Spotlight on Jesse Finch-Gnehm
Jesse Finch Gnehm is the first CCC alumnus to endow a scholarship with the CCC Foundation. This is an achievement he can now proudly check off his “bucket list.”
After graduating from high school in Grants Pass in 1994, Jesse planned to join the Air Force and become a para-rescue specialist. However, his vision and depth perception were not strong enough. His journey then ran through CCC when a high school friend, who planned wrestle for the Cougar team, suggested that Jessie also enroll in college.
At Clackamas, Jesse exceled in his speech and debate courses. This led to scholarships at CCC and then Willamette University where he transferred to earn a bachelor’s degree in rhetoric and media studies. He went on to earn an MBA at the University of Iowa in finance and marketing.
After working in politics, international marketing, and strategy and operations in the U.S., Jesse and his wife decided to take on the adventure of living abroad. They moved to Aberdeen, Scotland. Jesse has a great position with GE Oil and Gas and was recently promoted to a position in London as a global pricing leader.
Jesse says, “It’s always been on my bucket list to endow a scholarship at the place that opened up so many doors for me. By taking speech and debate classes at Clackamas, I developed public speaking skills that helped me succeed in college and led to scholarships and career opportunities.”
Clackamas has made a difference in many people’s lives, like Jesse. “Community colleges are such an important piece in making education accessible and affordable,” he says.