Sacramento – Page 3 – River City Bank

February 2, 2021

River City Bank promotes Riley Gardner to Business Development Officer

Sacramento and Reno to serve as focus for relationship building and expansion efforts

SACRAMENTO, CA – Following a challenging yet successful year that saw record net income in 2020, River City Bank announces the promotion of Riley Gardner to the role of Commercial Banking Business Development Officer. Gardner will be responsible for developing new business within the greater Sacramento region and expanding the Bank’s presence into the Reno market. He will focus on providing commercial banking services to businesses in all sectors, including commercial real estate, healthcare, food and agriculture, clean energy, construction, professional services firms, and non-profit organizations.

“Like we’ve seen in Sacramento over the past several years, the Reno market is experiencing significant growth and is shaping up to be the next expansion market on our radar,” said Steve Fleming, President and CEO of River City Bank. “Along with his work here in Sacramento, we’re excited to make Reno a core focus of Riley’s business development efforts as he works to nurture relationships with leaders in a variety of sectors.”

“River City Bank has achieved exceptional growth over the past decade due to a focus on high quality customer service, quick and efficient decision making, and providing banking products and capabilities that meet client needs and save them money,” said Riley Gardner, Business Development Officer at River City Bank. “Working with Steve and the rest of our phenomenal team at River City Bank, I am excited to build more new relationships in the Sacramento and Reno markets, and share the River City Bank experience with more high quality local businesses.”

Gardner brings more than 12 years of experience in business development and commercial portfolio management, having most recently overseen credit analysis for commercial accounts as Senior Credit Analyst at River City Bank. He is also an active member of the Capitol Region Family Business Center where he leads the NextGen group. He has hosted numerous webinars for River City Bank and the Family Business Center focused on the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and its loan forgiveness process.

After growing up in Sacramento, Gardner graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a Bachelor of Arts in Global Studies with a focus on Economics, and also spent several years working in Asia and the Bay Area in business development roles prior to joining River City Bank.

October 16, 2020

Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians

The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians is a federally recognized tribe located in Placerville, California. The Tribe owns and operates the Red Hawk Casino and is one of the largest employers in El Dorado County. Beyond the casino, the Tribe has also created a very strong community infrastructure, operating its own fire and police departments, Elders Center, Tribal Court, and more. In 1995, the Tribe opened a health center in nearby Shingle Springs. In 2011, that small center was transformed when the Tribe built the Shingle Springs Health & Wellness Center on the Rancheria. It provides the local community with the best possible care in all aspects, including family practice, pediatrics, specialty care such as physical therapy, dentistry and orthodontics, pharmacy and mental health.

We had the honor of speaking with Chairwoman Regina Cuellar to talk more about how the Tribe continues to grow while preserving its culture and traditions.

Please give us a little history of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians.

The Shingle Springs Rancheria was purchased by the United States government in 1920 on behalf of the Sacramento Verona Band of Homeless Indians. Our Tribal Members are descendants of Miwok and Nisenan Indians, and our Tribe has had to overcome many obstacles to get where we are today.

Our reservation was originally 160 acres. As part of our commitment to the success of the Tribe, our reservation has grown over the years to more than 500 acres. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, enacted by the United States Congress in 1988, allows gaming as a means of generating revenue for tribes, encouraging economic development and self-sufficiency.

Due to the success of our businesses, we are able to provide many social, health, economic, enrichment, and educational resources to our Tribal Members.

How does the Tribe’s history impact it today?

Our ties to the land and our ancestors are of paramount importance. The Tribe is dedicated to strengthening its culture by learning as much as we can and passing along our traditional way of life to future generations.

Tribal Members and each department are dedicated to cultural revitalization. The overarching goals of the community are to protect, preserve, and interpret the cultural heritage of the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians. This includes the protection of cultural and sacred landscapes, the return of ancestors from museums and institutions, the intergenerational transfer of cultural-ecological knowledge (i.e., songs, dance, and regalia) to the community, and the revitalization of the community’s language.

Recently, the Tribe reclaimed some of its homeland with the purchase of Verona Marina. This area, at the confluence of the Feather and Sacramento Rivers, is where our ancestors lived as early as the 1800s. Words cannot explain or describe our connection to this land. It is part of the fabric of the Tribe and its culture.

How has the pandemic affected the community?

The health and safety of our Tribal Members, employees, patients, and guests are paramount. COVID protocol is strictly followed on the Rancheria and at the Tribe’s businesses.

We never imagined a time that we would close our casino, but as we all know, the pandemic has made us look at our lives and businesses differently. Red Hawk Casino is the Tribe’s revenue lifeblood.

Since we are a sovereign nation, we did not have to close the casino, but we voluntarily closed for the health and safety of our team, guests, and the surrounding community. The casino was closed for almost three months. We reopened on June 7 with all protocols in place. In addition, we’ve installed partitions between slot machines where possible, and the Waterfall Buffet was converted into a food court offering a variety of stations including American, Italian, Asian, Tex-Mex, and Hawks Coffee, featuring coffee and pastries.

At the Shingle Springs Health & Wellness Center, non-urgent care was temporarily suspended. Today, with modifications, our dental and pharmacy departments are fully open to in-person visits, medical offers both in-person and telehealth appointments, and behavioral health appointments are conducted via telehealth.

The Tribe has a robust infrastructure. Can you tell us more about that?

Our Tribe and Rancheria have changed significantly from our humble beginnings, and our organization is complex. The Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians is an independent, sovereign tribal government led by our seven-member elected Tribal Council. As one of the area’s largest employers, the Tribe owns and operates a variety of businesses that are creating economic independence for today and future generations. Most importantly, we are a family that is working hard to honor and preserve our culture and traditions.

What are some of the Tribe’s businesses and community programs?

Red Hawk Casino – Red Hawk Casino is one of the premier entertainment destinations in Northern California. The stunning 278,000 sq. ft. facility features an 88,000 sq. ft. gaming floor with more than 2,000 slot machines and all the most popular table games. An experience unlike any other, Red Hawk Casino offers award-winning excitement, excellent dining options, and unparalleled gaming action.

Shingle Springs Health & Wellness Center – The Shingle Springs Health & Wellness Center provides medical, dental, behavioral health, specialty care, and pharmacy services to thousands in the area. Our state-of-the-art, high-quality care is available to Natives and non-Natives.

Express Fuel and Convenience Store – Our gas station and convenience store are owned and operated by the Shingle Springs Business Development Corporation.

Shingle Springs Tribal Temporary Assistance to Native Families (TANF) – Our Tribal TANF program serves eligible Native American families in Sacramento, El Dorado, Yolo, and Placer counties. Currently, we have more than 700 active TANF clients. We provide essential tools and teach skills to empower Native families to achieve self-sufficiency.

What other community programs does the Tribe support?

As part of its core philosophy, the Tribe is honored to support a wide variety of cultural and charitable organizations and causes.

Boys & Girls Club of El Dorado County Western Slope, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Sierra, Marshall Foundation, Vista del Lago High School Fishing Club, and Hands4Hope are just a few examples of the many organizations we support. The Tribe has also established a partnership with the Food Bank of El Dorado County to provide food boxes to eligible seniors in five counties and TANF participants.

The Shingle Springs Health & Wellness Center is one of the area’s key resources for patients with Medicare and Medi-Cal. Because volunteerism is aligned with our core values, our team participates in many health fairs and volunteers for dental missions in Honduras.

Pre-pandemic, the Tribe donated the use of its gym and other facilities to organizations such as Special Olympics, Master Gardeners, 4-H, local high school cross country meets, and more.

As responsible corporate citizens, we are active members in all local chambers of commerce and other business-oriented organizations. We also participate in several golf tournaments, which is an effective way to build and strengthen relationships while contributing to meaningful causes.

To learn more about the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, visit their website at www.shinglespringsrancheria.com.

October 16, 2020

Natomas Oaks Park to be Renamed the Ray and Judy Tretheway Oak Preserve

Ray Tretheway standing next to a newly planted tree

The Sacramento City Council unanimously resolved to rename the Natomas Oaks Park at 2230 River Plaza Drive as the Ray and Judy Tretheway Oak Preserve.

Ray, Judy, and their community successfully advocated for the City of Sacramento to acquire this oak grove and adjacent land to be designated as a nature preserve. The oak preserve is nearly all that is left of the magnificent groves that existed here in the 1800s. Centuries ago, this small patch of land was part of thousands of acres of other oaks. These oaks were here when the first settlers arrived in California. The grove’s historical significance is protected because of the Tretheways’ and the community’s quick action to maintain the picturesque area.

Naming this park after Ray and Judy is particularly significant given their special connection to this heritage oak grove. Located near Ray and Judy’s home, their daughter was married under its magnificent trees in 2005. Ray visits the park regularly, and Judy leads silent meditation retreats and forest bathing, or shinrin yoku, underneath the trees’ canopy.

This December, Ray will retire as Executive Director at the Sacramento Tree Foundation after nearly four decades of service. Under his stewardship, the Foundation has planted over one million trees, giving Sacramento the well-earned title of the largest hand-planted urban forest in the world. Ray’s deep love for the area’s trees and his devotion to safeguarding their existence is the cornerstone of the Foundation’s legacy.

As a testament to the Tretheways’ commitment to Sacramento’s urban forest, the community, and the environment, the City will be installing two naming signs and a plaque in honor of Ray and Judy. Later this year, the Foundation will also announce Ray’s successor and celebrate Ray’s lifetime of public service to the Sacramento Region.

To learn more about the Sacramento Tree Foundation or to make a donation in Ray’s name, visit their website at sactree.com.

October 13, 2020

The Legacy of Jon Kelly

Born in 1936, Jon Kelly was without a doubt one of the top entrepreneurs and philanthropists in the history of Sacramento. Jon is probably best known, along with his brother Bob, for having owned and operated KCRA-TV in Sacramento for more than three decades. Jon was only 26 years old when the Kelly brothers took over the running of KCRA in 1963 upon the sudden passing of their father at an early age. The brothers also started, owned, and operated KCPQ-TV, the Fox affiliate in Seattle. Jon was a legendary figure in broadcasting as these stations were highly respected on a national level for their innovation, commitment to delivering high quality news, and ability to attract exceptional talent.

Always looking for the next opportunity in what he viewed as the business playground, Jon founded River City Bank in 1973, where he also filled the CEO and Chairman roles on several occasions. Jon’s vision, entrepreneurial spirit, and incredible drive to win led to the Bank being the largest based in Sacramento and allowed it to remain family owned over the past 47 years as the banking industry has gone through a period of tremendous consolidation.

Jon was a force of nature, a highly successful entrepreneur who loved to compete. Besides the TV and banking activities I mentioned above, he was a real estate developer and invested in radio stations, an advertising agency, and more. One of his signature real estate projects, in partnership with his son Greg, was the 12-story, LEED-certified Gateway Tower office building at 2020 W. El Camino Ave. Jon was also the key player in the formation years ago of the Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization (SACTO), which was instrumental in attracting such industrial heavyweights as Intel, NEC and Hewlett-Packard to the region. SACTO later merged into the present day Greater Sacramento Economic Council.

Perhaps, though, the thing I will remember most about Jon was that he made everything seem important and he always made it fun for the rest of us. He loved to celebrate the successes of the Bank, particularly our growth over the past 10 years, but he also understood that things wouldn’t go our way all the time – that’s the nature of the banking business and of life he would say. He loved to “play the game of life”, including the human connections that he forged with all he came in contact with.

Jon was proud that his legacy in Sacramento would include River City Bank, as well as the Kelly Foundation, one of the largest charitable-giving foundations in the Sacramento region. His philanthropy included the donation of the land on which public television’s KVIE, Channel 6, now sits in South Natomas. Jon’s daughter, Shawn Kelly Devlin, has done a superb job with Jon’s mentorship as the board chair for both RCB and the Kelly Foundation for the past 12 years and intends on building upon his legacy.

One of my last recent interactions with Jon was one of the most memorable. Along with a couple of other long-time business associates, we met with Jon after he had been informed that his cancer was terminable and that he only had a few months to live. The first thing Jon said to us was that we shouldn’t have any sympathy for him as he had lived a great life, blessed with wonderful family, friends, and animals (he loved his dogs and thoroughbred race horses). He said that his life had far exceeded his expectations for “fun and action”. He had lived a full life, indeed.

Jon Kelly was an extraordinary person and he is already missed.

Steve Fleming
President & CEO | River City Bank

September 22, 2020

Kelly Foundation announces Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento as 2021 Major Gift Award winner

$100,000 grant to support new Cornerstone community in South Sacramento

SACRAMENTO, CA – The Kelly Foundation has announced Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento as the recipient of its 2021 Major Gift Award. The $100,000 grant will be used to support the first phase of construction for Cornerstone Development in South Sacramento. Cornerstone Development is a collaboration between Habitat and Mutual Housing California and will feature 18 single-family homes positioned as equity-building home ownership opportunities for low-income families, along with 108 affordable rental apartment units for low-income individuals, including some who were formerly unhoused.

“Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento is respected throughout the community for providing families with home ownership opportunities that may be otherwise out of reach,” said Shawn Kelly Devlin, President of the Kelly Foundation and Chairman of the Board of River City Bank. “The Kelly Foundation is excited to partner on this ambitious project, which will benefit dozens of deserving people over the course of the next several years.”

“The Kelly Foundation Major Gift award represents a huge leap forward for the Cornerstone Development project,” said Laine Himmelmann, Chief Development Officer of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento. “Our team was excited to the point of tears when we learned that the Kelly Foundation had decided to contribute $100,000 to the project because most home sponsorships fall within the $5,000-$10,000 range.”

During the next three years, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento plans to engage more than six thousand volunteers in the multi-phase construction effort. The team is looking to raise at least $300,000 for the first phase of construction for Cornerstone Development, which includes three homes that are projected to be move-in ready by early 2023. The Kelly Foundation grant constitutes one-third of that amount.

The Kelly Foundation supports health and human services, education, culture, environment and civic improvement through its funding. For the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2022, the Foundation will provide approximately $1.5 million in grants to organizations that support the Sacramento and North Bay Area regions. Since merging with the RCB Foundation in 2009, the Kelly Foundation, of which River City Bank remains a major contributor, focuses on giving back to the greater Sacramento region through charitable donations.

For more information about the Kelly Foundation, please visit KellyFoundationSacramento.org.

Cornerstone Development Details

Cornerstone Development, was just named “2021 Affordable Housing Development of the Year” by the Sacramento Housing Alliance. It is also the largest single development in 36 years for Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento. Groundbreaking is scheduled for February 2022, with the first phase of construction set to begin in June 2022. The seven-acre project site is located near the intersection of 46^th Street and Lang Avenue and is planned to house approximately 400 people once construction is completed. The development will be fully electric, and each of the 18 single-family Habitat homes will include solar panels on the roof and be EV-ready for charging electric vehicles.

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento, including opportunities for volunteer participation, visit HabitatGreaterSac.org.

Click image to view a 2:51 video rendering of Cornerstone Development:

About the Kelly Foundation

The Kelly Broadcasting Company’s KCRA-TV (Sacramento-Stockton-Modest, CA) went on the air on Sept. 5, 1955, and the owners of the Kelly Broadcasting Company established the Kelly Foundation in December 1988 as a formal vehicle for structuring charitable contributions. The Kelly family sold KCRA-TV in 1999 and have continued the Kelly Foundation ever since. In 2009, the River City Bank Foundation merged with the Kelly Foundation, and some executives of the Bank currently serve on the Foundation’s Board. Jon S. Kelly founded River City Bank and continues to support the Bank. His daughter, Shawn Kelly Devlin, currently serves as President and Chairman of the Board. The Kelly Foundation is an expression of the importance the Kelly family places on being a good neighbor and citizen in regions where they do business. For more information on the Kelly Foundation, please visit KellyFoundationSacramento.org or call (916) 978-4892.

September 4, 2020

River City Bank President and CEO Steve Fleming named one of Sacramento’s Most Admired CEOs

This inaugural, peer-nominated award recognizes CEOs from the Sacramento region who have made a positive impact both within their respective businesses and the community as a whole. Steve Fleming is one of 25 recipients of the 2020 Most Admired CEOs award from Sacramento Business Journal.

Sacramento, CA – Steve Fleming, President and CEO of River City Bank, has been named one of Sacramento’s top leaders as a member of the inaugural class of Most Admired CEOs from the Sacramento Business Journal. The first annual event recognizes Sacramento CEOs who have made a positive impact through their dedication and leadership both within their business and in the local community as a whole. Recipients of this award were nominated for the distinction by their peers in the Sacramento business community.

“Since stepping in as President and CEO of River City Bank in 2008, Steve has evolved the way we do business and enhanced our community-focused initiatives throughout the Sacramento region while also expanding our footprint into promising nearby markets,” said Shawn Devlin, chairman of the board at River City Bank. “His leadership has made the difference between success and failure for many of our community’s important businesses, particularly during the difficult times we’ve faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I am pleased to congratulate Steve for this first-of-its-kind distinction, on behalf of the board of directors and the entire River City Bank team.”

In addition to driving strategy and execution at River City Bank, Fleming serves as a leader in various philanthropic and economic organizations, and he spearheads community-focused initiatives throughout the Sacramento region. He is President of the board for the Capital Region Family Business Center, President of the Sacramento chapter of Lambda Alpha International, and a member of the Sacramento Host Committee. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Kelly Foundation and the Greater Sacramento Area Economic Council.

Fleming has more than 35 years of banking experience, including more than 20 years with Bank of America in Sacramento and London, England. Immediately prior to joining River City Bank, he was the Founder and CEO of Presidio Bank in San Francisco. He was also the President and CEO of National Bank of the Redwoods in Santa Rosa. Under Fleming’s leadership, River City Bank has quadrupled in size from $800 million to $3.2 billion in total assets.

August 25, 2020

In Memoriam – Jon Kelly

Sacramento business icon Jon Kelly, the former owner of KCRA 3 and founder of Sacramento-based River City Bank, died July 25th, 2020. Jon, a longtime Sacramento resident before relocating to Southern California, was 84 years old.

Jon started at Channel 3, joining his older brother, Robert, in 1958. Two years later, Ewing “Gene” Kelly, their father, died of a heart attack and Jon Kelly, at the age of 24, became station manager. The brothers founded the Kelly Broadcasting Co. with their mother, Nina, a short time later.

After buying the stations outright from their partners — the Hansen family, who owned Crystal Cream and Butter Co. — the Kellys owned and operated the NBC-affiliated station for more than three decades, setting a bar higher than any of their competitors by producing public-affairs programming, daytime and evening news and lifestyle magazines years before others followed suit.

Channel 3’s longtime slogan — “Where the News Comes First” — was backed up by huge investments in its news operation. It fielded (and still does) more reporters and photographers, broadcast more hours of news and employed more news gathering equipment than any other station in the market.

The Kellys kept Channel 3 on the cutting edge, becoming the first in the market to use color film and Doppler radar; creating the first hour-long newscast and locally-produced morning show; creating “De Colores,” a public-affairs program focused on the Latino community; and sending LiveCopter 3 up into the skies above the capital beginning in 1987.

By the 1990s, before the station’s sale to Hearst in 1998, Channel 3 was leading competitors, and KCRA made national news several times, such as when President Bill Clinton decided to hold a statewide town hall meeting and chose to do it at KCRA.

Channel 3 has been a training ground for generations of TV reporters and anchors who went on to distinguished careers beyond Sacramento. Joan Lunden, the former veteran anchor of ABC’s “Good Morning America,” hosted Channel 3’s noon news in the 1970s. Miguel Almaguer and Kathy Park, now with NBC, are also a KCRA alumni, as is Gary Gerould, the voice of the Kings. The list goes on and on.

Kelly Broadcasting also operated KQCA-TV, owned AM and FM radio stations in Sacramento and owned and operated KCPQ-TV, the Fox affiliate in Seattle.

Other Business Ventures

Jon Kelly was the key player in the formation years ago of the Sacramento Area Trade and Commerce Organization, which was instrumental in attracting such industrial heavyweights as Intel, NEC and Hewlett-Packard to the region.

He also donated the land on which public television’s KVIE, Channel 6, now sits in South Natomas, and also found success as a real estate developer. One of his signature projects was the 12-story, LEED-certified Gateway Tower building at 2020 W. El Camino Ave.

Jon founded River City Bank to serve the capital region, growing the business-focused institution to 10 area branches and a presence in the Bay Area and Southern California before retiring from the chairman’s post in 2009. The Kellys still own a majority interest in the bank, which began in 1973 with about $2 million in capital. Today, the bank has assets of nearly $3.2 billion, making it the largest locally-owned bank in the capital region.

Jon was also an active producer in the television syndication business, remained in broadcasting through his investment in the SummitMedia group, owning 50 radio stations throughout the country, according to his family.

Jon Kelly was born July 23, 1936, in Berkeley, before the family moved to Sacramento where Gene Kelly became an ad salesman for The Bee before starting his own advertising agency in 1938. In 1945, they started their radio station. Jon Kelly attended the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey and the University of California, Berkeley.

After the sale of KCRA, Jon and his wife, Sarah, moved to their farm in Rancho Santa Fe in San Diego County. There, they continued their interest in thoroughbred horse racing and breeding, which led them to field horses in the Kentucky Derby and other prestigious races.

In addition to wife Sarah, Jon Kelly is survived by his sister, Suzanne, along with his children Gregory, Shawn, Marilyn, Mary Margaret and Melanie; and 13 grandchildren.

April 16, 2020

Kelly Foundation assists local food banks with $220,000 in total grant awards

Individual grant awards presented to five food banks including Sacramento Food Bank and Meals on Wheels of Alameda County

SACRAMENTO, CA – In response to the global coronavirus crisis, the Kelly Foundation awarded a total of five individual grants to Northern California food banks in Sacramento, Yolo, Alameda and Sonoma counties. The grant monies, representing $220,000 in total donations, will be used to secure and refrigerate food supplies, support community deliveries, and pay workers. Recipient organizations include Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services, Yolo Food Bank, Redwood Empire Food Bank, Alameda County Community Food Bank and Meals on Wheels of Alameda County, the latter of which serves food primarily to housebound elders who are among those at greatest risk from COVID-19.

“Access to food is a fundamental right, and the Kelly Foundation is pleased to support families throughout Northern California by awarding grants to five regional food banks serving some of the most at-risk populations,” said Shawn Kelly Devlin, President of the Kelly Foundation and Chairman of the Board of River City Bank. “As demand for these essential services continues to surge, it is imperative that we equip our food banks to meet needs and help our communities rise to the multitude of challenges presented by COVID-19 without sacrificing health and wellness.”

“COVID-19 has stressed our organization like never before, and we are sincerely grateful for this important funding from the Kelly Foundation,” said Melanie Flood, Director of Development and Communications for Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. “Demand has skyrocketed, and we are seeing people in need who have never asked for assistance from a food program before. This funding will help us continue to purchase food, invest in supplies and equipment to keep pace with demand, and provide vital services while also planning for the next 60 to 90 days.”

“The Redwood Empire Food Bank normally serves 82,000 people per year, and we are projected to serve twice that number because of the COVID-19 crisis,” said David Goodman, CEO of Redwood Empire Food Bank. “This contribution will help us purchase and refrigerate food, pay our dedicated staff and fuel our trucks to make deliveries across Sonoma County. Ultimately, it will keep food on the table for thousands of people who need it.”

“Human lives literally will be saved because we received critical funding to ensure food access to vulnerable people,” said Joy Cohan, Director of Philanthropic Engagement at Yolo Food Bank. “The Kelly Foundation’s generosity will provide more than 10 days of nourishment for the more than 35,000 people experiencing hunger in Yolo County.”

In evaluating the needs of communities throughout its organizational and geographic footprint, the Kelly Foundation prioritized providers and allocated funds according to the total number of people and families served, as well as the urgency of the need. Sacramento Food Bank and Yolo Food Bank each received a grant in the amount of $75,000; Redwood Empire Food Bank received a $25,000 grant, Alameda Food Bank received $12,500 and Meals on Wheels of Alameda County was awarded a grant of $32,500.

The Kelly Foundation supports health and human services, education, culture, environment and civic improvement through its funding. Each year, the Foundation provides approximately $500,000 in grants to organizations that support the Sacramento and North Bay Area regions. Since merging with the RCB Foundation in 2009, the Kelly Foundation, of which River City Bank remains a major contributor, focuses on giving back to the greater Sacramento region through charitable donations.

For more information about the Kelly Foundation, please visit KellyFoundationSacramento.org.

About the Kelly Foundation

March 9, 2020

River City Bank Hosts 11th Annual Business Outlook Event

Crowd attending Steve Fleming presentation at Business Outlook Event 2023

River City Bank’s Business Outlook once again played to a packed house. With a lineup that included Chancellor Gary S. May of the University of California, Davis, and Beth Vaughan, Executive Director of the California Community Choice Association (CalCCA), the audience received a sneak peek into what’s in store for California at both the local and state level. Beth Vaughan spoke on CCAs continued ability to thrive as the demand for renewable energy rapidly grows in California. Chancellor May presented on the collaboration of UC Davis and local businesses to create both educational and economic opportunities in the Sacramento region through the Aggie Square project. RCB President & CEO Steve Fleming spoke on the strength of the Bank and his perspective on the economy.

Steve Fleming, Steve Mills of DCA Capital Partners, and Lon Burford of Genovese Burford & Brothers

Pat McHone of River City Bank with Larry Kelley and Frank Meyers of McClellan Park

Sheri Farinha of Norcal Services for Deaf & Hard of Hearing

Kennard Boutte’-Nears and Linda Bergaus of Life -Assist with River City Bank’s Donna Sutherland

Edmund Knighton talking with fellow attendee at Business Outlook Event

Edmund Knighton of Meristem

Barry Broome of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council

This year’s panel – UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May, River City Bank’s Steve Fleming, and Beth Vaughan of the California Choice Association

Rick Brown, PhD of Terraverde Energy, Barry Vesser of the Climate Center, and Dan Jennejohn of River City Bank

River City Bank’s Jeremy Spencer with the team from Bender Insurance Solutions: Steve Bender, Heather Rohr, Maggie Bender-Johnson, and Lisa Bracero

March 8, 2020

Client Profile: Innovative Education Management (IEM)

Founded as Horizon Instructional Systems by Randy Gaschler in 1993, and later renamed Innovative Education Management (IEM) in 1998, IEM successfully develops and operates charter schools throughout the state of California. The company works with the local school districts to gain charter approval and is responsible for every aspect of managing the school. With three charters schools and approximately 6,800 students, currently under its umbrella, IEM’s mission is to ensure that every student has an individualized learning plan, and every parent has the opportunity to make as many decisions as legally possible that directly affect their children’s education.

We caught up with IEM’s CEO, Jodi Jones, to talk more about IEM and the future of charter schools.

What obstacles, if any, were encountered when IEM was first getting off the ground?

In the beginning, cash flow and public misperception due to a lack of knowledge about charter schools were a challenge. While increasingly more parents are choosing charter schools for their children, there are still many myths regarding school choice– and charter schools in particular– that continue to circulate.

What are the differences between charter schools and the traditional brick-and-mortar schools?

Charter schools are tuition-free public schools that are approved by a local school district, county office of education, or the State Board of Education. Charter schools range from pure personalized homeschooling models to traditional brick-and-mortar. Each charter school is unique based on the local community needs. Some charter schools have a specialized curriculum focus, such as performing arts, STEM, Montessori, homeschooling, and individualized hybrid models.

The distinct and unique characteristics of a charter school are described in their charter petition, which is typically submitted to a local school board for approval. IEM is an independent-study charter school, and it specializes in individualized education plans for every student. Our students are generally homeschooled and work closely with a certificated teacher to create a customized learning plan. We serve Pre-K through 12^th-grade students throughout California, from Butte County to Riverside County.

Front view of the South Sutter Charter Resource Center

South Sutter Charter Resource Center is slated for completion in July 2020

What percentage of charters schools in California are “independent-study” schools?

Nonclassroom-based charter schools account for approximately 22% of all charter schools in California. That’s around 290 schools of the 1350 charter schools. IEM constitutes roughly 5% of all nonclassroom-based students in California. The beauty of charter schools is that they are born out of a desire of parents, teachers, and community members to develop a school that meets the needs of their students in a way they felt was not offered elsewhere.

“Independent-study” charters like IEM have become havens for families who don’t want their children in traditional brick-and-mortar schools. What are the main reasons for their decision?

One reason could be is that the neighborhood’s public school is too hard, too easy, or just too crowded or impersonal. Along with wanting to control the pace of instruction, parents have become more and more concerned with bullying and safety in traditional schools. They have turned to independent-study charters to help alleviate these worries.

In the case of nonclassroom-based charter schools, parents are always looking for an innovative approach to education. They want flexibility in where and how their children are educated, and they want the ability to seek out experts to provide instructional support rather than relying on a single teacher to provide instruction in all academic subjects. This model of public education has also gained momentum with the rise in concerns about school safety, social issues, and behavioral health needs of students. IEM’s schools provide parents an environment where the academic needs of their children can be addressed without worrying about the social issues they faced in a traditional school. By delivering multiple tools, resources, and programs, IEM helps teachers and parents develop a personalized student success plan that will address their academic and social-emotional needs.

How many states permit charter schools?

As of 2018, all but six states allow charter schools. It is important to note that charter school operations look very different from state to state, based on the charter laws and education code of each location. Currently, under California law, the current cap on charter schools is 2,250 statewide, but the cap is raised by 100 schools each year.

What is currently in the works for IEM?

In Sutter County, a learning resource center is under construction for our South Sutter Charter School. The building will house meeting spaces and rooms for additional activities needed for our students, including science labs. We worked closely with the district to secure vacant land to build the Resource Center. The building is set to be completed by July 2020.

Why did IEM choose River City Bank?

We believe that local small banks provide more personal customer service. River City Bank is no exception.

IEM believes that by combining the concepts of parent decision making and individualized plans, it can help the student truly “experience learning.” To learn more about IEM, visit https://ieminc.org/.