A Fond Farewell . . . Over and Out
James and his wife, Brenda.
June 5, 2018
Coworkers, family and friends flooded the Lower Level Auditorium at the Akron General Office on June 1 to bid James Whitley Jr., executive director, Corporate Security a fond farewell on his retirement. Guests enjoyed delicious food as well as hearing stories about James from friends and coworkers. And most of all, guests had the opportunity to personally bestow kind wishes to James and his wife, Brenda, as they enter a new chapter of life.
Bennett Gaines, senior vice president, Corporate Services & CIO (c.) thanks James for his service to FirstEnergy, as Brenda looks on.
Brenda, James and Tamara Hearn, administrative assistant.
An Impressive Run
James joined our company in 2003 as manager, Corporate Security. Advancing through the ranks, he was named executive director, Corporate Security in 2012.
Prior to joining FirstEnergy, James served as a military policeman in the U.S. Air Force; as commander of the Cleveland Heights Police Department; and as chief of park police for Cleveland Metroparks.
He earned a master’s degree in business administration from Baldwin Wallace University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland.
Under his leadership, our company has been recognized for our security infrastructure, including Security magazine’s Security 500 list in November 2011 and in 2015. Also, in a 2013 peer review by the North American Transmission Forum of our system operations and governance in Akron and Fairmont, our cyber and physical security and other aspects were deemed some of the industry’s best. James has been featured in Who’s Who in Black Cleveland.