We had a very interesting craft talk today. Jacob started with some family background. He was born in 1970 in the southernmost tip of India, a large rural. His parents met in nursing school and got married, a deviation from the normal custom of arranged marriages. In fact, his mother refused to take a dowry, another custom in the country. Jacob described their house as being about half the size of the patio at Matt Denny’s, a structure with adobe walls and a mud floor. In 1977 the family moved to the United States settling in Hawthorne, CA.  Jacob’s mother came first in 1975 to find employment, and then the family followed two years later.

In 1983 the family returned to India to see Jacob’s grandmother. They were amazed at the difference in cultures and felt very fortunate to be living in the United States. Their upbringing in India taught them to be independent, work hard, be resourceful, and hold to high standards which has served them well in this country.

After moves to Culver City, El Toro, and Agoura Hills, Jacob went to Cal State Northridge, and then got an advanced degree from the USC  Marshall School of Business.  He was a finance major and is a CPA. He and his wife Patti have a daughter Christy and a son Zack. Christy attends Cal Poly Pomona. They live in Arcadia. Jacob and Patti have a common interest in music and enjoy going to concerts. Jacob is a serious hiker having hiked to the top of half-dome. They enjoy traveling as shown on a world map that Jacob shared. Almost every country has been visited, either on business or vacation.

Jacob’s financial background has led to employment at a number of large businesses including Jeffries and Co., Sun America, AIG, the Walt Disney Co., Warner Bros. and Warner Media. He has been involved in almost every facet of finance, and in the last three years he and his team have been concentrating on labor relations. Warner has over 30,000 employees so he has plenty of challenges.

Jacob’s sponsors are Imy and Gil, and we are honored to have him as a new member.

Dave Totten