Their collective expertise spans fields such as finance, athletics, and business, offering valuable perspectives as the College charts its future.
In 2012, James M. “Jim” Brown ’71 retired from his most recent role as senior vice president and principal financial officer at The Capital Group Companies, Inc. He previously served on the Whittier College Board of Trustees from 2009-2020, providing leadership as chairman for one term. Jim earned his BA in business administration from Whittier College, his MBA from the University of Southern California, and an MS in taxation from Golden Gate University. Jim is married to his college sweetheart, Joyce (Eakin) Brown ’71. The couple have been generous philanthropists and are Whittier College Poets Laureate. In addition to endowing a faculty development fund aimed at stimulating pedagogical innovation, they made a leadership gift to the Science and Learning Center project.
Michele (Torres) Cortes ’92 is chief financial officer and founder of Vincor Construction Inc. As CFO, Michele has grown the construction company from a small family business in 1999 to an enterprise spanning multiple sectors, including health care, government, education, housing, civic, and various private commercial projects. At Whittier College, Michele was a business administration major. She was active in founding the women’s lacrosse club and was treasurer for the Hispanic Student Association. She cites Director of the Center for Mexican American Affairs Martin Ortiz ’48 as an influential mentor. Michele is currently a member of the Poet Council. An active volunteer in public health initiatives, with a focus on public health efforts directed toward Latin American communities
Christopher T. “Chris” Martin ’94 recently retired from his work as an athletics consultant after guiding, assisting, and evaluating several Division III athletic programs. From 2002-2019, he served as commissioner for the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. Between 2009 and 2012, in his role as CCIW commissioner, Chris served in additional DIII leadership positions, including chair of the NCAA Division III Management Council and president of the Division III Commissioners Association Executive Committee, among others. In 2017, he completed a four-year tenure on the NCAA Division III Football Committee. Chris has a master’s degree in sports management from the University of Richmond and a BA in political science from Whittier College. At Whittier, Chris played on the men's baseball team and was active with the Quaker Campus student newspaper and the student senate. A Whittier College Trustee from 2014-16, Chris’s generosity toward the College has supported the Purple & Gold Fund, the Baseball Fund, underwriting the renovation of Whittier College’s baseball field, and renovating the men's and women's locker rooms. Chris has made significant contributions to the renovation of the Science and Learning Center and to the Whittier Now! campaign.
Bharat Patel P’18 is the president of Castle Inn Incorporated in Anaheim. Raised in the hospitality industry, Bharat’s father bought his first hotel, the original Peter Pan Motor Lodge, in the mid-70s. The family later built the Castle Inn & Suites across the street from Disneyland Resort. Having earned his MBA from California State University, Fullerton, Bharat is an active volunteer leader in Orange County. He serves on numerous boards, including the Anaheim Family YMCA, the Anaheim Community Foundation, the California Lodging Industry Association, Visit Anaheim, and the Anaheim Police Association. Bharat was a member of the Whittier College Board of Trustees from 2018-2023 and served on the Advancement and Buildings and Grounds Committees. Prior to that, he was on the Poet Council. Bharat and his wife Ragini are the parents of Whittier graduate Rakesh Patel ’18 as well as a daughter who graduated from Chapman University.
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