Adil Karamally is a serial entrepreneur who started six businesses beginning at age 17.

Adil is skilled in business start-ups, financial planning, and strategic management. He is also an expert in business buying and selling.

Adil's most recent venture is Orange county-based Pro Star Mechanical Services, a provider of building comfort equipment throughout Southern California.

Adil has led every functional area during his career and has been CEO to staff of up to 250 people.

Atul Teckchandani is a professor of management and the director of the Business Honors Program. He also works closely with the College of Engineering and Computer Science to create opportunities for business and engineering students to work together.

Like Warren Buffet and Meredith Whitney, I began my business career at age 9 on a newspaper route. By age 14 I had earned my PHD: Poor, Hungry and Driven! My professional career spanned 40+ years in retail with national chain stores including Alpha Beta, Albertsons, Sav-On Drugs, Longs Drug. I worked in various roles beginning as store manager. Over those 40 years, I held a variety of leadership positions. One of the most interesting roles was Senior VP of Marketing for American Stores. We operated 254 stores in 57 markets. From town to town, our major competitors tended to be local chains or independents; so our business model was extremely entrepreneurial.

Carl Woodard has been a member of the SCORE Orange County Chapter for eighteen years, serving as a business mentor, workshop presenter, Chapter Chair and District Director, covering four Chapters in Orange County, San Diego, the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley.

His in-person workshops include Developing a Winning Business Plan, Selling Techniques that Work and Marketing and Promotion….Finding Your Niche.

Carl’s business career of 34 years was in Packaged Goods Brand Management, including Directing corporate departments of Advertising, Consumer Promotion, Marketing Research and Packaging Design. In addition, he was in Food Sales, Directing Field Sales Groups for five years after posting three years in plastic film Production Control.

As the Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship (North Orange County Community College District/NOCCCD). Dr. Greiner is engaged in the intersection and collaboration between education, social entrepreneurship, employment, and opportunity. She has served as a faculty member, dean, vice president, and regional leader in the CA Community College system and brings deep expertise, extensive networking, and access to a community of practice across SoCal in educational leadership, work-based learning (WBL), college and workforce development, and employer engagement. As Director, she focuses on strengthening collaboration between entrepreneurs, employers and education, especially across the California Community Colleges, University and K12 + ROP Systems in OC. Dr. Greiner is also active on several boards focusing on the transitioning economy, career education, venture capital and entrepreneurship, and emerging learning trends. As a small business owner, she also brings real world application and understanding of the global economy to the table. She is a faculty member for the Western Association of College and University Business Officers (WACUBO), an Executive Board Member for Leadership California, Board Member for CSUF Center for Entrepreneurship, Executive Committee Member and Treasurer of Vital Link, a Board Member for Life College. In 2021, she was appointed by the Secretary Gina Raimondo, U.S. Department of Commerce, Commercial Services, to serve on the District Export Council (DEC) Southern California (SoCal) and joined the Board of Directors for Tech Coast New Ventures, OC (TCNV).

Curtis Chan is a serial entrepreneur, philanthropist, author, business mentor and board advisor. He is the CEO/founder of two OC based high technology brand marketing and public relations agencies, whose clients range from the Global Fortune 500 to venture capital funded startups. He played key executive roles early on in helping to pioneer and usher in both professional digital audio and digital video technologies for the recording, broadcast, cinematic and post-production industries. He also played key executive roles in helping to develop and market data storage technologies. His expansive background spans four decades in ever increasing executive roles in operations, business development, engineering and sales/marketing in the information technology, media & entertainment, storage and networking, and other related high technology industries. He is an active mentor and senior advisor to many established and VC backed start-up companies, small businesses and incubators, and has over four decades of experience in brand marketing, management consulting, company turnarounds, and public relations. Mr. Chan is celebrating his 24th year as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence and mentor for the Center for Entrepreneurship at California State University Fullerton’s College of Business and Economics. He is an editorial board member for the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers; contributing editor to many US and international trade publications; mentor/advisor to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and a member of the President’s Green and Gold Society; and board advisor to Pepperdine University's Most Fundable Companies program and the TAYO Legacy Foundation.

I can enhance your sales pitch and marketing strategies based on my experience leading sales at Hasbro, where I launched product lines like Marvel, Playskool, Nerf, and My Little Pony across multiple retail and online outlets.

My collaboration with marketing and design teams allowed us to develop products optimized for various channels including Mass, Drug, Food, Dollar, Club, and Online. With expertise in distribution and strategic partnerships, I can boost your market presence and sales effectiveness.

Patricia Alarcón, Interim Executive Director of the El Monte Business Alliance and CEO & Principal Consultant at Alarcón Group LLC, recently shared her extensive knowledge with the CSUF Startup Incubator community. Drawing from her background in government relations, economic development, and community advocacy, Patricia focused on three pillars essential for business growth: accessing capital, building strategic marketing, and fostering collaborations. This blog post covers the highlights of Patricia’s presentation and provides actionable resources for entrepreneurs eager to strengthen their businesses.

Ritu Arora Thakur is the founder of Smart Tech Inc., a boutique consulting firm dedicated to empowering small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Since starting Smart Tech in 2006, she has earned a strong reputation for her strategic insights and passion for leveraging technology to drive business success.

Ritu now partners with SMBs to optimize sales operations, streamline processes through frameworks, and implement technologies that enhance communication, efficiency, and performance through business insights. From target market strategy to improving revenue realization and sales forecasting and deploying Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, she tailors’ solutions to meet each client’s specific needs. Ritu believes that with the right tools, guidance, and support, SMBs can overcome obstacles, seize new opportunities, and thrive in today’s competitive market.

Before founding Smart Tech, Ritu gained experience working with large enterprises in project management, business analysis, and software implementation at leading tech firms, enabling her to tackle challenges from multiple angles and deliver measurable results to modern organizations.

Beyond her technical expertise, Ritu is a skilled mentor, dedicated to helping individuals and teams reach their full potential. She believes SMBs play a vital role in driving economic growth and is committed to providing the tools and support they need to thrive. Her moto is customer first and firmly believes that Smart Tech Inc’s success lies in Customer Success.

An advocate for women in business, Ritu is also an active community member, working to inspire and empower the next generation of entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams and make a positive impact in the world.

Ritu Arora Thakur LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rituathakur/

Smart Tech Inc LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/smart-tech-inc/

Born and raised in Egypt, where Dr. Shaymaa’s passion for health and wellness developed early on. Her educational journey began at Collège de la Sainte Famille in Mansoura, where she graduated with an impressive 93%. This strong foundation sparked her interest in science and led her to earn a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Chemistry at Mansoura University, graduating with top honors and ranking among the top 10 students.

Dr. Shaymaa’s career began as a Medical Analyst Specialist at a Gastroenterology Surgical Centre, where she gained valuable experience in clinical diagnostics. To deepen her knowledge, she earned a Higher Diploma in Physiology, Biochemistry and Pathology from Suez Canal University, followed by a Master’s degree in Public Health from Queens College, USA, and a Higher Diploma in Clinical Nutrition from Cairo University. This diverse background in biochemistry, nutrition, and physiology later inspired her entrepreneurial journey.

Professionally, she has held several roles that shaped her expertise. As a Branch Manager at Al Suwaidi Gulf Company, she honed her leadership and business skills. Dr. Shaymaa also worked as a Nutrition Consultant realizing the profound connection between internal health and external beauty.

In 2024, Dr. Shaymaa founded DR Beauty Care, a company providing High Quality products for Haircare, skincare & Supplements.

Dr. Shaymaa proudly serves as a Global Ambassador and has been recognized as a Voice of a New Era of Leaders. She also holds the position of National President "UAE" She Safe @ Shelgnites Business Council, where she advocates for women’s empowerment & Entrepreneurship Ambassador @CSUF in promoting and growing the CSUF Entrepreneurship community.

Tabitha Ngozi is a multifarious leader making a significant impact in various fields. She is a renowned entrepreneur, business coach, and human rights advocate, she empowers individuals and businesses to reach their full potential. Her impressive portfolio includes being an ambassador for Equal Trade Women Alliance Netherlands, as well as the Country Director of Entrepreneurship for World Leaders Foundation India and Regional Chair for Human Rights and Dignity Wing G100 India.

Through her organization, Goal Quest Consult, Tabitha offers comprehensive business services such as Marketing, Branding, Entrepreneurial Development training, Coaching, and Mentorship.

Her expertise in leadership, entrepreneurship, and digital skills has made her a sought-after speaker, inspiring people globally.

Tabitha is also a dedicated human rights advocate, championing initiatives that promote leadership and capacity-building for young women and girls. Her written work includes co-authoring "Women's Voice in Politics and Leadership," and she shares insightful blog posts on leadership, business, and personal development.

With her diverse experience and passion for empowerment, Tabitha is poised to amplify her impact, driving entrepreneurial growth and innovation worldwide. Her dedication and achievements make her an excellent Business Coach where she undoubtedly contributes to the success and growth of young Entrepreneurs.

Tom Miller is an author, entrepreneur, consultant and educator who works with entrepreneurs and the businesses they run to start, grow, and fix them, depending their health and stage in the lifecycle of a business.