Celeste Ayers, MBA, CFPIM, CSCP
Celeste Ayers is the Division Sourcing and Procurement Manager for Parker Hannifin Corporation, Racor Division based in Modesto, California. In addition to managing supplier relationships she and her team manage global logistics for the division’s four domestic locations. Her experience in materials, procurement, and supply chain relationship management along with extensive expertise in United States international trade regulations has radically transformed supply chain operations within the Racor Division.
Celeste also has a passion for supply chain and operations management that extends out of her normal professional work with Parker Hannifin. She is currently serving as the President of the APICS Gold Rush Chapter, leading the board of directors in the management of the chapter’s activities and education programs. Celeste’s formal education includes a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration/Management from California State University, Stanislaus and a Master of Business Administration in Operations and Supply Chain Management from Golden Gate University. She also maintains two APICS Certifications; Certified Fellow in Production and Inventory Management (CFPIM) and Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP). Celeste also has gained valuable classroom experience as an adjunct professor for the Ageno School of Business for Golden Gate University in San Francisco, California and as an APICS approved instructor.
Sam Bresler, Ph.D., SPHR, CCP
Sam is currently Associate Dean of the School of Business and Professional Studies at Brandman University. His prior Human Resources leadership experience includes Regional Vice President, Human Resources for The Art Institutes, Vice President for Human Resources, Learning and Leadership Development, SAIC, and prior to that position, as Vice President, Human Resources for SAIC's Western Region. He has more than 36 years of leadership and practitioner experience in HR. A "Life Certified" SPHR, Sam is Past President of the national SHRM Foundation Board of Directors and a former Chair of SHRM's national Workplace Diversity Committee. He has been teaching the PHR/SPHR exam preparation course for Brandman/Chapman University since 1998. He has also delivered the SHRM Essentials of HR Management Course since 2007, both domestically and internationally.
Gail Brown
Gail Brown is an instructor, motivational speaker, consultant and coach. She founded her company, Exceeding Expectations, in early 1997, following a 25 year career with the Walt Disney Company in Operations, Human Resources, Sales, Marketing and Special Event Development and Implementation. Gail received a degree in Psychology from CSULB and holds certificates in Motivational Management and Wilson Learning Sales Training.
Dennis Buster, SPHR
Dennis is a broadly talented, collegial and highly ethical professional who is now leveraging 20 years of C-level Human Resources experience in his role of founder and President of MyDirectLine.org, Inc. Dennis’ successful international and domestic HR leadership experience, including 15 years managing employee helplines, adds inestimable value to his clients’ employee relations, corporate governance and compliance efforts. He has conducted workplace investigations, resolved scores of difficult complaints, and has effectively represented employers in several industries, interfacing with most of the major unions in North America. Dennis has taught HR-related courses as a member of the adjunct faculty of the California State University system, and has taught courses preparing HR professionals for their PHR, SPHR and GPHR certifications at Brandman University.
Bill Conley
Bill Conley, CFM, CFMJ, LEED AP, IFMA Fellow is owner of CFM2, a Facility Management & Sustainability Consulting company based in Aliso Viejo, California. Conley has more than 25 years of experience in the facility management profession and has been a proponent of sustainable operations for smaller companies. Conley is a member of The IFMA Sustainability Committee and helped developed both the FMP & SFP curriculum for IFMA. Conley received his Certified Facility Manager (SFM) designation from IFMA in 1992 and achieved LEED professional accreditation through the US Green Building Council in 2002. He is also a Facility Management Professional (SFP) and a Sustainability Facility Professional (SFP).
Walter Corrigan, MBA, CMA, CFM
Walter is the Director of CMA Programs for the IMA Inland Empire Chapter and is a chapter past president. He has nearly thirty years experience working in a variety of financial and management accounting positions. Currently, he is Controller for Prime Converting Corporation, a Southern California paper and paperboard converter and distributor. He holds a BA in Business Administration-Accounting, with honors, and an MBA-Finance from California State University, Fullerton. He is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and is Certified in Financial Management (CFM).
Jim Coulson, MBA, SPHR, GPHR, CA-SPHR
Jim Coulson, MBA, SPHR, GPHR, CA-SPHR, holds a life-time SPHR from the Society of Human Resource Management, and an MBA from USC. He has spent his professional career as an international consultant in the field of human resource management, and as an educator in the field. He has taught HR at Chapman University for over a decade, and teaches in our Master of Science in Human Resource degree program. He conducts the Irvine Campus and On-line PHR/SPHR Exam Prep courses and has earned his Global PHR and California certifications.
Jimmie Flores, PhD, DM, PMP, SSBB, ITIL, SPHR, GPHR
Dr. Flores has held management and leadership positions in major companies including Shell Oil Company, The Prudential, and USAA. At USAA, he managed the $11.5 million budget for the IT department. He has extensive experience developing and teaching courses for organizations in the disciplines of Project Management, Human Resources, and Information Technology. Dr. Flores founded a global IT enterprise, and has operations in India and The Philippines. Dr. Flores has written several books including How to Become a Proficient Online Learner. He has earned two doctorates and seven master’s degrees.
Denise Gorman, CIA, CMA
Denise Gorman is a senior financial executive with extensive experience in transforming finance/accounting functions into highly efficient and effective organizations through the use of technology and organizational development. Ms. Gorman is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and a Certified Management Accountant (CMA). With a broad combination of internal audit, strategic planning, operational accounting, compliance and risk management experience, Ms. Gorman brings a practical business perspective to the classroom. She is an experienced adjunct professor at Webster University, School of Business and Technology who enjoys public speaking to a variety of professional audiences.
Ms. Gorman is currently the Vice President for the Orange County Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) and Vice President /Membership Chairperson for the Orange County Chapter of Financial Executives International (FEI).
Diane Kincheloe, CPP
Since 2006, Diane Kincheloe has managed the Payroll Department at Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD). With almost 5,000 employees, 2 colleges and 2 education centers, RSCCD has an annual salary budget of over 102 million dollars.
Prior to joining RSCCD, Diane served as Internal Payroll Supervisor at the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) for over 17 years. She has been active on the Board of the Orange County Chapter of the American Payroll Association (OCCAPA) since 1997 and is this terms President. She is also active in the California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO) and is this terms Chairman of the Eastern Section Payroll Professional Council. Diane has worked as an adjunct faculty at Chapman University since 2001, teaching Pay Train Fundamental and Mastery courses to prepare students to pass the FPC and CPP exams.
Ray Lacasse, MBA, SPHR
Ray began his career in Finance holding Controllership positions with two Santa Barbara County firms. In 1990, he put accounting and finance on hold and chose to work full-time in various HR Management positions in a variety of industries- electronics, publishing, foods and government contracts. He led HR for Ruiz Foods (El Monterey Brand) during a dramatic growth period as the Number 1 Mexican Frozen Food Company in America.
Ray graduated from Salem State (MA) with a degree in Business Administration and an MBA from Golden Gate University. He was a Board Member of Santa Barbara Human Resources Association for three years including President for the year 1993. He also taught several HR courses at UCSB and business courses for West Coast University.
Ray also served on the Board of Directors for the Tulare/Kings Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and is an Advocate for the Santa Barbara County Hmong Community.
Vicki M. Lambert, CPP
Vicki M. Lambert, CPP “The Payroll Advisor” is Founder and Director of http://www.thepayrolladvisor.com/, a website that provides unique and expert services for lawmakers, attorneys, media organizations, businesses, individuals or any entity that must deal with the complexities and technicalities of the payroll process. Ms. Lambert has a Bachelor’s degree, Magna Business Administration and is a Certified Payroll Professional with over 30 years of multi-state payroll experience. Ms. Lambert has lectured extensively throughout the United States on payroll administration and compliance issues for clients that include ADP, CCH Incorporated, Ceridian Employer Services, Fox Studios, County of Riverside, Sun Microsystems and others. She has authored, co-authored or edited numerous payroll publications and newsletters. She is the author of this Practical Payroll On-line curriculum.
Lenore Lowe, MA
Lenore Lowe was appointed Executive Director of Nonprofit Management Solutions in 2010. She joined NMS as the Director of Training and Organizational Development in 2008 after nearly fifteen years as an NMS senior affiliated consultant. She has worked with a diverse cross-section of San Diego’s nonprofit sector in her twenty-five years of experience, including several years as Communications Director for Planned Parenthood of San Diego and Riverside Counties. A native San Diegan, Lenore holds a Masters of Education from the University of San Diego and is an alumna of LEAD San Diego.
Vicki McIntyre, CIA, CPA
Vicki McIntyre is an Associate Consultant with the Lyndon Group, specializing in enterprise risk management, governance and compliance. With a broad combination of internal audit, public accounting, regulatory supervision and financial, compliance and risk management experience, Ms. McIntyre brings a practical business perspective to the classroom. She has routinely performed staff and senior management audit, risk, governance and compliance training and enjoys public speaking to a variety of professional audiences.
Ms. McIntyre is currently the Western US District Advisor for the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) and a two-term past President of the Orange County Chapter of the IIA. She Co-Chaired the IIA Western Regional Conference held at Disneyland in 2002, is a Quality Assessment Review Team Member, has served two years on the IIA’s “Chapter of the Future” task force and was the IIA Orange County Chapter’s Auditor of the Year in 1995 and 2003.
Kent Morris, MBA, CTP
Kent Morris, MBA, CTP, is a financial professional with extensive experience in both private and public sector treasury operations. In addition to his MBA & CTP, Kent has successfully passed the first two levels of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam and is registered to sit for the final level 3 exam this May. He has a vast knowledge of the collection/disbursement system, electronic commerce, investment & debit strategies, cash flow analysis, ethics, banking relationships, and credit analysis. Kent is the Investment Officer for the City of San Diego and before that worked for UBS Painewebber Investments Group. He has his MBA from San Diego State and has taught the Chapman University CTP review course since its inception in Spring 2004. He is an active member of the National Association of Financial Professional and its local San Diego Chapter.
Mery Propster, SPHR
Mery Propster, SPHR, currently specializes in organizational change management through her own consulting firm; Segue Solutions. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of San Francisco in Human Relations and Organizational Behavior and was awarded the lifetime SPHR designation in 1996. She is a long time member of both the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and Professionals in Human Resource Association (PIHRA) where she currently serves as Vice-Chair for District 6 and as a voting member of PIHRA's Board of Directors.
Prior to retiring and opening her own firm, she spent over two decades in increasingly responsible Human Resources management positions with two Fortune 50 high technology firms in California and Arizona.
Richard Propster, MA, SPHR-CA
Richard Propster, MA, SPHR, and his wife Mery currently specialize in human resources and organizational change strategies through their consulting firm, Segue Solutions. He holds a Bachelor of Vocational Education degree from California State University at Long Beach and Masters degrees from Pepperdine University and the Claremont Graduate University.
Prior to retiring in 1998, he dedicated over thirty-one years to municipal government including over two decades as a department head with responsibility for a diverse population of over 100 employees and a multi-million dollar budget. He has additionally taught at the adult school, post-secondary and university levels since the late 1960s.
David Wakeling, CPP
Currently the Payroll Manager at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Mr. Wakeling has over 30 years of experience as an accountant and payroll professional. He earned his Certified Payroll Profession (CPP) designation in 1999. He is a graduate of the University of Nevada and received his Master of Accountancy degree from Brigham Young University.
Kristin Walle, Ph.D., CCM
Kristin Walle, PhD, CCM, has extensive domestic and international treasury experience working in Fortune 500 and mid-cap companies. She is currently employed by ADP where she is Vice President, Treasury & Trust Operations. In this role she oversees all client fund treasury and trust accounting activities including cash and risk management, funds recovery, loss prevention, and banking relations. Kristin holds a MBA and Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University. Her doctoral research analyzed CFOs that transitioned successfully to the CEO role. She holds both the CTP credential and Accredited ACH Professional designation. In addition to the CTP review course Kristin teaches finance and management courses in various universities in southern California.
Jimmy Zepeda, BA
Jimmy Zepeda is a Senior Manufacturing Consultant. His also a highly experienced educator in the field of manufacturing and materials management, and a trainer and implementer for the MFG/PRO manufacturing system from QAD, Inc. Previously, he was an Applications Consultant and Project Leader for Origin Technology in Business, where he provided post-sales implementation consulting and training in both English and Spanish. Prior to that assignment, he was President of his own consulting firm, Materials Manager for Newport Labs, Implementation and Training Consultant for Madic/Compufact, Project Leader for Hughes Aircraft, and Project Leader for Inventory Control systems for McDonnell-Douglas Commercial Aircraft.
Mr. Zepeda earned a BABA in Finance from California State University Fullerton. He has taught many courses at the college level in Systems Management, Management Information Systems, and Materials Management at Orange Coast College, Cal State Fullerton, and University of California Irvine. He maintains a college level teaching credential from the State of California. He has also taught APICS Certification courses on many occasions for APICS chapters all over the Western United States and in Mexico.