The S.B. Questionnaire: Joanne Funari

Joanne Funari’s laugh is one of her most distinctive characteristics. It’s genuine and very centered, just like her, and you can immediately recognize it when walking into a room.

For 25 years, Joanne, who is executive VP and COO of The Bank of Santa Barbara, and her husband Carlos have made Santa Barbara their passion. And that’s quite obvious, due to their dedicated and constant championing of causes ranging from Old Spanish Days (she served as La Presidenta), Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Santa Barbara, The Teddy Bear Foundation, and, well, the list goes on and on. Her enthusiasm for anything to do with Santa Barbara is contagious, and countless nonprofits have greatly benefitted from her advocacy.

Here, Joanne answers the Proust questionnaire.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?  

“This is going to be a great day!!!” And “ Oh…I have an idea.”  And “Viva la Fiesta!!!”

What do you like most about your job?

The people. I love building teams and working with our clients.  Banking is an amazing business. We have the opportunity to help people and businesses achieve their dreams. There is no better feeling than to see a business start from scratch and become successful. 

What is the quality you most like in people?

Positive attitude, solution-oriented, hard-working, and high integrity.

What is your current state of mind?

Happy and confident, because Bill Pintard just dropped by my office and promised me that the Yankees were going to have a great year in 2015!

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Sitting on the patio at the Four Seasons looking out over the ocean and enjoying a glass of red wine with my best buddies.

What is your greatest fear?

Failure.

Who do you most admire?  

Derek Jeter, team captain for the New York Yankees, because he is the ultimate high-performing team-player and he sets a great example for young people everywhere and is a great ambassador for New York and for baseball in general. 

What is your greatest extravagance? 

The awesome, nine-foot, 200-pound Christmas tree that I get every year from Lane Farms!. It barely fits in my house.

What is the quality you most dislike in people?

Dishonesty, lack of integrity.

What do you most value in friends?

High-energy, fun-loving, crazy, and caring.

What is your most marked characteristic?

Happy and high energy.

Which talent would you most like to have?

Comedian. 

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

The anxiety that I feel when I fly.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

My son who, by the way, is the lead guitarist and writer for the band Bears Among Men.  Like him on Facebook! (My shameless plug.)

Where would you most like to live?

I’m already there: Santa Barbara, California.

What is your most treasured possession?

My wonderful husband, Carlos, and my beautiful son, Ryan.

Who makes you laugh the most?

Any and all Saturday Night Live shows and Imus in the Morning.

What is your motto?

I live by my favorite quote from Mayo Angelou: “People will forget what you say, people will forget what you do, but people will never forget the way you made them feel.”

Which historical figure do you most identify with?

Vince Lombardi

On what occasion do you lie?

When I am working late and my husband calls me asking when I plan on coming home and I tell him, “I’m leaving in five minutes.”