Pacific Clinics: About Us

Jim Balla, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, brings more than 25 years of combined human services and healthcare management experience to the executive team at Pacific Clinics. He joined Portals in 1998 as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. In 2001, Jim succeeded longtime Portals leader Marv Weinstein as President/CEO a position he held until assuming his current role with Pacific Clinics when the agency merged with Portals in July 2007.

At Pacific Clinics, Jim has joined the senior management team in providing business direction and organizational leadership over the agency’s clinical and administrative operations. As Executive Vice President and COO, he reports to the President and CEO and provides overall direction for the operations of Pacific Clinics, including finance, asset management, information systems, human resources, public affairs, and resource development. Jim also provides leadership to all administrative departments and program divisions, coordinates activities of the senior management team, and assists in strategic planning and program development. He assists the President and CEO in board development, serves on board standing committees, and cultivates and develops relationships with the agency’s primary public and private funding sources.

Jim’s expertise includes operations and strategic planning, along with organizational and business development. He has held key management and consulting positions with a number of Los Angeles-based mental health agencies, behavioral healthcare organizations, human services agencies, and medical groups. Among them are: USO Los Angeles Inc.; Verdugo Mental Health Center; Family Service of Los Angeles; Portals House, Inc.; and NHI Medical Groups, Inc.

Jim earned a B.S. degree in management as well as an MBA from Pepperdine University. He is affiliated with Pepperdine’s Graduate School of Business and Management. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Association of Community Human Service Agencies, and is a former member of the board of the California Council of Community Mental Health Agencies. Jim served honorably in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he received a special commendation award for meritorious service from the Secretary of the Navy.