Westmont Magazine New Vice President for Finance Comes Highly Recommended

Doug Jones left his job as con-troller at Huntington College — his alma mater — in 2000 when Gayle Beebe recruited him to be vice president for finance and administration at Spring Arbor University. This year, after Beebe accepted the presidency at Westmont, he asked Jones to apply for vice president for finance, a position left vacant when Ron Cronk retired last year. 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 an M.B.A. from Indiana University in 1999, passed his C.P.A. exam 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.”