Magazine Spring 2024 Award-winning CFO Plays a Key Role at Jordano's

A Massachusetts native, ROB NYMAN ’88 attended Gordon College before studying at Westmont for just a semester. Then he found two reasons to stay: the Urban Semester (now Westmont in San Francisco) and Lisa Hanggie ’89. The only economics and business major among sociology students, he interned at the Holiday Inn in Union Square and learned about the hotel business. “I got great practical experience in San Francisco,” Rob says. “But studying urban life and issues like homelessness helped me understand what the world is really like. It was truly transformative.”

Rob graduated from Westmont after focusing on business administration and benefitting from professors Roy Millender and the late Bob Heavner. “I liked the small classes with top-notch teachers who had a strong Christian faith,” he says. “They knew their stuff, and they mentored students. They’d already succeeded in the business world and set us up for life-long learning. I still keep in touch with Roy.”

Lisa also transferred to Westmont. A communication studies major, she studied with Greg Spencer and Lisa Studley. “Professors spent time with us one-on-one,” she says. “They read through my papers and told me what I needed to rewrite. They went the extra mile. Westmont was challenging in every way, academically and personally.” She and Rob got married in 1990, and Lisa taught physical education at a Christian School until they started a family. She now works part time as an instructional aide at Montecito Union School.

Beginning as the controller of a startup produce company, L.J. Distributing in Los Angeles, Rob took on more responsibilities as the company grew. He became the chief financial officer (CFO) and then director of operations, spending 13 years there. He also earned an MBA at CSU Long Beach while working full time. Lisa remembers him leaving the hospital after the birth of their first child to turn in a paper.

Rob first learned about Jordano’s Foodservice because they bought from L.J. When he heard they were hiring a CFO, he applied, hoping to return to Santa Barbara and join a company he admired.

Rob started at Jordano’s in 2015, their 100th year in business, replacing a CFO who retired after 40 years. “It’s very different joining a well-established firm and stewarding a legacy than being in a start-up and throwing things at the wall to see what sticks,” he says. Rob works closely with Pete Jordano, the CEO, and his son, Jeff, the president. Pete and his wife, Gerd, longtime Westmont supporters, established the annual Golden Eagle Awards to honor the top scholar-athlete in each sport. Gerd launched the President’s Breakfast and oversaw the event for many years. She also served on the Westmont Foundation.

The Pacific Coast Business Times named Rob CFO of the Year in 2023. He oversees a large department at Jordano’s focused on accounting and finances. But the position has evolved, and Rob manages much more, such as compliance, information technology and transportation, including a fleet of 200 trucks bearing the iconic logo seen all over Santa Barbara, as well as vans and passenger vehicles. “Knowing accounting is not enough,” he says. “I manage people, build teams and make strategic decisions. I’m looking at the big picture and doing analysis.”

The Nymans, married for 34 years with two grown children, have been active members of their church and support organizations in Santa Barbara. Rob volunteers at an animal shelter, and Lisa works with young women rescued from sex trafficking.

“I made my faith my own at Westmont,” Lisa says. “Professors addressed hard topics and worked it out with you.”

“Having faith in God and Jesus directs your life and decision- making,” Rob says. “When you have that foundation, life and marriage work.”