Born and raised in Ventura, Jon remembers his parents driving to Ojai every morning excited for him to have the unique experience of attending Oak Grove School. Jon attended OGS from second to eighth grade. After high school Jon attended UC Santa Barbara, followed by law school at Columbia University; then he became a mergers and acquisitions attorney for one of the world’s largest law firms. “I never expected that my path would begin in Ojai and lead to Wall Street – and now it’s back in Ojai!” he explains.

Jon continues, “After several years in law firms doing corporate transactions where I learned a ton (and worked a ton), I knew that I was looking for something with more purpose. I started working in sustainability at public companies where I was able to marry my corporate skills and experience with my deep appreciation for nature, for preserving our planet and caring for our communities – ideas I absorbed at a very young age at Oak Grove.”

Though Ojai had always been dear to Jon and his family, he never imagined there would be an opportunity to live here. However, with Covid came the possibility of working remotely, and Jon and his family seized the opportunity. With their inquisitive young son, Rye, Jon and Rye’s mother Kelly were eager to give him the experience of a caring and nurturing environment outside of a large city, with endless opportunities for exploration in nature. They moved to Ojai and enrolled Rye at Oak Grove. “We wanted Rye to share the same experiences and develop the same values that I was exposed to at an early age,” Jon said, adding, “Oak Grove is a magical place… I know that the values instilled in me at an early age remain deeply embedded, and I am so happy we are able to share the same experience with Rye.”

This alumni profile was featured in the 2021-22 Annual Report.