This week, Ami sits down with James Beckwith, President & CEO of Five Star Bank, to discuss what his bank has done during the pandemic, lessons learned, and opportunities that have arisen.

James Beckwith is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Five Star Bank and its holding company, Five Star Bancorp.  With more than 20 years of experience, James joined Five Star Bank in 2003 after serving as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at National Bank of the Redwoods, in Santa Rosa, California.  James works with those who share his mission to improve the Capital Region and was a driving force behind the creation of the Five Pillar Program, an economic development initiative where cities, counties, and districts direct funds to local community banks for the purpose of reinvesting that money into local small-to-medium-sized businesses.

James is a Private Sector Director with the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, a Board member and Chair Elect of Western Bankers Association, a Board member of the California Community Banking Network, a Board member of Crocker Art Museum, and a member of the Sacramento State University College of Business Advisory Council.  James is the past Board Chair of KVIE, Past Board Chair of Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce, and Past Board Chair of Valley Vision.

James' professional leadership and extensive community outreach includes support of numerous organizations, and especially, the vision and mission of Cristo Rey High School Sacramento and Make-A-Wish, among many others.  James graduated from San Francisco State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting.  He is also a graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington.

James was recognized by the Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce as the Businessman of the Year in 2020.  He was also named among the Most Admired CEO's of 2020 by the Sacramento Business Journal.

Recorded 12/07/2020.