CMH Advisory Board

BEN AFFLECK

Since his explosion onto the Hollywood scene in 1998 with an Oscar for co-writing Good Will Hunting, Ben has continued to make waves both on and off screen, receiving Golden Globe, Primetime Emmy, BAFTA, and AFI awards and nominations. In 2013, his film Argo was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, for which it won the award.

In addition to his successful career as an actor, writer and director, Ben is also a passionate philanthropist and advocate. A longtime political activist and strong supporter of many charitable organizations including ONEXONE, A-T Children’s Project, Feeding America, the Jimmy Fund, and the ONE Campaign. In the last several years, he has made many trips to the African continent with the goal of gaining a deeper understanding of the complexity of issues facing Africa today. These trips have taken him to Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Sudan and Zanzibar, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

During a 2008 trip to the DRC, Ben directed the short film and public service announcement, “Gimme Shelter,” which focuses on the humanitarian crisis in the country. In March 2010, Ben launched the Eastern Congo Initiative, a grassroots program to assist Congolese people in war-ravaged communities in creating a sustainable and successful society in the region. ECI is the first and only U.S. based advocacy and grant-making initiative wholly focused on working with and for the people of Eastern Congo. Ben has testified before Congress to advocate for U.S. and international engagement in Congo, most recently before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Projects in March 2015.

LISA AMSTER

Lisa Amster, Director, joined Barclays in 2011 from Goldman Sachs, where she spent almost a decade. Lisa focuses on customizing hedging and trading strategies for high net worth individuals, family offices and foundations. She was a Private Wealth Advisor in the Markets Coverage Group at Goldman Sachs for the past eight years, and before that, was in Goldman Sachs’ Equity Research department covering small cap stocks. She is currently Executive Director-Private Wealth Advisor at Morgan Stanley. 

Lisa interned at The White House under the Clinton Administration and holds a B.S. from the University of California, Berkeley.

She resides in Marina Del Rey, CA, with her husband, Sam.

DERRICK N. ASHONG (DNA)

An experienced musician, broadcaster and digital media influencer, DNA has carved out a unique niche as an expert in bridging the gap between old and new media. He has been invited to speak & perform at prestigious institutions including Harvard Business School, Wharton, MIT & Stanford, and has hosted and moderated events for influencers and heads of state including Nobel Laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, as well as Gilberto Gil, Ted Turner, Tommy Hilfiger, Bob Geldof, Queen Rania of Jordan, and former President Bill Clinton. His interviews have ranged from celebrities like John Legend, Jimmi Cliff and supermodel Alek Wek, to environmentalist Jane Goodall, senior advisor to President Obama David Axelrod, Governor Jeb Bush and former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Most recently DNA joined the team at Fusion, the new multiplatform ABC-Univision cable network, targeting English-speaking Latinos and the broader Millennial generation. Launching in the Fall of 2013, he will be anchoring a show covering entertainment, technology, politics and the big headlines of the day. Prior to Fusion, his career in media and entertainment included appearances on networks like CNN, BET, MTV Africa, NPR and BBC Worldservice, as well as print media including the NY Times, Boston Globe and Fast Company. He made his Hollywood debut as a supporting actor in Steven Spielberg's Amistad and has worked with multi-platinum record producers.

DNA was host of The Derrick Ashong Experience on SIRIUS XM's Oprah Radio and helmed the inaugural year of Al Jazeera English's cutting-edge, social media TV show The Stream, which was nominated for an Emmy. He is leader of the critically-acclaimed Afropolitan band Soulfège, which has charted on both sides of the Atlantic and won the 2008 Billboard Songwriting Contest for Best Hip Hop Song. He has lectured on five continents on the use of media and technology as tools for human development, including talks for the UN Foundation, London School of Economics, King’s College (Cambridge), the Reconciliation Forum in Washington, D.C., the UN Alliance of Civilizations and before UK Parliament. He has had fellowships with the Paul & Daisy Soros Foundation, TED and the Americas Business Council (*abc Foundation) and is a member of the African Leadership Network. Born in Accra, Ghana, the Harvard-educated talent was raised in Brooklyn, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and New Jersey.

DR. LISA CASSILETH

Dr. Cassileth is one of the few female plastic surgeons currently practicing in Beverly Hills, California. She brings her patients impeccable surgical techniques, an artist's aesthetic vision, and an essential feminine perspective.

Dr. Cassileth offers a wide range of plastic surgery procedures to enhance and refine the face, breasts and body.  She performs leading-edge techniques that achieve exceptional aesthetic results, including SlimLipo and breast implant revision surgery.  She also pioneered the Cassileth One-Stage Implant Reconstruction technique, which eliminates the need for multiple surgeries in breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy.

Dr. Cassileth is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and completed her training at the University of Pennsylvania's exceptional plastic surgery program.  Dr. Cassileth works as an assistant clinical professor at UCLA Medical Center and an attending physician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she trains and mentors surgical residents.  She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their three children.

JOE CILIC

Joe Cilic currently serves as a Senior Vice President and Branch Manager for Sotheby’s International Realty, a prominent residential real estate company. Mr. Cilic’s duties include recruiting, hiring, budgeting, training, and supervising over 75 agents and employees. Prior to joining Sotheby’s, Mr. Cilic worked as an attorney with the law firm of Ervin, Cohen & Jessup, LLP. During his legal career, he specialized in business litigation, real estate disputes, and employment law.

Active in the community, Mr. Cilic has served on numerous non-profit and homeowner association boards. He was a founding board member of KIPP LA, which currently operates 14 non-profit charter schools in East and South Los Angeles.

Mr. Cilic holds a Juris Doctorate from UCLA School of Law and did his undergraduate work at St. Edward’s University, in Austin, Texas, where he served as Student Body President and graduated summa cum laude.

SAMANTHA COKER

As a writer, humanitarian and project manager, Samantha Coker has spent most of her life cultivating a career that exists at the intersection of art and social change. One of Samantha's many strengths is her ability to balance the creative and pragmatic.

After receiving a Bachelor of Arts from Smith College, she began a career in the music industry. Always working with bands that had a level of social consciousness, she wove her way through the industry, touching almost every corner of it.

In 1999, Samantha was recruited by the Seattle-based, Frank Geary/Paul Allen music museum, The Experience Music Project. She spent three years managing their revenue, cash management, financial database and reporting system until she left for The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS). There she helped build new database systems and produce their annual Auction/Awards show fundraiser. This led her to Seattle University, which pioneered one of the first Master's Programs specifically for Non-Profit executives, where she received her Master of Not-for-Profit Leadership with a focus on corporate social responsibility.

Samantha moved to Los Angeles in 2004 where she spent time helping produce commercials and films, and over the years offered her non-profit expertise to such charities as her alma mater, Oldfields School for Girls; Salvando Corzones; and Children Mending Hearts, where she was on the founding board and traveled to DR Congo as part of CMH's art exchange between students at L.A.'s Inner City Arts and displaced children in Congo; and most recently Global Green, where she is Chair of the Advisory Board.

Her deep curiosity led her to the Burning Man festival where, for the past five years, she has project managed Red Lightning, the foremost spiritual theme camp at Burning Man. Red Lightning focuses on bringing deep spiritual growth, healing and education.

Presently, Samantha is writing a book on the spiritual journey of healing grief, loss and betrayal, and the process of soul evolution. She also spends her time traveling extensively, riding horses and offering counsel to those looking to heal or expand their spiritual and emotional lives.

DR. BRENDA R. COMBS

Dr. Brenda Combs is a symbol of inspiration and perseverance to all who meet her. Only fifteen years ago, she was a homeless crack addict, a petty criminal, a gaunt and hopeless wreck who had been shot, beaten and raped during the endless years when she lived under a bridge in the worst part of Phoenix. It took hitting rock bottom for Combs to find the strength to turn her life around, on a blistering summer day.

As a woman, who at one time could not help herself, Combs now spreads a message of hope wherever she goes.   Her journey, which has been called “From Homeless to Hero” by local and national media, has received tremendous coverage, including acknowledgement by “theGrio 100” as one of the most influential African-Americans, an article in Reader’s Digest and interviews on The Today Show and on CNN. She has also appeared on radio talk shows across the country, and accepted invitations to sing and share her message on stages across the globe, including the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Combs continued to pursue her education at Grand Canyon University (GCU), where she earned a master’s degree in Special Education in 2007. And in May 2011, Brenda earned a doctorate degree in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Education after receiving a full scholarship grant presented to her by GCU.  Professor Combs is now a full-time member of GCU’s faculty.

Dr. Combs is the founder of Finding My Shoes, a charitable organization that serves the homeless and underserved communities. Additionally, she and her husband run Making Things Better Sober Living, a transitional program for women who have been incarcerated.  Her success rate for this program is an astounding 99%.  She also serves as an advocate for Domestic Violence Awareness and, in 2009, Combs was named a National Ambassador for the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association's "Power to End Stroke" campaign.

DAVID EDINGTON

David H. Edington is the Founder, President, and Managing Director at Rimrock Capital Management, LLC. (previously known as Rimrock Enterprises, Inc.). Mr. Edington founded Rimrock Capital Management, LLC. in 1999. 

Prior to this, he was a Portfolio Manager at Pacific Investment Management Co LLC.  Mr. Edington has been Independent Trustee of Metropolitan West Funds - Metropolitan West Low Duration Bond Fund, and Rimrock Capital Management, LLC.  He has served as Trustee of Metropolitan West Total Return Bond Fund and Metropolitan West High Yield Bond Fund since 2001. He served as Trustee of Alphatrak 500 Fund since 2001.

SARA ELL

Sara grew up in Australia and worked as a fashion editor for Studio Magazine.  She moved to London and continued working in the fashion industry for GQ and Tatler magazines and freelancing on catalogues and various publications for three years.

She studied broadcast journalism at UCLA when she moved to Los Angeles and continued working in fashion and television entertainment for a London-based show broadcast in Europe called The Hollywood Report.

Other work has included production and styling for Fox FX and Turner Broadcasting, producing all the on- air promos for their movies and content.  In her spare time, Sara does volunteer work with the pet therapy program at Cedars-Sinai and in the pediatric ward.

CARLOTA ESPINOSA

Carlota has held various leadership positions in Fashion and Media industries.

She is currently the CEO and Co-Founder of Styloot.  She was also the co-founder of Hautelook (December 2007) and was its Vice President until it was sold to Nordstrom in 2011. 

Before Hautelook, she was with Fox Television producing news, entertainment and fashion shows, including the daily fashion segment, Style File.

Carlota is a 3-time Emmy award winner.

JEFF FLEEHER

Jeff Fleeher is a long-time financial executive of NBC Universal. He is currently serving as Worldwide Chief Financial Officer for Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, responsible for financial and operational strategy to support content sales and marketing efforts across UPHE’s 11 operating companies around the world.

Previously, Jeff held the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer & Strategy, Content Distribution where he managed financial matters, strategy and business operations for the distribution of NBCU’s cable networks, network-owned NBC and Telemundo stations, regional sports networks and Olympic Games across the cable, satellite and telecommunications industry. In addition, he oversaw financial matters for the Digital Distribution Team, focused on the roll-out of TV Everywhere and other Digital TV platforms.

Before joining NBCU, Jeff worked at GE Corporate and GE Energy, completing financial and operational assignments in the U.S., Europe and Latin America.

Prior his time with GE, Jeff was a Commissioned Officer in the United States Army, where he served 7 years active duty service as an AH-64 (Apache) helicopter pilot, completing both command and staff assignments in the U.S., Germany and Bosnia.

Jeff is a graduate of the Boston University School of Management and holds an MBA from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business.

KYM GOLD

Raised in Malibu, California, Kym Gold was influenced by the endless golden sunsets and the natural beauty of her surroundings. Throughout the last 25 years, Kym’s unwavering drive and captivating style has helped to achieve multiple successes in the fashion industry.

Kym Gold incepted notable clothing labels including, True Religion Brand Jeans, Bella Dahl, Hippie Jeans, and recently Babakul. Her fashions over the years have been worn by a diverse range of individuals such as David Beckham, Tom Ford, Angelina Jolie, Donna Karan, Heidi Klum, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, Gwen Stefani, Holly Robinson Peete, and Justin Timberlake. Her designs have been featured in top fashion magazines, including Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, In Style, and Rolling Stone.

Currently, Kym has combined her 25 years of experience as a principal owner and designer of many prosperous ventures, along with her entrepreneurship to embark on new path of domestic and International consultation for new up- start fashion companies, and brand and marketing consultation for existing companies.

For many years, Kym has wanted to share her vast experience and insight in the Fashion Industry and finally in 2014, together with her co – author Sharon Soboil, they have written a telling memoir titled, “Gold Standard” Kym feels strongly about empowering a younger generation of women, and that sharing her tumultuous journey in the fashion industry, especially as a leading business woman in a man’s game; along with her personal life struggles of relationship mistakes, business failures and successes, will give some valued insight to the upcoming Fashionista’s. Maybe just the extra needed strength and useful tools to help even one woman, whether in fashion or not, onto becoming a stronger and better version of themselves.

DAVID HELLIER

Mr. Hellier has twenty years experience launching new consumer businesses, products and brands, and elevating them to positions of worldwide recognition and trust.

Mr. Hellier is a Partner at Bertram Capital, where he oversees Business Development. Bertram Capital is a San Mateo, CA based private equity firm with $850M in capital under management

Prior to joining Bertram Capital, Hellier was President, CEO and Board Member of The Gemesis Corporation, a technology company that developed the world’s first man-made diamonds for the gem and jewelry industry. The technology received extensive press coverage, including 60 Minutes II, The Discovery Channel, ABC World News Tonight, Today Show, Time Magazine and Wired Magazine.

Hellier was the founder and Executive Vice President of GlobalStreams, Inc., a leading provider of Internet-delivered video solutions. Prior to GlobalStreams, Hellier served as Vice President of Marketing for AskJeeves, a leading provider of search technologies and services on the Internet. Mr. Hellier’s strategic brand building grew the site into the 12th most visited destination and created one of the most recognizable brands on the Internet.

Prior to AskJeeves, Mr. Hellier served at Iomega, where he helped to launch one of the most successful computer products in the world — the Zip Drive. In his five years with Iomega, Mr. Hellier’s accomplishments included building Iomega’s Asia-Pacific Division and serving as Vice President of North America Sales and Marketing.

Mr. Hellier’s career began at Energizer Power Systems (formerly Gates Energy Products), a rechargeable battery company. Mr. Hellier graduated from the University of Florida, where he earned a both a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts in Economics.

JULIETTE HOHNEN

One of the top brokers in LA and a Top 10 agent, Juliette Hohnen has parlayed her relationships internationally, on both coasts, and in the entertainment business into an unstoppable and unique real estate selling machine. Along with her polished sales skills, tough negotiating style, attention to detail, and innovative marketing ideas, she has managed to combine her extensive relationships within the broker community to consistently close deals no matter how impossible they seem during the selling and buying process. Working as a true entrepreneur, Juliette has the ability to create new and interesting ways of marketing properties throughout the Southland.

An admitted “houseaholic,” Juliette Hohnen’s true passion is real estate. Born in London, she studied interior design at The Inchbald School of Art and Design. Applying her talent for multi-tasking and her ability to see the next big trends, she has bought, renovated and sold houses on both U.S. coasts. Many of her designs, which cover a breadth of styles, have been featured in multiple magazines of note. Before real estate Juliette had a 15-year career as an award-winning television producer and journalist. She ran the West Coast Bureau of MTV where she produced their movie programming. Juliette was also an on-camera reporter for MTV news, and reporter and producer of The Big Picture. She then went on to work for ET, TNT, and later became the West Coast Editor of Tatler, British Harpers and Esquire, as well as contributing editor at In Style, Jane and a writer at Vogue.

Juliette’s transition from design to an award-winning real estate career was seamless. As a trained designer, she has the unique ability to visualize a property’s possibilities--a skill that benefits both sellers and buyers. She is imaginative and decisive, well versed in the intricacies of real estate transactions and a powerhouse marketer.

Her clients are effusive in describing her exceptional skills: “Juliette can think outside the box, is honest and innovative, and frankly, great to spend time with.” “She has an uncanny ability to zero in on what I was looking for.” “Warm and personable, while also tough-minded and clear-headed in conducting a real estate transaction.” “Her personality, judgment, and positive attitude made her a dream to work with.”

CHARMAINE JEFFERSON

Charmaine Jefferson is a native Angelino with a varied arts and entertainment career that first included 8 years as a professional concert dancer before she turned to law and arts administration. As a grant maker she served 6 years as senior dance program specialist and site visit coordinator for the National Endowment for the Arts. In the corporate world she worked as a civil litigator for the law firm of Holland and Knight; as a corporate director for Just Toys, Inc.; as vice president of business affairs for de Passe Entertainment; and, as director of show development for Disney Entertainment Productions. However, Charmaine’s strongest passions have always been for the arts, culture and public service. She served 6 years as deputy and acting commissioner of New York City’s Department of Cultural Affairs where she helped manage the agency through significant city budget cuts, an expanded capital construction program, a public relations initiative, and the installation of arts education programs for children living in temporary housing. She served 6 years as executive director of Dance Theatre of Harlem helming that institution’s $7.8m capital expansion, company national and international tours, school operations, fundraising, marketing and board relations.

Charmaine recently completed 11 years of dual service as the executive director of the state-agency California African American Museum (CAAM) in Los Angeles and vice president of its nonprofit partner Friends, the Foundation of the California African American Museum. Her tenure developed relationships for CAAM with numerous community based organizations to create shared programming opportunities, nationally shared exhibits, and completed plans for a $60M CAAM capital expansion through schematics. Despite significant state budget cuts caused by the recession, exhibit presentations rose from 6 to 13 annually. She conceived several exhibitions including The African Diaspora in the Work of Miguel Covarrubias, and the Getty’s “Pacific Standard Time” sponsored exhibition of more than 90 Los Angeles artists in Places of Validation, Art & Progression. She fostered exhibit collaborations with other museums including An Idea Called Tomorrow with the Skirball Cultural Center; Things That Cannot Be Seen Any Other Way: The Art Of Manuel Mendive in association with the City of Los Angeles and The Frost Museum; and A Memoir in Movement: Carmen de Lavallade and Geoffrey Holder with the DuSable Museum. During her tenure, CAAM’s annual attendance increased 68% to 100,000 and free public workshops and programs rose from 35 to 80 including the branding of the highly popular monthly “Target Sundays at CAAM” live performances. Charmaine is particularly proud of having implemented a strategic vision for “Mentoring Generations” that enhanced CAAM’s ability to give back to the community. She increased its “Buses & Docents” school field trip support, and expanded the “Young Docents” high school employment training from summer only to a year round program with student access through their first two years of college. In 2013, the Friends Foundation linked Young Docents to the City of Los Angeles’ youth employment program creating greater access for youth living in and transitioning out of foster care, encouraging the pursuit of a college education, and providing opportunities for access to paid employment and customer service experiences.

Charmaine remains a staunch community advocate and arts expert, serving nonprofits through Kélan Resources, her cause driven consulting firm dedicated to integrating art, history, culture, business and diversity into the DNA of education, community, philanthropy, and public and private collaborations. A partial list of recent clients include the Tom & Ethel Bradley Foundation, Lula Washington Contemporary Dance Theatre, Rain Art Productions, Pasadena Playhouse and Opera Noir. Charmaine is equally active as a volunteer having served on innumerable boards and commissions throughout her career. She recently completed 8 years of gubernatorial appointments on the California Arts Council. She continues to serve on the Board of Directors of Arts for LA, as a college trustee and academic committee chair for the California Institute of the Arts, as a mayoral appointee and vice chair of the City of Los Angeles’ Cultural Affairs Commission, on the African American Advisory Council for PBS SoCal, and on the Advisory Committee for the Los Angeles County Cultural Affairs Commission’s “Cultural Equity and Inclusion Initiative.”

PAIGE LAURIE

Paige Laurie is the owner of Malibu’s Trancas Country Market and Vintage Grocers, a uniquely curated grocery store experience in the Los Angeles area. 

Laurie’s concept for Vintage Grocers – rooted in her conviction that a market should embrace all customers’ food beliefs – was first realized in 2014 with the opening of Vintage Grocers in Malibu, and followed by the 2016 launch of a second location in Westlake Village.  The third Vintage Grocers store will open in Pacific Palisades in 2018. 

In line with her entrepreneurial nature, Laurie has developed a hotel, commercial mixed-use centers, and restaurants in Florida, Illinois and Missouri.  She also owns and manages commercial and rental properties throughout Southern California.  One of those holdings, Trancas Country Market, is Malibu’s premier shopping destination, and home to the debut location of Vintage Grocers.  Sensitive to the unique spirit of Malibu, Laurie has built on the success of Vintage Grocers by partnering with a cohesive mix of retailers for Trancas, including artisanal brands native to the area, as well boutiques and designer stores. Laurie is further enhancing the grounds with other attractions such as a local garden nursery, an open-air commons, and revamped restaurant offerings. 

Laurie’s knack for retail and property development is heavily influenced by her childhood, as she was immersed in her parents’ businesses from an early age. The knowledge she gained provided her with an innate understanding of the consumer landscape as it applies to demographics and lifestyles today.  She is committed to improving the communities in which her markets are located.

Laurie also has a passion for the arts, fashion, design, and travel. She grew up in Columbia, Missouri and has lived in Los Angeles for over 16 years.

SUZANNE LERNER

Suzanne Lerner, co-founder, CEO, and president of lifestyle and clothing brand Michael Stars, is an activist entrepreneur and philanthropist. Her primary focus is on creating economic empowerment for women and girls and supporting organizations that promote gender and racial equality – giving back to communities both domestically and internationally through personal grants, impact investments, and the Michael Stars Foundation.

She co-founded Michael Stars in Los Angeles with her husband Michael Cohen, focused on one goal: to create the perfect tee. Under Suzanne’s leadership, Michael Stars has evolved into an inimitable collection of high quality, beautifully designed and constructed wardrobe essentials.

Born and raised in Chicago, Suzanne’s commitment to social and racial equality began at a young age, becoming part of the city’s dynamic movements for gender and racial equality. She and her husband co-founded and built Michael Stars with opportunity, equality, and diversity as core values.

Today Suzanne inspires new generations of social impact entrepreneurs and is a frequent contributor and speaker on investing, founding, and running socially conscious businesses. She serves as a director on several non-profit boards including the ACLU of Southern California, the ERA Coalition, and the Ms. Foundation. She has been honored as a “Woman of Vision” by the Ms. Foundation and was recognized as one of “21 Leaders for the 21st Century” by Women’s eNews in 2018. She is an active member of both Women Moving Millions and Women’s Donor Network.

Suzanne also serves as an advisory board member of Prosperity Catalyst, Children Mending Hearts, and A Call to Men.

She resides in Los Angeles, CA with her #feministpup @ms_simba.

ANTONIO MANNING

Antonio Manning is Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager for JPMorgan Chase Global Philanthropy. In this position, Antonio manages philanthropic and corporate responsibility for Greater Los Angeles. Previously, Antonio served as First Vice President and Regional Grants Manager in Washington Mutual’s Community and External Affairs Division. In this capacity, he managed community relations and company corporate contributions in affordable housing, community development and K-12 education for California.

Manning joined Washington Mutual in 2000. Prior to this, he served as the Western Regional Director of the Fannie Mae Foundation for an 11-state region and spent four years on the program staff of the James Irvine Foundation.

Manning is an active member of the community. He is a founding member of Southern California Blacks in Philanthropy, a membership organization comprised of corporate and philanthropic executives. His other board affiliations include Affordable Living for the Aging, California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, Coalition for Responsible Community Development, Heritage Homeownership Partners, Los Angeles Business Council and Institute and the Los Angeles Conservation Corps. Additionally, Antonio serves on the Advisory Board for the USC Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy, LISC – Los Angeles, and Enterprise Community Partners and the Business Take Force on Homelessness. Antonio recently served as a mayoral appointment to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.

Antonio is a Los Angeles native and attended the University of Southern California.

ERIN MARTIN

Erin Martin is an entrepreneurial storyteller with 30 years of diverse management, consulting and creative work experience in both the for-profit and non-profit worlds. Erin left investment banking in Chicago to relocate to Los Angeles to produce feature films and television. Creating content that inspires and helps connect people and encourages positive, meaningful social action is Erin’s first love. She led development for Dolly Parton’s former production company, Sandollar, after which she founded Lunaria Films as an independent film and television producer, and a consultant for digital platform creative content. Erin has been a producer on five feature films and 12 short films, and an executive on another eight features.  

Erin is involved with charitable non-profits primarily aimed at utilizing the arts as a tool for self-expression and for giving a voice to trauma as an outlet to heal. Her area of interest has been children at-risk in the U.S. and children in regions suffering from conflict or catastrophe.

Erin has been involved with Children Mending Hearts from its inception. Her focus is on marketing and developing relationships for the organization’s programs, designed to meet the needs of children in at-risk environments. Erin’s ability to digest concepts and situations and render them into clear narratives, aids in getting needed messaging out about the organization.
A native of Chicago, Erin holds a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Clarke University, with minors in Business and Journalism; and pursued graduate studies at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University. Erin is active in a number of other charities including as Secretary, Board of Directors for Playing to Live!. Previous Board Memberships in Chicago include The School of the Art Institute and Friends of Prentice at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. She currently resides in Santa Monica, CA.

MELANIE MURRAY

SENIOR ASSOCIATE, ELLE COMMUNICATIONS

Melanie is a senior associate at Elle, where she leads strategy and effective media procurement for her clients. She began her career in PR in the entertainment space, serving for years directly under the VP of Talent at ID PR, and representing many A-list celebrities. Next, she moved on to an agency where she spent the past five years representing for-profit companies such as Facebook, POPSUGAR, H&M, and Rachel Zoe, as well as non-profit organizations such as The Humane Society of the United States, Heal The Bay, and Children Mending Hearts. She made her move to Elle because of her passion for the impact space, and her desire to pivot her focus entirely to non-profit and social impact organizations. She is based in the Los Angeles office.

RYAN NORD

Ryan received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 2001 and a Bachelor of Arts from The University of California at Berkeley in 1998. He began his legal career practicing corporate transactional law in San Francisco where he was primarily involved with private and public company securities offerings and mergers and acquisitions.

Prior to joining the firm of Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof + Fishman in 2006, Ryan negotiated a wide array of television and new media transact ions as counsel in the Legal Affairs Department for NBC Universal.

Ryan's current practice includes the representation of actors, directors, writers and producers in film, television and new media.

Charlotte Reznick PhD

Charlotte Reznick PhD is a foremost authority on how to engage with and develop mindfulness, mediation, and imagination for children and teens. She is author of the Los Angeles Times bestselling book, The Power of Your Child’s Imagination: How to Transform Stress and Anxiety into Joy and Success and contributing author of the chapter “Imagery as a Therapeutic Tool with Children" to Transformative Imagery: Cultivating Imagination for Healing, Change, and Growth. Dr. Reznick is a child educational psychologist, a former UCLA Associate Clinical Professor of Psychology, and was named Imagery International’s Person of the Year in 2012 for the global impact of her work. Dr. Reznick has a 35-year meditation practice, and is the creator of Imagery For Kids: Breakthrough for Learning, Creativity, and Empowerment, a mindful, positive coping skills program. In addition to her private practice in Los Angeles, California, she creates therapeutic meditation CDs for children, teens, and parents, blogs for Psychology Today and Huffington Post, is a frequent media consultant, and teaches workshops internationally on the healing power of child and adolescent imagination. You can find out more about her, including watching her TEDx talk, at www.ImageryForKids.com.

AUSTIN STOFFERS

Austin Stoffers is the co-founder of Pure Cycles, formally Pure Fix Cycles. Austin founded Pure Fix Cycles with two of his best friends since kindergarten while attending the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Business in 2010. 

Pure Fix Cycles quickly grew to become one of the largest recognized single speed bicycle manufactures in the world, offering the highest levels of quality, service, and value. Their solution to this demand was to focus on a simple, stylish, single-speed bicycle that allowed the customer to reflect their personality at a price point that was obtainable.

Pure Fix Cycles also saw a need and demand for stylish city and lifestyle bikes so Pure City Cycles was created. The same drive and determination that brought Pure Fix Cycles to success produced stylish, high-quality city bicycles at a competitive price point, allowing all types of riders to enjoy the brand and its customer experience. A full line of complementing accessories was also developed so customers could fully customize their new bicycle. Now both brands live under the name Pure Cycles.

For every charity bicycle sold $100 is donated.Pure Cycles is proud to support philanthropies such as, charity: water and their initiatives to support clean water in developing countries, as well as People for Bikes with their efforts to improve bicycle infrastructure across the country.

Austin has been recognized as a 30 under 30 entrepreneur by Forbes magazine and a 40 under 40 entrepreneur by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal.