Paul M. Friedenbach ’50

PERSONAL & EDUCATION:

  • Born 1/17/32 in Eureka, CA
  • Married 2/15/58 to Cal grad Sue Kellner ’58
  • Sue and Mike raised seven children and have sixteen grandchildren
  • Graduated from Cal with a BS in 1954 and an MBA in 1957
  • Served as 2nd Lt. in the US Navy from 1954 to 1956

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

  • 1957 to 1962 —  CPA with Arthur Andersen & Co. in San Francisco
  • 1962 to 1978 — Left public accounting to join Farinon Corp, a supplier of microwave systems. Progressed from CFO to EVP to President. Company went public in 1969.
  • 1978 to 1981 — CFO and SVP of Plantronics
  • 1983 to 1992 — Co-Founder and CEO of Digital Microwave Corp. which went public in 1987. Mike retired from the microwave business in 1992.

OTHER BUSINESS ENDEAVORS:

  • Co-Founded Panoche Creek Farms in 1973, an almond farm near Mendota, CA, that grew from 450 to 5,000 acres
  • Founding partner of West Valley Hulling and Sierra Valley Almonds, processing and marketing organizations
  • Has been a limited partner in 50+ commercial real estate investments since 1992
  • Has also served as a Director on the boards of numerous private and public companies

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES:

  • Served as foreman of the San Mateo Civil Grand Jury
  • Coached basketball for 22 years in the Peninsula Parochial School League
  • Head of the Finance Committee for Mt. Carmel Catholic Church
  • President of the Notre Dame Elementary School Parents Club