“Building trust is the key to helping a patient make the correct informed decision.”

– Dr. Robert Gillespie

Biography

My uncle was a pediatric cardiologist and my neighbor was a pediatrician. Their influence played a large role in my decision to become a physician. They both loved medicine and exposed me to that positive experience as well as how to be a terrific mentor and father.

I have always loved my patients and prided myself on the wonderful relationships that I have been privileged to experience with them for over 35 years. 

My relationship with Jayden was one that was extraordinary and close. 

Words cannot express the devastation that occured when he left us so prematurely.  It is a constant pain that will never leave, but I am committed to help other families prevent a similar outcome.

Let's Talk About It is my mantra when it comes to mental illness. I am determined to make a difference in honor of Jayden who tried so hard to do the right thing, but fell short. We will make a difference.

Lisa earned her MBA at The University of Redlands and has been employed by The Neighborhood House Association (NHA) for eleven years.  NHA was established in 1914 as a settlement house that assisted immigrants transitioning to the San Diego community. Over 100 years later, the agency has become one of the largest multi-purpose nonprofits in San Diego County, and has distinguished itself as a cutting-edge, comprehensive human service provider.   Current NHA programs range from early childhood education, youth development, mental health services and senior services.

Lisa is the Vice President of Administration for the Head Start Program.  Head Start is a federally-funded child development program designed to help break the cycle of poverty by providing preschool children of low-income families with a comprehensive program to meet their emotional, social, health, nutritional and psychological needs. Head Start’s approach is that the parent is the child’s primary educator and that the entire family, as well as the community, must be involved in guiding and nurturing the child. Over the past four decades, Head Start has touched the lives of more than 250,000 low-income preschool children and families at more than 140 locations in San Diego County.

Morgan graduated from Loyola Marymount University with her BA in Sociology and minor in Education in May of 2022. She graduated with her MA in Elementary Education with a focus in Policy and Administration in May of 2023. She had the opportunity to work in LMU's daycare center, teach and interned at Neighborhood House Association's Head Start program. She wants to continue Jayden’s legacy though educating students on not only academia, but also mental health.

She remembers the joy that she felt the day that Jayden graduated high school and wishes that she could feel that same joy the day that she graduated college. They were supposed to walk the stage together, but life had other plans for the both of them. She is still at a loss of words to describe the pain that she feels to know that she has physically lost him, but she does know that he is still here with her every day.

What does an artistic director do?

The position entails the following responsibilities:
Creating the organization’s program, i.e. selecting the shows that will be displayed during the season
Setting and overseeing the schedule production for the season
Hiring staff: artists, directors, performers and actors, stage managers, designers, etc.
Being in charge of theatrical development: commissioning playwrights to write plays, read and select the scripts that are submitted to the theatre.
Managing the theatre’s budget and dealing with funding bodies (charities, the government, sponsors, trusts, etc.)
The artistic director can occasionally direct shows and perform him/ or herself. It is this person’s mission to cater to the theater’s existing audience, while still bringing forward new and interesting performances.

A seasoned business executive with international experience on three continents. Extensive background in financial services with over 20 years as an investor with a particular emphasis on global value investing. Have developed well rounded business skills which can be translated into other areas of business management. Brings a fresh and unique perspective to problem solving and is a dedicated team player with a commitment to personal and professional development.

Dr. Martin has also been responsible for the design, development, and implementation of several successful programs for athletes, executives, and pro teams. Dr. Martin has consulted to Fortune 100 and 500 companies throughout the United States and has held management positions as an EAP director for a large metropolitan city and a managed care company.

Dr. Martin has served as a consultant to the National Football League as Western Regional Evaluating Clinician for the NFL’s Program for Substances of Abuse since its inception in 1993. Additionally, as part of the NFL’s League wide efforts to ameliorate conduct related incidents among players, Dr. Martin develops and conducts Life Skills programs and trainings on a team basis. Dr. Martin is the team clinician for the Los Angeles Chargers.

Dr. Martin is also a consultant to the National Basketball Association where he is network provider to players who suffer from substance abuse disorders. He also conducted trainings for the National Basketball Developmental League and NBA’s Rookie Transition Program, and Dr. Martin has also served as advisor/consultant to NBA/NBPA Player Program departments. Dr. Martin and the Peak Performance Consulting Group have worked with the NCAA and colleges throughout the U.S. providing Leadership and Accountability programs, Life Skills, and consultation to players, coaches, and administrators.

Dr. Martin received his B.A. in Psychology from the University of Michigan and his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the United States International University.

Randall S. Hawkins, MD

Born in Pacoima, CA, I grew up in Los Angeles, and studied at UCLA.

While an Associate Engineer at Litton Data Systems, I devised and presented for my 1970 MS thesis an algorithm used to create the testing patterns for the first microprocessor, the L-3050. Matriculating in 1972, I returned from Yale Medical School in ’76 to UCLA for training in Internal Medicine and Neurology. In 1980 I joined the then 34 MDs of the now ~600-provider Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group. I served 39 years as a Neurological Consultant, the last 30 or so as the Chief Information Officer, and the last two years as Sharp Healthcare's Chief Data Strategist. After retirement in 2019 I did COVID vaccine vaccinations while such services were needed, and have since done occasional neurological and medicolegal consultations. 

I am a Senior Coverage Attorney with the law firm, Bretoi, Lutz & Stele, the in-house legal department for Mercury Insurance Group. The Company provides automobile, home and business policies in California and various other states. I provide Mercury with legal advice on issues such as insurance coverage, general liability, and a variety of other issues. My duties include the review and approval of legal opinions from other attorneys in our department and advice to Mercury for the development of new policies. I have been with Mercury since August 2001 and previously served as a litigation and trial attorney. My prior experience includes working as a litigation and trial attorney for the law firm, Atkins & Evans, where I managed numerous cases in the areas of general liability, insurance defense, corporate and public entity defense along with copyright infringement. I engaged in jury trials in state and federal court which included appellate work. I received my B.A. in Psychology from Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia in June 1988. The Morehouse school motto is: “We are a brotherhood of men on a mission to lead lives of consequence.” I received my J.D. in June 1993 from the University of West Los Angeles School of Law, Los Angeles, California. I am admitted to practice law in California, the United States District Court of California, and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals of California. I enjoy traveling, playing tennis, skiing, watching movies and reading.

Vice President, Corporate Strategy & Head of Latin America

Encore Capital Group, Inc.

Leslie Athill is currently Vice President, Corporate Strategy & Head of Latin America at Encore Capital Group, Inc., a publicly-traded, global specialty finance company. Leslie has over 35 years experience in finance, corporate strategy and process improvement and has covered a broad spectrum of industries including financial services, consumer products, manufacturing and technology. Prior to Encore, Leslie held senior management positions at leading companies such as The Walt Disney Company, Hewlett-Packard, Bank of America and Ericsson Wireless. Leslie serves on the Finance Committee for Sharp Healthcare and is a former trustee of The Bishop’s School in La Jolla, California. Leslie holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles. Leslie resides in San Diego, California.

A filmmaker with an experienced development background in Film & Television. Passionate for exciting, impactful, and diverse experiences of all kinds — he writes, directs, and edits for short films, music videos, commercials, and more. Born and raised near Chicago, Illinois, Casey moved to Los Angeles to pursue filmmaking. During his time at Loyola Marymount University, he had the immense pleasure of sharing in his passion for entertainment alongside Jayden throughout their college experience as they were close friends and roommates. Jayden will continue to remain as a constant inspiration for Casey’s work.

Portia Kibble Smith leads Programs and Partnerships as well as D&I at Karat. She has dedicated her career to helping more Black professionals land jobs within tech and is continuing to pioneer that work. Portia was recognized as one of Built In’s 2021 Moxie Award winners for her role launching the Brilliant Black Minds program to empower the next generation of Black engineers, and for her “Real Talk” platform where women and underrepresented minorities can amplify their voices and share their stories.

Prior to Karat, Porta worked her way up the tech leadership ladder. Starting as a sales rep at Xerox and IBM in the 1980s, Portia encountered the systemic barriers we recognize today before they had a name. At Sprint, Portia helped establish the company’s Staff Associate Program recruiting future officers from the top 10 Business Schools while ensuring there was a diverse recruiting initiative. She also started her own firm, PKS Executive Search and Consulting which focused on high potential MBA talent. She leaned in on helping underrepresented minorities get a seat at the table in executive level roles.

A lifetime member of the National Black MBA Association, Portia also served on the University of Kansas Alumni Association’s National Board. She is a former board member at Howard University’s Business School in Washington, D.C.