Our team is made up of some of the most experienced bankers and community leaders in Southern California.
Meet the people who help connect our community:
Duncan Hughes
SVP/Regional Manager
Kathy Gonzales
Senior Vice President
Kathy's Story
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Kathryn Gutierrez
SVP/Team Leader
Kathryn's Story
Ryan Yates
Relationship Manager
Ryan's Story
Shahana Ali
Treasury Management Sales Associate
Shahana's Story
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Sandra Woods
VP/Senior Relationship Manager
Sandra's Story
Kathy Gonzales
SVP/Team Leader
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND:
Kathy Gonzales is a senior banking executive with over 40 years of experience providing strategic financial solutions to companies across diverse industries, including large operational enterprises, contractors, receivership entities, attorneys, escrow firms, 1031 exchange, professional services, charter schools, manufacturing, and aerospace. She is known for her deep expertise in treasury management, working capital optimization, and credit structuring for businesses with annual revenues ranging from $5 million to $150 million.
Throughout her career, Kathy has specialized in designing and delivering comprehensive consultative financing solutions – from lines of credit, equipment and tenant improvement loans, and commercial real estate purchases, and refinances, to asset-based lending and state-guaranteed loans, and SBA programs. Her ability to align banking services with each client’s growth stage and industry nuances has made her a trusted advisor to business owners and executives throughout Southern California.
Kathy’s hallmark is a relationship driven approach grounded in integrity, financial insight, and operational understanding – helping companies strengthen liquidity, manage risk, and achieve sustainable profitability.
EDUCATION:
Kathy earned a master’s certificate from the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington in Seattle.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Kathy is the former Inland Empire Business Banking President & CEO. She founded a commercial bank from the ground up and helped stabilize another commercial banking institution, which led to it becoming highly profitable.
PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT:
- Member of Loan Committee for the Small Business Development Corporation of Orange County (SBDCOC)
- Member of the Escrow Institute of California
- Member of the Association of General Contractors California (AGC)
- Member of the California Receivers Forum
FUN FACT:
Outside of banking, Kathy enjoys an active and community-centered life – she loves vacationing in Hawaii, playing golf, and spending weekends cooking and hosting family and friends. Deeply committed to service, she regularly volunteers at her church and local food banks, finding purpose in giving back, and connecting with others beyond the boardroom.
Kathryn Gutierrez
SVP/Team Leader
AREAS OF FOCUS:
- Manufacturing & Aerospace
- Professional Services & CPA Firm
- Nonprofit Organizations
- Contractors
EDUCATION:
Kathryn earned her B.S. in International Business, with a German emphasis from Cal State Fullerton.
PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT:
- Board Member and Finance Committee, Micro Collaborative Enterprises
FUN FACT:
Outside of work, Kathryn enjoys traveling, hiking, kayaking, being in nature, reading, drawing, photography, and spending time with her grandchildren.
Ryan Yates
Relationship Manager
AREAS OF FOCUS
- Nonprofit Organizations
- Political Action Committees
- Law Firms
- CPA Firms
- Insurance Firms
- Contractors
- Manufacturers
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND:
Based in Marina del Rey, Ryan serves as a strategic banking partner for privately held businesses and nonprofit organizations throughout Greater Los Angeles. He combines the precision of a financial engineer with the perspective of a trusted advisor, helping entrepreneurs and executives navigate complex financial challenges with creativity, clarity, and purpose.
Over his career, Ryan has underwritten and structured over $100 million in commercial financing across nearly every major credit category. His experience spans working capital and asset-based lines of credit, SBA 7(a) and 504 loans, equipment and term financing, construction and bridge loans, and both owner-occupied and investor commercial real estate facilities. He has also arranged specialized credit solutions such as standby and commercial letters of credit, bonding and flooring lines, and tailored guidance line facilities. This breadth enables Ryan to approach every engagement as a financial architect — designing integrated strategies that align lending, treasury management, and long-term capital planning within one cohesive framework.
Ryan embodies Endeavor Bank’s consultative model — one built by business owners, for business owners. He partners with clients to not only secure capital, but to strengthen liquidity, optimize cash flow, and leverage Endeavor’s network of seasoned professionals to advance their goals. Grounded in credit underwriting, accounting, and business management, Ryan brings the discipline of a banker and the mindset of a builder to every relationship.
A graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, Ryan earned his B.A. in Political Science with an emphasis in International Relations and Public Policy and completed his Professional TMP Certification — an intensive curriculum bridging finance, marketing, accounting, and technology strategy. Through UCSB’s New Venture Program, he collaborated with venture capitalists and entrepreneurs to ideate and launch a startup, an experience that deepened his appreciation for innovation and shaped his commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and established business leaders alike. Earlier in his career, Ryan worked as a Student Advisor in UCSB’s Bursar’s Office, assisting students with scholarships and financial aid — a formative role that sparked his passion for financial advisory and service.
Outside the office, Ryan enjoys live music, golf, beach volleyball, art, and exploring new restaurants and cuisines — pursuits that mirror the curiosity, creativity, and connection he brings to every client partnership.
Shahana Ali
Treasury Management Sales Associate
Sandra Woods
VP/Senior Relationship Manager
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND:
With over 24 years of comprehensive experience in the banking industry, Sandra Woods is an esteemed financial professional specializing in healthcare, dental structures, and owner-occupied real estate transactions. Raised in Southern California, Sandra has developed a profound understanding of the financial landscape, extending her expertise to nationwide markets. Beginning her career as a credit analyst at the age of 18, she has excelled in pivotal roles at prestigious institutions such as JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, and East West Bank. Sandra’s progression from underwriter to relationship manager is a testament to her in-depth industry knowledge and unwavering commitment to delivering customized financial solutions.
Sandra is renowned for her consultative approach, fostering strong, long-lasting relationships with clients by delivering strategies that are both tailored and results-driven. Her broad skill set spans sales leadership, portfolio management, credit underwriting, and loan origination, with a particular focus on Commercial & Industrial (C&I) lending, and real estate loans. Throughout her distinguished career, she has successfully managed diverse portfolios, ranging from small businesses to large-scale commercial and healthcare clients, facilitating the origination of over $275 million in loans.
Her areas of expertise include:
Sandra is renowned for her consultative approach, fostering strong, long-lasting relationships with clients by delivering strategies that are both tailored and results-driven. Her broad skill set spans sales leadership, portfolio management, credit underwriting, and loan origination, with a particular focus on Commercial & Industrial (C&I) lending, and real estate loans. Throughout her distinguished career, she has successfully managed diverse portfolios, ranging from small businesses to large-scale commercial and healthcare clients, facilitating the origination of over $275 million in loans.
Her areas of expertise include:
- Strategic sales leadership and operational management
- Portfolio oversight for C&I, healthcare, and OOCRE (Owner-Occupied Commercial Real Estate)
- Loan origination
- Proven track record in business development and relationship cultivation
- Mastery in self-marketing and promoting the services she offers, with a reputation for establishing robust client relationships and consistently delivering value
ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
A standout achievement in Sandra’s career came in 2016 when she was featured in the Wall Street Journal for her leadership of the healthcare division at Triumph Healthcare Bank, further solidifying her position as an industry leader. Sandra’s deep connection with the Hispanic community, stemming from her upbringing in Mexico, enables her to offer culturally informed financial solutions that resonate with clients.
Sandra’s career has also been marked by success in senior roles, including Vice President at Pacific Alliance Bank, United Business Bank, and Banc of California, where she consistently exceeded revenue targets and effectively managed high-value portfolios. At Endeavor Bank, Sandra continues to lead with a consultative approach, prioritizing long-term relationships over transactional banking and ensuring her clients receive personalized, impactful service.
PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT:
- Member of CREW Orange County
- Member of the Risk Management Association of Orange County
- Member of Hispanic Women in Finance
- Member of the HFMA Southern California Chapter.
FUN FACT:
Outside of her career, Sandra is deeply committed to her family. She enjoys spending time with her two children, swimming, and cooking. Passionate about her work, she thrives on long hours and finds immense satisfaction in helping clients navigate their financial journeys. Sandra is always approachable and eager to assist anyone seeking guidance, confident in her ability to add value at every step.