SUZANNE ELLINGSON, BOARD CHAIR
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER
Suzanne Ellingson graduated from San Diego State with a degree in Economics and a minor in Business. She spent most of her career working in commercial equipment leasing and later joined her family business, Brasstech/Newport Brass, a high-end plumbing fixtures manufacturer. The company was sold in 2002 and Suzanne continued to do HR Consulting for several years, but then ventured into the philanthropy and volunteer world. She worked on the boards of the Parent Teacher Association, National Charity League and Tennis Boosters at her children’s schools. In addition, she spent many years on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Ana, Orangewood’s mentoring program and co-chaired the annual fundraising gala for Working Wardrobes. Currently, she is working with Safe Families (Olive Crest), heading up the Escalette Collection of Art (her parent’s endowment) and the Ellingson Family Collection of Art, both at Chapman University. She resides in Laguna Beach and is married to Scot Ellingson and has two daughters, Morgan and Angie.
ROBERT A. TIDD, VICE CHAIR
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF OPERATIONS COUNSEL, PACIFIC PREMIER BANK
Robert Tidd is Senior Vice President, Chief Operations Counsel for Pacific Premier Bank, one of the strongest-performing and fastest-growing banks in the nation, with approximately $20 billion in total assets. He is an accomplished attorney with almost fifteen years of experience serving as in-house counsel in the financial services industry. Throughout his career, he has focused his practice on regulatory compliance, commercial and consumer lending, deposit operations, special assets, securities and corporate governance. Robert earned his law degree from California Western School of Law and is a member of the American Bar Association, California Bar Association, Orange County Bar Association, and the Western Bankers Association’s Legal Affairs Committee. He resides in Trabuco Canyon with his wife and two children.
DAVID K. ERICKSON, SECRETARY
INVESTOR RELATIONS EXECUTIVE
David Erickson has more than 25 years of experience in developing and implementing Investor Relations programs for a variety of companies. Most recently, he was Vice President, Investor Relations for Evolus, a performance beauty company headquartered in Newport Beach, California. Previously, Erickson was Vice President, Investor Relations, Corporate Communications, and Corporate Social Responsibility for Establishment Labs, a global medical device and aesthetics company based in Costa Rica. Prior to that, he was Vice President, Investor Relations at Edwards Lifesciences, a global medical device company headquartered in Irvine, California. David is an active member of the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI), having served in leadership positions at both the national and local levels, and was named a NIRI Fellow in 2014. He helped develop NIRI’s certification program, the Investor Relations Charter, and earlier helped create a similar program in conjunction with NIRI and the University of California, Irvine, where he also served as an instructor. David has a B.S. in Business Administration (double major in Finance and Marketing) and an MBA with an emphasis in Finance from California State University, Long Beach. He currently serves on the Advisory Board of the CSULB Department of Finance, and is a mentor in the CSULB Corporate Mentoring Program.
BRIAN ARNOLD, TREASURER
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, K-1 PACKAGING GROUP
Brian Arnold is the CFO at K-1 Packaging Group - a multinational packaging manufacturer for consumer products. Brian also serves on the Board of Governors for the Irvine Valley College Foundation. As an accomplished leader with more than 25 years of Senior Leadership experience in Corporate Finance, Brian has held various leadership positions in Finance & Accounting, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Corporate Strategy. Brian is a Certified Public Accountant, graduated with a B.S. Degree in Accounting from San Diego State University, and started his accounting career with Deloitte and RSM. Brian resides in Irvine with his wife and three children and in his free time, he enjoys being on the sidelines supporting his kids’ basketball and sports competitions.
CAROL STONE, IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
OWNER, STONE NONPROFIT CONSULTING GROUP
Carol Stone is owner of the Stone Nonprofit Consulting Group. Her expertise is in creating innovative solutions for nonprofit organizations to improve performance and impact. Prior to opening her own business, she served as the President and CEO of the Volunteer Center Orange County (Currently OneOC) for twenty-five years. She has served as a national consultant and trainer for Points of Light Foundation, Camp Fire, USA and a broad range of local, regional and national nonprofits. She was a master teacher and curriculum designer for a variety of school districts throughout California, Texas and Libya, North Africa. Not only that, but she was an adjunct faculty member at California State University Long Beach, California State University Fullerton and University of California Irvine. Ms. Stone is a graduate of UCLA with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. She holds her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco, with a focus on nonprofit business management.
OMAR AZANKI
SENIOR DIRECTOR, EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES
Omar Azanki is a Senior Director, R & D Engineering-Advanced Technology at Edwards Lifesciences in Irvine, California. He has been there for 11 years. His specialties include Pro Engineer Wildfire, Solidworks, Injection Mold Design, Laser welding and Six Sigma & Lean Manufacturing principals. In addition, he is named as an Inventor on five patents. Omar resides in Rancho Santa Margarita.
HÉLÈNE BLANCHETTE
PRESIDENT, PHYSICIANS C. COUNCIL
Hélène Blanchette is a global senior executive with a diverse and rich career. Her past positions include President of MyJane, a company specialized in the development of a women’s wellness-focused channel. Prior to this role, Ms. Blanchette was global vice-president of marketing for the production business of Xerox Corporation. During a nine-year journey in Asia, as a member of the senior leadership team of Fuji Xerox, Ms. Blanchette led the strategic digital marketing transformation of the company. Ms. Blanchette’s competence was recognized globally. Credited for implementing several marketing innovations in Asia and for being the original founder of the Xerox 1:1 lab that has gained worldwide recognition and won numerous innovation awards. In addition to her philanthropic work with Child Creativity Lab, Ms. Blanchette has also been actively involved with International Sanctuary, helping empower survivors of human trafficking.
BRENDA CICCONE
VICE PRESIDENT, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS, UNIVERSAL STUDIO GROUP
Brenda Ciccone has extensive experience driving strategic communications and global publicity campaigns. She is currently Vice President, Corporate Communications for Universal Studio Group (USG). Ciccone joined USG in 2021 to help drive the brand narrative for Universal Television, UCP, Universal International Studios and Universal Television Alternative Studio, and the overarching brand. Previously, Ciccone was SVP, Worldwide Publicity & Communications for Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment and TV Licensing divisions, overseeing all worldwide publicity and corporate communications. She previously served as VP at a public relations agency Bender/Helper Impact, where she implemented hundreds of campaigns for clients, including 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks Animation, the American Film Institute and more. Ciccone holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from UCLA and a private pilot license.
PENGLING CHAN
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EXECUTIVE
Pengling Chan has been in Information Technology industry for 25 years providing strategic technology partnership and solutions to transform and enable businesses. She’s built broad experience in business technology roadmap, application development, building strong teams, strategic sourcing in investment management, wealth management, mortgage and banking industries. Pengling is a passionate advocate in empowering women in technology and engaging the next generation in STEM. She leads efforts to bring women in Technology together to create a learning and support network to advance their careers and programs to bring high potential college graduates into the IT workforce. She served as Co-Program Chair for Women In Technology International’s Orange County Network and is a board member for National Charity League’s local chapter. Likewise, she lends support to multiple non-profit organizations that introduce STEM to young girls. Pengling holds a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in Electronic Engineering. She lives in Villa Park with her husband and 2 children.
JOSIE GARCIA
PRODUCT MANAGER, PWC
Josie Garcia is a seasoned product manager with over a decade of experience in the Advertising and Marketing technology industry. She has held pivotal roles in Digital Marketing, Analytics and Product Development, contributing to major brands and Fortune 500 clients. A graduate of Loyola Marymount University, Josie holds a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Josie is deeply committed to mentoring and empowering the next generation. She actively volunteers as a mentor for rising college students and holds a leadership position in her office's Women in Tech Employee Resource Group. Additionally, she is a dedicated member of the Junior League of Long Beach. Josie resides in Long Beach, California.
ABHISHEK KUMAR
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, PIMCO
Abhishek Kumar is an executive vice president and manager in the trade support group in the Newport Beach office. His team supports the real return, asset allocation, total return, ESG, StocksPLUS, global, emerging markets, foreign exchange, hedge fund, and quantitative strategies. In 2012, Abhishek spent two months in South America as a volunteer with TechnoServe, a nonprofit organization that aims to reduce poverty by working with local entrepreneurs, small business owners and farmers on financial education and business best practices through PIMCO Emerging Enterprise Program. Abhishek is a member of the Inclusion and Diversity Ambassadors Board at PIMCO. Abhishek joined PIMCO in 2007. He has 16 years of investment experience and holds a master’s degree in information and communication technology as well as a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, India.
ANDREW LEONE
CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER, HYUNDAI CAPITAL AMERICA
Andrew Leone is Chief Commercial Officer at HCA where he is responsible for finance and insurance sales, product development and marketing efforts that drive business growth and strengthen relationships with our OEM and dealer partners.
Andrew began his career at HCA in 2008 and has held leadership roles in Mobility, Sales, Human Resources, Insurance, Commercial Credit and Risk. Prior to joining HCA, Andrew held roles with multinational companies in the automotive and finance sectors including Daimler, Chrysler, and Nissan. Andrew received his Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California, MS in Finance from Boston University, MBA from DePaul Driehaus College of Business, and BS in Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is also fluent in Mandarin Chinese, having both worked and studied in Beijing, PRC.
JONNY MCDONALD
VICE PRESIDENT, POST PRODUCTION, UNIVERSAL PICTURES CREATIVE OPERATIONS
Jonny McDonald is a Vice President of Post Production, Creative Operations for Universal Pictures Marketing. He co-leads the Finishing Department for the Universal Filmed Entertainment Group’s Marketing Department, overseeing post-production on Trailers, TV Spots, and Digital content for social media. Jonny serves as a member of the Universal Filmed Entertainment Group’s Inclusion Committee. He helped to develop, launch, and operate the Social Transformation Team’s “Impact Accelerator Program”, which is designed to leverage NBCUniversal’s core strengths and resources as a media company to amplify the mission of selected non-profit organizations. He also serves on the Marketing Department Diversity Initiatives Steering Committee (MDISC), aiding in outreach efforts to underserved communities and mentorship program development.
MONICA NUÑEZ
SENIOR MANAGER OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON
Monica Estrada Nuñez is the Senior Manager of Community Engagement at Southern California Edison, where she and her team are responsible for building key relationships with community-based organizations in diverse communities. She is an accomplished leader with more than 20 years of operational and management experience in the energy industry, including Local Public Affairs, Ethics and Compliance and Corporate Philanthropy. Throughout her career, Monica has focused on strategy development, effective change management, policy compliance and corporate programs implementation. She lends her support to the Whittier chapter of National Charity League and Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital.
UJWAL PATNAIK
GLOBAL DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY, ALTAIR ENGINEERING
Ujwal Patnaik is a seasoned mechanical engineer with over 18 years of experience, primarily focused on Engineering Product Designs. Ujwal began his career at an automotive engineering consulting firm, where he led projects involving Engineering Product Designs for customers such as Ford Performance Vehicles, and BMW. Over the past 16 years at Altair, he has held several key roles, including Application Engineering Manager for Altair India and Canada, and Product Manager in the OptiStruct development team, collaborating on projects with customers like General Electric Aviation, General Motors, LG electronics, Boeing, and Tesla. Currently, as the Global Director of Product Strategy, GTM, and Pricing at Altair Engineering, Ujwal is the architect of profitability, crafting winning strategies and driving growth through data-driven insights and market alignment. His core responsibilities include building strategy from ideation to execution, developing business models, pricing, competitor analysis, market research, crafting messaging and positioning, and measuring success. Ujwal holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, a master's degree in structural design, and a master's degree in business administration from the Indian School of Business, in collaboration with Wharton and the London Business School. He resides in Irvine, California, with his spouse, Nishtha Mohendra.
SARAH PIERCE
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT, HARVEY & PARMELEE LLP
Sarah Pierce is a Licensed as a Certified Public Accountant and Partner at Harvey & Parmelee LLP, CPA’s. She serves on the Finance Committee for Child Creativity Lab. Sarah is a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants. She received her BA in Economics with Leadership Studies Sequence at Claremont KcKenna College in Claremont, CA.
HEMA RAJASHEKHARA
SOLUTIONS ENGINEERING SENIOR MANAGER, CAPITAL GROUP
Hema Rajashekhara is a Solutions Engineering Senior Manager at Capital Group. She is passionate about continuous improvement, strategic thinking, and fostering innovation within her teams to create high-quality software solutions. Hema holds a Master’s degree in System Sciences from Binghamton University and a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Math and Statistics/Computer Science from SUNY Stony Brook. She lives in Irvine, CA and has two children, Sachin and Sahana.
PERRI SELMAN CO-OWNER, MARKETING, ADVERTISING, and COMMUNITY RELATIONS DIRECTOR, SELMAN CHEVROLET
Perri Selman Hamilton is a Co-Owner and the Marketing, Advertising and Community Relations Director at Selman Chevrolet in Orange. Along with her brother, she is a third generation owner of the dealership that her grandfather established in 1952. She began her full-time employment in 1989 after she graduated from Boston University with a Bachelors Degree in Communications. Perri has over 30 years of experience developing strategies and tactics to boost the company's reputation, drive qualified traffic and enhance community relations. She also has extensive experience in creating and managing advertising and promotional budgets, and analyzing market trends. Perri has planned and executed large corporate promotions and events, as well as smaller events for local schools and organizations. More recently, she has maintained and overseen the company’s social media presence and has worked as a liaison between the dealership and General Motors. An Orange County native, Perri currently resides in Seal Beach with her husband, Lew Hamilton. They have three children, Luke, Logan, and Harlow.
TRACEY HILL
CEO, CHILD CREATIVITY LAB
Tracey Hill is the Chief Executive Officer for Child Creativity Lab. She is an accomplished leader, having spent over twenty years as a marketing executive in the entertainment industry and has held several leadership positions in non-profit and community organizations. Tracey spent the bulk of her entertainment career working at the studio-level, most recently as Vice President of Marketing for Sony Pictures Television; and has worked on marketing campaigns for numerous film and television properties. As an active member in her community, Tracey has served on the board for National Charity League and as President of her local Parent Teacher Association. Tracey graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in Film Studies from the University of California, Irvine and received an MBA from USC Marshall School of Business.