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<\/a><\/p>\nThis story is part of our July 2026 Young Professionals issue. To read the print version, click here.<\/a><\/p>\n
\n Ciminelli, 31, pushed herself through school, working toward a \n She graduated from the University of the Pacific with a major in \n She planned on a career in nonprofits until, during her job \n \u201cWhat makes America great is that we really are a country of \n Ciminelli started as a credit analyst in the credit department \n For example, when the bank needed someone to scan thousands of \n While at Five Star Bank, Ciminelli developed her skills with \n \u201cIt was a ton of work. I did not sleep. I probably averaged \n Ciminelli credits her mentor, the bank\u2019s Senior Vice President \n But after nine years of her \u201cnose to the grindstone\u201d and becoming \n Ciminelli is an advocate with the CASA program for foster youth, \n Ciminelli and her husband, Andrew, a woodworker whom she met at \n As for her thoughts on America\u2019s 250th birthday: \u201cWhat makes \n \u2013\n<\/p>\n \n View the\u00a0list of
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\nMakayla Ciminelli has always been ambitious. As the
\n youngest of five siblings growing up in Fresno, she was an
\n achiever at an early age. \u201cI was a perfectionist from
\n kindergarten,\u201d she says. \u201cMy parents used to joke that they had
\n to worry about all my other siblings, but I was the one who would
\n check my own grades. I wanted to make sure that I had straight
\n A\u2019s. I would never want to be in trouble.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n goal to secure scholarships because she knew she\u2019d have to pay
\n for her college education. She worked the 4 a.m. shift as a
\n barista at Peet\u2019s Coffee while taking a full course load. Her
\n first big challenge was when she almost lost a scholarship due to
\n a typo but fought to successfully get it back.\n<\/p>\n
\n international relations and a minor in economics. As part of her
\n international studies, she was required to live abroad for four
\n months, so she shared an apartment with five young women in
\n Stirling, Scotland. She was one of two Americans, with one each
\n from Germany, France, Switzerland and Scotland. \u201cIt was really
\n fun, the amount of different things we learned about each other,\u201d
\n she says.\n<\/p>\n
\n search, UOP professor Dr. Sharmila King told her Five Star Bank
\n in Sacramento was recruiting college graduates. She went through
\n a thorough vetting process in the management trainee program,
\n which included an interview with CEO James Beckwith. \u201cI thought
\n it was really amazing that a CEO was willing to sit down with
\n someone who was just looking for their entry-level job out of
\n college,\u201d she says.\n<\/p>\n
\n different cultures, immigrants, people who have different
\n languages, different belief systems, connecting back to
\n everything I enjoy about learning and really wanting the desire
\n to understand different perspectives and where people come
\n from.\u201d\n <\/p>\n
\n and quickly rose through the ranks through hard work. \u201cI was
\n always the person who when they needed something done, they
\n wanted somebody to work extra hours, take on an additional
\n project, really be the boots on the ground for something. I
\n volunteered,\u201d she says.\n<\/p>\n
\n documents to convert them into a new cloud system, Ciminelli
\n volunteered. She credits her parents for that mindset, saying
\n they didn\u2019t have much, but they taught her to work hard.\n<\/p>\n
\n banking courses at Pacific Coast Banking School at the University
\n of Washington. She now supervises a staff of 34. When the
\n pandemic hit, she was chosen to head up the Paycheck Protection
\n Program loans. She worked 15- to 20-hour days sometimes to make
\n sure Five Star Bank\u2019s small businesses got the financial help
\n they needed. Her hard work in getting 1,500 PPP loans approved
\n was recognized.\n<\/p>\n
\n during that time period maybe two or three hours of sleep. They
\n were long days, 20-hour days of just getting the funds out. But I
\n was in it, and I really valued the experience, because you could
\n see the direct impact,\u201d she says.\n<\/p>\n
\n and Chief Credit Officer Jim Dalton for sharing his expertise
\n with her. \u201cHe invited me to the table so I could be part of key
\n discussions and contribute to leadership decisions, and gave me
\n the opportunity to learn directly from him, which has been
\n invaluable,\u201d she says.\n<\/p>\n
\n an expert on credit, Ciminelli says she wants to start giving
\n back more to her community. \u201cProfessional growth is more than
\n just where you move in your career, right? Professional growth
\n includes and is holistic of how you\u2019re involved in the community,
\n so I want that to continue,\u201d she says.\n<\/p>\n
\n a member of the Junior Achievement and is a member of the
\n Sacramento Metro Chamber\u2019s leadership program. She\u2019s also helped
\n with the International Rescue Committee by teaching new
\n immigrants business skills, such as learning Excel and navigating
\n job sites.\n<\/p>\n
\n UOP, love the outdoors and enjoy hiking, paddleboarding and
\n kayaking. They have two dogs, Nugget, a beagle-retriever mix, and
\n Butter, a Shiba Inu. \u201cI definitely need to be outside to
\n recharge.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n America great is that we really are a country of different
\n cultures, immigrants, people who have different languages,
\n different belief systems, connecting back to everything I enjoy
\n about learning and really wanting the desire to understand
\n different perspectives and where people come from.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n honorees<\/a>\u00a0from 2015 through 2026.\n<\/p>\n