Community West Bank COO dies
Michael Phlaum, chief operating officer at Goleta-based Community West Bank, died Friday evening from complications related to a stroke, the bank said on July 21.
Phlaum joined the bank in February 2012 and was promoted to COO and executive vice president in February of this year.
“This is a tragic loss for me personally and all of us here at the company,” Community West CEO and President Martin Plourd said in a statement. “In this period of extreme mourning, our prayers and thoughts and deepest condolences go out to Mike’s wife Barbara and his beloved family. Mike’s positive spirit, enthusiasm and commitment will be greatly missed by all of us who had the honor of working with him. Mike was well respected by everyone here and the bank’s customers with whom he worked so passionately to serve.”
Plourd and other members of the bank’s management team will perform the COO duties on an interim basis, the bank said.