Adam Russell is the Founder, Board Member, and Western Region Director for LifeSteps Bank, where he leads strategic initiatives to grow the bank’s presence. As the Owner of Services and Solutions for Business, he supported hundreds of small and mid-sized businesses with PPP and SBA loans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adam brings decades of valuable banking experience, including as a Senior Vice President and Regional Manager in Inland Empire Commercial Banking at Opus Bank.

In addition to his leadership roles, he has served as an adjunct professor of finance at CSU San Bernardino and has been a contributing broadcaster since 2010. Having lived globally, Adam’s diverse experience informs his work and passions.

Cheryl Chesnut, VP of Operations for the Black and Brown Opportunities for Profit (BBOP) Center, is a dynamic leader with extensive experience in local government, transportation, energy, healthcare, and workforce development. She excels at driving organizational change, leading strategic initiatives, and collaborating with partners across education, business, and community sectors to create impactful programs.

A seasoned professional, Cheryl has expertise in contract administration, project management, grant management, and small business ownership. Notably, she co-led efforts to develop a workforce education and training program for the energy efficiency sector.

Cheryl holds an M.P.A. and an M.S. in Energy Management and is pursuing a Doctorate in Organizational Change and Administration. With a passion for bridging industry needs with workforce development, she is dedicated to empowering organizations and fostering meaningful economic impact.

Cicero is a financial and mental health-focused speaker. His three key principles, INSPIRE, REINFORCE, and MOTIVATE are relevant for professional development as well as motivating and inspiring our youth. With years of work in TV and Film as well as his financial acumen as a business owner, and investor he provides insight, unlike other speakers. His experience in mental health support allows for his speeches to intertwine how mental health plays a factor in our achievements and how to work through struggles.

Growing up in the Bronx, NY, Cicero experienced many academic and social challenges that led to academic struggles and behavioral concerns in school.

During his motivational speeches, he shares what changed his worldview, and allowed him to go from public housing in the Bronx to financial freedom, academic success, and a life of self-reflection and understanding.

Dr. Alex McDonald is a Southern California Permanente Medical Group physician specializing in Family Medicine and Sports Medicine and is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Sports Medicine, and other professional organizations.

Education and Training

Degrees

BA, Connecticut College
MD, University of Vermont School of Medicine

Postdoctoral training

Intern, Duke University
Resident, Family Medicine; third-year Clinic Director, Kaiser Permanente Fontana
Fellow, Sports Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Fontana

Dr. Dravon James’s journey began in poverty on the South Side of Chicago. Though she had always dreamt of a career on the stage, Dravon went on to earn a doctorate in pharmacy from Creighton University and has worked as a pharmacist all of her adult life. Along with her medical career and theatrical aspirations, Dr. Dravon has also always had a keen interest in personal development. After reading Norman Vincent Peale’s The Power of Positive Thinking in college, she went on to make a lifelong study of the power we all have to create the life we want.

Dr. Latashia Kelly is the Director of Child Development for the San Bernardino City Unified School District. She earned her MA in Educational Leadership from Pacific Oaks College and her Ed.D. from Walden University. 

Dr. Vora is the Chief of Oncology at Kaiser Permanente in San Bernardino County. She also specializes in hematology.

Education & Training

• Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
  Fellowship, Hematology and Medical Oncology, 2010 - 2013
• Rutgers Health/Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
  Residency, Internal Medicine, 2007 - 2010
• Pramukhswami Medical College
  Class of 2004

Certifications & Licensure

• CA State Medical License
  2013 - 2026
• NY State Medical License
  2010 - 2013
• NJ State Medical License
  2008 - 2012
• American Board of Internal Medicine
  Internal Medicine
• American Board of Internal Medicine
  Hematology
• American Board of Internal Medicine
  Medical Oncology

From the shadow of gang life to the bright lights of entrepreneurial success, Ifeanyi White’s journey is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of transformation. In this inspiring episode, Ifeanyi shares how he overcame nearly insurmountable obstacles to become a thriving businessman, devoted father, and impactful community leader. His story reminds us that our past does not define us, and with courage and vision, we can rewrite our future. Ifeanyi is the owner of Executive Level Cleaning Services and Catering Support Services, and is a sought-after public speaker. 

Jennifer Yturralde is a leader with over a decade of experience driving innovation and entrepreneurship programs. At UC San Diego, she managed Master of Advanced Study programs. She launched initiatives like Hacking for Defense at the Institute for the Global Entrepreneur, inspiring her passion for empowering entrepreneurs to use technology for social good.

At UC Riverside, she fostered a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, helping launch the EPIC Small Business Development Center and managing the Riverside ExCITE Startup Incubator to support tech-focused ventures in the Inland Empire.

In 2024, Jennifer launched RevHub’s first cohort program, helping social ventures prepare for investment and impact. She excels at guiding startups, building stakeholder relationships, and fostering collaboration with experts, mentors, and partners.

Jenny Mitchell is an executive coach, a podcaster, and a published author on a mission to help people have more meaningful conversations. She is a lifelong learner who holds an executive coaching degree from Royal Roads University, a CFRE fundraising designation, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from SUNY Stony Brook in piano performance.

Jenny is the Founder and CEO of Chavender and most frequently works with executive-level leaders in non-profit and corporate settings. 

Joe Mouawad has more than three decades of experience in the water industry and is the General Manager at Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD). He is responsible for overseeing daily operations of the organization, which employs more than 600 people and is responsible for providing high quality and reliable water, wastewater and recycled water service to nearly one million people in a 601-square mile service area in western Riverside County and northern San Diego County, California.   

La Keisha Charles, co-owner of LDR Cleaning Services Inc., built her career on resilience, dedication, and meticulous standards. She began in the cleaning industry managing apartment turnovers to support her family, learning the value of hard work and attention to detail.

Spending 17 years at Nestlé Waters North America, La Keisha excelled in various roles, including Safety, Health, and Environmental Specialist, where she ensured rigorous cleanliness and safety standards in a food-grade environment. These experiences sharpened her skills in quality assurance and operational excellence.

Anticipating Nestlé’s sale, La Keisha co-founded LDR Cleaning Services Inc. with her daughter, spending 18 months building equity and acquiring professional-grade equipment. By 2022, they launched the business full-time, applying her expertise to deliver high-quality, detail-oriented cleaning services. 

Lacey Kendall, a highly experienced professional in the field of broadcast media and communication, has an extensive background in various roles such as Recording Engineer, Broadcast Media Consultant/Host, Broadcast-Media Consultant, Professor, Radio Announcer, Co-Founder of a real property brokerage, Chief Executive Officer of a consulting firm, Syndicated Radio Program Host, and Founder of a non-profit organization. With a Master's degree in Communication Studies and a strong foundation in radio broadcasting, Lacey excels in advising, managing, hosting, and teaching various aspects of the media industry.
She created and produced the highly successful "My Awesome Empire" and "Education Insight" radio shows and helped to found Coyote Radio and Paws Radio at the CSUSB campuses in San Bernardino and Palm Desert, respectively.

Margot Rittenhouse is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with a firm belief that all individuals have an innate and powerful ability to overcome challenges, grow through struggle, and live purposeful and joy-filled lives. She has dedicated her career to helping those facing mental health challenges to find, and use, this power. Margot received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from American University before further committing to the mental health field and earning her Master’s of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from John’s Hopkins University. Margot’s “passion population” is providing treatment at varying levels-of-care for individuals struggling with eating disorders and body image issues. Margot has also dedicated her knowledge and passion to writing over 1,000 articles for Eating Disorder Hope website and collaborating with Robyn Goldberg, RDN, CEDRD-S to ghostwrite her book “The Eating Disorder Trap: A Guide for Clinicians and Loved Ones.” 

Marisol Flores, MD, was born in Mexico and raised in Southern California.  After graduating from medical school at the University of Guadalajara and completing surgical specialty training at the University of Guanajuato, she moved back to the U.S. to be closer to family. She completed ob-gyn training at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Right after residency, she joined a busy group practice for four years. After my husband’s training, she moved back to sunny California! She chose to work at Kaiser Permanente partly because of the advanced technology in medicine and surgery available here and the kind people of this community.

Nancy Carrillo is the Program Coordinator for the Child Development Department at the San Bernardino City Unified School District. The SBCUSD is the 9th largest in California, with 47,000 enrolled students. The Child Development Department houses full and part-day programs at multiple locations throughout the District. 

Andrew Roberts is a great historian who is always relevant to contemporary thinking and contemporary problems.’ Dr Henry Kissinger

‘One of the greatest biographers in the English language today.’ Sir Noel Malcolm, Daily Telegraph

He is the Bonnie and Tom McCloskey Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, a Visiting Professor at the War Studies Department at King’s College, London, and the Lehrman Institute Lecturer at the New York Historical Society.

He has written or edited twenty books, translated into twenty-eight languages,  and appears regularly on radio and television worldwide. 

The Shenomenal Coach

Helping women who feel stretched thin create balance and joy without guilt. Diagnosed at 35, Tasha’s journey is unique—she and her sister battled breast cancer simultaneously. Their mother had faced the disease years earlier, at age 37. In 2015, Tasha and her two sisters were urged to undergo genetic testing for BRCA 1, a gene linked to breast cancer. Both tested positive, and both were diagnosed with the disease. 

Tasha Champion is more than a survivor—she’s a force for change. As an empowerment coach, speaker, and best-selling author, she is passionate about helping other women and their families navigate the challenges of breast cancer diagnosis and recovery.

As founder and designer for Jordan Alexander Jewelry, Theresa Bruno designed pieces for Oprah, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Hudson, Pink, and Michelle Obama, who named her a favorite designer. She is now host of The Soul Talks Podcast.

Theresa Bruno’s life reads like a fairy tale in many ways. Like life, though, fairy tales are often darkened with tragedy, and Theresa’s life is no exception. She has suffered more than her share of pain. However, she is still writing her story, and in this chapter she is vanquishing the fear and shame that gutted her after her husband’s death and the sudden collapse of her business by bringing it into the light and talking about it- fearlessly.