October 17, 2024, 7:30AM

Robert’s seasoned executive positions in leading high-growth organizations across the financial services and technology sectors lead him to his current position as the president of Experian, North America. Robert has overseen transformational initiatives aimed at driving innovation, operational efficiency, and market expansion. His leadership journey includes key roles at Chase, Citibank and Providian Financial, where he was instrumental in spearheading growth initiatives and fraud strategy.

In addition to his corporate experience, Robert founded and scaled a successful startup, demonstrating his entrepreneurial spirit and ability to drive value from concept to execution. His expertise spans digital transformation, fintech, and AI-driven solutions.

Robert and his wife are long-time Laguna Beach residents.

November 21, 2024, 7:30AM

Steve will be discussing LCAD's connections with local industries and the intersections of emerging technology, fine arts, and industry.

With a background in higher education, the private sector, and city government, Steve is a leader in sustainable, human-centered design. He is a passionate advocate for design’s influence on social, economic, and environmental aspects of daily life. His work spans academic and corporate boards, fine arts colleges, and design panels, and he is widely published and a frequent speaker.

Steve has collaborated on innovative projects, such as a VR-integrated “Surgical Room of the Future” with institutions like MIT and Harvard, and the first digital Urban Information System still used by the Boston Redevelopment Authority. His sustainable smart city project in Portugal became a Harvard Business School case study. He has also led major building projects and consulted for startups and city governments, contributing to the advancement of sustainable urbanization and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Steve has taught art and architecture at several prestigious institutions, including Columbia and Harvard, where he earned his Master’s in Architecture with Distinction.

January 18, 2024, 7:30AM

For over twenty years, Phillips has held artistic positions and programming consultancies at orchestras across the country including the San Diego Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Grand Rapids Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Charlotte Symphony, Pacific Symphony, and Mainly Mozart Festival, among others, Phillips has guided music directors, helped build strong artistic foundations, and has worked to connect institutions with their respective communities.

Following his passion for cultural exchange and musical ambassadorship, Phillips is also the co-founder of Black Cats Production Company, an international touring and performing arts organization bringing performing ensembles to China and Chinese ensembles to the United States. His past clients include violinist Joshua Bell, the Shanghai Quartet, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and France’s Malandain Ballet Biarritz.

During his eight years with the San Diego Symphony, Phillips oversaw the strategy and implementation for all artistic programs, festivals, recording sessions, commissioning projects, and national and international tours. He also developed and produced large-scale multi-media concerts (including the first ever Live-to-Film world premiere of a major motion picture with live orchestra), and built key relationships with major brands such as Disney, Paramount and Comic-Con.

February  22, 2024, 7:30AM

Mulrenin will recount the details of his crucial Goffard will discuss the events leading to the creation of a hit podcast and Netflix series, Dirty John, his life’s work as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times and current projects.

At the Los Angeles Times, where Goffard has covered crime and courts extensively, he was part of the Pulitzer-winning team that exposed corruption in the city of Bell. He has also twice been a Pulitzer finalist for feature writing. His book, Snitch Jacket was a finalist for the Edger Allan Poe Award for Best First Novel in 2008, and his blockbuster podcast Dirty John was adapted for TV and ranked by Rolling Stone among the two greatest true-crime podcasts of all time.

March 21, 2024, 7:30AM

Mulrenin will recount the details of his crucial involvement in the investigation of the Rayford/Glass case, spearheaded by nonprofit organization, Innocence OC, which led to the release and exoneration of two innocent men from 17 years of imprisonment.

After being honorably discharged from the United States Marines as a sergeant, Mulrenin became a police officer for the Los Angeles Police Department retiring as a lieutenant after 28 years. In addition to various roles with LAPD, Mulrenin served as a detective working burglary, crimes against persons, street, and major narcotics cases, and detective commanding officer and officer-in-charge of LAPD’s Abused Child Unit.

Mulrenin's expertise extended beyond LAPD as he served on a task force with the FBI, LASO and Orange County Sheriff’s Department. He later became the officer-in-charge of LAPD’s Bomb K9 Unit, overseeing administration, training, and deployment of 25 Bomb K9 Teams as well as managing the explosive bunker at LAX. Transitioning into the private sector, Mulrenin has been a private investigator for 15 years and is a member of the Los Angeles Superior Court of Private Investigators. He has handled numerous cases involving robbery, multiple murders, and other criminal and civil matters.

September 21, 2023, 7:30AM

Mr. Gray transitioned from being a Board member for PMMC for six years to the organization’s CEO in June of 2022.

Prior to his retirement in 2020 Mr. Gray was involved in the financial services industry for 40 years, of which 20 were in positions of executive leadership.

From 2012 through mid-2020, Mr. Gray was the Chief Executive Officer of CalWest Bank, a $225 million asset commercial bank based in Orange County, California. Prior to joining CalWest Bank Mr. Gray was the Chief Executive Officer of Sunwest Bank, a commercial bank with operations in California and Arizona.

From 1995 to mid-2005 Mr. Gray held senior executive positions with the FINOVA Group, at the time a $12 billion asset diversified commercial finance company. Mr. Gary ultimately was appointed Chief Operating Officer reporting to the Board of Directors. Prior to joining the FINOVA Group, he held positions with Wells Fargo Bank, and Foothill Capital.

Glenn and his wife, Kathryn, have been residents of Laguna Beach since 2000. He is currently a Trustee Emeritus of The Laguna Playhouse, President of the Laguna Beach Police & Community Foundation, a Pink Tie Guy for Susan G. Komen / Orange County, and Chair of the Audit Review & Investment Advisory Committee for the City of Laguna Beach. Mr. Gray is a graduate of the University of Illinois.

October 19, 2023, 7:30AM

Jeffrey S. Redeker serves as the President and Director of Beach Cities Commercial Bank. Jeffrey started his banking career in 1994 at El Dorado Bank. He later moved to Dana Niguel Bank and then Sun Country Bank. In 2000, he became the Vice President/SBA Department Manager at South County Bank in Rancho Santa Margarita. He also served as SVP of SBA and Regional Manager at Capital Bank and Partners bank of California respectively. He has over 29 years of banking experience, primarily in management, SBA management, and business development positions in Southern California. Before organizing Beach Cities Commercial Bank, he served as SVP, Senior Relationship Manager at Cal Private Bank, based in La Jolla, California. During his tenure he was assigned to the Newport Beach office and was responsible for business development as well as recruiting relationship managers and support staff.

 Jeffrey has always been active in the local community. He is currently the Chairman of the Government Affairs Committee for the Laguna Beach Chamber of Commerce and has served two terms as Chairman of the Board. He is the past President of the Laguna Beach Rotary Club, and former Chairman of the Laguna Board of Realtors Affiliate Committee. He is also an active member of the Irvine Chamber of Commerce and Chairman and Founder of the Grapes for Grads Scholarship Fundraiser (18 years), one of Orange County’s most successful fundraisers and wine tasting events.

November 30, 2023, 7:30AM

Deidra Wager, President of DJW and Associates, provides strategic advice on retail replication and growth strategy. She spent 13 years as a senior operations executive at Starbucks Coffee Company. As executive vice president, Retail North America, she led operations, marketing, real estate and store development. She spent four years in Tokyo, Japan as Chief Retail Officer, Starbucks Japan. She started DJW and Associates in 2005 and began to pursue her interest in sustainable agriculture and non-profit work.

She is co-founder and serves on the board of The Lacewing Foundation, dedicated to improving health and education of women and children. She is a member of the Women’s Leadership Board of Harvard Kennedy School’s Women in Public Policy Program, focused on gender research, teaching, training and outreach.

She serves on the board and executive committee of North West Harvest, ensuring access to healthy food through a network of 400 food justice organizations including food banks and high need schools.

She enjoys the arts and has served on the Advisory Board of Trustees for the Pacific Northwest Ballet  for the past 15 years.

She holds a B.S. in economics from the University of Minnesota and attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

November 17, 2022, 7:30AM

Ian Cairns was born in Melbourne, Australia on July 24th, 1952, grew up in Cottesloe, a beach suburb of Perth, Western Australia and has been a surfer for over 55 years. Honing his surfing in the big and stormy waves of Yallingup and Margaret River, 200 miles south of Perth, Ian developed world-level big wave skills that lead to a successful 10-year pro surfing career. Ian was influential in establishing the world professional surfing circuit and particularly the World Championship Tour. He was known as the premier "power" surfer of his era who dominated the North Shore during the mid to late-seventies.

In the 1980s Ian coached young surfers and in 2010 became the Head Coach of Surfing America winning world Championship Gold at the ISA World Games in 2010, ISA World Masters in 2013 and ISA World Standup and Paddling Championships in 2015. In late 2020 Ian and his partners launched a new media venture, Surfing.com, and produced and syndicated the World of Waves TV (WOW).

January 19, 2023, 7:30AM

A lifelong resident of Laguna Beach, Alex Rounaghi was elected to the Laguna Beach City Council in November 2022. His top priorities include undergrounding power lines on Laguna Canyon Road, fully funding public safety, addressing housing needs for seniors and artists, protecting the environment, and advancing data-driven government. Prior to his election, Alex served as Chair of the Laguna Beach Housing & Human Services Committee. Alex is a graduate of Laguna Beach public schools and Dartmouth College.

February 16, 2023, 7:30AM

Based in Laguna Beach, CA, Jorg Dubin has had an extensive career creating paintings, sculptures, ceramics and working in design for over forty-five years. Dubin studied painting at the Art Institute of Southern California with Stephen Douglas and sculpture and design with Kris Cox and Richard White. He has been the art director, set builder, and production designer on seven films for O Entertainment. Dubin designed and fabricated the Sept. 11th. Memorial for the city of Laguna Beach titled, “Semper Memento”, (Never Forget), built from two I-beams from the world trade center. He has also created over ten site-specific sculptures and has created work for the hospitality industry all around the country for their public spaces and high-end restaurants. Dubin currently maintains a painting and sculpture studio in Laguna Beach, CA.

July 21, 2022, 7:30AM

By the time Anders was 10 years old, he knew that he’d grow up to be either an architect or a heavy metal drummer. Anders shifted focus from the music studio to the architectural studio when ‘90s, grunge and alternative music pushed heavy metal out of the spotlight, and he began working for some of the best architects in Orange County. After finishing two degrees in architecture and design theory, Anders opened the doors to his own firm in 2005 where Anders specializes in innovative designs for custom homes, galleries, salons, restaurants, retail fashion boutiques and specialized commercial projects. He’s fortunate to have a diverse group of passionate architects working for him who find the same joy in making thoughtful architecture as he does.

Anders received a Master of Architecture degree from UCLA and Bachelor of Architecture degree, cum laude, from Cal Poly Pomona and served on the faculty of Cal Poly Pomona where he taught architectural design studio for 2 years.  Anders continues to be a guest lecturer and juror for architecture and design classes at Cal Poly Pomona, Cal Baptist University, USC, Saddleback College, Orange Coast College, Cal State Long Beach, Los Angeles Institute of Architecture, and Design, and Chapman University.

August 18, 2022, 7:30AM

 As the owner of Marilyn Wellness Studio located in beautiful Laguna Beach, California, Marilyn Montero serves clients to provide a magical experience with hypnotherapy, life coaching, and wellness coaching for all areas of their lives. These areas include weight loss, anxiety, stop smoking, depression, relationship, habit control, and much more. Marilyn uses her wisdom, education, skills, kindness, and natural intuition to provide an enhanced experience that allows clients to achieve optimal wellness.

Her goal is to understand where her clients are and help them discover their true-life desires to devise a personalized treatment plan that includes hypnosis to help them elevate as individuals to support all areas of their lives. Marilyn is driven by the concept that everyone she can help will have positive effects in the world.

As a clinical hypnotherapist, wellness coach, and life coach, Marilyn is passionate about helping others grow towards wellness. She lives with a deep passion for helping people, this fuels her soul when the results become their reality.

October 20, 2022, 7:30AM

Marian will discuss surviving COVID and maintaining a business in Laguna Beach for over 20 years.

Marian has a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Northern Kentucky University where she was a scholarship athlete in basketball and volleyball. She went on to receive a master’s degree in exercise physiology while pursuing coaching at Indiana University, ultimately becoming a head coach at University Of Wisconsin-Richland. Marian’s love for sports and fitness, and wide-ranging experience as a business owner has helped guide her vast experience in the industry as a general manager, sales manager, and owner.

November 18, 2021, 7:30AM

Billy Fried grew up in Baltimore and graduated from Amherst College with a degree in English Literature and Asian Studies. Billy worked as a waiter in Honolulu, where he saved enough money to travel the world with a backpack, and immerse himself in Asian culture, which he had studied in college. A little serendipity led to some modeling gigs in Japan, which he then parlayed into travels and work in Europe. He met his then wife in Italy, and they launched a fashion line called Billy Ballo. After selling the business, Billy launched a magazine called Buying, Selling & Owning YOUR HOME. Billy embarked on a career in advertising, first working for global agency WB Doner as Sr VP, Business Development. The agency offered him an opportunity to move to Orange County to oversee and help grow the business. In 2003 he launched kayaks into the ocean with the birth of La Vida Laguna. Over the course of nearly 20 years his eco-friendly business has flourished and grown to now offer stand-up paddling, surfing, hiking, electric bike tours, and a number of corporate teambuilding activities. He has become a thought leader and speaker on corporate culture building through team play.

February 17, 2022, 7:30AM

After six years of managing various local coffee shops, Steve and Embry Munsey had friends and family encouraging them to start a coffeehouse. Because of their love for community and grand adventures, the idea took well—and it took quick! In late 2010 they started dreaming up and working on plans to open a Laguna Beach Coffee Shop in 2011.

Life, with its detours and curveballs, including the sudden loss of their son Jedidiah at birth led them to putting the dream on hold. They found themselves back in Embry’s hometown of Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas five years later in 2016, and ended up launching their Mobile Coffee Bar Experience, “Jedidiah Coffee”. They were a part of many special events, exploring North Texas with their three kids in tow, but SoCal never stopped being home. In 2019 they settled back in Laguna Beach to continue the grand coffee adventure. . They love how coffee cultivates community; one of the many reasons why that they added “coffee roasters” to their resume in 2019. At the heart of Jedidiah Coffee (and the Munsey Family), they see a community gathering around a great cup of coffee.

March 17, 2022, 7:30AM

Jacob Cho has been actively teaching martial arts in Laguna Beach since 2008.  He started with an after-school program at Anneliese’s private schools then opened Cho’s Academy in September of 2009 with Dana Sara, both lifelong practitioners of the martial arts. Cho’s Academy is currently owned and operated full-time by Jacob.

He has a lifetime of experience coming from a family of martial arts experts.  More specifically, his father, a first-generation Korean-American immigrant is a Tae Kwon Do master and pioneer who began grooming Jacob at a very young age.

Jacob knew he wanted to teach full-time, but never imagined how challenging, rewarding and life-changing it would be.  Although his academy offers classes for all ages, he is most proud of the many opportunities he’s had to have a positive impact working with local kids.  His youth programs emphasize and cultivate discipline, work ethic, self-respect through commitment, effort and resulting accomplishments, respect and caring for others, patience, self-control, fitness, self-defense and much more.  Cho says, “The values and life-skills that traditional martial arts offer are timeless."

August 19, 2021, 7:30AM

Ms. Dupuis will discuss her top priorities as City Manager, including listening and collaborating with all the voices in our community through meetings with various organizations in town and via one-on-one conversations with business owners, residents and staff.

She will also discuss a series of comprehensive engagement and satisfaction surveys to include our business community, residents and entire City staff.   The results of these surveys will be presented to the City Council at a future strategic planning session so they can set goals and objectives to pursue over the next five years.

September 16, 2021, 7:30AM

Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris is a businesswoman and community leader who was elected to the State Assembly in 2018. In her first term, Cottie has secured millions of dollars in funding for projects in our district and introduced important legislation to combat sea level rise, improve services for veterans and help small businesses.

Cottie serves as Chair of Assembly’s Accountability and Administrative Review Committee and as Chair of the Select Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. She also serves on the Assembly’s committees for Banking & Finance; Revenue & Taxation; Jobs, Economic Development and the Economy and Veterans Affairs.

October 21, 2021, 7:30AM

Mayor Pro Tem Sue Kempf is nearing the end of her 3rd year as a Laguna Beach City Council member. Prior service to our community includes nearly 5 years as a Laguna Beach Planning Commissioner, 4 years as Chair of the City's Emergency Disaster Preparedness Committee, and a member of the Council appointed team to draft the View Preservation Ordinance.

In her professional career, Sue was the President of Mirion Technologies Dosimetry Services Division, Managing Director Vodafone PLC and Executive Director at Verizon Wireless.  Sue has served on a number of boards including the Vodafone Foundation and the Women’s Professional Volleyball Association.