Jim Patton has been part of the Newmark Merrill team since its very inception, helping launch what would become the lucrative and cutting-edge business it is today. In those wild “West Venture Development” days, Jim’s USC/Penn State education and advertising industry experience proved invaluable in his first role as Marketing Director.
Today, Jim serves as the company’s Senior Vice President, Acquisitions where he is responsible for acquiring existing shopping centers, securing management contracts and sourcing raw land for development. Additionally, he oversees the asset management of several NewMark Merrill Southern California properties.
After a Southern California childhood in Rancho Palos Verdes, Jim earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from University of Southern California before heading east to complete his MBA at Penn State. Jim has been a featured guest on several panels for the International Council of Shopping Centers and served as the Co-Chairman for the 2010 ICSC Long Beach Convention. He’s also contributed back to his alma mater, USC, as a guest speaker at the Marshall School of Business.
Jim is a modern-day Renaissance man. He’s sold two original screenplays and has watched Jaws more than 100 times. A self-proclaimed expert pumpkin carver, he also boasts a stellar youth sports coaching record (lifetime winning percentage above .900), collects wheat pennies, keeps up with the National Enquirer and celebrates his birthday annually with KFC. Additionally, he can recite the poem Jabberwocky verbatim, is the reigning office trivia champ and has a strong distaste for slim-fit clothing. He loves ‘70s movies and ‘80s music, drinks Irish Whiskey, cold Mexican beer, lime Perrier and is a sucker for sushi and chicken parmesan. He also believes Pringles go well with everything.
A product of his SoCal upbringing, Jim is a true blue LA sports fan — a USC season ticket holder since 1995 and a loyal Dodgers and Rams fan since he could swing a bat and throw a pass.
Jim and his family (wife Michelle; kids Abby and Sean; and Vizsla Hooper) reside in Manhattan Beach, CA, where he enjoys watching his kids play soccer and lacrosse (Abby), and football and baseball (Sean). Inspired by his self-made-man father, he strives to be a similar role model for his own children.