Jim Forkum
Current City - Carmel, California
Email - dr_jforkum@yahoo.com

Where Are You Now? Sherry and I have retired to the beautiful Monterey Peninsula where we live in Carmel-by-the-Sea. With a view of Point Lobos and Carmel Bay, life is very good to us these days. I am currently serving as the Associate Athletics Director at Stevenson School in Pebble Beach where I also coach the boys JV basketball team and the girls JV softball team. These activities keep me engaged and running at full speed each and every day. I enjoy giving back and sharing what I have been blessed to learn over fifty years in our profession. In addition, Sherry and I serve as founding board members of Global Parity Foundation which provides women's and children's heath services to the rural population in Nepal. We also are involved in the leadership of our church's scholarship committee that gives over $40,000 each year to deserving students in our community. Finally, we are charter members of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation and attend many activities throughout the year.
 
Career Highlights? I have been blessed to have so many wonderful relationships with student- athletes, coaches, and fellow athletics directors I could not possibly name them all. I have had some of the finest mentors any person could have in our profession and each and every one has made a huge impact on my personal and professional life. I can add I enjoy my long coaching career now more than I ever did when actually coaching. This is due to the ongoing relationships with so many outstanding players over the years. These people have become stalwarts in their respective communities and are now amazing parents in their own right.

Advice to Current Athletics Administrators? What I can humbly offer new people coming into the profession is to consider adopting a transformational leadership mentality while serving both students and coaches each and every day. I would add the importance of getting involved in the local, state, and national levels in our professional organizations through some kind of leadership position. To learn from the best you have to be around the best. Lastly, embrace what we all do on a daily basis as in my opinion we have the best jobs in the country...bar none!

Favorite College/Professional Sports Teams? I have always been a UCLA fan beginning with my association with Coach Wooden and the glory days of Bruin Basketball. I have and always will be a huge supporter of anything UCLA. Right now, the Golden State Warriors are my favorite NBA team as I believe they play the game the way it was meant to be played. I really do not watch too many teams play other than who ever is playing the Warriors. In football, how can you not be a San Francisco 49ers fan? As far as baseball, The San Francisco Giants are just the best...as evidenced by three world championships in the last eight years. Go Giants!

Favorite Retired Activity? We are happiest when around young people who tend to keep us acting young ourselves. As far as an actual hobby, traveling the world is right there at the top of our list. Over the years, we have traveled to over 100 countries, lived in Egypt for a year, and have many more places to visit on our long bucket list. You just can't find a better way to spend time than meeting new people and experiencing new cultures. We are actually in the process of researching several new places we are considering living in sometime soon. This list includes Portugal, Spain, and Italy.

Favorite Memory from NATYCAA Events? We hold dear all the relationships we have had with NATYCAA over the years and consider them a true blessing in our lives. How could you find a better bunch of people to associate with than those in the leadership of our organization? Of course, the winter planning meetings in Florida and the yearly Conventions in June are usually highlights of our year, year in and year outs.