Dr. Gerhard Apfelthaler, PhD is the Dean of the School of Management at Cal Lutheran University, and a professor of International Business in its MBA and Executive MBA (EMBA) programs.

Eric Arbuckle is a Financial Advisor focused on managing the wealth of executives and business owners. Eric’s clients have complex financial needs who value a long-term partnership with a trusted advisor.

Brent Baldwin is Senior Counsel at Direct Relief, ranked by Forbes as one of the top nonprofits in the world.

Peter Ban is an executive leader and operations expert innovating, executing, and scaling solutions at high profile Tech and Media companies for more than 25 years.

Jeremy Baumann is a seasoned senior executive with 30 years of experience spanning management consulting, corporate security and law enforcement.

A veteran of the US Navy, Daniel Bednar is Chief Strategy Officer at CBC Federal Credit Union which serves US Navy active duty and veterans.

Jim Boswell is a finance executive with deep experience leading transformation in private-equity-backed, multi-unit, and franchise organizations. He currently serves as Chief Financial Officer of FullSpeed Automotive.

Lisa Breckenridge is a television news anchor and a correspondent for NBC in California. Lisa has dedicated her life to telling people the stories they need to hear, whether it’s breaking news or entertainment news.

Ann Buckingham is a highly accomplished consumer products executive with 25+ years of experience driving transformative growth for leading global brands.

Rick Chambers is one of the most recognized and trusted journalists in Southern California. For more than 30 years this multi Emmy award winning news anchor has covered everything from riots to presidential candidates.

Eric B. Chin, CPA, is CFO at Akido Labs, a venture-backed A.I. (artificial intelligence) powered medical network with over 1,000 global team members. 

Florence Chung is the Chief Engagement Officer of The Hetty Group, a community engagement consulting firm with a focus on public safety.

Brick Conners is a former Top Gun pilot and Navy Captain who’s currently City Manager of Port Hueneme, in Ventura County, California.

Michal Dawson Connor is a “triple threat” as an Actor/ Singer/ and Master Gardener.

Eric J. Dougherty is a combat decorated U.S. Marine Corps Colonel (Ret.) and operations executive.

Alicia Doyle is an award-winning journalist who discovered boxing at age twenty-eight in the late 1990s when she went on assignment at a boxing gym for at-risk youth called Kid Gloves.

Originally from the U.K where she was a leading broadcaster, Caroline Feraday is an award-winning broadcast journalist, with over 25 years of experience on-air.

Pat teaches Improvisation at the corporate and collegiate level. Clients include Netflix, AT&T, McDonalds, The C.D.C., Marquette University, Indiana U, Loyola Marymount, and University of Colorado Boulder.

Dr. Daniel “Danny” Firer, MD, an emergency room physician at Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC).

Nathan Firer is CEO of Megilla, a B2B video software company. Companies and organizations use Megilla’s technology to access the undeniable power of video-storytelling.

Nancy Gale is the founder and designer of luxury leather handbag brand JAMAH. She also founded AMBITION, a nonprofit entrepreneurial program for disadvantaged youth.

When it comes to America’s popular culture, Joe Garner has become its premiere chronicler with his groundbreaking book, We Interrupt This Broadcast.

Ryan Goble is a firefighter-paramedic for the City of Beverly Hills. He is also a husband, father, private pilot and former US Marine. Ryan is telling his story, mentoring others interested in military and first responder service.

Sam Goodwin is an American entrepreneur, author and international keynote speaker. His presentation, Winning Through Uncertainty, is heard by thousands every year.

Trevor is a radio and television professional, producing for the Big Ten Network, Stephen Curry’s Unanimous Media, and the NFL Network. He’s also contributed to the iconic RedZone Channel with legendary host Scott Hanson.

Araxie Grant is an established financial executive with nearly 20 years of diverse experience, encompassing the gaming, professional sports, nonprofit, and cannabis industries.

Justin Grooms is an accomplished Business Consultant, Executive Coach, Author, and Public Speaker, as well as the founder and CEO of Chariot Consulting.

Gary Hall, Jr. is an Olympic swimmer best known for winning 10 medals, representing the United States in the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympics.

Dorothy Hammett is a certified Life and Executive Coach with over 20 years in C-Suite leadership roles.

Diane Headley is the Chief People Officer (CPO) at the Ford Foundation, the $16B global philanthropic foundation based in New York. She is a strategic and innovative HR executive.

Patrick is a Johns Hopkins trained surgeon-scientist who is the Chief Medical Officer of 32 Biosciences, a pre-clinical stage healthcare company.

Matthew (Matt) Horace is a veteran corporate executive, professional speaker, media contributor and acclaimed author.

Angel Iscovich is author of the new book “The Art of Routine: Discover How Routineology Can Transform Your Life.“

Sonia Jeantet is the founder of Cima Executive Development, a coaching and consulting firm in Southern California and is also known in executive circles as “the C-Suite whisperer”.

Marc Kase is the Managing Director of Achieve Agility, which helps startup and mid-market firms grow revenue, reduce costs, and mitigate risks through strategic implementation of IT initiatives.

Aubrey Kelly is CEO of RabbleHealth, a health technology and services company in Southern California. Aubrey is a 15-year pharmaceutical executive turned health-tech entrepreneur in 2020.

Doug Kooren is EVP and CFO at the Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA), a 114-year-old farmer-owned cooperative with one of the fastest growing consumer food brands in the country.

Ravi is a Partner and West Region Market Leader at Connor Group, a specialized professional services and leading IPO advisory firm, partnering with executives on their most critical and complex projects.

Van Lai-DuMone is a keynote speaker, author, and founder of worksmart Advantage, a leadership and team development consultancy specializing in Creative Leadership and Creative Problem Solving.

Justin “Hasard” Lee, is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author and former fighter pilot, delivering combat-tested leadership, strategic thinking, and battle-tested strategies to help leaders navigate today’s business challenges.

Tamara has held senior leadership roles with both national and global organizations in her 20 plus years in human resources, recruitment and executive management.

Funny. Clean. Relatable. One of today’s hardest-working comedians, Jason Love has appeared on HBO, Comedy Central, America’s Got Talent, and Dry Bar Comedy.

Gary Lu, CPA is a seasoned finance and operations executive recognized for building resilient businesses and leading transformation across public companies and high-growth startups, as well as a non-profit founder. 

Scott Martindale began his career as a structural engineer with Chevron Corporation before transitioning to the financial services world.

Ryan Mascilak is a composer, singer, worship-leader, retreat musician, and educator. He received his BMus from Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA). His original Christmas/Holiday music has been featured on various global radio stations and can be streamed on all online platforms.

Jim McDonnell is the former Los Angeles County Sheriff. As Sheriff, Jim was the elected leader and CEO of one of America’s largest law enforcement organizations. McDonnell also brings more than 40 years of public safety experience to USC’s Safe Communities Institute, which advances public safety solutions.

Adam Mendler is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker, educator, and nationally recognized authority on leadership, as well as the creator and host of the business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors.

Sandra Mitchell is an Emmy Award-winning Los Angeles television news anchor and reporter. In the past 20 years on LA TV news, she has established herself as a warm and reassuring presence during some of the biggest stories in recent history.

Laura Moreno Lucas is a Latina entrepreneur who launched Pandocap, a financial media company built around her past experience in the capital markets.

Frank is an award-winning broadcast journalist with more than 30 years of experience, now hosting Mottek On Money on 790 KABC in Los Angeles, and worldwide on demand on the Mottek On Money podcast.

Shannon Nash is a seasoned global leader, financial expert, attorney, and CPA, known for transforming businesses by aligning financial strategy with operational excellence and cross-functional leadership.

Rita Norton brings 30+ years of State and Federal Government Policy and Advocacy experience and a wealth of connections to corporations and organizations establishing their government and political presence in Washington, DC.

Elizabeth “Beth” O’Connell was one of the first female Executive Producers at NBC News. She helped lead the “Today Show” to number one in ratings success, launched NBC Mobile, and was interim President of MSNBC.

Elizabeth “Liz” Pagliarini is the Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of Summit Healthcare REIT, Inc. Summit, a public non-traded REIT, invests in seniors housing and care real estate across the United States.

Nicole Panzovski is the Founder and CEO of NCP Resume Studio, a high-end professional brand studio, focused on optimizing client professional branding across resumes, LinkedIns, cover letters, and bios.

Scott’s career has been distinguished by C-suite roles that encompass Human Resources along with responsibility for Government Affairs, Strategic Planning and Public Relations/Communications.

Don Plummer is a Rear Admiral in the US Navy and a dual career executive providing senior level management expertise at Arcutis, Inc., a dermatology drug development company.

Leonor Ayala Polley is a leading network television and news executive. At NBC News in New York she led the network’s diversity and inclusion programs while co-producing award winning programs.

Illana Raia is the founder and CEO of Être – a mentorship platform for girls, and was recently named one the first 250 entrepreneurs on the Forbes Next 1000 List.

Maria Riley is a passionate Catholic writer and speaker who draws from her experiences as an educator and mom. After a decade dedicating her energy and talents to her family, she pursued her lifelong dream of becoming an author.

Aditi Roy is a veteran Emmy-winning journalist who spent two decades at CNBC, NBC News, ABC News, and as an award-winning local news anchor and reporter at NBC Philadelphia.

Elaine Salewske is a corporate sustainability professional leading the development of sustainable strategies that are good for both business and society.

David Samuels is an award-winning financial and operating executive with leadership roles in both Fortune 500 companies and private equity-backed businesses.

Mike Saum coaches executive and high potential leaders to their next level of success. Mike’s a proven leader, having served in executive roles in the Navy’s Seabees and Engineering Commands.

Erik Seversen chose to live an extraordinary life! He hitchhiked from London to Central Africa, lived with a remote Amerindian Tribe in the Amazon, rode a motorcycle on six continents, helped open a college in Japan, helped a company grow from a 7 million to 100 million valuation.

Mark Smolenski is a strategic financial executive with extensive leadership experience across multiple sectors. As CFO of Air Methods, he provides critical financial leadership and strategic guidance for the $1.5 billion air medical services leader operating 440 aircraft across 48 states.

Jenny Sohn is the financial mastermind you want in your corner—whether you’re navigating the complexities of SaaS, scaling a startup, or pioneering new frontiers in fintech. With an impressive track record as Chief Financial Officer, Jenny seamlessly blends strategic vision with a roll-up-your-sleeves approach to financial leadership.

Jerry Sullivan is an honored journalist and archived chronicler of Southern California. He is the recipient of awards from groups ranging from the California Newspaper Publishers Association to the Society of Professional Journalists.

Kathleen Thompson is a leading human resources and talent management expert, her most recent role as Vice President of Human Resources at Limoneira Company.

Tracy Ting is an accomplished chief human resources officer with background in financial audit who enhances shareholder value through strategic business growth and cultural transformation at multi-national companies.

Cristian Torres is a solutions-focused corporate counsel and people developer with a passion and curiosity about operations, sales, finance, and process efficiency.

Adam Townsend is the Chief Financial Officer at VIZIO, the leading US-based maker of Smart TVs, sound bars, and its proprietary streaming platform, SmartCast.

Gary A. Vecchiarelli is Chief Financial Officer at CleanSpark (NASDAQ:CLSK), a leading bitcoin mining company based in Las Vegas. He joined CleanSpark in December 2021.

Born and raised by Mexican immigrant parents near the US/ MEX border, Sandra Velasquez is now leading Nopalera, the leading Latina-led beauty brand in the US. She speaks about celebrating and elevating Latino culture while providing access and mentorship to her community.

Paul Vercammen is a five-time Emmy award-winning journalist covering major news for CNN. Paul is now communications chief at ShelterBox USA.

Anita Vogel spent ten years at Fox as a full-time correspondent and anchor, and now works as a contractor.

Jay Voncannon is the Chief Financial Officer of CoorsTek, a global leading advanced technical ceramics producer serving the semiconductor, armor & defense, automotive and industrial markets.

Jane Wells is a top business journalist, most recently a national business correspondent at CNBC. Jane also anchors the CFO Focus, CPO CHRO Focus and other online and in-person programs.

Jenny West is a nationally recognized workplace futurist, known for driving transformative innovation for Fortune 100 brands and top-performing organizations. A seasoned expert and thought leader, she inspires enterprise-wide initiatives by leveraging her cross-disciplinary expertise in design, strategy, and organizational transformation.

Jay Zigmont, PhD, MBA, CFP® is the Founder and CEO of Childfree Wealth®, a life and financial planning firm dedicated to helping Childfree and Permanently Childless people. Childfree Wealth is the first firm dedicated to serving Childfree people.