About Us

Community Valley Bank Board of Directors

Thomas Topuzes (Chairman of the Board)

Mr. Topuzes is the owner of Thomas Topuzes & Associates, LLC a business consulting company based in El Centro. Mr. Topuzes has been involved with banking for over 21 years. His banking experience includes working as a teller, branch supervisor, and Assistant Vice-President and legal counsel for a savings bank. He has held various senior management positions at community banks including Branch Administrator, Chief Operations Officer (COO), and Chief Administrative Officer at Valley Independent Bank and at First International Bank he was Executive Vice President and COO, and performed the duties of the bank President/CEO. He was a member of the Board of Directors of First International Bank. Mr. Topuzes was U.S. Small Business Administration Regional Administrator for Region IX.

Mr.Topuzes has been on the Board of Trustees of National University for 18 years and has been Secretary and Chair. He has been a director of CDC Small Business Finance Corp. for 14 years and has served as its Chairman and on the Board's Loan Committee. Mr. Topuzes is a member of the El Centro and Brawley Chambers and is a member of the Brawley Economic Development Commission's San Diego State University-Brawley Committee. Mr. Topuzes is a member of the U. S. Department of Commerce District 25 Export Council (San Diego-Imperial Counties) and U.S. Small Business Administration National Advisory Council. He is a member of the Stockman's Club of Imperial Valley. Mr. Topuzes obtained his Juris Doctorate from Western State University, and Bachelor of Arts in Finance, Economics, and Psychology from San Diego State University.

Michael Bracken (Director)

Mr. Bracken is the founding partner of Development Management Group, Inc., a business and development consulting company operating in Riverside, San Diego, Kern and Imperial Counties, which began in 2002. Mr. Bracken is a graduate of the California State University at San Bernardino with a B.A. degree in Marketing and a Masters in Public Administration with an emphasis in Economic Development. He is currently member of the Board of Directors County of Riverside Workforce Development Board, and Board of Directors Desert Sand Unified School District Facility Development Corporation.

Alejandro Calderon (Director)

Mr. Calderon is the President of Canizalez Associates, Inc., providing rehabilitation counselor services in Imperial and San Diego County. Mr. Calderon has received a BA degree from University of California San Diego in Psychology, a MA degree in Educational Counseling from the University of Redlands, and is completing his doctorial dissertation in Psychology at the California Institute for Human Science. Mr. Calderon is a member of the El Centro Chamber of Commerce.

Rhoda Casto (Director)

Ms. Casto began her banking career in 1971 as a part-time teller for California Republic Bank and went on to hold the position of Assistant Vice President and Manager until 1982, when recruited by Bank of Yucca Valley to relocate and become a Vice President of Bank of Yucca Valley. In 1987 she opened the first branch of Bank of the Desert and in 1990, became Executive Vice President, COO and Director. In 1994, she was promoted to President, COO and Director, and in 1996, worked through the merger/acquisition with Valley Independent Bank until retiring in 2001.

Jon Edney (Director)

Mr. Edney is President of Imperial Valley Real Estate Services, Inc., an Imperial County real estate and property management company. Mr. Edney is a Real Estate Broker licensed in California. He has been a realtor in Imperial County for over 23 years and has held various positions on the Imperial Valley Board of Realtors. Mr. Edney is a Council Member of the City of El Centro. Mr. Edney received his broker's training through Western Schools.

H. Andrew Erickson (Director)

Mr. Erickson, owner of Erickson and Associates, is a commercial real estate appraiser. Mr. Erickson is a licensed Certified General Appraiser and Real Estate Broker in California. He is a real estate developer and has constructed several build-to-suit commercial and industrial properties in the local area. Additionally, he owns and manages other real estate assets, including co-ownership in Aten Road Express a convenience store complex in Imperial. Mr. Erickson also has experience in farm management, agri-chemicals (former licensed pest control advisor), and brokerage. Mr. Erickson attended Orange Coast Junior College, Brigham Young University, and San Diego State University.

Donald Gibson (Director)

Mr. Gibson is the President and General Manager of Gibson & Schaefer Inc., a ready-mix concrete and delivery company, based in Heber with locations throughout Imperial County. He has been a member of the Brawley Chamber of Commerce for 25 years, Imperial County Sheriff's Aero Squadron for 20 years, Brawley Airport Advisory Commission and Imperial County Building Industry Association for 15 years. Mr. Gibson has been a member of the Imperial County Land Use Commission for three years.

Ron Rubin (Director)

Mr. Rubin has been involved with Valley agriculture for over 32 years. He was associated with Fifield Land Company for over 19 years, until 2002. He is currently General Manager of Rubin Seeds, LLC. He was a farm and ranch real estate appraiser, loan officer and assistant manager of the Federal Land Bank Association of El Centro. He has served as a branch manager and loan officer for Imperial-Yuma Production Credit Association. He is on the Board of Directors of the California Alfalfa Research Board, Imperial County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, California Wheat Commission and the California Crop Improvement Association. Mr. Rubin earned an AS degree in Agricultural Engineering Technology from Imperial Valley College, and a BS degree in Agricultural Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

Jordana Selwick (Director)

Ms. Selwick is actively involved in the management of Selwick's, a long-time retail cosmetics and perfumes business located on the border in Calexico. She has been a member of the Calexico Chamber of Commerce for 35 years. She has been a member of Association for Retarded Citizen (ARC) for 8 years and has served as President of the Board twice. She is a member of various local organizations including the Calexico Downtown Merchants Association, City of Calexico Personnel Commission where she served as Chairman twice.

Clyde Shields (Director)

Mr. Shields is a graduate from the University of Arizona with a degree in agriculture and engineering. He is an Entomological Society of America board certified entomologist. He has been a continuous member of the local CAPCA organization serving on the board several times and on the California board as vice president. He is involved in entomological service, farming, and real estate in the Imperial Valley. He has been in the entomological consulting business since he started the present business in 1967. Mr. Shields is a member of the Brawley Chamber of Commerce and has been a member for 36 years. He is a charter member of the Calipatria Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Shields is a 10 year member and serves on the board of the North End Coalition of the Arts.

Robert Hahn (Director, President and Chief Executive Officer)

Mr. Hahn has over forty years of banking experience, the last nineteen years while serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of First National Bank of North County, San Marcos, CA from 1991 to present and CBC Bancorp Ltd., a multi bank holding company, Chicago, IL from 1987 to 1991. Mr. Hahn has also held the position of Senior Vice President, Senior Lending Officer from 1985 to 1987 at First Colonial Bancshares Chicago, IL and from 1980 to 1985 at Northwest National Bank in Chicago, IL. From 1977 to 1980 he was a Vice President at Midland Bancorp, Inc. Chicago, IL. Mr. Hahn has both an undergraduate and Masters Degrees from DePaul University in Chicago.