christa steele board biography

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 Experienced public and private company executive, current CEO and board member. Leadership of $500M - $1B organizations. Proven success improving business results of under-performing teams. Ability to develop long-term strategies as well as focus on tactical execution. A collaborative management style enabling cross-functional teamwork and business results. Extensive experience managing complex organizations and situations. ESG strategy knowledge to address the environmental, social and governance reporting needs of organizations.

Significant Board and CEO experience with a passion for advising, creating, and developing successful outcomes for companies. A trusted finance and governance expert with a wide range of experience across industries, governance structures, sizes and stages of development from start-ups to mature companies.  

· Successfully served on twelve boards including public, private, ESOP and family-owned companies and twice served as CEO

· Nationally recognized speaker for Blockchain, Metaverse, Web 3, ESG, and Big Data, and Corporate Governance

· Advisor to private, small and mid-cap companies on digital transformation, governance and ESG strategies 

·  2023 NACD Director 100 Honoree, Twice named by the San Francisco Business Times, as one of “The Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business,” in 2022 and 2015 and as a “North America Top 50 Private Directors to Watch” in 2019 by Private Company Director Magazine.

Regulatory

Global and Industrial IoT solutions

Digital transformation

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)

Turnaround and Restructuring 

Recurring Revenue Models (RMR), B2B, B2C Channels

Strategic Planning and Audit/Financial Expertise

M&A

Technology - Security and Monitoring Technology, Telecom, Neural Technology, AI, Medical Devices, Semiconductor and Video Surveillance

Financial Services - Insurance, Wealth Management, Commercial & Investment Banking

Equipment Leasing and Transportation

Food and Agriculture

Commercial and Residential Real Estate - Development, Multi-Family, Mini Storage, Office, Mixed Use, Industrial, Agriculture

Resource Recovery and Waste Collection

Current Boards

· LANTRONIX, INC., Irvine, CA. Audit Committee (2024 - present)

Global Industrial and Enterprise Internet of Things (IoT) provider of solutions that target high-growth applications in specific vertical markets, including Smart Grid, Intelligent Transportation, Smart Cities and AI Data Centers.

· THE DOCTORS COMPANY, Napa, CA., Audit, Finance and Risk Committees (2023 - present)

Largest physician owned medical malpractice insurer in the U.S.  

· VELOCITY HOLDCO  LLC owner of Velocity Risk Underwriters LLC, Velocity Specialty Insurance Company, and Velocity Claims LLC is an Oaktree Capital portfolio company (2023 - present)

Underwriter and Insurer of Catastrophic Risks - Hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, fire, and similar perils in the U.S.

· TANIMURA & ANTLE, Salinas, CA, Compensation Committee Chair, Audit Committee

(2019 - present)

Industry leading grower/packer/global shipper with a passionate commitment to growing premium quality produce with 2200 FTE.

Past Boards

· NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CORPORATE DIRECTORS (NACD), Vice Chair, Northern California 

· BALCO HOLDINGS, INC., Concord, CA, Finance and Compensation Committees

Owner of Bay Alarm, Bay Alarm Medical and BALCO Properties.

· BRAINCHIP HOLDINGS (ASX: BRN), New South Wales, Australia, Audit Committee Chair, Compensation Committee  

Worlds first producer of neuromorphic IP and coined the next semiconductor disruptor for AI edge with operations in the U.S. and Australia.

· RECOLOGY, San Francisco, CA, Board Chair, Audit Committee and Committee 

A $1.5 billion, 3200 employees, ESOP company providing resource/waste collection services with operations in California, Oregon, and Washington. 

· OFG BANCORP (NYSE: OFG), San Juan, Puerto Rico, Audit Committee 

$10 billion asset retail and commercial bank with operations in Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands.

· SASSER FAMILY HOLDINGS, Chicago, IL, Audit Committee Chair   

International rail and transportation company.

· FIG PARTNERS, Atlanta, GA, Audit and Nominating/Governance Committees 

Full-service boutique investment bank, which sold to Janney Montgomery Scott in 2019.

· MECHANICS BANK, (OTC) – Walnut Creek, CA, President and CEO 

$3.5 billion asset bank with a market capitalization in excess of $500 million, 630 employees, sold in 2015.

BALCO HOLDINGS, INC, Concord, CA – Interim CEO AND BOARD DIRECTOR   (2020-2022)

BALCO is the holding company for Bay Alarm, Bay Alarm Medical, and Balco Properties companies, with revenues of $250+ million, over 1200 employees and family owned for over 75 years. 

- Led the successful division and dissolution of BALCO Holdings and holding company Assets.

· Financial, regulatory, operational, legal and risk oversight.

MECHANICS BANK, Walnut Creek, CA – PRESIDENT, CEO AND BOARD DIRECTOR   (2013-2015)

$3.5 billion asset bank with a market capitalization in excess of $500 million and 630 employees.

· Led the improvement of core earnings 43% in a single calendar year and doubled the stock price in less than two years. Successfully led its sale for a premium in 2015.

MBA, The Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California

Bachelor of Arts, California State University Sacramento

Carnegie Mellon CERT Certification in Cybersecurity Oversight

Pacific Coast Banking School Graduate

Stanford Directors' College