Warmest Retirement Wishes to PacFed Founder Jim Garrison
Jim Garrison
PacFed’s founder Jim Garrison has provided leadership to the employee benefits industry for more than 40 years. Jim officially resigned as president of Pacific Federal, LLC (PacFed) in October 2021 and held a consulting position until July 2022. As he journeys into retirement, we wish him all the best!
Jim founded PacFed in 1977 and was responsible for growing the company into one of California’s most experienced employee benefits firms. PacFed was acquired by Zenith American Holdings in 2017, providing health and retirement administration solutions to approximately 2 million families from over 45 locations across the U.S.
Among his many professional and philanthropic endeavors, Jim serves on the board of directors for the Dolores Huerta Foundation, El Proyecto del Barrio, LA Jobs PAC, Music Fund of Los Angeles and The Peoples Health Care. He is also chair of the Development Council for Loyola Marymount University’s Center for the Study of Los Angeles and a member of the California Democratic Party Chair’s Circle. Jim is a past member of the California Electoral College and the California Democratic Party Finance Council.
Each year since 2016, the San Fernando Valley Business Journal has named Jim among the San Fernando Valley’s most influential 200 business leaders. In 2020, the publication also recognized him as one of twenty “icons of influence” among this distinguished list of honorees.
Jim is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Boys and Girls Club of the San Fernando Valley Golden Hands Award, Teamsters National Hispanic Caucus Community Award, Dolores Huerta Foundation Richard Chavez Memorial Award, Farmworker Justice Corporate & Social Responsibility Award, San Gabriel Valley Civic Alliance Lifetime Achievement Award, Southern California Chapter of the Teamsters National Black Caucus Excellence in Leadership Award, and Valley Industry and Commerce Association Harmon Ballin Community Service Award.
Jim is also president of Mesa Pacific, LLC, an investment management and asset leasing company he founded in 2010. He and his wife Rachel reside in Glendale, Calif. and have four grown children and eight grandchildren. One of their shared passions is making Chicano artwork accessible to Angelenos through their support of local artists and public exhibitions. Rachel and Jim enjoy travel, boating and skiing.
Our entire PacFed team wishes Jim and his family health, happiness and new adventures ahead. Thank you for everything. We will miss you!
Pacific Federal is a Zenith American company and subsidiary of Harbour Benefit Holdings, Inc.
