Jacques Sterling Whitfield is a seasoned Human Resources Executive with over 19 years of experience in human resources management. Whitfield recently completed a six year tenure as the Chief Human Resources Officer for the Yuba Community College District. Whitfield was responsible for the management and oversight of the human resources operations for the district. Whitfield is a member of ACCCA (Association for California Community College Administrators), ACHRO (Association of Chief Human Resource Officers), and a graduate of the ACCCA Mentor Program and ACCCA Admin 101.
Whitfield attended college at Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, North Carolina, graduating in 1985 with honors earning a B.A. Degree in History with a minor in French. While at Wake Forest, Whitfield attended the University of Dijon, in Dijon, France, studying at the International Center for French Studies. Upon graduating from college, Whitfield entered the University of North Carolina, School of Law in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Whitfield graduated in 1988 with distinction as a member of the Order of the Barrister.
Upon graduating from law school in 1988, he became an Associate with the law firm of Lewis, D’Amato, Brisbois and Bisgaard in Los Angeles, California, where he specialized in business litigation, professional liability and securities litigation. In 1992, Whitfield moved to Sacramento, California, where he began the law firm of Whitfield and Gittisriboongul in downtown Sacramento, specializing in business entertainment law, labor and employment law, education and administrative law.
In 1997, Whitfield was appointed General Counsel of the Grant Joint Union High School District. As the General Counsel, Whitfield was responsible for the management, operation and oversight of the District’s Legal Services Office and Grant Police Services/Campus Safety Department. One of the highlights during Whitfield’s eleven (11) year tenure as District General Counsel included overseeing the historic unification of the Grant District with its elementary feeders, creating the Twin Rivers Unified School District.
In 2008, Whitfield became the Director of Administrative Services and Strategic Planning for Target Excellence. As Director of Administrative Services and Strategic Planning, Whitfield managed all of the human resources and personnel operations for the organization in California, Texas, Tennessee and Ohio, as well as directed all of the strategic growth planning activities for the Board of Directors and Senior Management Team. Whitfield now serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Target Excellence.
Whitfield is the father of three amazing (3) children, Ashley Elizabeth (23), Chase Sterling (21) and Joshua Jordan (18). Whitfield has served on numerous civic organizations and boards of directors including the Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce Educational Foundation, Nehemiah Ventures, Inc. (Vice Chairman), American Leadership Forum – Mountain Valley Chapter, Equality California, The Sacramento Gay and Lesbian Center (Board President), and Center for AIDS Research and Educational Services (CARES).