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Meet Our Team
Joanne E. Funari Ms. Funari, a founding member of Business First Bank, has more than 27 years of experience in all facets of banking, including lending, marketing, sales administration and management. As President, Ms Funari is responsible for the Lending, Credit Administration, Operations, Business Development and Marketing divisions of the bank. Prior to joining Business First Bank, Ms. Funari was Senior Vice President of Santa Barbara Bank & Trust. Before working at Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, she was Vice President-Corporate Lending Officer with City Commerce Bank in Santa Barbara and Vice President and Manager of Credit Administration at the Bank of New York. Ms. Funari’s education includes a Graduate Degree with honors and exceptional performance in Asset Liability Management and Finance from the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington; University of California, Los Angeles; and Central City College in Syracuse New York. Ms. Funari is avidly involved in the Santa Barbara community as board member, co-chair of the Fundraising and Event Committee, and past President of the American Lung Association of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties; executive board member of the Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce; board member of the Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce; board member of the Santa Barbara Downtown Association and member of the Santa Barbara County Finance Corporation; Executive board member of the Old Spanish Days; and chairperson of the Fiesta Party/Activity Planning Committee; and a committee member of the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Black & Blue Ball. She is an active supporter of United Way Programs; Fun in the Sun, Day of Caring and the Annual Campaign.
Don Duncan Since 1977, Mr. Duncan has been an active Commercial Lending Officer servicing small- to medium-sized businesses in the Santa Barbara area. As a creative and responsive lender who takes great pride in developing custom loan structures, Mr. Duncan helps local businesses and investors attain their financial goals. Prior to joining Business First, Mr. Duncan was Vice President/Senior Commercial Loan Officer of Santa Barbara Bank & Trust. Mr. Duncan is a graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School, and holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Golden Gate University and a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Pepperdine University. Active in the local community, Mr. Duncan is a board member of Sanctuary Psychiatric Centers of Santa Barbara.
Christine Tonello Christine Tonello has been a Senior Relationship Manager and Senior Vice President at Business First Bank since 2005. Prior to joining Business First Bank, she was Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager at SCVBank for 7 years. She has over 29 years of community banking experience. Her goal is provide customized lending solutions to assist the bank’s clients in achieving their financial goals. Ms. Tonello is a Paul Harris Fellow and immediate past president of Toastmasters.
Denise Sanford Ms. Sanford, a founding member of Business First Bank, has over 28 years of experience in many facets of banking including, lending, investment sales, portfolio management and risk management. As Senior Vice President and Sr. Relationship Manager Ms. Sanford’s responsibilities will include providing customized lending and financial solutions to assist the bank’s clients in achieving their financial goals. Ms. Sanford is actively involved in the Santa Barbara community as Vice President and member of the Development Committee for the Page Youth Center Board of Directors and has been appointed chairperson of the centers annual fundraising event; also serving as an Associate Board Member of Old Spanish Days for the past 6 years. Ms. Sanford has spent many hours helping non-profit organizations in their fundraising efforts.
Barbara Caballero Barbara Caballero-Munoz is a founding member of Business First Bank and has more than 20 years of community banking experience. As Vice President and Relationship Manager, Ms. Caballero-Munoz is responsible for the Consumer Lending Department. Prior to joining Business First Bank, Ms. Caballero-Munoz worked for Pacific Capital Bancorp (parent company to Santa Barbara Bank & Trust) as the Loan Documentation Manager. Ms. Caballero-Munoz is a native of Santa Barbara and is active working with Peabody Charter School and Notre Dame School. Ms. Caballero-Munoz resides in Santa Barbara with her husband and two children.
Tino Munoz Tino Munoz has been an Assistant Vice President and Relationship Manager for Business First Bank since 2005. His primary responsibility as a commercial loan officer is to provide clients with solutions to their small business financing needs. He has served the local community banking industry for the past 18 years. Prior to joining Business First Bank, Munoz was a Financial Services Officer for First Republic Bank. He also worked for Santa Barbara Bank and Trust in several capacities from Banking Operations to Loan Operations and finally Compliance. Munoz was born and raised in Santa Barbara and has been active over the years in local youth sports and recreation. He resides in Santa Barbara with his wife and five children.
Doris Kavanagh Ms. Kavanagh has over 30 years of local community banking experience. As Senior Vice President and Branch Administrator, Ms. Kavanagh is responsible for overseeing the growth and development of Business First's retail banking system. Prior to joining Business First, Ms. Kavanagh worked for Santa Barbara Bank and Trust's retail banking system, and managed the Goleta office. Ms. Kavanagh is a graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School, Western States Banking School and holds a degree in Banking and Finance. In addition to her banking career, Ms. Kavanagh is a planning commissioner for the City of Goleta.
Bibi Moezzi Everyone with a Business First account is familiar with the vivacious Bibi Moezzi, Relationship Manager at Business First Bank. Her upbeat personality and intellect aren't the only things that have gotten Ms. Moezzi where she is today. After receiving her Chemical Engineering Degree from a private University in Tehran, Iran, Ms. Moezzi headed to the United States where she worked in the loan department of another Santa Barbara banking organization. In March 2003, Ms. Moezzi was recognized with an Extra Step Award from Congresswoman Lois Capps and the Santa Barbara Police Department for going above and beyond the call of duty. Actively involved in the Santa Barbara Community, Ms. Moezzi is on the Board of Directors for Santa Barbara's favorite celebration -- Old Spanish Days Fiesta, as well as serving on the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara and The Milpas Association Board.
Cynthia Estrella Cynthia began her banking career by working her way through UCSB as a part-time teller at Santa Barbara Bank & Trust. Upon graduating from UCSB she went full time as a Merchant Teller/Senior Customer Service Representative. She joined the Business First Team in 2004 and has moved up from Business Banking Specialist to Loan Servicing Specialist and now Client Relationship Specialist. Cynthia is responsible for maintaining a portfolio of accounts for cross-selling opportunities and identifying the ongoing needs of BFB clients by identifying our customer’s needs and delivering the products and services to satisfy those needs and grow the their business. She is also responsible for representing the Bank at all times and participating in community activities and public relations events, and currently serves as an Ambassador to the Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Tanya Valenzuela Tanya is a native of Santa Barbara with 18 years local community banking experience. Ms. Valenzuela is responsible for the growth, development, and customer service at our State Street Branch. Her goal is to develop knowledgeable, empowered and outstanding customer service staff to ensure that all customer needs are understood and met. Tanya is a 2006 graduate of Leadership Santa Barbara County.
Laureen Arcuri-Lazzaro Laureen is Vice President Customer Service Manager for the Milpas Office. She has 25 years banking experience in Santa Barbara all of which is in operations. She is the direct contact with clients serving their daily banking needs. Her philosophy is “I believe it’s not what we can’t do for our clients it’s what I can do for you.” Laureen currently serves as a Board member for Ventura County Professional Women’s Network four years running. She was recently Treasurer for Business Network International. Laureen was on several fund raising committees including the March of Dimes, American Heart Walk and United Way. She has volunteered time at the local High School working on projects and teaching kids the importance of Community Service.
Liz Heitmann Liz Heitmann has worked in Real Estate finance since 1985. With extensive training in processing and underwriting, Liz is particularly well qualified to handle even the most complex loan scenarios. Her background includes not only 1-4 residential lending, but also land, construction, multi-family and commercial loans. Liz has been a resident of Santa Barbara since 1967, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from UCSB in 1984. She has two children attending local public schools and is actively involved in the community. Affiliations/Volunteer Activities:
Liz is actively interested and involved in local planning issues in our community.
Rick Wilson Rick brings 35 years of diverse real estate industry experience, most recently as the Santa Barbara Branch Manager for GMAC Mortgage. Rick and his wife Carol, who have raised their two children locally, fit well with Business First’s culture of client and community service. Rick is President of Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table, past President of the Santa Barbara Sunrise Rotary Foundation, and has served as a member of the Santa Barbara Association of Realtors Housing Committee and the Santa Barbara School District Bond Oversight Committee.
T. Joseph Stronks Mr. Stronks brings over 17 years of local community banking experience to Business First. As Senior Vice President of Client Services and Manager of e-Banking for both Business First and it’s partner Heritage Oaks Bank, Mr. Stronks is responsible for overseeing the growth, integration and development of Business First’s general back-office services and electronic banking delivery systems. Prior to joining Business First, Mr. Stronks worked for Pacific Capital Bancorp (parent company of Santa Barbara Bank and Trust), beginning as a part-time teller and serving as Assistant Central Operations Manager, Manager of Electronic Delivery Services (ATM, ACH, Online Banking, Document Imaging), Manager of Systems Development & Support, IT Project Manager, and Manager of Enterprise Application Services. Mr. Stronks is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara and holds a degree in Russian Language & Literature and International Political Science. He has studied Russian, French, Spanish, and German. He also has completed his Project Manager Certification through UCSB Extension. In addition to his banking career, Mr. Stronks serves as Treasurer of the Buellton PTSA and a Den Leader in the local Cub Scout Pack. 
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