Michael McComish is the Senior Vice President, Relationship Manager for River City Bank’s San Francisco office. With over 27 years of experience in private and commercial banking, he is responsible for developing new business within the San Francisco Bay Area, focusing on commercial real estate, professional service firms, nonprofit organizations, and private banking. We recently caught up with this busy father of four as he shared with us his love of road trips, his thoughts on public speaking, and how sheltering in place has been a blessing in disguise.
Hometown: Sacramento, CA.
First Job: Paper route, delivering for the Marin Independent Journal.
First Car: Honda Accord. It was the family car for years and had survived two student drivers before I got a hold of it. Ultimately it left me stranded about 10 miles outside of King City on the 101. A local mechanic told me the car had the ‘auto equivalent of terminal cancer,’ so I donated to King City High School and ended my journey on a Greyhound Bus.
Favorite Quote: “Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars” – Casey Kasem. This quote so neatly ties up the idea of striving to achieve you dreams, while never forgetting where you have come from.
Favorite Movie: Fandango. Classic coming-of-age movie and one of Kevin Costner’s first films.
Favorite song: “Solsbury Hill” by Peter Gabriel. The chord progression in this song is among the best you will ever hear.
Favorite city to visit: Washington, D.C., on the 4th of July. I’ve done it twice and highly recommend it.
Favorite place in the Bay Area: Mt. Tam and the surrounding area. The hiking is fantastic, and the views are breathtaking.
First site or app you check in the morning: Wall Street Journal – the financial section.
What are you reading right now? “A Gentleman in Moscow” by Amor Towles. I’m finding it the perfect quarantine read about a wealthy Russian ordered to spend the rest of his life confined to a luxury hotel in Moscow.
Morning ritual: It changes from day to day, but it typically starts around 6, and always involves coffee.
If you have an extra hour in the day, how would you spend it? Please, no. I have four daughters, ages 13, 9, 2.5, and 1. From diapers to schoolwork, and everything in-between, the last thing I need is for the day to be an hour longer.
Which talent would you most like to have? I would love to be able to play the piano.
What is something people would be surprised to know about you? I love a road trip. I have driven across this country seven times and visited every state in the union, with the exception of Wisconsin.
Which causes/nonprofits do you support? I have been a longtime supporter of the Society of California Pioneers and currently serve as its president. It is the second oldest not-for-profit in the state and is dedicated to preserving and promoting California’s early history through its museum in San Francisco and various grade-school educational programs throughout the state.
What is your idea of perfect happiness? A fine dining experience with family and/or good friends. Good food, good drink, and genuinely enjoying the company of those around you – does it get any better?
What did you want to be when you were a child? A wildlife photographer for National Geographic – outdoors, adventure, and a paycheck!?!
What is your greatest fear? Public speaking. This one goes all the way back to grade school, and all through high school. I hated all those oral reports. In my junior year of college, I did my best to face my fear and took a course in public speaking; by the end of the semester, I had a minor stomach ulcer and the worst grade of my entire academic career.
What is your current state of mind? Optimistic.
What was the best piece of business advice you were given when you were starting out? “Don’t ever miss a cocktail party; you never know who you might meet.” A colleague told me this when I first got into sales, and while I have still yet to meet that ‘really big client’ at a corporate mixer or networking event, the truth behind the advice is undeniable.
What is your biggest takeaway from Covid-19? Time spent with family is invaluable. With all the frustrations and difficulties sheltering in place as placed on us, I have come to realize that this is probably the most time I will ever get to spend with my kids.
What do you consider your greatest achievement? My family.
What do you like best about working at River City Bank? The quality and caliber of the people. While I’ve only worked here for a few months, everyone I have interacted with has been so kind, patient, and willing to help. Many thanks to all of you for making me feel so welcome here.
