Erich A. Haidlen
About Erich A. Haidlen
Erich A. Haidlen, 52, is General Manager and President of Haidlen Ford, Inc. (Oakdale, CA) since 1998; previously a Financial Analyst at FMV Opinions, Inc. (1995–1998). He holds a B.A. in Economics from UC Irvine and is a 2002 graduate of the NADA Dealer Candidate Academy. He was nominated for election to the Oak Valley Bancorp Board at the June 17, 2025 annual meeting; he is the son of retiring director Thomas A. Haidlen and a fifth‑generation Stanislaus County resident .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| FMV Opinions, Inc. | Financial Analyst (valuations of companies, partnerships, intangible assets) | 1995–1998 | Developed finance/valuation expertise applicable to bank governance |
| Haidlen Ford, Inc. | General Manager & President | 1998–Present | Local market and operating experience; community ties valuable to regional bank oversight |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakdale Chamber of Commerce | Past President | 2006–2007 | Community leadership and stakeholder engagement |
| Oakdale Economic Development Committee | Former Member | Not disclosed | Local economic development perspective |
Board Governance
- Independence: The Board determined nominee Erich A. Haidlen will be considered non‑independent due to related‑party transactions (see related‑party section) .
- Election/tenure: Nominated for election at the June 17, 2025 Annual Meeting; record date April 23, 2025; 8,382,062 shares outstanding .
- Committees (Board structure): OVLY maintains six standing committees (Nominating, Audit, Loan, Investment, Compensation, CRA). Historically, all directors serve on the Loan Committee; committee chairs are independent directors. Specific committee assignments for Erich are not disclosed at nomination stage .
- Attendance (Board overall): In 2024, the Board held 12 meetings; each incumbent director attended ≥75% of meetings and committee meetings; all 13 directors attended the 2024 Annual Meeting .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Disclosure | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | Disclosed | Non‑employee directors received $3,000 per month in 2024; directors who are employees receive no board pay . |
| Director Retirement Agreements | Disclosed (program) | For eligible directors retiring at later of age 72 or 10 years of service, $12,000 annually for 10 years; change‑in‑control payout equals accrued retirement liability; benefits are unfunded contractual liabilities; bank owns split‑dollar life insurance to recover premiums . |
| Insurance & imputed income | Disclosed (program) | Bank has director split‑dollar life insurance; imputed income recognized by directors annually . |
Note: As a 2025 nominee, Erich A. Haidlen’s board compensation for 2024 is not applicable; program terms indicate expected structure upon service commencement .
Performance Compensation
| Element | Status | Performance Metrics |
|---|---|---|
| Equity awards (RSUs/PSUs) to directors | Not granted in 2024 | None; 2024 proxy reports no director equity grants (with limited outstanding restricted stock for certain incumbents) . |
| Options to directors | None outstanding (2024) | N/A . |
| Variable/bonus pay for directors | Not disclosed/applicable | Directors compensated by fixed cash retainer; no performance‑conditioned pay disclosed . |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Category | Disclosure |
|---|---|
| Current public company boards | None disclosed for Erich A. Haidlen in the proxy biography . |
| Prior public boards | None disclosed . |
| Private/non‑profit boards | Past President, Oakdale Chamber of Commerce; former member, Oakdale Economic Development Committee . |
| Family interlocks | Sister affiliated with Crown Painting and Design Studio 120, which received payments from the Company (see related‑party section); father Thomas A. Haidlen is a retiring OVLY director . |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Finance and valuation training (FMV Opinions) and BA in Economics; NADA Dealer Academy graduate—useful for credit, lending, and operational oversight at a community bank .
- Deep local market knowledge and business leadership through Haidlen Ford and community roles—supports CRA/community engagement and small business lending perspectives .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | % of Outstanding | Measurement Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erich A. Haidlen | 22,093 | 0.26% | March 31, 2025; 8,382,062 shares outstanding |
- Ownership guidelines: Directors are required by bylaws to hold company common stock; no fixed target; directors encouraged to hold for investment .
- Pledging/hedging: No pledging or hedging by Erich disclosed; not referenced in proxy .
Related‑Party Transactions (Conflicts)
- The Company made payments totaling $236,000 in 2024 to Crown Painting and Design Studio 120, companies affiliated with Thomas Haidlen’s daughter and Erich Haidlen’s sister, for renovation/design work on bank branches; transactions subject to strict Board policies, Regulation O, and standard credit/terms processes .
- OVLY’s related‑party policy and governance: Board reviews fairness and compliance; loans/credits to directors executed in ordinary course under Regulation O; terms comparable to non‑Board customers .
- Independence impact: Due to these related‑party ties, Erich is deemed non‑independent for Nasdaq rules .
Insider Trades
- Section 16 reporting: Proxy reports late filings for certain incumbents in prior years; no Erich‑specific Form 4 activity disclosed (nominee status) .
- Beneficial ownership table includes Erich’s holdings (see Equity Ownership) .
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Local business leadership and finance/valuation experience; meaningful personal share ownership (22,093 shares; 0.26%), aligning interests with shareholders .
- Risks/RED FLAGS: Non‑independent status driven by family‑affiliated vendor payments (Crown Painting/Design Studio 120); family ties on the Board (son of retiring director Thomas Haidlen). Continued monitoring of related‑party transactions and committee placement (especially Audit/Compensation) is warranted to mitigate perceived conflicts .
- Board effectiveness signals: OVLY maintains robust related‑party policies, independent committee chairs, and strong director attendance; however, avoiding sensitive committee roles for non‑independent directors can preserve investor confidence .