Q&A Archives

December 20, 2018

Employee Profile: Donna Sutherland

Donna Sutherland is the newest Premier Relationship Manager, Vice President at River City Bank. She is no stranger to River City Bank; in fact, she began her career here at our Woodland Branch as its Assistant Manager nearly a decade ago. Recently, we met with the RCB boomerang to talk about the causes that she is passionate about, and her love for all things Disney.

Hometown: Alameda, CA

First Job: I was a cashier at Del Taco.

Favorite Quote(s): Yesterday is past, tomorrow is not promised, today is a gift, which is why it is called the present. ― Bill Keane

Favorite Movie: The Wizard of Oz – there is a little bit of Dorothy in all of us!

Favorite place in Sacramento: The Firehouse Restaurant. It has a romantic atmosphere, delicious food, and a great wine list.

First site or app you check in the morning: LinkedIn for a quick news download.

Favorite city to visit: San Diego, CA. It has perfect weather and beautiful beaches!

What is something people would be surprised to know about you? I am a huge Disney fan. I love to visit the parks with family and friends whenever I can! I always feel like a kid and enjoy the little details that Disney does throughout the park to make it a magical experience.

Donna at Disneyland in 2018

Which causes/nonprofits do you support? There are two organizations that I support and each for a very personal reason: Shriners Hospital and the March of Dimes. I have a particular affinity for Shriners Hospital because they performed spinal surgery on my daughter. Families are never billed for their services, and they never turn away a child because of a family’s inability to pay. As a mother, the March of Dimes also holds a special place in my heart. The organization works towards reducing premature births and helping mothers have healthier pregnancies.

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Being somewhere on a beach, watching the waves.

What did you want to be when you were a child? I wanted to be a singer, specifically, a country singer.

What was the best piece of business advice you were given when you were starting out? Control what you can control and don’t let the rest weigh you down.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Building strong relationships in all of the positions I have held and mentoring others to achieve their goals.

What do you like best about working at River City Bank? The culture is amazing! I am proud to work for a bank that cares so much about the customers and communities that we serve.

July 3, 2018

Redefining the Family Business

A Q&A with Roy Hill, Jr. of Elite Service Experts

The Hill family founded IMS nearly two decades ago. As a second-generation owner of the company, Roy Hill, Jr. lives and breathes the company’s mission of being the “best” in delivering service and improving the lives and businesses of those they connect with and serving others as they would like to be served. We sat down with Roy to discuss the exciting changes at IMS and how he embraces the unique challenges and triumphs that come along with a family-owned business.

After many years, IMS will become Elite Service Experts. What prompted the change in name?

IMS was started by my father Roy Hill, Sr., in April of 2000. Primarily focused in Commercial Facility Maintenance and Repair services, it quickly grew to incorporate a full line of Facility Services to include Landscaping, HVAC, Janitorial, Roofing, Facility Management, Lighting, Electrical and General Maintenance and Repair Services.

My father unexpectedly passed away in February 2017. This unfortunate event was very tragic for the family as well as the business and those who worked for it. While dad had planned for the succession of the business to my brother and me, we were not prepared for the unfortunate and unexpected situation we found ourselves.

Among the many positive changes we made in the business over the last year, one of them was the decision to create a new company and a fresh start. A new brand and name that would signify the absolute best that IMS has always strived to achieve. We decided on the name Elite Service Experts to boldly express our capabilities above others. We incorporated a Phoenix in the logo to represent a rebirth of our father’s great legacy.

The rebranding of IMS had generated a powerful synergy with our team, and an excitement and momentum from every level of the company. It’s both energizing and exciting to be part of something new that has the experience, knowledge, resources, and connections of a well-established and seasoned business.

Elite is a family-owned business. What are some of the unique challenges that you as CEO have faced?

The family works well together with four family members working in the business, including my brother and partner. Overall, the family supports decisions I make as CEO, but they don’t hesitate to chime in if they have questions or opinions. Their feedback allows me the opportunity to step back and reassess a situation, especially through their eyes. I believe this results in sound business decisions.

We aren’t perfect, but we are a family dedicated to our company mission established by Roy Hill, Sr.

Roy Hill, Jr. and Ryan Petree

Outside of the unique hurdles I have faced with regards to the family-owned business, I have had many other challenges, especially over the last year. The biggest of which would have been the decision to downsize and refocus our services to core competence. That included the decision to eliminate the Janitorial and HVAC Business Units. It would have been easy to stop service and terminate employees. However, all decisions we make in the company must align with our Core Values and accomplish our mission. Our Core Values are Respect, Compassion, Righteous Behavior, and Faith. I had to eliminate two Business Units while maintaining compassion and serving others the way we would want to be served. So I took the challenge head-on and decided to identify prospective Janitorial and HVAC contractors who would be willing to take on the current contracts, while agreeing to hire every employee at their current wage, benefits structure, schedule, etc. This would ensure we have served our customers the way we would want to be served but with compassion for our employees top of mind. In two short months, I completed the challenge leaving Elite Service Experts with three core competencies:

1. General Building Maintenance and Repair specializing in all aspects of building maintenance such as plumbing, electrical, lighting, carpentry, on-site and scheduled building technicians and handyman type services.

2. Landscaping specializing in routine maintenance, field mowing, property clean-ups, irrigation repair and installation, renovations, backflow repair, and certifications, etc.

3. Specialty Services specializing in services such as pressure washing, concrete sealing and staining, construction clean-up, window cleaning and calcium removal, laborer support and more.

How do you characterize your leadership style?

Servant Leadership. I’m not opposed to doing anything my team does; in many cases, I get my hands dirty right alongside them. However, I feel my job as CEO is to motivate the team then get out of their way. You provide guidelines and parameters along with clear goals then empower your team to make the decisions they need to win. Lastly, we are humans and mistakes are inevitable. I feel that mistakes should be a teachable moment that everyone should learn from to avoid making the same one again. We don’t reprimand for mistakes. However, if the same error is made multiple times, it becomes a competence issue. We do reprimand for incompetence.

What piece of advice would you give to a future entrepreneur or your 25-year-old self?

Face your challenges head-on, be flexible and available to employees, learn to say no and remain focused, and believe that anything can happen. Lastly, if you demand your employees to work hard, lead by example.

What’s next for Elite?

We are currently preparing our infrastructure for continued growth. We have invested in a Mobile Field Software for our technicians and crews. We are planning to invest significantly in equipment and vehicle upgrades to maximize efficiencies and reduce operating expense. Lastly, we are looking into offering service solutions for residential applications.

You have many banking options, why did IMS/Elite choose River City Bank?

We have been partners with RCB for well over 15 years. Our relationship is mutually beneficial, and that is a true partnership. We like what RCB stands for in the community and the support it has for Family Businesses in the region. Lastly, there isn’t a branch you can go into that doesn’t treat you like you are their only customer. We look forward to continuing our partnership for many years to come.

January 25, 2018

Meet Nick Capraro

Nick Capraro is the Banking Center Manager for both the Davis and Downtown branches of River City Bank. Nick is responsible for ensuring both branches run smoothly and the needs of all its customers are met. We caught him during his busy work day to sit down with us to discuss baseball, endurance running, and going the distance.

Hometown: San Jose, CA

First Job: I worked at Service Merchandise as a cashier and quickly learned how much I loved working with money.

First Car: 1977 Monte Carlo Favorite Quotes: “Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it”

Favorite Movie: Shawshank Redemption

First site or app you check in the morning: I always check out the Strava running app to see how many miles my friends have run. It inspires me to get out and run.

Favorite city to visit: Bend, Oregon. It has beautiful mountains, trails, lakes, and is dog-friendly. Which talent would you most like to have? The athletic ability to play professional sports.

Which causes/nonprofits do you support? Alzheimer’s Association, Ovarian Cancer Education & Research Network, Inc.

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Perfect happiness for me is running trails. It’s a great stress reliever. I get to run near lakes and rivers while taking in awesome views and seeing wildlife up close.

What did you want to be when you were a child? I wanted to be a professional baseball player. I played baseball in high school, but injuries derailed any further thoughts of continuing to the next level.

What was the best piece of business advice you were given when you were starting out? (Or a piece of advice you’re glad you ignored?) Do it right the first time.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Finishing a 100-mile race. The course started in Folsom, ran up to Auburn and Cool, and then finished back at Folsom. I’ve completed two 100-mile races so far and am trying to get into the 100 mile Western States Endurance Run. It starts in Squaw Valley and finishes in Auburn. It’s the most coveted endurance run for trail runners. After the race, my body was exhausted from being on my feet for 22 hours. Physically, I was not as sore as I thought I’d be and had no blisters on my feet. Mentally, I was drained, but very proud to have completed something not very many people have.

What do you like best about working at River City Bank? Working at the branch allows me the opportunity to build relationships with people in the community every day. I value those relationships and always look forward to establishing new ones.

August 3, 2016

Q&A with Janette Moynier

Janette Moynier is River City Bank’s new Senior Vice President, Premier Banking Manager. An established veteran within the Placer and Sacramento County banking communities, Janette oversees RCB’s exclusive business banking services for high-net-worth individuals. Raised in Rocklin, Janette still lives in Placer County where she continues to play an active role in her hometown, receiving the Athena Award from the Roseville Chamber of Commerce which celebrates women as leaders within the community. As a mentor and a volunteer for many local nonprofits, Janette shares with us the importance of family and giving back.

Hometown: Raised in Rocklin, CA currently lives in Granite Bay, CA.

First job: I was a cashier for Marshall’s Department Store. The best part of my job was working in receiving or the fitting room and seeing all the new clothes come in!

First car: 1967 Mustang my dad bought from my great-aunt, who was the original owner.

Favorite quote: Your attitude will determine your altitude in life. I believe that with a positive attitude, good things will come to those who wait.

Favorite city to visit: Any city by the ocean.

Favorite movie: It’s hard to pick. I love all kinds of movies. My favorite classic would be Gone with the Wind.

First site or app you check in the morning: My favorite motivational app is Fitbit. I am still working on 10,000 steps a day!

Book you’re currently reading: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.

Who is your favorite hero/heroine of fiction? Of course, it has to be Scarlett O’Hara. She was never stressed – “I’ll think about that tomorrow” or “Tomorrow is another day.”

Which talent would you most like to have? Playing a musical instrument or singing. I love watching musicals, concerts, and yes…The Voice.

What is your idea of perfect happiness? Perfect happiness is camping and going on road trips across the country, visiting all the National Parks with family and friends.

What is the most important lesson you’ve ever learned? The art of negotiating and compromising – everyone’s input is important.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Professionally, receiving the 2011 Athena Award from the Roseville Chamber of Commerce for excellence, creativity, and initiative in my profession and community. Personally, it’s my family. I have a very supportive family who continues to motivate and encourage me in my career and in life.

Which causes/nonprofits do you support? Placer Care Coalition. This worthwhile non-profit fundraises and provides support to four other non-profits in Placer County: Lazarus Project, Roseville Home Start, St. Vincent de Paul and WWJD. All organizations provide housing or support services to those in need.

What do you like best about working at River City Bank? It is headquartered in Sacramento, where decisions are made locally, providing a quick solution for our clients. I appreciate the Bank’s history and stability and its commitment to the communities we all live, work and play in.