is a highly respected attorney in the financial services industry, with senior positions practicing banking and credit law since 1983.  Over the years Bill was CEO of Irvine Bank, SVP of Western Federal Bank, and Director of four community banks. Currently Bill serves as General Counsel of Sand Canyon Corporation, a subsidiary of H&R Block, responsible to oversee litigation related to the subprime mortgage industry.

James “Jim” Gazdecki is a highly experienced Attorney with over 40 years of employment as counsel in both private and public sectors. His wide experience includes working for a Fortune Five multinational company as well as for the FDIC.  Jim also served as a partner in a prominent law firm, taught law school, and led a state adjudicatory board. Currently Mr. Gazdecki is Senior Legal Counsel and executive committee member of Sand Canyon Corporation, providing legal guidance on all operations.

Mr. Fowler serves as President of the SCERS Board as an appointed Trustee, governing that $8 billion fund. He is currently Chief Operating Officer of the Kronik, Moskovitz, Tiedemann, and Girard law firm and a director of The Community College Foundation. He is a founder of Golden Pacific Bancorp, and a founding board member for Expanesthetics, a UC Davis-related biotech startup. He is a board member of the CalChamber, serving on its Audit, Water and Fundraising Committees, and chairing its Workers Compensation Committee. He is a past president of the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation, and has chaired boards in the Sacramento region including the American Leadership Forum of the UC Davis Health System Leadership Council. Other nonprofit board service has included United Way, Boys and Girls Clubs and Urban League.

Prior to this, Mr. Fowler was a senior officer for USAA, a fortune 200 diversified financial services company, after his U.S. Air Force career that included serving as the Deputy Inspector General of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon and commanding the military's global medical airlift wing. A command pilot and space systems operations officer, his military decorations include the Legion of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses and a dozen Air Medals. He is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, the Armed Forces Staff College, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and the National War College.

Mr. Fowler's education includes a BS degree in Physics from the University of Maryland and an MS in Political Science from Southern Illinois University. He was a distinguished graduate of the School of Mortgage Banking, earned the Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriters designation and completed executive education programs at the Darden, Wharton, and Andersen Graduate Schools of Management. He continues his executive and financial services education by completing courses in banking and retirement funds through ABA, CBA and CalAPRS.