Donna Ruff is an accomplished corporate leader with more than 20 years of management experience and a solid background in Supplier Diversity, executive leadership, and business development. Her expertise in program direction, contract negotiations, and sustainability initiatives has enabled her to develop and implement metrics, analyses, improvements, timelines, budgets, and processes that drive cost-saving innovations. Donna's vision for empowering minority-owned businesses will drive positive impacts in Northern California, Nevada, and Hawai'i. Recognized with accolades like the 2020 WRMSDC MBEIC People's Choice, the 2022 Supplier Diversity Leader of the Year, and the 2023 Top 5 Most Influential Women in D&I by CIO Views, Donna is a powerful advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Julia recently joined the Cardinal Health family with many years of prior experience within the technology industry. Julia has a specialization in procurement strategy and business operations with a longstanding passion and commitment toward advancing Supplier Diversity. Julia has also focused her time on corporate social responsibility programs, supported DE&I initiatives for employees internally, as well as leading supplier diversity and commercial inclusion programs. Julia’s focus within Cardinal Heath is on federal compliance to ensure good standing and support of Cardinal Health’s positive reputation with customers and suppliers, holding particular interest in healthcare manufacturing companies. Julia holds an M.A. degree in Social and Environmental Psychology from Cal Poly Humboldt and resides in the greater Sacramento region of Northern California.

Julia recently joined the Cardinal Health family with many years of prior experience within the technology industry. Julia has a specialization in procurement strategy and business operations with a longstanding passion and commitment toward advancing Supplier Diversity. Julia has also focused her time on corporate social responsibility programs, supported DE&I initiatives for employees internally, as well as leading supplier diversity and commercial inclusion programs. Julia’s focus within Cardinal Heath is on federal compliance to ensure good standing and support of Cardinal Health’s positive reputation with customers and suppliers, holding particular interest in healthcare manufacturing companies. Julia holds an M.A. degree in Social and Environmental Psychology from Cal Poly Humboldt and resides in the greater Sacramento region of Northern California.

Mariela Medina currently serves as a Bilingual Business Outreach Liaison at the Office of Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Services for the California Department of General Services. In this role, she educates business owners about the benefits and opportunities of pursuing a Small Business (SB) certification, Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) certification, and contract opportunities with the state of California. Mariela is an experienced leader in community and business outreach. She has a proven record of accomplishment with over a decade of experience in politics, community engagement, obtaining and managing close partnerships with local government and stakeholders, and working with the Latino community and Spanish speaking media. Mariela has a background in Politics and Community Engagement and holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with an emphasis in Human Behavior from California State University Sacramento. 

Lou Rosas is Director Supplier Inclusion at Robert Half, the world’s first and largest specialized staffing firm. He is responsible for the management of the company’s U.S. supplier inclusion initiative to include diverse suppliers in all aspects of the supply chain and to support diverse business organizations in their business development efforts. Lou joined Robert Half after a long career with AT&T. While at AT&T, Lou had various roles, most notably, Director External Affairs responsible for Contra Costa County and Associate Director Supplier Diversity. For over 20 years he has been an active supporter and champion for diverse businesses, partnering with numerous organizations nationwide. Lou is also a military Veteran, serving in the United States Air Force for 8 years attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant with field assignments in Japan and Korea, and a staff assignment at the National Security Agency in Washington D.C. Lou holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from California State University Northridge and was recognized on the Dean’s List and Honors List for his academic achievements. Lou became involved in local politics in 1993 at the request of community groups who wanted diverse representation on the city council. Through an extensive grass-roots campaign, Lou was elected to the Concord City Council in November 1993. Councilmember Rosas became Mayor Rosas on November 21, 1995 and served as the first Latino Mayor in Concord’s history.

Jason Aguas started with Comcast in 2006 as an installer and commercial tech. Since then, he has held numerous leadership positions as Field Operations Supervisor, Network Maintenance Supervisor, and West Division XOC HFC Senior Manager (NOC Manager). Jason recently started his current position as Government and Regulatory Affairs Manager. Jason is a bay area native, husband and father of two young kids. Jason is passionate about diversity and inclusion in the workplace and supplier diversity. Jason attended the University of Phoenix where he recently graduated in August 2023 and earned a Bachelor of Science in Business.

Kyle Arshakuni is a Project Manager with The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company in the SF Bay Area. Kyle earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in 2010. Upon graduation, he joined Whiting-Turner and now has over 14 years of experience and extensive knowledge in industries such as Science + Technology, Office, Healthcare, and Higher Education. Kyle continues to be a leader supporting the growth of the Northern California Region. He is a proud husband and father of twin toddler boys. He enjoys building things in his free time and working with the community.

Steve Rodriguez is a Project Manager that works for The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, located in Northern California. Steve graduated from California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management in 2012. Upon graduation, he joined Whiting-Turner as a Project Engineer. With over 11 years of experience, Steve’s extensive knowledge in industries such as Retail, Warehouse & Distribution, Science + Technology; continues to lead and support to the growth of the Northern California Region.

Leslie Okamoto is currently the Sr. Manager of Business Governance & Outreach for Siemens Mobility, Inc. – Rolling Stock headquartered in Sacramento, CA with 9 years in the Transportation Industry. Leslie is the Co-Lead for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging for Siemens Mobility, Inc. where she works to foster an inclusive environment where everyone feels they can belong. Leslie is responsible for Supplier Diversity initiatives for Siemens Mobility, Inc. - Rolling Stock. Leslie works tirelessly to help establish relationships with small and diverse businesses for Siemens through partnering with advocacy organizations and chambers of commerce. Leslie advocates for the Minority Business Enterprise community across the Siemens organization. Leslie currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Pacific Southwest Minority Supplier Development Council (PSWMSDC). Leslie graduated with a BA in Linguistics and a minor in Child and Family Development from San Diego State University.

Nico Katerkamp is currently a Business Governance & Outreach Specialist for Siemens Mobility, Inc. – Rolling Stock headquartered in Sacramento, CA with 2 years in the Transportation Industry and 6 years in Strategic Procurement. Nico currently supports the implementation of Supplier Diversity initiatives for Siemens Mobility, Inc. - Rolling Stock and strives to build relationships with small and diverse businesses for Siemens through partnering with advocacy organizations and chambers of commerce. Nico joined Siemens Mobility from the Digital Industries business of Siemens AG where he was responsible for procuring IT consulting and development services. Nico graduated with a BA in International Business and Management in the Netherlands.

Wayne has over 25 years of experience in the AEC industry with expertise in BIM coordination and facilitation. He began his career as a programming specialist at an architecture studio and evolved into positions including Principal and BIM Manager at notable AEC firms. This experience ultimately led to his current role as Project Director, Designer at Webcor. In this role Wayne controls the design process and is the interface between Webcor and the design team, integrating the combined efforts of the architects, engineers, specialty consultants, and subcontractor partners. Wayne’s goal is to produce a coordinated design by effectively communicating in clear language that the architecture/engineering and general contracting/trade contractors all understand. He respects and understands the iterative nature of the design process as well as the need to simultaneously move the design forward and remain fully aware of the economic, performance, and contracting constraints. As an experienced preconstruction professional, Wayne is adept at creative problem-solving and is skilled at directing Webcor’s team in converting design solutions into quantifiable conceptual cost estimates, realistic schedules, and constructible projects—all while eliminating health and safety risks in the design. He ensures that the project design recognizes current legislation, standards, and codes of practice and ultimately keeps the preconstruction deliverables organized, timely, and on target.

California Bay Area native, Sharla Sullivan, is a mom of three who’s passionate about workforce development and supplier diversity. She’s co-led the ACE (Architecture, Construction & Engineer) Mentor Program Oakland team for over 10 years, working to engage future industry professionals from disenfranchised areas like the ones she originated from. As the Outreach and Partnerships Manager at Webcor, she works to increase small and diverse business participation, local hiring, and community engagement on private and public works to further Webcor’s mission to “Build Solutions and Better Lives”. Sharla holds a Bachelors in Sociology from Tufts University and has spent the last 15+ years of her career building mutually beneficial relationships throughout the construction industry. She’s worked in multiple regions of California and as an award-winning supplier diversity professional, she enjoys connecting new diverse suppliers to contracting opportunities and championing their growth and success through mentorship. Sharla truly believes that small and diverse business creation and expansion start with investment in local workforce. She aims to strengthen relationships through strategic planning designed to foster this growth wherever possible.

Mick Penn works for Swinerton as the Northern California Regional Community Relations Liaison. Mr. Penn spearheads Swinerton’s workforce development, small, diverse, veteran business outreach and community engagement in Northern California. Mr. Penn currently serves on the board of directors of the Western Regional Minority Supplier Development Council, Cypress Mandela Training Center, Mission Hiring Hall, Construction Industry Education Foundation Board of Trustees, and the City of Richmond Workforce Development Board. In 2021, Mr. Penn was named the Western Regional Minority Development Council’s Supplier Diversity Leader of the Year and the Associated General Contractors of California’s Construction Education Foundation Friend Award winner. Mr. Penn has a BA from San Francisco State and a Master of Public Administration from University of San Francisco.

Mia Brown works for Swinerton as the Northern California Regional Community Relations Coordinator. Miss Brown supports Swinerton’s Northern California Supplier Diversity Workforce Development and Community Engagement in all 46 counties. Miss Brown is passionate about having a positive impact on the community and works tirelessly to amplify Swinerton’s impact in the communities where Swinerton works and has projects. As a graduate of Cypress Mandela Training Center, Miss brown has witnessed firsthand the power of community partnerships to change peoples lives. Miss Brown holds a B.A. in Psychology from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta Georgia and an M.B.A. in Forensic Psychology from Holy Names University in Oakland, CA.

MidPen Housing is one of the nation’s largest non-profit developers and owners of affordable housing — to date, we’ve developed over 120 communities across eleven Northern California counties and currently provide affordable homes for more than 20,000 (and growing) low-income working families, seniors, and people with special needs. With a “three companies, one mission” approach, MidPen Housing develops affordable housing, provide professional property management for all our communities, and coordinate robust onsite support programs to help our residents advance their well-being.  At MidPen, we build communities that change lives and revitalize neighborhoods. We work every day to create a world where everyone has a quality home they can afford and equitable access to opportunity. Our goal is to develop communities that enhance cities and catalyze growth and opportunity for residents. The lack of affordable housing in the Bay Area is our reason for doing what we do, and we want you to be a part of the journey toward social, economic, and racial equity.

Rosemary Bracy joined MidPen Housing Corporation in 2019 and serves as the Director of Talent Acquisition. MidPen Housing is one of the nation’s largest non-profit developers and owners of affordable housing - to date, we’ve developed over 120 communities across eleven Northern California counties and currently provide affordable homes for more than 20,000 (and growing) low-income working families, seniors, and people with special needs. With a “three companies, one mission” approach, MidPen Housing develops affordable housing, provide professional property management for all our communities, and coordinate robust onsite support programs to help our residents advance their well-being.  At MidPen, we build communities that change lives and revitalize neighborhoods. We work every day to create a world where everyone has a quality home they can afford and equitable access to opportunity. Our goal is to develop communities that enhance cities and catalyze growth and opportunity for residents. The lack of affordable housing in the Bay Area is our reason for doing what we do, and we want you to be a part of the journey toward social, economic, and racial equity.

Lynn Reddrick is an Assistant Vice President at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco who leads the Supplier Diversity Program and Business Partners team. This team is responsible for developing, implementing, and administering the Supplier Diversity Program and collaborating with all business areas to source diverse vendor pools for all competitive procurement events for each of its six locations in the Twelfth Federal Reserve District. Ms. Reddrick is an advocate for fair inclusion of diverse businesses in the procurement process, which in turn increases the Bank’s involvement in the economic development of these businesses and their communities. Ms. Reddrick also serves on the Board of Directors for the Women’s Business Enterprise Council – Pacific, Western Regional Minority Supplier Development Council, and the Financial Services Roundtable for Supplier Diversity. Ms. Reddrick has nurtured the Supplier Diversity Program both internally and externally with diverse advocacy organizations for ten years. These efforts have significantly increased the Bank’s spend with diverse businesses, provided valuable technical assistance, and earned many awards from regional partners of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council and National Minority Supplier Development Council. Ms. Reddrick was named one of DiversityPlus Magazine’s “Top 25 Women in Power Impacting Diversity” in 2016. She has also served as a Co-Chair of the Federal Reserve System’s Supplier Diversity Work Group since 2013. Ms. Reddrick received her Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from the University of California at Berkeley and a Master of Business Administration degree in finance and marketing from Columbia University.

Hendry is currently the sourcing and supplier diversity manager at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. He brings 12+ years of procurement experience and focused on driving strategic supplier diversity initiatives, enhancing vendor relationships and promoting economic growth within the community. He is committed to ensuring diverse supplier participation and driving innovation in the procurement process.

Ayanna Nobles is a District Branch Chief for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) representing District 4 Bay Area Division of External Affairs. Ayanna has 25 years of service with Caltrans and her leadership experience spans 6 years. In her current role Ayanna is responsible for managing and planning the daily activities of District 4’s Small Business Program and the California Public Records Act branch.  ​Ayanna holds a bachelor’s degree in liberal Studies with minor a in Africana studies from San Francisco State University. She’s also studied Classical African civilization in Egypt and Ghana.  In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, spending time in nature, music, and private time with family and friends. 

Hello, my name is Owen Steen, and I have been a Statewide Outreach Analyst working for Caltrans since February 2023. I thoroughly enjoy meeting small business owners about contract opportunities with Caltrans and the state. Before my time with state service, I was a Sr. Securities analyst for over 20 years working in the private sector as a licensed National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) Stocks and Bond broker for companies such as E*Trade Securities, Marvel, Designs Within Reach, HP, Del Monte, American Express, Electronics for Imaging, as well as a consultant for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a forensic securities analyst during the dot.com implosion in late 2000s. Outside of public service, I am an NCAA fastpitch softball umpire as well as a head coach for high school JV softball and travel ball.

Edna serves as a liaison between diverse suppliers and State Fund’s Enterprise Procurement and internal stake holders by increasing awareness of the benefits and importance of giving opportunities to certified Minority, Women, LGBT, Veterans and DVBE’s as participants in State Fund’s competitive contracting and procurement process. This awareness is further created thru workshops, and participation and inclusion of Certified Diverse Suppliers in all category planning and sourcing activities. Prior to her current role, Edna was part of the Business Services Purchasing Department as a Buyer and a Contract Administrator from 1999 to 2010. Edna joined State Fund in 1991 as a check signer for Fiscal Services after working from Esprit De Corp from 1985 to 1991. Edna studied Psychology from Colegio de San Juan de Letran in Manila Philippines.

Ernie Flores leads the Supplier Diversity program for Kaiser Permanente. He oversees and advocates for securing a spend worth more than $3.24 billion (2023) with Tier I diverse companies. Ernie is also responsible for relationship building, supplier diversity compliance efforts, and creating strategic alliances for upcoming sourcing initiatives across the organization. Ernie holds a BS in Business Administration and Management from California Polytechnic (Cal-Poly) State University, San Luis Obispo, CA and an MBA in Supply Chain and Operations from Marquette University. Prior to his role with Impact Spending, Ernie was in the role of Strategic Sourcing Manager focusing on Security Service and Products, Facilities Management and Operations and Real Estate Services.  He is a recognized expert in category management, negotiation, supply market analysis, and supplier management.  In his spare time, Ernie likes to golf, spend time with friends and family, as well as his 4-year-old dog, Charley.

Michelle A. Shaw, Lead Project Manager, Impact Spending, leads, executes, and manages highly visible cross-functional business projects to ensure the organization’s buying power makes a sustainable and economic impact on small, veteran, and minority-owned businesses. Adept at identifying business opportunities to ensure supplier development growth and development, strengthened business results, and the success of Kaiser Permanente’s supplier diversity program. Through her leadership, she is also charged with relationship building and management of the organization’s prime suppliers to ensure contract compliance and develop strategies to improve their performance. Before joining the Impact Spend team, Michelle worked in the National Compliance Office as a member of the Program Management Office (PMO) and managed high-impact strategic projects within the department. Using various industry-standard project management methodologies, the PMO helped teams achieve results that wouldn’t be possible if the projects were managed separately. A San Francisco Bay Area native, Michelle earned her master’s in business administration with a concentration in Management and Strategy from Western Governors University and her bachelor’s from Mills College in Oakland, CA majoring in Public Policy. She is a certified Performance Improvement Advisor in the development of improved standardized workflows and procedures within operations, assessing strategic priorities and identifying cost savings. Furthermore, Michelle is a Veteran of the United States Air Force.

Melanie Dodson is a Senior Preconstruction Director with McCarthy Building Companies’ Northern Pacific Region. Bringing more than 28 years of preconstruction and tenant improvement experience, Melanie leads the preconstruction efforts for McCarthy’s Specialized Solutions & Interiors team providing clients with unique solutions for tenant improvements, buildouts, and expansion projects of all sizes. She is integral in helping clients navigate project start-up and design phase processes through strategic thinking, relationship building, and full-service contracting capabilities – ensuring the team establishes a long-lasting and trusted presence with its clients in the region and beyond.

Jennifer Aquino, DE&I Coordinator for the National DEI team, is a graduate of San Francisco State University. She plays an integral role in implementing inclusive, collaborative initiatives, leads event planning for programs like Construction Inclusion Week, and manages two Employee Resource Groups. She assists Supplier Diversity teams in ensuring growth of diverse trade partners and drives community impact and engagement. She is also an active member on the WRMSDC Construction Steering Committee.

Alex is a Program Manager on Google's Supplier Diversity and Sustainability team, dedicated to enhancing Google's community impact. As a former small business owner who benefited from supplier diversity programs, Alex brings passion and experience to drive Google's positive influence in the space. Alex's background includes strategic, operational, and procurement roles at Google, Johnson & Johnson, and PwC. Additionally, Alex boasts entrepreneurial success, having launched a home organization company with 60 U.S. locations and a financial advising firm focused on minority-owned businesses.

Christian Pellecchia holds a Senior Management position at JE Dunn Construction in their Santa Clara location. He has over 15 years of experience in the industry with a chief focus on government affairs and community entrenchment. Chrisitan is also deeply involved with workforce development in construction related professions. In the past 8 years, Christian has educated, trained, and found employment for many people seeking careers associated with the built environment.

Eddie has over 25 years of experience in the construction industry in the Bay Area, bringing expertise in all project markets including mission critical, large-scale manufacturing, biotechnology, corporate office, and higher education. At JE Dunn Construction, Eddie has played an integral role in leading the success of the newest office in Santa Clara. Beyond his technical expertise, he is known for his collaborative approach to problem-solving and his dedication to fostering strong relationships with stakeholders at every level of the construction process. His leadership style emphasizes transparency, communication, and a relentless pursuit of excellence, ensuring that each project is completed on time, on budget, and to the highest standards of quality. Outside of his professional endeavors, Parenti is actively involved in mentoring young professionals in the construction industry and volunteering his time to support community initiatives aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion in the field. His commitment to giving back to his community reflects his belief in the importance of using his skills and resources to make a positive impact on the world around him. 

Kathleen is Adobe’s Manager for Supplier Responsibility. Her work involves designing high-impact strategic corporate engagements in sustainability and diversity. She is building out Adobe’s Supplier Diversity approach to create more opportunities for diverse business while adding greater business value and innovation.

Xavier has been in the current role for 2 years at Adobe. Prior to that,  Xavier has spent numerous years in technical accounting and finance roles at companies such as Oracle, Brocade, and VMWARE.  Xavier is currently Board Member of the Mid-Peninsula Chapter of the United Nations Association, where he engages with civic leaders on incorporating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals at the local level.  In addition, he also has a role as a commissioner on the Human Relations Commission for the City of Mountain View.  In his spare time, he officiates sports in the San Francisco area.

In 1988, Tracy Stanhoff founded AD PRO, an advertising and graphic design firm located in Huntington Beach, California. Ms. Stanhoff served as Tribal Chair of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation from 2006-‐2007. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University, Long Beach and was honored as co-‐Outstanding Graduate in the Journalism/Public Relations department. She completed executive programs from: Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College; University of California, Los Angeles Anderson School of Management; Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University; and Marshall School of Business at University of Southern California. She also serves as: President of American Indian Chamber of Commerce of California; Vice President of Southern California Indian Center; on the board of directors of Prairie Band, LLC; and on utility company advisory boards.

Sahra S. Halpern, president of the Business Consortium Fund and Triad Investments, has created innovative, mission-driven lending programs throughout her career in community development finance. She is responsible for driving BCF toward greater impact in the communities we serve by expanding our capital reach to business owners of color. Ms. Halpern started her career in international microfinance before spending 15 years at Charles Schwab Bank in the Community Development Group, which she helped establish and grow. Subsequently,  Ms. Halpern led strategic lending initiatives at Capital Impact Partners, a national community development financial institution, where she led structured fund development and lending strategy. Ms. Halpern earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of California, Davis – Graduate School of Management and also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wesleyan University.

Sudheesh is the Vice President of Innovation and Emerging technologies, ePlus Inc, a global organization with teams located at the Corporate Headquarters in Herndon, Virginia as well as in the UK, India, and Singapore. ePlus is listed in NYSE (PLUS). Sudheesh joined ePlus, via the acquisition of OneCloud Consulting inc., where he was the Co-Founder & CEO Sudheesh is a proven technology entrepreneur and executive with a track record of successful ventures. He gained extensive experience of building products and businesses from ground up. He is proficient at leading cross-functional, transformational initiatives across diverse groups to successfully develop Go to Market Strategy (GTM) and launch innovative services, and solutions. Sudheesh a seasoned executive with strong management experience in product development, corporate development, technology and services strategy, business operations and Product marketing with a proven track record of building strategic plans, building high performing organizations and enhancing operational efficiency. Sudheesh’s vast experience also includes working at various roles in IBM, Cisco and Salesforce on Datacenter and Cloud Technologies. He holds a bachelor’s in computer science from Madurai Kamaraj University.

With a proven track record in Strategic Technology Resourcing, I specialize in aligning business objectives with cutting-edge technological solutions. As a Business Enablement Manager, I orchestrate seamless integration of technology to optimize operations and fuel growth for our long-standing customers. My expertise lies in fostering cross-functional collaboration by delivering a full range of Technology Staffing solutions, including short-term, long-term, temporary-to-hire, direct-hire, and tailored project teams placed not only nationally but across the globe. In addition to driving innovation initiatives, I deliver tangible results that empower businesses to thrive in dynamic market landscapes.

Harish Vakharia’s career highlights include 20+ years of extensive, diverse experience in the contingent workforce arena. His experience includes positions of varied increasing responsibility including; new account development, global team management and new regional expansion. Harish began his career with Rose 19+ years ago as a Recruiter, and grew into the Senior Vice President role he holds today. Harish holds an MBA and B.S. in Electronics Engineering.

Shuja Rashid is a seasoned professional with 15+ years of experience in the field of talent acquisition and IT solutions. Having dedicated the last 8+ years to Rose International, Shuja consistently demonstrates success as a proficient manager. His career showcases a trajectory of progressive innovation, characterized by the successful delivery of complex solutions within a global environment. Shuja excels in building strategic partnerships and fostering high levels of team engagement. His leadership is marked by a commitment to achieving and surpassing technical objectives and profit targets. Throughout his career, Shuja has proven to be a results-driven individual who consistently delivers value to his clients.

Christine Maddela is a lifelong storyteller. She’s a veteran broadcast journalist and media coach who now puts her decades of experience to work for her clients. That’s how Storyville Road was born. Storyville Road specializes in full-service video production and public speaking/presentation coaching.  
Christine was named one of 24 women around the country to receive the 2023 Entrepreneurial Women of Impact Award by the Women Presidents Organization. She is also the recipient of the 2023 WRMSDC Engagement Award for her involvement with and service to fellow diverse-owned businesses throughout her region. Storyville Road was named 2023 WRMSDC Supplier of the Year: Class 1 and 2022 “Rising Star MBE Award”. Maddela was a featured speaker at NMSDC’s 2022 national conference where she presented “The Science of Storytelling: Building Your Brand.” She was named one of VEGAS INC’s “40 Under 40” and recognized by the National Association of Women Business Owners Southern Nevada as a “Rising Star” in entrepreneurship and winner of the Woman of Distinction Grant. She has received numerous Regional Emmy® Awards, Edward R. Murrow® Awards, and National Press Photographers Association Awards for her work. The National Bar Association also named her one of 19 finalists in the country for the 2017 Silver Gavel Awards for Media and the Arts. Christine has served as a news anchor, reporter, and national correspondent all over the country including in Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Nashville, Washington D.C. and El Paso, TX. She’s a proud graduate of The University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism. Christine is active in the Las Vegas community and serves on the Nevada Corporate Giving Council, Southern Nevada’s Industry Sector Partner for Creative Industries, Vice President of the Board of Governors for the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS)- Pacific Southwest Chapter, NATAS National Emmy Awards Committee, Advisory Board for the annual Philanthropy Leaders Summit, Raiders Den entrepreneurial summer camp advisor, Community Advisory Board for St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, and video production advisor for Doral Academy’s Career and Technical Education program. 

Ray Arzate is a veteran photojournalist and editor who won an “oscar” in high school. He carried his video camera everywhere. His church youth leader awarded him an “oscar award” for best documentarian. He still displays that small, plastic award on his desk. It now sits next to his dozens of real Emmy, AP Broadcasters, Edward R. Murrow, Promax, and NPPA Best of Photojournalism Awards. Ray served as chief photographer at the NBC & FOX affiliate stations in Las Vegas as well as creative services promotions manager of the latter. He has also worked in Atlanta, Nashville and El Paso, TX. Ray serves on the Executive Board of Governors for the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences- Pacific Southwest Chapter. He also chairs the documentary division for the NPPA Best of Photojournalism Awards.

Dr. Ann, a Northern California-based dentist, holds a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree obtained in 2014 and a Master of Business Administration earned in 2008. During the start of the pandemic in 2020, she developed a natural lip balm to address an allergic reaction, leading her to create Hippotanicals, a line of toxin-free wellness products made with minimal plant-based ingredients. Committed to sustainability, her packaging is plastic-free and biodegradable. Dr. Ann.'s passion for health, the environment, and job creation drives her mission to promote well-being both for people and the planet through her roles as a dentist and business owner.

Ram Bala is a Principal Program Manager with more than 20 years of International and US experience in Enterprise Strategy , Executive Recruitment , Management Consulting, Marketing and Finance. Bala is an accomplished speaker, having presented in several technology and business forums.  He has been invited as a speaker for Net Suite World. He is the “go-to” person for independent software evaluation. Customers include CalPERS, leading sports team, large technology and healthcare clients. He has won kudos for his strong expertise in research and presentation to the Board. He has several years of Executive Recruitment experience for Fortune 500 companies and public agencies including CalPERS, State of California Agencies . He has expertise in Marketing Consulting. This includes Videography and Photography services for Marketing and Promotion for cities , large establishments , banks and Healthcare organizations. He is well versed in Product Marketing and Marketing Consulting for Large Silicon Valley companies. In addition, he has a wide range of experience in IT, Business Intelligence and Data Analytics.

Rekha Rao is a PMP Certified Program Manager and dynamic leader with 20+ years of experience. She has managed more than 80+ multi million dollar IT projects. She is a Business Transformation coach, Innovation champion and Executive trainer. She is passionate about Business Transformation and has won awards from Fortune 500 companies for leading Digital Transformation successfully. She has a wide range of experience – IT Strategic Planning, creating Roadmaps and unique ways of removing the hurdles for Change Transformation. She has won appreciation from the Project Management Institute for her Train the Trainer Programs. She was also invited by PMI Silicon Valley for their Annual Symposium - to speak on unique leadership skills. Her experience covers a wide range of industries from Financial companies to Manufacturing, Logistics and the State Government and public agencies. She has won awards from PMI Memphis for spearheading a new collaboration between PMI Memphis and PMI India. She is also a Certified Data Science Professional from Harvard University with proficiency in Data Modeling. She has a passion for traveling and photography.

Sofia has lived in Canada, France, China, Switzerland and now is based in San Francisco, CA. She studied Events Management in Shanghai, China, receiving a diploma from The University of Huddersfield. SOFIA was a member of AIESEC, an international youth leadership organization that creates social impact projects around the world. She spent one summer in Chandigarh, India volunteering for The Environmental Society of India, an organization  that  aims  to  create  environmental awareness among youngsters. She also volunteered in Egypt, teaching English to young children with the aim to open their doors to the world. Sofia later left for Europe where she got an MBA (Magna Cum Laude) from Les Roches Global Hospitality Education in Crans Montana, Switzerland, one of the world’s leading hospitality schools. After graduating from Les Roches, she returned to Shanghai, where she worked in hospitality, in both the hotel and events industry. She is obsessed with creating unimaginable and unique experiences while maintaining the highest customer service and quality standards.  ​ ​ ​ ​ Upon moving to San Francisco, CA in 2017 to be close to family, she decided she wanted to follow her father's footsteps and create her own business and that is how AVOTOASTY was born in 2017. SOFIA saw that there wasn't a place that focused only on her favorite food: AVOCADOS. So, she decided to create a cafe that mixed her love for avocados, great coffee and amazing service.