By Andrea Swayne
Patricia Bates. Courtesy photo
The Ocean Institute has announced the addition of two new board members for 2013.
Orange County 5th District Supervisor Patricia C. Bates and real estate agent Phil Immel, founder of The Immel Team, were selected to join the board.
Bates served as Laguna Niguel’s first mayor when the city incorporated in 1989 and continued on the City Council there until she was elected to the State Assembly in 1998. She was elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors in 2006.
Phil Immel. Courtesy photo
Immel began his career in real estate after earning his realtor’s license at 19 and followed up by getting his broker’s license at 21. He now serves as director of Prudential California Realty’s luxury property division and represents major banks as a listing broker for their bank-owned/REO properties.
“We’re delighted to have them serve on the board, and look forward to their unique contributions in helping us better serve the tens of thousands of students who visit the Institute every year,” said Ocean Institute President Dan Stetson.
The full roster of Ocean Institute board members is available online at
