Ummm I'm Sufficiently Advanced Youtuber Allen Pan! I live on the internet and I build cool stuff and bust myths test factually dubious assertions on Youtube. They won't let me do it on TV!
Bill Esparza is the “go-to” authority on Latin American food and culture in the USA. His popular book, L.A. Mexicano showcases LA’s rich and complex Mexican-food culture, including recipes, profiles of restaurateurs and neighborhood guides. In 2016, Esparza won a James Beard award for LA Magazine’s “Taco City” issue. In addition to this published works, Esparza is well-known for sharing his travel and food experiences on his blog and Instagram called “Street Gourmet LA.”
Casey Gerald is the author of There Will Be No Miracles Here. After a Yale football scholarship jumpstarted Casey Gerald’s educational career, he spent the next decade achieving countless hallmarks of success, from graduating from Harvard Business School and starting an acclaimed non-profit to having dinner with a former president and speaking at TED. But he soon discovered that there was a dark side to living out the narrative of the American Dream. His forthcoming memoir, There Will Be No Miracles Here, chronicles his reckoning with our nation’s most cherished myths. In his electrifying speeches, he turns preconceived beliefs upside down and inspires audiences to question the meaning of success.
Cheryl Gould is a consultant and learning facilitator. Cheryl Gould has been delivering workshops and coaching trainers on more than 200 library topics for the past 16 years through her library consulting business and InfoPeople. She will be leading various workshops throughout the day on stress management, communication and tough customer service situations.
Daniel Powell joins us from the City of Los Angeles Personnel Department, Employee Benefits Division. Daniel will be speaking at the Jump Start Your Retirement workshop along with La Tanya Harris.
Dennis Powell lives in Upland, California with his wife of 28 years, Brenda and he is a father of four. Dennis started his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1983-87. He will be sharing the story of his career and what inspired him to success.
Dennis was 9-0, with a 2.74 ERA record for the Albuquerque Dukes before being promoted to the parent Dodgers on July 7, 1985. In 1987, Dennis was traded to the Seattle Mariner where he played until 1990-93. Dennis also played in the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles organizations. Before retiring in 1997, Dennis had made pitching stops internationally in Osaka, Japan, Dominican Republic, Cartagena Colombia, Venezuela and Mexico.
Dennis Schnell, 1 million + travel miles. Technologist : Consultant : Surfing/Skimming : PADI DM: From #Guam. Enterprise Application Engineer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory
George Cerda joins us from the County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer and Business Affairs. Leading the Financial Empowerment Workshop, he will guide you step-by-step to financial empowerment, offering financial tips, insight on how to create a budget, advice on financial services, and more.
John F. Szabo is the City Librarian of the Los Angeles Public Library, which serves over 4 million people—the largest population of any public library in the United States. He oversees the Central Library, 72 branches and the library's $143 million budget.
Julianna Robbins has been working as a librarian since 2004. In 2006, she completed her M.L.I.S. from SJSU. Her experience covers school libraries, youth services, reference, digital services, and branch and program management. She joined California Library Association as a Program Manager in 2016 and California Center for the Book in 2017. Before becoming a librarian, Robbins earned California teaching credentials in English, English language development, and cultural anthropology, and worked as a teacher and in various marketing positions.
La Tanya Harris MBA, Certified Retirement Counselor (CRC) • Registered Representative, Voya Financial Advisors • Local retirement counselor for the City of Los Angeles Deferred Compensation Plan.
Mary McCoy is the Senior Librarian in the Art, Music, & Recreation Department, and has worked for the Los Angeles Public Library since 2005. She is the author of Dead to Me (Disney-Hyperion), Camp So-and-So (Carolrhoda Lab), and most recently, I, Claudia (Carolrhoda Lab), which was a Junior Library Guild selection.
As a G suite and Workplace specialist, Nicolette Stepakoff engages with clients to uncover the benefits of change.
Nicolette provides consultation and guidance through customers G Suite and/or Workplace transformation journey with focus on the people side of change. Among other things, Nicolette is a trusted G Suite business adviser for most industries ranging from healthcare, government, education, and enterprise to small business.
Priya Parker wants to invigorate the ways people come together in order to banish stale conferences, flat dinner parties, and unproductive board meetings. In her interactive talks and in her book, The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters, she challenges audiences to dig down to the root of why and how we make connections, create communities, and build organizations.
Priya Parker’s bold approach to gatherings redefines the ways people connect, learn, and develop relationships. The founder of boutique advisory firm Thrive Labs, she helps activists, elected officials, corporate executives, educators, and philanthropists create transformative, unforgettable gatherings that allow them to step back from their daily routine, rediscover their motivations, and develop strategies for innovation.
Todd Johnson has been working in improvisation for over 20 years both on stage and as an improvisational trainer. He teaches these techniques and games to anyone of any experience level from age 8 to 88. If you’ve never done improv, you’ll suddenly feel like you’re back in kindergarten. It’s all about the play!
