Bank Board Retreat Dinner



Mike Holcomb, Bob Harding, Shannon Coffin



Early in the week, I flew to Portland in order to attend the Pacific Continental Bank Board Retreat.  I have been on this board for several years and  in the fall each year, we take time to "retreat" and discuss the direction and priorities of the business for the upcoming year.  As always, it was a well-organized and thought-provoking meeting orchestrated ably by CEO Hal Brown, President Roger Busse and Executive Administrative Assistant, Shannon Coffin.  In addition to the Board members attending, the senior management team also attends  and participates in the reporting and discussions. 



Mick Reynolds, Pat Haxby, Mitch Hagstrom, Rachel Ulrich

On the evening between the two days, we adjourned to a delightful restaurant in Portland,  Meriwether’s Restaurant. It is in the genre of a classic country inn and features a farm to table approach with a Pacific Northwest menu.  Following delicious hors d'oeuvres served on their intimate outdoor patio featuring a fireplace in the round, we were seated and began the dinner with incredible foccaccia bread served with olive oil.  A side order we shared that everyone raved about was their creamy, al dente risotto with spinach.  Between the great bread, the risotto and delicious potatoes au gratin served with the entree, I was very pleased when new Seattle Market President, Bob Harding, agreed to take the rest of my steak.    



Don Montgomery, Dan Hempy, John Rickman



Portland Market President, Dan Hempy,  made arrangements for some great wine to accompany the dinner including Willamette Valley Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir and Napa Valley Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon.  Though I am more of a Cabernet fan than a Pinot Noir fan, I loved the Domaine Drouhin and it brought back memories of sitting in the kitchen of Domaine Drouhin Winemaker, Veronique Drouhin's parents when I visited Maison Joseph Drouhin in Cote de Beaune around 25 years ago.  This was in my previous life when I was in the restaurant business and we were able to have lunch with her father, Robert Drouhin, after he had shared barrel tasting wines with us in his barrel room.  Yet another example of the small world we live in and that everything seems to connect!