Javier Hernandez
Javier is a first-generation Mexican-American born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles County. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from California State University, Fullerton. He later earned his Executive master’s degree in urban planning and development from the University of Southern California. Javier has nearly 20 years of experience advancing local, regional, and statewide public policy, political strategy, urban and multimodal transportation planning, capital infrastructure programming, and holistic community and economic development.
Olivia Loo
Olivia Loo, currently Director of International Students at Pasadena City College, has been in the field of international education for over 15 years. A Chinese native who grew up in Panama, Olivia immigrated to the U.S. to complete college and earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s at the University of Southern California. Her journey in international education started with the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme, an English teaching program sponsored by the Japanese government, and since then, she has made a lifelong mission to support international students and their educational goals of studying in the U.S. Olivia presents extensively at conferences on international admissions and educational credentials, as well as mental health and wellness among international students. She lives in the San Gabriel Valley with her family.
Audrie Gordon
Audrie Gordon was born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley. She grew up in South San Gabriel and attended school in the area. Right after graduating from Schurr High in Montebello she had her first son and wasn’t sure what her next step should be. Not having any solid goals or guidance she began to get in more trouble and ended up in a downward spiral. Despite the trials she was always surrounded with people who were willing to share advice and encouragement. At 23 she decided to make some changes and began utilizing resources such as church, Homeboy Industries, twelve step programs and counseling to build a better life for her and her son.
James De Pietro
Mr. James De Pietro is a Partner at De Pietro Holdings LLC, a family-owned and operated commercial real estate investment company in Pasadena, CA. A member of the senior management team, James is involved with the strategic direction of the company while managing the company’s daily operations with a focus on asset management, financial and market analysis, and business administration. In 2020, James launched The Crown City Podcast and serves as its producer and host. The podcast seeks to explore the people and places that make our communities such a special place to call home.
Carina Tsang
Carina Tsang is a mental health therapist with six years of experience working alongside diverse and vulnerable families and individuals to bring about change and inspire growth. Carina moved to the U.S. from Hong Kong to pursue her passion in mental health. Carina earned her bachelor degree in Psychology at UCLA, and Master in Social Work with a specialization in Adult Mental Health and Wellness at USC. From the medical field to the mental health field, she is not only a mental health clinician but also a medical social worker. She works with clients with depression, anxiety, grief and loss, trauma, schizophrenia, self-esteem issues, and relationship issues. Coming from a diverse cultural background, she values the importance of providing culturally congruent therapeutic services with a holistic approach. She also runs a private mental health practice that aims to bridge the cultural gap in therapy rooms.
Commander Arthur Fong
Commander Arthur Chi-Wing Fong was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy Reserve through the Direct Commissioning Officer program in 1997. He graduated form the Navy Supply Corps School Basic Qualification Course Navel Reserve (BQC-NR) Company 47th with the class Leadership Award in the year of 2000. CDR Fong has two daughters, Andrea and Tracy. CDR Fong completed eleven marathon races in his running career. In his civilian career, CDR Fong retired as a senior system analyst for LAPD IT Division after 30 years of dedicated service. He is an active licensed California real estate salesperson. He has served in the City of Monterey Park Planning Commission, Traffic Commission, and the Business Improvement & Development Commission. CDR Fong is the President of the Chinese-American Miliary Support, a no-profit organization that serves all armed forces member in his community.
Ted Moreno
Ted A. Moreno is an award winning hypnotherapist and success performance coach, published author, educator and sought-after speaker who works with his clients to achieve freedom from fear, anxiety, self limiting beliefs and bad habits. He also works with professional men and women for goal achievement, financial abundance and career success. With more than fifteen years of mastery in the art of motivating people to take action, Ted brings a lifetime of expertise in the fields of personal development and human potential. He is an Honors Graduate of the Hypnosis Motivation Institute, the nation’s first accredited college of hypnotherapy, where he is currently a senior instructor. He combines his life experiences, compassion and humor with his expertise in hypnotherapy and imagery techniques to help clients move past limitations and create transformational change in their lives.
Yonette Alleyne
Yonette Alleyne is the lovely woman behind Caribbean Gourmet. When she was young at home in Guyana, she found what she loved to do early in life. She asked her mother for a cookbook for her 11th birthday and has been cooking, baking, and refining her talent ever since. In Guyana, she had run her own business, and she knew she had the skills to survive. Her skills had come from her own mother and grandmother, as Yonette had assisted her grandmother in the kitchen making peppermint candies, jams, jellies, cakes and pastries.
Matthew Hui
Matthew Hui is the owner-operator of SKY Smog and Test Only, a small business specializing in performing smog check certifications for vehicles registered in California. As a no stranger to the SGV, Matthew grew up in Monterey Park and is a graduate of Mark Keppel High School. After completing his undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley in 2008, he returned back to Monterey Park and worked in Quality Assurance at Activision-Blizzard on the game, “Call of Duty.” In 2011, at 23, along with 2 other friends from high school, Matthew opened his first business “Fluff Ice,” a unique shaved ice concept that now operates as a food truck. In 2016, Matthew took over as owner-operator of “KY Smog”, a business that his dad “Kai Yee” left to him after his passing. In 2019, the business was renamed “SKY Smog” as a way to honor his father but also to think bigger.
Kamren Curiel
Kamren Curiel is a fourth-gen Angeleno born in East L.A. on March 10, 1979 and raised in Monterey Park and South San Gabriel. She attended Potrero Heights Elementary School, Macy Intermediate, Schurr High and graduated from South Pasadena High School. She got a degree in Journalism from San Francisco State University, lived in the Bay Area for eight years, and moved back to L.A. in 2003. She’s written for the L.A.Times, L.A. Taco, Latina magazine, LAist, KCET, Huffington Post, and was the L.A. Editor for Remezcla.com. She loves writing untold stories about the underdog and unveiling voices that resonate with everyday people.
