Cortina Whitmore

Cortina's family includes a 7-year-old rescued Dachshund mix named Ziggy.

Prior to joining the POMDR staff in November 2024, Cortina had a varied professional career including being the sole proprietor of a consignment store. She is also the former City of Carmel-by-the-Sea Administrative Coordinator and a former employee turned board member of the nonprofit Youth Arts Collective.

She holds a Bachelors Degree in Organizational Leadership and an Associates Degree in Business Administration.

Meet the whole team

Also on the Benefit Shop Staff.

• Carmelita Garcia Benefit Shop Sales Associate, part-time More about Carmelita
  Close

  

  Benefit Shop Staff

  Carmelita Garcia

  Benefit Shop Sales Associate, part-time

  Carmelita shares her home with Slainte, a scruffy Terrier mix who was a longtime beneficiary of our Helping Paw program's volunteer dog walkers. Carmelita temporarily fostered Slainte when his guardian went into the hospital, and then permanently adopted him when his guardian moved into an assisted living facility and could no longer care for him.

  Before joining POMDR in April 2025, Carmelita was well known in Pacific Grove for many reasons, not the least of which is her work protecting the local deer. She is the founding member of the non-profit PG Deer Awareness Resource. Their mission is to advocate for the safety of Pacific Grove's native deer through education and public outreach. You may see the group's signs around town during fawning season.

  Carmelita has a long record of local public service. In 2009 she became Mayor of Pacific Grove, after being elected to the City Council in 2008. From 2020-2025, she served on the City of Pacific Grove's Administrative Enforcement Hearing Officer Panel.

  After attaining a Certificate in Counseling from UC Santa Cruz, Carmelita went on to earn a Law for Life Paralegal Certificate and an Advance Paralegal Certificate from CSU Monterey Bay. She has been named Outstanding Citizen of the Year by the Crime Prevention Officers Association of Monterey County and was honored as one of Monterey County's Outstanding Women of the Year.

  Their own page