CMH Board of Directors

RON BURKHARDT

Ron Burkhardt joined Newmark Grubb Knight Frank in 1994 as a vice president of the Washington, DC, office. Now situated as a managing director in the firm's West Los Angeles office, he continues to specialize in national tenant representation and corporate services, providing his clients with real estate-related professional and technical support. Mr. Burkhardt focuses on lease and purchase transactions including: facility acquisition, financial analyses, market research, lease negotiations and sublease representation.

Mr. Burkharadt is also a prominent member of NGKF's national non-profit division. In this capacity, he works with such clients as Autism Speaks, Inc., the California Society of CPAs, Los Angeles Education Partnership, Make-A-Wish Foundation and National Immigration Law Center. He has also represented corporate tenants such as Amazon.com, DeVry, Inc., John Paul Mitchell Systems, Net App Inc., Neutrogena and Woodside Natural Gas in their leasing requirements.

RECENT ASSIGNMENTS:
•    Anti Defamation League
•    Armanino (RBZ, LLP)
•    Autism Speaks
•    Bayard Advertising
•    DeVry University
•    Exceptional Children's Foundation
•    Found Animals Foundation
•    Lido Advisors, LLC
•    Los Angeles Education Partnership, LLP
•    Make-A-Wish Foundation
•    National Immigration Law Center
•    Neutrogena
•    Rocket Fuel, Inc.
•    System One/Compliance Staffing

Prior to joining Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, Mr. Burkhardt was a senior leasing associate at Berens Asset Management Company, Inc. During his three years at Berens, Mr. Burkhardt focused on tenant representation and corporate real estate services. During his last year at Berens, he was recognized as the top producer in office leasing.

Mr. Burkhardt is the recipient of 2012 Social Sustainability® Champion Award and is the first corporate real estate director to receive this award, issued to those passionate about bettering the workplace and who lead with a social conscience. Individuals selected advocate a call to action in their fields of expertise regarding the importance of serving non-profit organizations locally and nationally and as stewards of the environment through efforts that mitigate climate change. 

In addition, Mr. Burkhardt is a member of the Los Angeles Commercial Realty Association (LACRA). He also sits on the boards of ANEW Foundation, New Horizons, The Nonprofit Advisory Council (NAC), Starlight Children's Foundation (Global Finance Committee) and A World Fit For Kick.
Mr. Burkhardt earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business at Roger Williams University.

DR. LINNDA DURRÉ

Dr. Linnda Durré has had two careers since she was 18 – psychology and entertainment. She is an acclaimed writer, author, psychotherapist, expert witness, business consultant, adjunct psychology professor, international speaker, and corporate trainer, who is regularly sought out for her expertise in business and relationship management. She has spent 46 years as an expert witness, case consultant and/or jury selection consultant, and she has been qualified in nine (9) states as an expert witness. For her entertainment career, she has produced eight short films and a web series, and is a director, actor, writer, script and book editor and consultant, and an acting coach. 

She earned her B.A. in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena and her M.A. and her Ph.D. in Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology in San Diego, now known as Alliant International University. 

She has been in private practice as a psychotherapist for 43 years, beginning her career in 1978 in California (#M12566), then in the state of Washington in 1994 (MFT #852 and LMHC #2619), with those three licenses needing to be renewed. In April 2000, she was awarded her Florida LMHC license - Licensed Mental Health Counselor (#MH6058). Dr. Durré works with children, teens, families, couples, seniors, and leads groups and workshops. She earned three K-6 teaching credentials (NY, NJ, and CA) and she has taught nursery school, kindergarten, and first grade, including in Head Start in Pasadena, at Pacific Oaks College, at Sierra Madre Nursery School, the first cooperative nursery school in California, and at Creative Nursery School in New Jersey.

She has served as an intern supervisor in her private practice in California, as well as in Florida at the University of Central Florida, at the film school Full Sail University, at Valencia Community College, and at Rollins College. She holds a Clinical Intern Supervisor Credential in Florida (FL DOH Provider #50-2109).

She has been an adjunct psychology professor at Rollins College, VCC, and SSC, teaching Development Psychology and at Rollins College, a course she created, Life Transitions. At Stetson University, she taught two sections of Great Experiments in Psychology. She has taught Play Therapy at TCSPP, and has lectured at UCSD, Full Sail University, SDSU, UCI, UCF, and many others.

As a business consultant, she has worked with Fortune 500 companies, corporations, small businesses, non-profit organizations, and trade and professional associations to provide time management, stress management, customer service training, team building, communication skills, leadership and compliance training, conflict resolution, strategic planning, diversity, and inclusion training.

As a sports performance consultant and coach, Dr. Durré has worked with athletes in elementary school, middle school, high school, college, and in the pros, including the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, soccer, golf, swimming, tennis, lacrosse, field hockey, and many other sports. She has had interviews for staff positions with the NY Giants, Tennessee Titans, Detroit Tigers, and the New York/New Jersey and now the Brooklyn Nets, and has worked as a sports consultant with the Orlando Magic.

Dr. Durré has hosted and co-produced two call-in advice shows and was selected out of 200 applicants to host, "Ask the Family Therapist," on America's Health Network, which was associated with the Mayo Clinic, and she was vetted by both companies. Her show aired on the 24-hour national cable network for a year from 1996-1997 from Universal Studios Orlando.

Her first book, Great Relationships™ Manual: A Guide to Share Yourself with Your Partner, is for her couples workshops and singles seminars. Her second book, Surviving the Toxic Workshop: Protect Yourself Against the Co-Workers, Bosses, and Work Environments That Poison Your Day (McGraw Hill 2010), was reviewed and/or she was interviewed by Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, Investor’s Business Daily, Inc. Magazine, Job Week, Wharton’s Online Newsletter and their SiriusXM Radio Station, Amazon, Business Week, Job Week, Career Builder, Monster, AOL, Orlando Magazine, CNN, and other publications. Her column on coping with a toxic boss appeared online for eBossWatch for many years.

She has written for Forbes, Management Issues, and was a regular columnist for Orlando Leisure Magazine. Her frequent column, "The Doctor Is In," appeared in Orlando Business Journal and in American Cities Business Journal and can be found online at  https://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/search?q=linnda+durre&s=1&pl=1

She has been a media guest on hundreds of shows discussing work-life balance, relationships, communication, and contemporary issues. She appeared on Oprah, 60 Minutes, The Today Show, The Disney Channel, Good Morning America,Canada AM, CNN, Daytime, and the national and/or local news on ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, NPR and Fox. She hosted two radio call-in advice shows, "The Dr. Linnda Durré Show" on WDBO in Orlando, and "Let’s Talk with Dr. Linnda Durré," on an NPR affiliate in New York, as well as "Personal Success with Dr. Linnda Durre'," on a PBS affiliate. She was the weekly guest psychotherapist on CW’s nationally syndicated morning show, "The Daily Buzz," writing the Q & A for herself and the hosts. 

She hosted, "The Linnda Durré Show", a celebrity interview show, with guests including, Arnold Palmer, Jay Gruden, Edward Asner, Lou Gossett, Jr., David Foster, Peter Cetera, Michael Medavoy, Daymond John, Kenny G., Lainie Kazan, Ottmar Liebert, the late Lynn Anderson, and many more. Her print interviews included Beatles producer Sir George Martin (for Forbes, OBJ, and her celebrity interview column), Mike Love of the Beach Boys, Oscar nominated producer Michael Medavoy ("Black Swan"), award winning DP Dean Cundey ("Jurassic Park" and "Back to the Future 1, 2 & 3"); former two term NARAS president & entertainment attorney, Jay Cooper; and an In Memoriam section about the passing of Robin Williams and Eli Wallach. www.LDCelebrityInterviews.com

Her entertainment career started at 19 years old, when she was interviewed to be a comedy writer for NBC’s hit show, "Laugh In." When she was 22, her literary agent, the legendary Irving Salkow, sold her first TV series to Aaron Spelling in three days, and she was admitted to WGA – Writers Guild of America – and then to AFTRA, ASCAP, and SAG. Irving Salkow was the agent for Ava Gardner, William Holden and Marilyn Monroe. Linnda Durre' has been an actor on stage in Los Angeles, Orlando, and New York, and in film. She has been an acting coach for many years in New York, Los Angeles, and Orlando, giving individual sessions and classes. 

Dr. Durre’ wrote, "The Viewing," her entry and acceptance to Edward Albee’s Master Class in Playwrighting. She adapted it into a short film, directed, produced, cast, and shot it in two days, winning two Crystal Reel Awards from FMPTA, including, “Best Short Script” for herself and "Best Supporting Actress" for Sarah Benz Phillips. The film was an official selection at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, the Delray Beach Film Festival, and was a finalist at the Best in Florida/Made in Florida Film Festival. 

Her film and her two books can be found on Amazon, including ebooks for Surviving The Toxic Workplace. She has been interviewed by Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Backstage, LA Times, Pasadena Star News, Orlando Magazine, Screen Actor Magazine, and was mentioned in the late Jim Bacon's column in Beverly Hills 213. She is featured on IMDB with three pages on www.IMDB.com.

She has spoken to hundreds of groups including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, non-profit organizations, trade and professional associations, including the American Psychological Association, California State Assembly, National Association of Social Workers, California State Psychological Association, Walt Disney World, Paramount Studios, Women in Film, FMPTA, Florida's Actor Book Meetings, Tennessee Women in Film and Television, Sony, DGA, SAG, WGA, AFTRA, Columbia Studios, and many others. 

She is guiding the internship program for Children Mending Hearts with local Los Angeles area colleges and universities to provide an educational and professional experience for local area college students to work with K-12 students to prevent bullying, build personal empathy and compassion, and foster clear, caring communication.

GRANT HESLOV

Grant Heslov has been recognized for his work as a producer, writer, director and actor. Together with George Clooney, he is a partner in Smokehouse Pictures. The company’s most recent projects are the TV series “CATCH-22,” directed and executive produced by Heslov and George Clooney and “On Becoming a God in Central Florida”, executive produced by Heslov and Clooney, and the films “Suburbicon”, directed by George Clooney and starring Matt Damon and Julianne Moore, “Money Monster,” directed by Jodie Foster and starring Clooney and Julia Roberts and “Our Brand Is Crisis,” directed by David Gordon Green and starring Sandra Bullock.

A four-time Oscar® nominee, Heslov received his latest Academy Award nod and a Best Picture win for producing the historical drama and thriller ARGO. He also earned a Golden Globe, BAFTA Award and Producers Guild of America (PGA) Award, among many others.

Heslov previously earned an Oscar® nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for the 2011 political drama “The Ides of March,” which he co-wrote with Clooney. In addition, Heslov received Golden Globe and BAFTA Award nominations for the screenplay, as well as a PGA Award nomination as one of the film’s producers.

Heslov also earned dual Oscar® nominations, for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay for “Good Night, and Good Luck” which he co-wrote with Clooney. For his work on the film, Heslov also won the Writers Guild of America, Paul Selvin Award and the PGA’s Stanley Kramer Award. Among the film’s numerous honors, Heslov also garnered two BAFTA Award nominations, for both Picture and Original Screenplay; a Golden Globe nomination for Best Screenplay; an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Feature; and a Screen Actors Guild Award® nomination as part of the ensemble cast.

In 2009, Heslov made his feature film directorial debut with “The Men Who Stare at Goats,” starring Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges and Kevin Spacey.

Heslov also co-wrote and produced “The Monuments Men”. Other producing credits include the Clooney directed “Leatherheads”, Anton Corbijn’s thriller “The American”, and John Wells’ drama “August Osage County.”

He also served as co-creator and executive producer on the HBO series “Unscripted,” for which he directed half of the episodes, and a co-executive producer on “K Street,” also for HBO.

Heslov is also known for his acting work in both film and television.

ANDY KIERNAN

Andy Kiernan is a twenty-two year seasoned Financial Industry professional. Andy currently serves in the role of Senior Vice President-Wealth Management for UBS Financial Services Inc., where he has been employed his entire twenty-two year career.

Andy is also the Co-Founder and Co-Owner of the up and coming Entertainment Company, The Kiernan Group. The Kiernan Group is a working collaboration between four brothers, Patrick, Andy, Spencer, and Brady Kiernan.  The Kiernan Group produces, directs, and creates Independent Film Content, as well as creates other Entertainment Media.

Andy has a long history of philanthropic work. Most notably, he volunteered for over twenty years for The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation. His various roles included, volunteer, fundraising committee member, fundraising committee Chairman, golf tournament Chairman, and Founder of "To Her Health," a Women's heart health event. All told, Andy and his family have helped to raise over $3,000,000+ for heart health research in Minneapolis. He is also currently active with Hilarity For Charity, which benefits The Alzheimer's Association.

Andy's interests include writing, acting, exercise, sports, comedy, traveling, and helping to make the world a better place. He has one son, Jack Kiernan, and both Jack and Andy look forward to becoming future California residents.

Trevor Kress

Trevor Kress is a seasoned leader in strategic partnerships, marketing, and brand development within the entertainment industry. With a proven track record of driving growth and producing award-winning content and campaigns, they excel in creating and executing multimillion-dollar partnerships from inception to completion. Trevor's experience spans working with A-list talent, global brands, and renowned entertainment properties across various mediums, including television, film, streaming, and digital content.

Notable achievements include generating substantial brand partnership revenue, leading marketing initiatives to drive series viewership and brand awareness, and overseeing successful social media strategies resulting in significant fan engagement. With a background in directing integrated marketing and communications at Warner Bros. Discovery's Stage 13, leading brand partnerships at Tiny Horse, and managing global client services at Branded Entertainment Network, Trevor possesses a diverse skill set in client and account management, business development, and cross-functional collaboration.

SIMONE LEGNO

Simone Legno is the creative director and co-founder of tokidoki. Born in Rome, Italy, Legno, drew incessantly as a child. The boxes of chewed, broken and unsharpened pencils he adored as a kid were the beginnings of a passion for art that led to the eventual creation of tokidoki, originally Legno’s online portfolio of the same name.  

tokidoki means “sometimes” in Japanese. Legno, who has always had a deep love of Japan and fascination with world cultures, chose the word because he feels “everyone waits for moments that change one’s destiny, by chance or by meeting a new person.” tokidoki started as his professional web portfolio and artistic diary while living in Italy, where he created illustrations, advertising and new media design for various clients as a freelancer. Simone's special moment arrived when his designs drew the attention of entrepreneurs Pooneh Mohajer and Ivan Arnold, who spied the art on his personal website and convinced him to move to L.A. to start up a dynamic new partnership with them.

In 2005, they launched tokidoki, first as a clothing line and because of its amazing success quickly moved onto other items such as vinyl toys, skate decks, jewelry, watches, knitwear, sportswear, accessories, cosmetics, shoes and stationery.

Simone has been a sought-after speaker around the world at museums, universities and conferences, from MOCA (the Geffen Museum-Los Angeles) to the Adobe MAX conference, UCLA, USC, the Flash Film Festival in San Francisco, Art Center College of Desigin, Apple store in Osaka, Istituto Europeo di Design in Rome, Singapore Toy and Comic Convention, Grafika Manila and many others.

A partial list of these clients includes Volkswagen, MTV, John Galliano, Champion, Toyota, Renault, Daihatsu, BenQ, Microsoft, Narcotic Bureau of Singapore, Telecom Italia. tokidoki has collaborated with many brands such as Karl Lagerfeld, Guggenheim Museum, Sephora, LeSportsac, Onitsuka Tiger, Marvel, New Era, Hello Kitty, Fujitsu, Levi's, Smashbox cosmetics,  Xbox, T-mobile, Medicom Toy, Major League Baseball, Skullcandy, Barbie, Canon, Black Eyed Peas, and more.

“tokidoki is the hope, the hidden energy that everyone has inside. It gives us the strength to face a new day and dream about something positive and the hope that something magical will happen to us.”

- Simone Legno

POONEH MOHAJER

Pooneh Mohajer, COO and Co-Founder of tokidoki, is a serial entrepreneur at heart — tokidoki is her third company to date. Since debuting in 2005, tokidoki has amassed a cult-like following for its larger-than-life characters and emerged as a sought-after global lifestyle brand. This innovative company is known not only for its eye-popping aesthetic and criminally cute characters, but also its megawatt partnerships with evergreen brands such as Hello Kitty, Karl Lagerfeld, LeSportsac, Barbie, Sephora, Marvel, and others.

Pooneh loves entrepreneurship and all the challenges of running a business. She also co-founded Hard Candy Inc., a color cosmetics company that revolutionized the nail enamel and cosmetic industries worldwide with innovative products. Hard Candy’s explosive growth produced sales of $10,000,000 in less than 24 months. In 1999, Pooneh successfully sold Hard Candy Inc. to LVMH, Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA, an international luxury goods conglomerate. Her abilities are multifaceted ranging from strategic marketing to product and brand development to overall corporate strategy, including high-level contract negotiation, corporate structuring, and financial operations.

After Hard Candy and before tokidoki, Pooneh co-founded Creative Branding & Design, LLC dba damnBRAND, a full service e-commerce management firm focused on partnering with fashion, beauty and lifestyle brands. Client-partners included Oliver Peoples, Smashbox Cosmetics, Trina Turk, Bisou Bisou, Hot Kiss, Philip B, ABS by Allen Schwartz, and Black Eyed Peas. damnBRAND provided a complete outsourced solution for its clients’ online operations including design and development of online stores, hosting, merchandise selection, digital imaging, online merchandising, secure order transactions, inventory management, order fulfillment, returns processing, and customer service.

Pooneh received her Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law in 1994. She also received a BA from Vanderbilt University in 1987. She has been a member of EO, Entrepreneurs’ Organization, since 1996, having previously served on its LA Chapter Board. EO is a premier, peer-to-peer, global community, network and resource for entrepreneurs with over 8,000 members in chapters around the world.

In 2013, Pooneh was honored with the National Association of Women Business Owners Los Angeles Trailblazer of the Year Award. This year she received the Deborah Award from the Anti-Defamation League which supports a world without hate, bullying, and bigotry.