Gene C Valentine

A native of Washington, Pa., Gene is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Financial West Investment Group Inc. in Westlake Village, California.

Gene was raised in Bethel Park, PA. He graduated from Bethel Park High School in 1968.
Gene received a Bachelor of Science degree, with a major in Psychology, from Bethany College, Bethany, WV. As an undergraduate, he was affiliated with Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and the debating society, and participated in student government, intramural tennis and swimming.

Commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Navy in 1972, he advanced to lieutenant and served as Small Boats Officer at the U.S. Naval Academy where he was responsible for managing and maintaining more than 150 craft, 60 personnel and an annual budget of $100,000. He was a public affairs officer with the U.S. Navy for Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica. He has written for publications, including an article entitled "Polar Research," and produced a film, "The Role of the Navy in Antarctica." He also served as sailing coach for the Naval Academy Sailing Team before his honorable discharge in 1979.

Gene is the founder, chair and a director of Second Byte Foundation, a foundation to enable motivated students to acquire state-of-the art technology to increase their chances for future success without abdicating financial responsibility. He was inspired after giving his time to substitute teach in Los Angeles' city schools where he learned that nearly all of the students he taught owned a personal stereo while fewer than 10 percent owned or had access to a personal computer.

Gene has been associated with the International Association for Financial Planning, the National Association of Realtors, the Real Estate Syndication and Securities Institute and the United States Yacht Racing Union. He is also listed in the Who's Who in the World and Who's Who in America.