President Treasures New VP for Finance

President Gayle Beebe has welcomed long-time co-worker Doug Jones to Westmont as vice president for finance. Jones fills a position left vacant when Ron Cronk retired last year after working at the college for 22 years.

Jones was vice president of finance and administration at Spring Arbor University for the seven years Beebe served president there. Jones left his job as controller at Huntington College, his alma mater, in 2000 when Beebe recruited him to Spring Arbor University.

“Doug provided outstanding leadership in several key areas,” Beebe says. “He is a great team player and an incredibly hard worker.”

After Beebe accepted the presidency at Westmont, he asked Jones to apply for the vice president position. Once again, Jones responded and took up his duties Sept. 3.

“Working with Gayle Beebe has been an absolute joy,” Jones says. “He’s a dynamic leader with a great mind for both the academic and operational aspects of a college, a true heart for students and a passion for the Lord.”

In addition to nearly 10 years of experience with budgeting and finance in higher education, Jones brings a solid background in public and corporate accounting. He earned a master’s degree in business administration from Indiana University in 1999, became a certified public accountant in 1992, and completed a certificate in Management and Leadership in Education at Harvard University in 2003.

“One of the key challenges at any small, private college is securing and allocating resources, so stewardship of our limited resources is crucial,” Jones says. “Westmont certainly has a strong financial position, but there are never enough dollars to fund everything we want to do, so setting priorities is important. The first phase of the master plan construction will make a significant financial impact, and keeping the college on strong financial footing will be vital.”