Officers and Board of Directors
Jennifer Budwig
PresidentHumboldt County native Jennifer P. Budwig graduated from Humboldt State University in 1989 with a degree in Business Management. She also completed Pacific Coast Banking School in 2011, graduating in the top 10% of her class.
Ms. Budwig joined Redwood Capital Bank in 2006 and has held a variety of leadership positions throughout her tenure, including SVP/Chief Lending Officer and SVP/Chief Operating Officer. She also served as Acting Chief Executive Officer from July 2021 through June 2022 during John E. Dalby’s leave of absence. In May 2026, Ms. Budwig was named President of Redwood Capital Bank and Redwood Capital Bancorp. She brings extensive banking and leadership experience, operational expertise and a deep understanding of the bank’s culture and community-focused mission to her role.
In January 2026, Ms. Budwig was appointed to the Boards of Directors of Redwood Capital Bank and Redwood Capital Bancorp.
Ms. Budwig is a member of the Eureka Rotary Club and serves on the boards of the Northern California Community Blood Bank, California Community Banking Network (CCBN), Humboldt Neuro Health Services, Noel for Neighbors and Spirit of Ferndale. She is also a Loan Committee member of the Redwood Region Economic Development Commission, a Finance Committee member of The Ingomar Club and participates with the Greater Eureka Chamber of Commerce on its Government Affairs/Business and Industry Committee.
She and her husband reside in Ferndale.
John E. Dalby
Chief Executive OfficerMr. Dalby graduated from Northwest Christian University/University of Oregon in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/Finance. He also attended Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington, graduating with honors in 1996.
Mr. Dalby has extensive banking and executive leadership experience, including 10 years with Humboldt Bank in Eureka. In 2002, he left Humboldt Bank to join a group of local individuals working to bring community banking back to Humboldt County. Those efforts led to the formation of Redwood Capital Bank, which opened its doors in 2004. Mr. Dalby served as the bank’s founding President and Chief Executive Officer. In May 2026, as part of a planned leadership transition, Jennifer P. Budwig assumed the role of President and Mr. Dalby continued as Chief Executive Officer. In his role as CEO, he continues to provide executive leadership and strategic direction as Redwood Capital Bank enters its next chapter. Mr. Dalby is also a founding director of both Redwood Capital Bank and Redwood Capital Bancorp and continues to serve on the Boards of Directors of both organizations.
Throughout his career, Mr. Dalby has been active in the communities in which he has lived, serving on the boards and committees of numerous service organizations, including the St. Joseph Hospital Board of Trustees, Eureka Chamber of Commerce, Ingomar Club, Redwood Region Economic Development Commission, Rotary Club of Southwest Eureka, City of Eureka Housing Advisory Board, The Salvation Army, American Cancer Society, Humboldt Senior Resource Center and Christian Youth Fund.
Mr. Dalby and his wife, Susan, reside in Eureka and have two adult children and six grandchildren.
Heather Bell
Senior Vice President/Chief Information OfficerMs. Bell brings extensive financial industry, operations and technology experience to Redwood Capital Bank. Born in Sacramento and raised in Cottonwood, California, she was a founding employee of Cornerstone Community Bank, where she began her career in customer service and advanced through a variety of leadership positions, including SVP/Director of Operations and SVP/Director of Information Technology.
Throughout her career, Ms. Bell has been passionate about service, collaboration and building strong organizations. She brings that commitment to her role at Redwood Capital Bank and to the communities we serve.
Ms. Bell previously served as President of the Red Bluff Kiwanis and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Red Bluff-Tehama County Chamber of Commerce. She is currently a member of the Kiwanis Club of Henderson Center.
She and her husband, Jason, have made Humboldt County their home and are parents to two adult children.
Tammy Brown
Senior Vice President/Chief Credit OfficerMs. Brown was raised in Humboldt County and has a strong background in banking and lending, along with a deep knowledge of Humboldt County and its business community.
Ms. Brown is a 2014 graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School in Seattle, Washington and has served as Redwood Capital Bank’s SVP/Chief Credit Officer since 2015. She is a strong believer in community banking and is committed to keeping local deposits working in the communities we serve, one loan - one customer at a time.
Ms. Brown is a longtime supporter of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Humboldt and has served in a variety of capacities at the Board level. Her past civic involvement also included the Humboldt County Headwaters Fund Board and Humboldt Women for Wellness.
She and her husband, Ron, reside in Fortuna and have two adult children.
Renee Byers
Senior Vice President/Chief Financial OfficerMs. Byers was raised in Humboldt County and has held a variety of roles throughout her banking career, including customer service, back office support, human resources and accounting. She joined Redwood Capital Bank in 2008 as a Staff Accountant and later served as VP/Controller. In 2018, she graduated from Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington and was named SVP/Chief Financial Officer.
Ms. Byers was a longtime volunteer with Harbor Lanes Youth Bowlers and Redwood Empire Little League. She currently serves as a Commissioner with the Housing Authority of the City of Eureka.
She and her husband reside in Eureka and have two children and one grandson.
Stephanie Bye
Senior Vice President, Chief Risk OfficerMs. Bye was raised in Northern California and brings a broad background in banking, regulatory compliance and risk management to her role as Chief Risk Officer of Redwood Capital Bank. She began her financial career in 2010 as a Risk Management Examiner with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and has since held senior leadership positions in risk management, compliance and financial crimes.
Ms. Bye holds the Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM) and Certified Enterprise Risk Professional (CERP) designations. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in law and society and a Master of Science in accountancy.
Ms. Bye is a 2024 graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School (PCBS) at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business, where she received the Kermit O. Hanson Award of Excellence for graduating at the top of her class and was named to the honor roll, representing the top 10% of the graduating class.
Ms. Bye serves on the Board of Directors of Humboldt Domestic Violence Services.
Ms. Bye and her husband, Jeff, reside in Eureka.
Jennifer Budwig
PresidentHumboldt County native Jennifer P. Budwig graduated from Humboldt State University in 1989 with a degree in Business Management. She also completed Pacific Coast Banking School in 2011, graduating in the top 10% of her class.
Ms. Budwig joined Redwood Capital Bank in 2006 and has held a variety of leadership positions throughout her tenure, including SVP/Chief Lending Officer and SVP/Chief Operating Officer. She also served as Acting Chief Executive Officer from July 2021 through June 2022 during John E. Dalby’s leave of absence. In May 2026, Ms. Budwig was named President of Redwood Capital Bank and Redwood Capital Bancorp. She brings extensive banking and leadership experience, operational expertise and a deep understanding of the bank’s culture and community-focused mission to her role.
In January 2026, Ms. Budwig was appointed to the Boards of Directors of Redwood Capital Bank and Redwood Capital Bancorp.
Ms. Budwig is a member of the Eureka Rotary Club and serves on the boards of the Northern California Community Blood Bank, California Community Banking Network (CCBN), Humboldt Neuro Health Services, Noel for Neighbors and Spirit of Ferndale. She is also a Loan Committee member of the Redwood Region Economic Development Commission, a Finance Committee member of The Ingomar Club and participates with the Greater Eureka Chamber of Commerce on its Government Affairs/Business and Industry Committee.
She and her husband reside in Ferndale.
V. Tyrone Champ
Mr. Champ is from Sacramento, California. He graduated from Sonoma State University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting. Following graduation, he worked in public accounting in the Sacramento region before moving to Humboldt County in November 2010. He became a Certified Public Accountant in 2012 while working with a local accounting firm and, in August 2019, opened Champ CPA Group in Eureka, California.
Mr. Champ was appointed to the Boards of Directors of Redwood Capital Bank and Redwood Capital Bancorp in August 2021.
Mr. Champ has been a member of the Rotary Club of Southwest Eureka since November 2014, where he has served on the Board of Directors in various positions.
Mr. Champ and his significant other, Esther, live in McKinleyville and have five children between them.
John E. Dalby
Chief Executive OfficerMr. Dalby graduated from Northwest Christian University/University of Oregon in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/Finance. He also attended Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington, graduating with honors in 1996.
Mr. Dalby has extensive banking and executive leadership experience, including 10 years with Humboldt Bank in Eureka. In 2002, he left Humboldt Bank to join a group of local individuals working to bring community banking back to Humboldt County. Those efforts led to the formation of Redwood Capital Bank, which opened its doors in 2004. Mr. Dalby served as the bank’s founding President and Chief Executive Officer. In May 2026, as part of a planned leadership transition, Jennifer P. Budwig assumed the role of President and Mr. Dalby continued as Chief Executive Officer. In his role as CEO, he continues to provide executive leadership and strategic direction as Redwood Capital Bank enters its next chapter. Mr. Dalby is also a founding director of both Redwood Capital Bank and Redwood Capital Bancorp and continues to serve on the Boards of Directors of both organizations.
Throughout his career, Mr. Dalby has been active in the communities in which he has lived, serving on the boards and committees of numerous service organizations, including the St. Joseph Hospital Board of Trustees, Eureka Chamber of Commerce, Ingomar Club, Redwood Region Economic Development Commission, Rotary Club of Southwest Eureka, City of Eureka Housing Advisory Board, The Salvation Army, American Cancer Society, Humboldt Senior Resource Center and Christian Youth Fund.
Mr. Dalby and his wife, Susan, reside in Eureka and have two adult children and six grandchildren.
John J. Gierek, Jr.
Mr. Gierek received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from The University of Texas at Austin. He served as a Personal Banking Manager with Texas Commerce Bank in Austin, Texas from 1984 to 1989. In 1989, Mr. Gierek joined Humboldt Moving and Storage Co., Inc. in Eureka, California, where he served as President until 2023. He has served as Chairman of Humboldt Moving and Storage since June 2023.
Mr. Gierek is a founding director of both Redwood Capital Bank and Redwood Capital Bancorp and continues to serve on the Boards of Directors of both organizations. He served as Board Chairman from July 2016 through June 2024. Mr. Gierek also previously served as a director of Six Rivers Bank in Eureka, California.
Mr. Gierek’s civic involvement has included the Rotary Club of Eureka, Greater Eureka Chamber of Commerce, St. Joseph Hospital Foundation and Board of Trustees and St. Bernard High School.
Mr. Gierek and his wife, Heather, reside in Eureka and have five children and two grandchildren.
Jennifer Harris
As President and CEO of AmHydro, Ms. Harris has a passion for changing food production throughout the world so that the food we grow is accessible to all communities around the globe and is grown in a sustainable way. She is a native of Northern California and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. After graduating, she lived and worked in Frankfurt, Germany before returning to California to work in the San Francisco financial district. In 2018 Jennifer was named Point Loma Nazarene University’s “Alumni of the Year”.
Ms. Harris has over 30 years of experience working in finance and strategy – from long-established General Electric to Silicon Valley start-ups, resulting in their rapid growth and constant innovation. While at GE Financial Assurance, Ms. Harris earned a “Black Belt” in Six Sigma business management strategy. This broad base of experience has given her the ability to bring best practices from many different industries directly to her Humboldt County business. In addition to her business experience, Jennifer is actively involved in the development of new products in her company’s Research and Development greenhouses.
Ms. Harris is active in community organizations working with youth and homelessness and has served on boards for various charitable organizations throughout her life. She currently sits on the Executive Committee of the Foundation Advancement Board for Humboldt State University.
J. William McAuley
ChairmanMr. McAuley graduated with honors from Humboldt State University in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting. He is a Certified Public Accountant and Partner with Demello, McAuley, McReynolds & Holland, LLP, Certified Public Accountants in Eureka, California. Mr. McAuley is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Mr. McAuley is a founding director of both Redwood Capital Bank and Redwood Capital Bancorp and continues to serve on the Boards of Directors of both organizations. He has served as Chairman of both Boards since June 2024.
Mr. McAuley’s civic involvement has included board participation with the Christine and Jalmer Berg Foundation, Greater Eureka Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of Eureka, Rotary International District 5130, Northern California Community Blood Bank and Humboldt Youth Soccer League, as well as youth sports coaching and faith-based activities.
Mr. McAuley and his wife, Cynthia, reside in Eureka and have two adult children and two grandchildren.
Benjamin A. McWhorter, II
Mr. McWhorter is a fourth-generation Humboldt County resident. He graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Science. Following graduation, he attended California State University, Chico, where he obtained a teaching credential. Mr. McWhorter taught Agriculture Education at Ferndale High School for seven years.
Mr. McWhorter is a part-owner of Blue Star Gas Company.
Mr. McWhorter was appointed to the Boards of Directors of Redwood Capital Bank and Redwood Capital Bancorp in August 2022.
Mr. McWhorter’s civic involvement has included serving as President of the Redwood Memorial Hospital Foundation and Chairman of the Western Propane Gas Association, as well as involvement as the Vice President of the Fortuna Rodeo Association, Fortuna Junior Rodeo, Humboldt County Fair Junior Livestock Auction Board and Fortuna Chamber of Commerce. He has also been active in coaching youth sports.
Mr. McWhorter and his wife, Sarah, reside in Fortuna and have two adult sons.
W. Timothy Needham
A Humboldt County native, Mr. Needham graduated magna cum laude from Humboldt State University in 1977. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of California, Davis in 1980. Following service as a law clerk to the Alaska courts, Mr. Needham joined the Janssen Law Firm in Eureka, California in 1981. He is presently of counsel with the Janssen firm, where his primary focus is mediation.
Mr. Needham has served as a member of the Judicial Council Committee on Uniform Local Rules and is a member of the State Bar of California. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Southern and Central Districts of California and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Mr. Needham has served on the Boards of Directors of Redwood Capital Bank and Redwood Capital Bancorp since July 2011.
Mr. Needham’s civic involvement has included serving as President of the Humboldt County Bar Association and as a director of KEET Public Television and Consumer Attorneys of California. In 2010, he was selected for the California Lawyer of the Year Award by California Lawyer magazine. In 2011, he was one of six California attorneys named Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Public Justice Foundation.
Mr. Needham and his wife, Susan, reside in Trinidad and have two adult children.
K. Jeff Nelson
Mr. Nelson is a graduate of Stanford University where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering in 1977. He is a registered professional engineer with SHN Consulting Engineers and Geologists in Eureka, California. Mr. Nelson joined the firm in 1979 and has served as CEO since 2001. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the National Society of Professional Engineers.
Mr. Nelson’s community involvement has included the Rotary Club of Fortuna Sunrise, Past President, serving on the Boards of St. Joseph and Redwood Memorial Hospitals, Humboldt County Workforce Development Board, Fortuna Union High School, and Humboldt County Office of Education. Mr. Nelson is a fifth generation resident of Humboldt County. He and his wife Sherry reside in Fortuna and have one daughter.
C. Dan Phillips
A Humboldt County native, Mr. Phillips was raised in rural Bridgeville, California. He graduated from Fortuna High School before earning bachelor’s degrees in Computer Information Systems and Business Administration (Accounting) from Cal Poly Humboldt.
Mr. Phillips has held executive leadership positions in technology, product development, engineering and operations throughout his career. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for Chamberlain Group, where he led the company’s global technology strategy until his retirement in 2025. Previously, Mr. Phillips served as Chief Technology Officer for Hulu and Chief Operating Officer for TiVo. He began his career in Humboldt County as co-founder of MetaSystems, an enterprise software company based in Arcata.
Mr. Phillips was appointed to the Boards of Directors of Redwood Capital Bank and Redwood Capital Bancorp in July 2026.
Mr. Phillips remains actively involved in organizations supporting education, entrepreneurship and economic development on the North Coast. He is co-founder of Lost Coast Ventures, a nonprofit organization that mentors and provides seed funding to entrepreneurs, and a founding member of StartUp Humboldt. He also serves as Vice Chair of the Cal Poly Humboldt Foundation and Co-Chair of the President’s Council at College of the Redwoods. In 2025, Cal Poly Humboldt awarded Mr. Phillips an Honorary Doctorate in recognition of his leadership and contributions to education and regional economic development.
Mr. Phillips and his wife, Cindy, reside in Los Gatos, California and have two adult daughters.
Michele D. Rieke
Ms. Rieke is a Humboldt County native. She spent much of her career with St. Joseph Hospital, most recently serving as Director of Human Resources for both St. Joseph and Redwood Memorial Hospitals. She retired in January 2025.
Ms. Rieke was appointed to the Boards of Directors of Redwood Capital Bank and Redwood Capital Bancorp in November 2018.
Ms. Rieke currently serves on the Board of Directors of North Coast Dance and joined Providence’s Women for Wellness in 2026.
Ms. Rieke and her husband, Jack, reside in Eureka and have two adult children and two grandchildren.
Steven M. Strombeck
Vice ChairmanMr. Strombeck attended Humboldt State University for two years then transferred to Sacramento State University, graduating in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management. He obtained his Contractors License in 1982 and has worked since that time as a developer/contractor. Mr. Strombeck is a licensed contractor and is the President of Strombeck Construction and owner of Strombeck Properties.
Mr. Strombeck currently serves on the Salvation Army Board of Directors and was appointed by the mayor to sit on the Board of Appeals for the City of Eureka where he has served for the past 10 years. Mr. Strombeck is active in his church and is currently the Chairman of the Board for Redwood Teen Challenge located in Eureka. Mr. Strombeck and his wife Tina reside in Eureka and have four children.