Board of Directors - Owned and Operated in San Diego

Board of Directors

Tom Blair

Director

A 1971 graduate of San Diego State University, Tom began his newspaper career in 1972 as a reporter for the Evening Tribune and was, for 20 years, The San Diego Union-Tribune's best-read columnist. A veteran of newspapers, radio, television and magazines for more than three decades, he also has authored two books. In 1995, he was named editor of San Diego Magazine. Upon leaving the magazine in 2010, he returned to writing his city column in The San Diego Union-Tribune. Tom has served on the boards of more than a dozen charitable organizations and foundations, including the Monarch School for homeless children, Scripps Cancer Center and the San Diego Film Commission.

John Farkash

Chairman of the Board

John is currently President of Farkash Construction, Inc., which was founded in 1980. He was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a B.A. in Architecture in 1974. Following graduation, he was a V.I.S.T.A. volunteer with the Community Design Center in Tucson, Arizona for one year. He received his General Contracting "B" License in 1980. Mr. Farkash has worked in the fields of architecture, interior space planning, construction, real estate development and commercial real property management in Southern California and throughout San Diego County, including Ramona. He has resided in Rancho Santa Fe since 1984. Mr. Farkash has also been involved in San Diego rural planning issues and continues to oversee the family real estate portfolio.

Dr. Lester Machado, MD, DDS, FRCS (Ed)

Director

Dr. Machado practices oral and maxillofacial surgery in San Diego and is highly regarded in his surgical field for his work with children and young adults with facial deformities. He is the director of maxillofacial surgical services at the Craniofacial Center of Rady Children's Hospital San Diego. Dr. Machado maintains a private practice in San Diego and is a senior surgeon on the staff of Scripps Mercy Hospital, Rady Children's Hospital and Sharp Memorial Hospital. He serves as the treasurer for his church. He has been involved in several community organizations including periods of service on the boards of directors of the following groups: Responsibility (education programs for children in Tijuana), The Coming Together Foundation (teen mentoring), and the San Diego Downtown Breakfast Rotary Club.

Joseph E. Matranga, CPA

Director

Mr. Matranga is President and Founder of Matranga and Riley CPA's.  His firm provides a wide range of accounting and taxation services to enterprising businesses and individuals in Southern California.  Mr. Matranga has over 20 years of experience in public accounting.  He is a member of the California Society of CPA's and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.  He is also the managing member of Bureck Properties, LLC, a real estate investment and development company.   A native of San Diego, Mr. Matranga graduated from the University of San Diego in 1982 with an accounting degree.  He has been involved in several community organizations including periods of service on the board of directors of Alpha Project for the Homeless and Rolling Readers.

Michael Persall, CPA

Director

Mr. Persall is President of Persall Professional Corporation and Persall Group. He is a practicing certified public accountant with extensive experience in construction, real estate and finance. In addition, Mr. Persall manages a portfolio of real estate and loans with asset classes including; industrial, retail, office, multifamily, single family and agriculture. Mr. Persall graduated from the University of San Diego with a Bachelors of Accountancy, and upon graduation accepted a position with the San Diego Office of the international accounting firm Ernst & Young, LLP. Mr. Persall subsequently left public accounting for the opportunity to join his father in the public works construction industry and as an executive was in charge of managing the estimating, surety, accounting and finance functions of Persall Masonry, Inc. Mr. Persall serves on the Leadership Council and as the Director of the Development Committee for the UC San Diego Pediatric Diabetes Research Center.

Nathan L. Rogge

President | Chief Executive Officer

Nathan began his banking career at Wells Fargo as Vice President and Senior Commercial Lending Officer, where he implemented successful sales and marketing strategies in the Sacramento and San Diego areas. He then moved to First National Bank of San Diego as Senior Vice President, Business Banking Group Manager. In 2002, he joined First Republic Bank in San Francisco as their Senior Vice President and Head of Business Banking. He has been involved in LEAD San Diego, Banker's Small Business CDC, and RMA.