Pacific Premier Bancorp Director Cora M. Tellez
Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: PPBI), the holding company of Pacific Premier Bank, announced that Cora M. Tellez has been named as a 2018 Director to Watch by Directors & Boards, the publication’s semi-annual recognition of directors who bring diversity and expertise to the boardroom. Mrs. Tellez has served as a director of Pacific Premier Bancorp and Pacific Premier Bank since 2015.
“Cora has been an outstanding contributor to our board for several years and we are very pleased to see her receive this recognition from Directors & Boards,” said Steven R. Gardner, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Premier Bancorp. “As an entrepreneur and successful business owner, Cora has provided valuable perspective to guide our efforts to effectively serve the needs of small- and middle-market commercial clients. Her experience in the health benefits accounts industry has also contributed to our understanding of the needs of specialty deposit clients, which is a key component of our deposit gathering strategies.”
Mrs. Tellez told Directors & Boards her views on being an effective board member: “It’s an overused term, but it bears repeating: Boards owe a duty of care and loyalty to the company they oversee. To me, that has meant a focused role for a board to ensure three things: 1) the company’s CEO’s actions and motivations are aligned with the long-term success of the company; 2) promoting a culture of asking questions that probe how management is thinking about the risks and opportunities facing the company; and 3) creating within the board a respect for transparency and clear demarcation of roles (policy/strategy for the board; execution/operations for management).”
Cora Tellez is the founder and CEO of Sterling Health Services Administration. Sterling provides account-based services (HSA, FSA, HRA, Cobra) linked to health benefits. Sterling also offers a new service called Amazing Care Network intended to help employers and employees navigate social and medical issues associated with caregiving and aging. Mrs. Tellez has 25 years of management experience in health care finance and delivery. In October, Sterling was named one of the Top Woman-Owned Businesses in the Bay Area and ranked number 20 of the Top Woman-Owned Businesses in the East Bay by the San Francisco Business Times.