Executive in Residence Mentors
They have been responsible for the urban growth of Orange County. They have made the auto industry accessible to millions globally. They have transformed the lives of people throughout the world through economic and professional development. From manufacturing to philanthropy to finance, the professionals engaged with the college's Executive in Residence program together bring centuries of leadership experience to prepare today's young professionals for their futures in the ever-changing global business environment of the 21st century.
Juniors, seniors and graduate students interested in participating in the Executive in Residence program are encouraged to apply to become a mentee via the buttons contained within each executive profile below. If selected as a mentee, you will engage with your mentor through either small-group or individual mentor sessions. As a mentee, you will be expected to meet with your mentor one to two times each month during the relevant semester(s).
First impressions count. Your application to become a mentee is your opportunity to make a strong first impression. Please provide detailed responses when completing your application. The application review is a competitive process, and mentors will select those individuals perceived to be the best match for a successful mentor-mentee relationship. Please identify only one executive with whom you would like to connect. Multiple applications will not be reviewed.
Application Closed
Mentors No Longer Accepting Applications for Fall 2021
Scott Coler ’85
No longer accepting applications for fall 2021.
Currently, I am president and principal owner of Capital Pacific Homes, an Orange County-based residential homebuilding company that I have been a part of from the ground up. As a CSUF graduate, I proudly support the university and currently serve as governor of the CSUF Philanthropic Foundation, and I am a member of its Investment Committee, chair of the college's Dean’s Advisory Board and board member-at-large with the Center for Real Estate. During my 35-year real estate career, I have overseen the combined entitlement and construction of approximately 5,000 homes and $1.5 billion in revenues. I believe in maintaining a proper work-life balance to remain invigorated professionally, which naturally leads to motivation, accomplishment, leadership and, of course, personal recognition and financial success. With finance as a central theme, I am looking forward to working with junior, senior or MBA students in the area of securities and investments, financial management, or real estate.
Timothy Drnec '06
No longer accepting applications for fall 2021.
Timothy Drnec is the VP of marketing and commercial sales with the Safariland Group. Tim is responsible for the corporate, brand and product marketing for over 20 brands in the Safariland Group portfolio. He also leads the sales and product efforts for the commercial markets at Safariland. Tim has taken the organization through several brand launches, product initiatives and brand architecture exercises. Tim’s team drives the DTC e-commerce business and all digital efforts for the brands.
Prior to the Safariland Group Tim spent 10 years at Oakley Inc, the leading sports performance and lifestyle optics company. Tim spent his time in several sales and marketing roles from leading the invention of a field marketing staff, to running the go to market efforts for the North American wholesale market.
Tim and his wife, Katie, reside in Orange County with 3 daughters, Ruth, Tobi and Vera. Tim enjoys playing live music and has for over 25 years. He is an avid vinyl record collector and has over 500 albums in his catalog. When not playing music he’s either on the golf course or on the mountain bike trails.
Lastly, he is a believer that CSUF shapes the future leaders of our world. He is determined to give back to a university that has given him so much opportunity.
Michael Groff ’78
No longer accepting applications for fall 2021.
For 35 years, I worked at Toyota Financial Services and retired as its CEO in 2018. I successfully developed the organization into a company that made people, true diversity and community service part of its cultural DNA. Currently, I am the principal and CEO of Harborview Consulting LLC, which provides general managerial consulting services to the Orange County community. I serve as a member of the college Dean’s Advisory board and am a national trustee for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. I have a strong belief in family as my wife of over 40 years, two sons, and eight grandchildren have contributed greatly to my success and happiness. As a proud Titan, I am excited to be the leader and founding member of the Executive in Residence program. I graduated from CSUF in 1978 and earned an MBA at Chapman University. I am looking forward to working with junior, senior and MBA students who are interested in management, marketing and leadership.
Joseph Holsinger
No longer accepting applications for fall 2021.
I am the managing director and market executive for Merrill Lynch serving the Greater Orange County region, and have 250 employees and four offices under my leadership, including a team of wealth management professionals who help clients plan their financial future. Most of my career has been with Merrill Lynch, where I have held senior leadership roles in San Diego, Florida and Michigan.
Even before becoming a mentor in the college’s Executive in Residence program, I’ve been responsible for preparing the next generation of talent, as I hire and mentor advisors and associates for Merrill Lynch.
An alumnus of the University of Missouri and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, I am active in my industry as a member of the Market Executive Leadership Academy Steering Committee and a bronze level member of the Bank of America Ally program. I previously mentored for the Hispanic/Latino Organization for Leadership & Advancement and am a past winner of the Bank of America Diversity and Inclusion Award.
I live with my wife, Sarah, and have four grown children. In my free time, I enjoy gardening, cooking, fly fishing, weightlifting and college athletics.
Eric Llopis
No longer accepting applications for fall 2021.
I’m an SVP, chief strategy officer, with a diversity of experience driving strategic and digital transformations across the consumer goods and managed services industries. My work has focused on leading the development of corporate strategy and executing corporate change initiatives to realize significant business improvement and shareholder value by delivering transformational growth, cost and productivity, and M&A and partnerships. Recent career highlights include Aramark’s successful 2013 IPO event and closing two significant M&A transactions in 2018. My career has included work for blue-chip industry leaders including Aramark, PepsiCo and MillerCoors. I earned my B.A. from UCLA and my MBA from The Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. I have on-the-ground work experience in more than 40 countries. I’m a Cuban-American and native Spanish speaker, and was named one of the Top 25 Hispanic Executives in 2010 by Hispanic Business magazine.
Joseph Moderow Sr. ’70
No longer accepting applications for fall 2021.
For more than 40 years, I worked with UPS, where I was the former senior vice president of legal and public affairs. I served as a presidential exchange executive in the Reagan Administration, an accomplishment which would not have been possible without the help and inspiration of one of my CSUF economics professors, Robert Michaels, who back in the late 1960s inspired my field of study. I give back to my alma mater through my membership on the Dean’s Advisory Board as well as actively supporting the Center for Leadership. I look forward to working with the students of the College of Business and Economics, particularly students pursuing an economics major or legal studies concentration.
Tim Myers ’81, ’85
No longer accepting applications for fall 2021.
For 40 years, I’ve spent my career in aircraft financing building upon the knowledge and relationships I built during my undergraduate and graduate programs at Cal State Fullerton.
Currently, I am president of Boeing Capital Corporation where we work with our customers to deliver efficient financing solutions, manage a multibillion dollar portfolio of commercial aircraft and lead efforts to improve the aviation financing infrastructure around the world.
Staying engaged in my community and my alma mater has helped to shape my perspectives on leadership and am honored to serve on the Dean’s Advisory Board for the College of Business and Economics, along with Board of Directors of Seattle Goodwill.
One of my most important lessons I’ve learned is that how work is accomplished each day, and the culture we build within our teams, is just as important as the work itself. I strongly believe in mentoring and learning from our next generation of leaders and am looking forward to working with seniors and MBA students with an interest in finance and management.
Linh Nguyen ’98, ’17
No longer accepting applications for fall 2021.
I have been vice president of Advance Beauty College, a second generation, family owned business since 1999. With two locations in Orange County, we have graduated more than 40,000 students, many of them being fellow Vietnamese immigrants. As a small business owner, you wear many hats and engage in all areas of the business, but I truly enjoy working in education, operations, and marketing of the business.
I earned both my BA and MBA degrees from Cal State Fullerton. I enjoy staying involved with CSUF as I serve on the board for Center for Leadership, committee member for Concert Under the Stars, mentor to students in business graduate programs, and Center for Family Business. Outside of CSUF, I am a board member for The Wooden Floor.
I am passionate about learning other languages and understanding different cultures. Because I am fluent in Vietnamese, proficient in Spanish and understand these cultures, it is beneficial in all aspects of my career. Cultural intelligence makes you an asset to any company.
Work-life balance is important to me as I have been married for more than 20 years and have three children. I look forward to working with junior and senior students in the area of operations management, entrepreneurial management or marketing.
Scott O'Brien ’77
No longer accepting applications for fall 2021.
Scott O’Brien is the chairman of The Safariland Group, a leading global provider of a broad range of safety and survivability products designed for the public safety, military and outdoor markets.
O’Brien joined Safariland in 1973 and held various positions in operations prior to being named vice president of manufacturing in 1985. In this executive role, Scott led the company through a period of unprecedented growth and was named president of The Safariland Group in 1993. O’Brien played a key role in the acquisitions of Break-Free, Hatch and Bianchi International. He was also instrumental in developing the international market with Armor Products International.
In 2007, Safariland was acquired by BAE Systems and O’Brien was named president of The Products Group Business of BAE Systems plc, and later added the leadership role of Individual Protection Systems (IPS). From 2007 until 2012, O’Brien was responsible for multiple operations that distributed brand name products for the law enforcement, military and commercial markets worldwide with annual sales of $400 million.
O’Brien has led the company through 30 acquisitions, with operations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Lithuania and the United Kingdom. In 2012, he spearheaded the divestiture of The Safariland Products Group from BAE Systems, leading to the acquisition by the privately-held Kanders & Co., the entity by which it is held today.
Today, The Safariland Group has offices in both Ontario, California, and Jacksonville, Florida, with 2,668 associates. The company is a manufacturer of premier products ranging from body armor to riot gear and holsters. Among the most recognized brands in The Safariland Group’s product offering are Safariland®, Med-Eng®, ABA®, Second Chance®, Bianchi®, Break Free®, Hatch®, Monadnock®, Identicator® and NIK®.
O’Brien holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration – marketing from Cal State Fullerton, where he continues to play an active role as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board for the College of Business and Economics, and as a member CSUF’s Board of Governors. O’Brien was recently honored by the university with its most prestigious Vision & Visionaries Award.
O’Brien is also a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) and is chairman emeritus of the Toyota Motor Sales Supplier Alliance.
Ashok Patel
No longer accepting applications for fall 2021.
I grew up in Kenya, East Africa and came to the U.S. on a foreign student visa to Pasadena City College. I transferred to CSULA to pursue a BS in Business Administration and went on to get my MBA from Thunderbird International Management School in Arizona.
After graduating from T-Bird I said goodbye to part-time work polishing contact lenses and started my career at Continental Can, which manufactured cans for Coke, Pepsi, and Campbell’s Soup. We built the first Pepsi can making factory in Saudi Arabia and planned others in the U.A.E, Yemen, and Nigeria. My extensive travel experience in this role – throughout Africa, Europe, and Latin America - was a springboard for future travel interests both at and outside of work.
Most of my career was spent at Sunkist Growers – you may know the orange soda, but it was also one of the largest foods and beverage licensing businesses in the US, spanning 45 countries and generating over $2b in sales! At Sunkist I helped enter into new trademark licensing agreements, which allowed companies across the globe to use the Sunkist trademark on their products.
After 22 years I left Sunkist to start my own consulting practice. One of my most successful engagements was with Morinaga Milk in Tokyo, Japan – I lived there for five years to advise on their international expansion and train the staff on global business practices. It was an eye-opening experience that made me deeply passionate about respecting different business cultures. I then lived and worked in Singapore for one year.
Now that I have left full-time work, I keep myself busy with golf, exercise, and of course travel – I climbed Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt. Fuji a few years ago and after that Mt. Whitney (in a day, and my son who came with me summited a lot faster than I did).
Morteza Rahmatian
No longer accepting applications for fall 2021.
Morteza Rahmatian is an internationally acclaimed economist with a passion for educating today’s students on the basic economic skills needed to inform successful business careers. Originally from Iran, Rahmatian pursued his graduate education at the University of Wyoming, when he worked as a truck driver to pay his way through college. With the outbreak of the Iranian Revolution in 1979, Rahmatian’s plans of returning to Iran faded, and instead the young economist pursued an academic teaching and research career in the United States.
In his more than three decades of service as professor, chair, associate dean and dean of Cal State Fullerton’s College of Business and Economics, Rahmatian has always been focused on student success and empowerment. And he has also maintained a global impact, providing environmental economics research for the United Nations and World Bank.
As a mentor in the Executive in Residence program, Rahmatian looks forward to bringing his experience to bear in mentoring students interested in economics, international business or leadership.
Richard Ramsey
No longer accepting applications for fall 2021.
I retired as a vice president of human resources from the Direct to Consumer and International Division (DTCI) of the Walt Disney Company after a 38-year career.
I first joined the company within the Operations Division at Disneyland and, over the span of my experiences, contributed to the success of the business operation through a variety of human resources positions within the parks and resorts, feature animation, studio distribution, and international businesses sectors of the company.
In my last role, I led communications and collaboration for Walt Disney International. I was also responsible for a global futures team engaged in strategic foresight work across 45 countries. Throughout this effort, I partnered with HR colleagues to form, train and sustain 12 futures teams, locally-led by a business leader, and populated with a cross-functional team of passionate and engaged futurists.
While I have broad human resources expertise, I was deeply involved in organizational design, change and culture transformation. I lived and worked abroad in France and Latin America and provided ongoing support to the teams in Disney’s many international locations around the world.
Learn more or connect with Richard Ramsey on LinkedIn.
Charlie Zhang
No longer accepting applications for fall 2021.
Charles’ inspirational life story began humble beginnings in his native Shanghai. Charles Zhang came to America in 1980 with twenty dollars in his pocket. With hard work, determination and belief in the American dream he transcended many obstacles to achievement in and outside of business.
From dishwasher and gas station attendant to founding the successful Pick up Stix, the popular take-out chain, Aseptic Solutions USA and Zion Enterprises, a real estate company dedicated to revitalizing communities. He has been named Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young, he is the Recipient of the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor; in addition, he has been named Distinguish Leader Honoree by Segerstrom Center for the Arts, and OC Arts Award Visionary Arts Patrons. Charlie also participated in a TEDx Talk show.
Outside of his work life, Charles dedicates his full time towards giving back to the community, providing others the opportunity to strive and create new success stories. Charles has been a Concordia University supporter of many local & international communities, such as the Pacific Symphony, Pacific Chorale and multiple Universities.
Charlie’s latest community contribution is the OC Music & Dance located in Irvine, CA. This center will provide the community a world-class facility in which people of all ages, experience levels, and cultures can come and participate in dance and music classes.
Charlie aims to help communities gain a better understanding of each hopes to and improve and develop the relationship as our society continuously becomes more and more diverse on a daily basis.
Janet Clardy ’87, ’90
No longer accepting applications for fall 2021.
Janet Clardy is the senior vice president of human resources for Experian’s decision analytics, data quality, healthcare, auto and targeting businesses, as well as global M&A and strategy. In this role, Clardy provides overall HR strategy and business support to the business unit/groups as well as participating on the senior HR team of Experian North America. Her main areas of focus include culture formation, HR innovation, talent management and overall business alignment. In addition, she has initiated and is now leading the HRBP community of practice for North America at Experian. The purpose of this group is to drive innovation and collaboration across the HRBP team.
Clardy’s career includes more than 20 years of human resources experience covering multiple industries. Previously, Clardy served as vice president of human resources for Experian Consumer Services. Prior to that, she was the vice president, human resources for Fabrik (acquired by Hitachi Global Storage Technologies) a consumer branded personal storage company. Earlier roles were at Korn/Ferry International, St. Joseph Hospital of Orange and Taco Bell Corp., as well as experience in city government and retail operations.
Janet Clardy also serves as an advisory board member for a start-up company, Errand Solutions, a concierge service providing a work life balance benefit for employers across the U.S. Additionally, she has served on the board and was past board chair for junior achievement in Orange County. She is currently the vice chair of the Board for International Sanctuary, a non-profit focused on helping survivors of human trafficking to rediscover their self-worth and gain work/life skills.
Having received her MBA and undergraduate degree at Cal State Fullerton’s business college, Clardy resides in Orange County with her husband and two daughters.
Mark Clarke
No longer accepting applications for fall 2021.
Christopher Connolly
No longer accepting applications for fall 2021.
I have been an entertainment marketing executive with The Walt Disney Company since 2008. Today I help lead our Disneyland Resort marketing team and develop our multi-million dollar marketing and advertising campaigns in partnership with advertising and media buying agencies.
Among my biggest accomplishments at Disneyland are leading the first-ever Pixar Fest celebration in 2018 and the launch of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge in 2019, the biggest addition to the Resort in its 65 year history.
Earlier in my Disney career, I served as a SVP of licensing with our Disney Consumer Products merchandise division and also served as SVP of worldwide creative marketing for our Disney movie studio.
Before joining Disney, I was the owner of a small promotions agency Big Idea Marketing Group from 2002 – 2008 and also served as vice president of marketing for Hasbro Toys throughout the 1990s. While at Hasbro, I was fortunate to oversee three of my favorite childhood toy lines - GI Joe, Tonka and Nerf!
An economics and business alumnus of UCLA, I currently serve on the board of directors for Hands Together, a Haitian relief organization. I love the CSUF baseball program and sports in general. I have a strong connection to the entertainment, marketing, and advertising fields and enjoy mentoring undergraduate and graduate students.
Patrick Donahue ’78
No longer accepting applications for fall 2021.
I am the retiring chairman and CEO of Donahue Schriber Realty Group. I have been with the firm for over 40 years after joining my late brother Dan and his business partner, Tom Schriber, shortly after graduating from CSUF in marketing in 1979. Our company has been responsible for the development and operation of shopping centers on the West Coast. Some of our early projects included the Glendale Galleria, Tustin Marketplace, Fashion Island, the Galleria at Tyler and Del Mar highlands Town Center.
In 1998, we departed the mall business and formed a private real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in necessity-based retail. We currently own and operate nearly 10 million sq. ft. in 60 high quality neighborhood, community and power retail centers from San Diego to Seattle. At formation in 1998, the company’s assets totaled $100 million. Today the company’s assets are valued at over $3.5 billion. We have over 1,700 tenants and our portfolio is regarded as the best of its kind on the West Coast. Donahue Schriber has approximately 110 employees with the main office being in Costa Mesa and satellite offices in Sacramento and San Diego. Titans represent the single largest number of employees from any college or university within the company.
The company is very philanthropic believing it is not only the right thing to do but good business. We are major supporters of KidWorks in Santa Ana, as well as Guardian Scholars and the Veterans Resource Center at CSUF. Donahue Schriber founded both the California Showcase which has placed over 1,000 student athletes in NCAA Division II, II, and NAIA colleges and universities allowing them the opportunity to earn a college degree while playing football and the Orange County Real Estate Luncheon which has raised over $4 million for veterans services in Orange County.
I have been married for over 40 years and have three adult children. I reside in Laguna Beach and spend as much time as I can on the beach and in the ocean. I like to laugh a lot. I’ll look forward to working with anyone interested in real estate, finance, marketing and leadership.
Christopher R. Hoff ‘07
No longer accepting applications for fall 2021.
Christopher Hoff is the region executive at Bank of America and Merrill Lynch in Southern California. Based out of Newport Beach, he oversees consumer banking and investments in Orange County, San Diego and the Inland Empire. In his role, Hoff leads 11 market leaders that oversee more than 250 associates. Those associates offer deposit, credit and investment solutions based on each individual client’s needs.
Prior to this role, Hoff served as national performance manager, helping lead the corporate employee banking and investments execution. He was also a Merrill Performance Manager supporting the Orange County/San Diego region for the two years before that and was a market leader in both the Inland Empire and San Diego markets after starting his career with Bank of America in January 2012 as a financial solutions advisor.
Hoff’s interests in finance and leadership go back to his college days. He holds a B.A. from Cal State Fullerton. While there, he held a concentration in finance and management. Since graduating, he has obtained eight investment licenses as well as the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor designation.
Hoff resides in Murrieta with his wife Christine, two daughters, Alexa and Brielyn, as well as his dog Andre. He is the co-chair for volunteerism for Consumer Investments nationally and enjoys finding ways to help others including serving on the board of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater San Diego.
Manal Richa ’08
No longer accepting applications for fall 2021.
Currently, I am the director of the CSUF Small Business Development Center, one of nine centers under the Orange County Inland Empire Small Business Development Center, a program offering no-cost assistance to small business owners to help them start and grow their businesses. Our team of consultants help entrepreneurs launch and expand through growth planning, startup assistance, marketing strategies, access to capital and building their teams.
I have founded multiple businesses, including The MarCom Network, a marketing and creative consultancy firm, which helps small businesses build exposure and increase their sales; and BreakThrough Networking, Inc., helping clients build relationships, leverage connections and use social media platforms to take their business to the next level. I earned my BA in communications and advertising from CSUF and my MBA in Organizational Leadership from Brandman University.
A resident of Orange County, I have been married for more than 20 years and have two children. I am looking forward to working with CSUF business students in the areas of marketing, operations, entrepreneurship and organizational leadership.
David Stone ’98
No longer accepting applications for fall 2021.
I am the global senior director of information governance for DaVita Inc., a Fortune 300 company and the second largest worldwide provider of dialysis for kidney disease. I oversee cross department teams in IT, legal, policy development, training and records management over the deployment and program operations across 13 countries and 57,000 teammates.
My career spans more than 20 years in healthcare and technology. I have been given the opportunity to pioneer highly-regulated patient safety, hospital discharge and information governance programs. I have been blessed to fuel my passion to develop future leaders, innovate new business models and establish departments from proof of concept. My most meaningful once in a lifetime accomplishment is improving the national standards of dialysis care for hospital patients by partnering with The Joint Commission to develop the first hospital dialysis accreditation and then implementing it across 657 hospitals. I have authored articles pertaining to outpatient hospital discharge, patient safety and have been guest speaker at the American Health Law Association.
My core beliefs are relationship building, collaboration, becoming the expert to what excites you, integrity is paramount to leadership, great accomplishments result from harmonious teams, and work-life balance is a must. I find great satisfaction in seeing my direct reports and mentees have those moments of clarity where the light bulb goes on. I see my role as a coach, counselor and cheerleader along each person’s career journey.
Nicole Suydam
No longer accepting applications for fall 2021.
In 2018 I was appointed as the president and CEO of Goodwill of Orange County, the largest non-profit organization in Orange County with more than 1,000 employees serving 25,000 people annually. While you may know about our donation centers and thrift stores, our mission is to help people facing barriers to employment find and keep jobs.
I have more than 20 years of management and leadership experience working with local and national nonprofits dedicated to meeting human service needs. For nearly a decade, I served as vice president of development of Goodwill of Orange County. In 2012, I moved on to become CEO of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, where I led 80 employees and 26,000 volunteers working together on the mission to end hunger in Orange County.
As a first-generation college graduate, I earned my bachelor’s degree from Vanguard University in Costa Mesa. I’m active in the community as a member of Vanguard University’s Board of Trustees and a member of the Orange County Business Council’s Board of Directors, which co-presents the college’s economic forecasts. Orange County Business Journal named me a “Woman of the Year” in 2018 and part of their 50 most influential business leaders in Orange County in 2020. My husband Michael and I live in Orange County and have a two teenage daughters. I look forward to working with business students who have a heart for community service and an interest in topics such as non-profit management, leadership, strategic planning, marketing and organizational culture.
Julie Virjee
No longer accepting applications for fall 2021.
I am the co-founder, along with my husband, CSUF President Fram Virjee, of Yambi Rwanda, a nonprofit committed to improving the lives of the victims of the 1994 genocide in one of East Africa’s poorest nations, and I travel regularly to Rwanda working on the numerous projects Yambi Rwanda supports. My focus is on education, and I am an advocate for children of all ages and their development as I also volunteer with a number of other educational foundations and organizations. I graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where Fram and I met, with a bachelor’s degree in communications and speech/hearing. I am also an entrepreneur: I am the owner and founder of Thimbleworks, a small business that has specialized in both hand needlework and specialty sweet-hot mustard for 30 years. In addition to running a nonprofit and a business, I’m also an organizer and public speaker, and I work with Fram serving as a campus leader and representing CSUF at many social, community, athletic and philanthropic events. I’m inspired by the students, staff and faculty at CSUF, and I enjoy being a part of the Titan family – I am passionate about connecting people and helping them achieve success.
Marshall Solomon
Marshall is the marketplace leader of Deloitte’s Orange County practice. As managing partner of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Marshall oversees four key business areas: Audit, Tax, Consulting, and Advisory Services and leads marketplace and community activities. He also serves as the lead Tax partner and lead client service partner for a number of multi-national based corporations headquartered in Southern California in the Financial Services and Technology, Media and Telecommunications industries.
Marshall has spent his entire 25-year professional career at Deloitte with an emphasis on corporate taxation. Prior to becoming the managing partner, he served as the Office Tax Managing Partner of our Orange County tax practice, a role he continues to hold.
Marshall earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia and a master’s from University of North Carolina. He is a CPA and member of the AICPA and CA Society of CPAs.
Continuing Mentors
Terry Giles ’70
Terry Giles was born in St. Louis and raised in poverty in the Missouri Ozarks. He received his B.A. from Cal State Fullerton and his J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law. By age 30, he had built one of the largest criminal defense law firms in California, then became disillusioned with our criminal justice system and shifted the firm’s focus to significant civil trials. By age 34, he began to pursue his career as a business entrepreneur. He has now had 35 different companies over a large range of fields and disciplines, including auto dealerships, banks, manufacturing, diagnostic laboratories, business consulting, and luxury hotels and restaurants. In 2010 he was appointed by a judge in Atlanta to be the trustee over the Martin Luther King Jr. estate and in 2016 he organized the presidential campaign of Ben Carson, M.D.
Giles has received the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans Award, the Distinguished Alumnus Award of CSUF, the Medal of Honor from Pepperdine University, the Alumnus of the Year from Pepperdine University School of Law, and was runner up for National Trial Lawyer of the Year for his work representing victims of the Catholic predator priest cases in California.
In 2020, his book, The Fifteen Percent, made the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. The book attempts to discover the traits of the 15% who overcome adversity to live successful lives. He analyzes the valuable skills necessary to distinguish one’s self, including fearlessness, embracing underdog strategies, visualizing the future and positive thinking.
Giles currently live in Houston, with his wife, Kalli O’Malley.
Paul Folino
I serve as chairman of the board of directors for Commercial Bank of California, and I am the former executive chairman and CEO of Emulex Corporation. I was recognized by the Toshiba Classic Hall of Fame in 2013 and 2015 as one of the “top 50 most influential business leaders” here in Orange County. As an active benefactor of the arts and Orange County higher education, I am proud to have helped launch the campaign to move the college into its current state-of-the-art home and have been an athletics supporter of the CSUF Athletic Hall of Fame since 2016. I earned my undergraduate degree from Central Washington State University and my MBA at Seattle University.
Laurie Jerome
My experience in human resources spans more than 30 years. I began my career at The Walt Disney Company, spending 13 years in a range of roles that shaped my view and commitment to service. After working in corporate leadership roles for many years, I pursued a dream of consulting, thus balancing career and personal life. My clients included Allergan, Disneyland, DreamWorks, Nestle, Conexant, Anaheim Angels, Option One, Jenny Craig and OCTA.
One highlight was spending two years partnering with the Angels to build a strong service culture in preparation for the All-Star games. At the end of the games, they made the cover of ESPN magazine for their upgraded guest service as a result of the work we did.
I am a first-generation college grad. I have a B.S. in organizational behavior from the University of San Francisco, and a masters degree in human resources from Chapman University. I am also proud to have coached my son, who is a recent graduate in engineering at UCLA and now works for a major health care software company.
I was previously a CSUF advisory board member for the Center for Leadership and am excited to be part of the Executive in Residence mentoring program where I can partner with each and every student in pursuit of their academic and career aspirations and utilizing my network to give them the best possible opportunities.
Charles Harmon
Charles A. Harmon’s divisional responsibilities include oversight of American Honda Motor Co. Inc.’s Corporate Procurement, Corporate Services and Supply Chain Inclusion and Diversity areas, covering nine business units.
In his role as the company’s procurement officer, Harmon leads the purchase spend of more than $3 billion, including oversight of procurement operation activities, strategic planning and establishment of purchasing systems, financial planning, and financial management for the procurement of goods, commodities and services.
Responsibilities also include management and oversight of American Honda’s Supplier Inclusion and Diversity programs and outreach initiatives designed to attract, develop and retain minority-owned businesses.
In the area of corporate services, Harmon leads the Corporate Travel program which serves the needs of 16 Honda companies throughout North American region supporting cost mitigation and traveler duty of care responsibility.
A native of Los Angeles, Harmon joined Honda in 1983. Harmon attended Cal State Fullerton from fall 1978 to spring 1981 and holds a B.S. in business management from University of Phoenix. Harmon, along with his wife Jennifer, currently reside in Riverside, California.
Harmon served on a number of boards, including the Southern California Minority Supplier Development Council, acting as its board chairman; treasurer of the Honda Federal Credit Union; and a current board governor of Cal State Fullerton’s Philanthropic Foundation.
Tatiana Quaife
Tatiana Quaife is the director of marketing strategy at the Disneyland Resort, focused on long-term planning and commercial innovation. In this role, she leads a team that develops the marketing and commercial strategy for new products, new campaigns, key opportunity segments and digital products. Quaife is also the executive champion for the HOLA BERG (Hispanic Employee Resource Group) at the Disneyland Resort and a passionate champion, advocate, and ally for diversity and inclusion.
Prior to joining the Disneyland team 3.5 years ago, Quaife was a marketing strategy manager at Disney Cruise Line for two years in Florida. Before starting her Disney career, she worked for six years in brand management at Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati.
Quaife grew up in Brazil, but moved to the U.S. to go to college. She received her undergraduate and MBA degrees from Indiana University. Quaife is married to her college sweetheart and has a nine-year old daughter. Quaife loves the beach, yoga, meditation, traveling and, most importantly, time with family.
Katie Rucker
I am the co-owner (along with my twin sister) of MacKenzie Corporation, a second-generation family business focusing on leveraging customer insights to empower brands to create remarkable customer experiences. Now more than ever, consumer behaviors and expectations are rapidly changing and I feel honored to work with brands that are making a difference and putting their customers first
My role is focused on operations, day-to-day administration and cultural initiatives, but I will jump in where needed to ensure our team’s success. Our family business was inducted in the Center for Family Business Hall of Fame in 2019, and also won the Best Small Family Business award for OCBJ that same year.
I received my undergraduate degree in sociology from the University of Colorado, Boulder and have been actively engaged with the Center for Family Business for more than 10 years. I currently sit on the board of directors for the OC Ronald McDonald House, and also co-chair their TOGETHER Capital Campaign. I have been a guest speaker on topics including the value of community engagement, the benefits of pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, as well as running a family/small business. I was honored to be named among the Greater Irvine Chamber Women of Influence in March 2020, as well as being included on OCBJ’s OC 500 Most Influential Business Leaders list in 2019.
Outside of work and philanthropy, I am passionate about continual learning, outdoor adventures and spending time with my husband and two daughters. I look forward to working with business students who have a heart for community service and an interest in topics such as leadership/personal growth, operations, marketing and organizational culture.
Melissa L. Smith, Ph.D.
After a 25-year corporate career applying psychological theory to my positions in sales, marketing communications, product and project management, I went in to private practice as an organizational psychologist. In my practice, I evaluate organizational dynamics for the purpose of identifying opportunities for change and growth. Together with senior leadership, I focus on the interaction of structure, process, and personnel in order to overcome obstacles that impede the desired outcomes. In addition to my work experience, I hold a Ph.D. in transpersonal psychology with a specialization in teaching, education and research. Now largely retired, I serve on the board of trustees for Willamette University, my undergraduate alma mater, and for the San Francisco Waldorf School. My husband, Jeff Van Harte, is a 1980 alumnus of Cal State Fullerton’s business school, and an enthusiastic supporter of all things Titan!