Steve Horenstein - A board member since 2009, Stephen W. Horenstein is a partner with Miller Nash LLP, where he chairs the real estate, land use and environmental practice group. He joined the firm in 1999 following many years as founding partner of Vancouver-based Horenstein Bremer. He has practiced law in southwest Washington since 1975 and has been deeply involved in the region’s leading economic development and civic organizations.
Patrick Kelley - Patrick Kelley is a Certified Public Accountant with more than 35 years of experience. He began his career with one of the largest international firms, Coopers & Lybrand, and went on to become a partner at Moss Adams LLP, the largest accounting firm in the Pacific Northwest. A specialist in providing public accounting and consulting services to large and mid-sized companies in Oregon, Washington and California, Kelley has dealt with the financial interests of companies at all growth levels. He joined the First Independent board in 2011.
Ruth Bennett – A board member since 2009, Ruth Bennett is the Bonneville Power Administration’s former Chief Operating Officer. Respected throughout the region for her combination of operational and managerial leadership and her integrity, Bennett joined BPA in 1973 and for more than 30 years held increasingly responsible positions. Today, she is an energy and real estate consultant serving clients throughout the United States.
Ronald Emmerson - An entrepreneur and corporate business consultant with substantial experience in finance, business development, analysis and management, Ron Emmerson joined the First Independent board in early 2011. With a degree in economics from Portland State University and an MBA from The George Washington University, Emmerson began his career as a financial analyst for Ford Motor Company. Over the past 35 years, he has held executive management positions in a variety of organizations including several start-ups.
Joyce Firstenburg Chiles, Director Emeritus - Joyce Chiles and her husband have traveled the world, devoting their lives to helping people in third world countries, often after devastating events such as earthquakes, wars, famine and disease. They specialize in training people to develop sustainable food sources, set up health facilities and produce marketable goods. Joyce earned her masters’ degree from University of Washington.
Executive Management Team
Jeanne Firstenburg, President - Jeanne was appointed President of First Independent in April, 2010. Previously, she was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. During her tenure at First Independent, the bank has significantly increased its deposit market share, brand awareness and technology capabilities for online and other remote banking services. Jeanne joined First Independent in 2002 and has worked in the banking industry for 14 years, including serving as a bank regulator for the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions for a number of years.
Steve Bernhoft, Chief Financial Officer – A Certified Public Accountant, Steve joined First Independent in 2005 following a 23-year career with Moss Adams LLP, a regional accounting firm. He was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in 2007.
David Bristol, Chief Legal Officer – Prior to joining First Independent in 2007, David was formerly a partner with the law firm of Miller Nash, LLP in Portland. During 15 years in private practice, his focus was on banking, mergers and acquisitions, finance and real estate law. David was instrumental in helping national and community bank clients with strategic business development initiatives.
Rob Davison, Chief Credit Officer – A 30-year banking veteran, Rob was a Senior Vice President in middle market commercial banking at Bank of America before joining First Independent in 2005. His first assignment at First Independent was to manage the bank’s Portland commercial banking office before assuming responsibility for commercial and industrial lending and Private Banking bank-wide. In 2008 he was appointed Senior Credit Administrator and has played a key role in managing credit standards and working with bank staff and clients to resolve credit issues during the tumultuous financial crisis that affected all banks. He was appointed Chief Credit Officer in early 2011.
Stacey Graham, Chief Strategy Officer - Stacey joined First Independent in 2005 as Director of Marketing. She has been instrumental in the award-winning re-branding of the bank, the strategic integration of business lines and the identification of new business opportunities enterprise-wide. Her 25-year career includes stints as a partner in an Atlanta-based advertising agency and serving as marketing director and then interim president of United Way of the Columbia-Willamette.
Marc Timm, Director of Commercial Banking - Marc has more than 28 years of experience concentrated in lending and risk management for banks in the Pacific Northwest. He joined First Independent from a local bank, where he was Oregon Regional Manager. Prior to that, he held market manager positions for Bank of the West and Wells Fargo.
Renee Newman, Director of Retail Banking – Renee joined First Independent in 2007 as head of the bank’s Cash Management Office. With more than 18 years of experience in retail, commercial and private banking, she has held increasingly responsible positions at organizations ranging from small community banks to national institutions.
Jennifer Rhoads, Director of Wealth Management – A Vancouver native, Jennifer joined First Independent in 2004 as Senior Financial Advisor in Private Banking. In 2005 she was promoted to Manager of their Advisory & Brokerage Services Group and in 2008 to Director of Wealth Management. Jennifer has more than 16 years of financial management experience and is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP).
