I graduated from Corona del Mar High School and California State University Long Beach, where I earned a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. The business world came calling and I went to work as a District Sales Leader at Frito-Lay Inc. I spent several years in my career at Frito-Lay and was recruited by a major auto group to join their team as a sales manager.  

In 2007 I felt called to make a change. I was drawn to the idea that I would not be truly fulfilled until I found a career that allowed me the privilege of working to serve others. I took a leap of faith and decided to go back to school to become a registered nurse (RN). I enrolled at California Baptist University where I became licensed as an RN and went on to earn a Master of Science in Nursing Administration. Early in my nursing career is when I found my calling which was working with others suffering from substance use disorders and mental illness. I worked in the private sector for two years as the head RN for a dual-diagnosis rehabilitation center that treated a myriad of substance use and mental health disorders. My great respect for the men and women of our Armed forces led me to accepting a position at the Veterans Health Administration. I started at the VA in Los Angeles Hospital on an acute, locked psychiatric unit. I was promoted to Clinical Assistant Manager and functioned in that role for the following year. In 2017 I accepted a Nurse Manager position in Outpatient Psychiatry at the Long Beach VA Medical Center and last year I was promoted to Deputy Chief Mental Health RN. 

I ran for the open City Council seat, District 6 in Costa Mesa 2020. The impetus for my decision to run was the attack on medical freedom I perceived to be coming out of City Hall at the onset of the pandemic. Although unsuccessful, coming in second place felt like a remarkable achievement to someone who had never run for elected office before. The experience was invaluable on many levels. A practical benefit was the education I received on the operational functions of city government. More importantly, through my personal interactions with the residents of Costa Mesa, I had the opportunity to understand what is important to the individuals who make up our community.

A characteristic that I possess that makes me an effective, ethical leader is emotional intelligence. I would venture to say that this characteristic is equally as important as actual intelligence. This trait helps me recognize my own emotions and how they affect my thoughts and behavior, know my strengths and weaknesses, and have self-confidence. I have learned to understand the emotions, needs, and concerns of other people, pick up on emotional cues, feel comfortable socially, and recognize the power dynamics in a group or organization.

Another characteristic I possess is more of a concept that I have learned to embrace in leadership: to never go at it alone. I function at my best when I absorb the input and counsel of numerous advisors, both from similar and opposing perspectives, then devise solutions based upon a well-rounded view of the problem. Experience has led me to understand that it is naïve to believe I have considered every possible angle of an issue without seeking outside counsel from a varied and extended network.

Nurse Professional Practice Committee (NPPC)

   Los Angeles VA Hospital 

• 2015 Vice Chair and 2016 Chair
• Developed, reviewed and enacted hospital policies for nursing professional practice

Process Improvement Initiatives

   Long Beach VA Hospital 

• Consistent collaboration with Systems Redesign Initiatives 2017- present
• Versed in Lean Six Sigma process improvement model
• Process Owner of two major Rapid Improvement Events (RIE)
• Responsible for sustainment, tracking and reporting of data outcome deliverables

Leadership Development Institute (LDI)

  Veterans Health Administration VISN 22.

• 2019 graduate from a prestigious and competitive advanced leadership program
• Rigorous program designed to build advanced skillsets in systems thinking, organizational leadership, and servant leadership.

For the past 13 years, my family and I have resided in Eastside Costa Mesa. My eldest daughter, Hannah, aged 24, holds the position of store manager at a local fashion boutique in Newport Beach. Madi, our second eldest at 22, completed welding school and now serves as a lead welder in Westside Costa Mesa. As for our youngest, Charlotte, she'll be entering fifth grade at Newport Heights Elementary this coming Fall. My wife Kerry, whom I've known since preschool, works as a Software Product Owner for a software development firm in Irvine. This fall marks her third year as a member of the Newport Heights Elementary School Foundation.

Like many of you, my family is my life. I am dedicated to making Costa Mesa the safe and prosperous city that we all remember.  We should all expect to be able to raise our families in a community that is safe, beautiful, and thriving.   With your vote we will accomplish this together.  Vote for Jeff Pettis!