Gutsy Women and Savvy Entrepreneurs Speaker Bios
CONFERENCE CHAIR
Nancy Hammerman
Senior Acquisitions Editor, UC Press
Nancy joined UC Press in 2005 as a Senior Acquisitions Editor responsible for developing and
implementing a strategic acquisitions plan for new product development and for negotiating print and
digital media acquisitions.
Nancy has held a series of publishing and executive roles managing multi-million dollar divisions of
publishing companies. Experienced in journal, book and new media publishing, Nancy has spent the last
two decades within the commercial and non-profit information industry. From 1988-1998 Nancy worked
for Sage Publications, a global educational publisher. She held positions including Managing Editor,
Marketing Director and Senior VP and Director. From 1999-2004 Nancy consulted with internet content
companies handling business development, marketing, operations and strategic planning.
Nancy graduated magna cum laude from Middlebury College and is an alumnus of the Harvard Business
School‟s Program for Management Development.
Nancy has served on several non-profit boards and is passionate about education, special needs, and
making a difference in her community. She was recognized in 2004 as the top fundraiser for Cure Autism
Now, Los Angeles. Nancy lives with her gutsy husband, Peter Cowen, and their two children in Sherman
Oaks.
Nancy can be reached through email: nancy.hammerman@ucpress.edu.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Lydia Kennard
Executive Director, Los Angeles World Airports
Lydia H. Kennard returned to Los Angeles World Airports as executive director on
October 8, 2005, having previously held the position from 1999 to 2003. Kennard
joined LAWA in 1994 as Deputy Executive Director for Design and Construction. In
that capacity she managed an annual capital improvement budget of over $600
million and oversaw the activities relating to planning, design, engineering,
construction, real estate and facilities at LAWA's four aviation facilities. She also
administered a $100-million budget for soundproofing and a multi-million-dollar real
estate acquisition.
Before joining LAWA, she was President/Principal in-charge of KDG Development & Construction
Consulting, a Los Angeles-based firm specializing in construction management for public and private
sector clients. She was also a member of the Los Angeles Planning Commission. In her legal career,
Kennard was an associate lawyer with a firm specializing in real estate and construction law.
With a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford, a Master's degree from Massachusetts Institute of
Technology and a law degree from Harvard, Kennard has a wide range of urban planning, design,
engineering, construction, real estate and facilities expertise.
Kennard is a director of IndyMac Bank; a director of AMB Property Corporation, a global developer and
operator of industrial real estate; a director of UNOVA, Inc., an industrial technologies company; a
member of the UniHealth Foundation Board; and a member of the California Air Resources Board.
Kennard lives with her husband and family in the Los Angeles suburb of Altadena.
Gutsy Women and Savvy Entrepreneurs Speaker Bios
Lydia Kennard can be reached through email: Rtennelle@lawa.org.
Gutsy Women and Savvy Entrepreneurs Speaker Bios
CORPORATE REFUGEES: CROSSING THE BORDER
Sharon Graves
CEO, PhatNoise
PhatNoise was formed in 1999 and pioneered the integration of digital
media into the automotive arena. After initially serving as an advisor to the
founders, Ms. Graves was asked to run the company in 2000. She was
responsible for all aspects of the business, including successful rounds of
strategic, bridge, and venture funding, forging and managing relationships
with leading automakers and digital technology companies globally, and
ultimately, the sale of the company to Harman International in 2005.
Sharon continues to serve as a consultant to Harman.
Prior to joining PhatNoise, Sharon had over 15 years of experience in the investment and finance
industry. She previously served as a Principal at the boutique merchant-banking firm Metier Capital
Group where she helped architect private and public equity investments for Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and
GEICO Insurance, as well as develop capital and business strategies for global financial services firms,
entertainment industry clients, and smaller companies. She also worked as an Analyst at Goldman
Sachs.
Sharon received a B.S. with distinction in Industrial Engineering from Stanford.
Sharon Graves can be reached through email: sgraves@harman.com.
Tamara Gurney
President and Chief Executive Officer, Mission Valley Bank
Mission Valley Bank is located in Sun Valley, California. The Bank opened for business in mid-July,
2001, and in the past five years has grown to have total assets in excess of $148 million.
Tamara Gurney‟s career in banking began in 1974 at Bank of America in the North America Division. In
1980, she joined American Pacific State Bank located in Sun Valley. Eventually she became the bank‟s
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. During her tenure, the bank grew from an $80
million, one branch bank, to a $450 million financial institution with eight branches.
When the majority shareholders decided to sell the bank, Ms. Gurney stayed on to assist in the systems
conversion and integration. Upon the completion of this, Ms. Gurney contacted former business
associates and the idea for establishing a new community bank – Mission Valley Bank – was formed.
Tamara has a Bachelor‟s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and is an
honors graduate of the University of Wisconsin‟s School for Bank Administration in Community Bank
Management.
Tamara is a member of the Board of Directors of the Pacific Coast Bankers‟ Bank, the Board of Directors
of Providence Holy Cross Foundation, the Board of Directors of Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley,
and the Board of Directors of Southland Opera.
Tamara Gurney can be reached through email: TGurney@MissionValleyBank.com.
Gutsy Women and Savvy Entrepreneurs Speaker Bios
Carol Head
President and Owner, Oliver's Artisan Breads
Oliver‟s is a premier wholesale baker of gourmet specialty breads that provides
breads to elite customers, including Starbucks, Whole Foods Markets, and Patina
at Disney Hall.
Prior to Oliver's, Carol was president of a management consulting firm, advising
companies in the areas of strategic planning, marketing and business plan development. In the late 90s,
she served as senior vice president of marketing for Hollywood.com and BizRate.com/Shopzilla.com.
Carol also spent eight years as an executive at the Los Angeles Times in a variety of marketing and
strategy roles. She served as associate vice president of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Organizing
Committee.
She received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Wellesley College in 1976, graduating Phi Beta Kappa,
and earned an MBA from Stanford University. Carol has been active in community affairs, serving on the
board of the Los Angeles Women‟s Foundation and is a founding member of Women‟s Enews. Carol is
currently organizing her Stanford MBA class to establish a new social venture fund. Carol lives on the
Westside with her husband and two teenage sons.
Carol Head can be reached through email: carol@oliversbreads.com.
Lisa Jones Johnson
CEO, Comedy Express TV
Ms. Jones Johnson has extensive experience in entertainment and media. Her
Executive Producer credits include over 130 half-hour episodes for broadcast
television as well as a two-hour made for television movie and 22 one-hour
episodes for first run syndication.
Ms. Jones Johnson initially practiced corporate law in New York City for
Debevoise & Plimpton where she concentrated on mergers and acquisitions and leveraged buyouts
representing a diverse client list including the American Airlines, KLM Airlines, Prudential Life Insurance
Company, and Citibank. Prior to joining Comedy Express, Ms. Jones Johnson was a partner and
Executive Vice President of Development and Operations for Western International Syndication. At
Western, she executive produced a variety of television programs including "On the Cover" for Pax and
"Live in Hollywood" for syndication. Her past experience also includes: serving as the acting Chief
Operating Officer of Al Anwa, a privately-held real estate portfolio valued at $800 million that included the
Ritz Carlton Hotels in New York, Houston, Aspen, and Washington D.C.; as well as negotiating CBS‟s
billion dollar deal with Major League Baseball, which was one of the largest television rights deals at the
time.
Ms. Jones Johnson graduated with honors from Harvard University and Harvard Law School.
Lisa Jones Johnson can be reached by email: lisaj@comedyexpressTV.com.
Gutsy Women and Savvy Entrepreneurs Speaker Bios
BE THE CEO OF YOUR LIFE
Sheri Syler Adams
CEO, Adams Consultants
Adams Consultants helps small to mid-size businesses and divisions of large corporations take
advantage of opportunities in their marketplace, including providing interim senior management services
as needed.
Sheri has extensive experience in marketing and operational management, combined with facilitation of
design and development projects in business and technical communities. She has worked with startups
and mid-range product-based companies, professional services firms, and non-profit organizations to
define their marketplace, create a specific strategy and identify required resources.
Representative projects include serving as acting CEO for a software startup and Interim COO for a
software development company. Ms. Adams has worked with a number of entrepreneurs to analyze their
business concept, put systems in place and create business plans. Ms. Adams has founded, built and
sold four companies of her own, with products ranging from waterbeds to software to gourmet chocolate.
Ms. Adams is sought after as a guest lecturer and speaker at Internet and technology conferences. She
has been a guest lecturer in the Entrepreneur Programs at the University of California, Los Angeles;
Osula University of Management, Osaka, Japan; and the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising,
Los Angeles. Ms. Adams‟ speaking engagements include California State University, Fullerton E-
Commerce Conference, Caltech/MIT Enterprise Forum and Caltech Women Entrepreneurs.
Sheri Syler Adams can be reached through her website: adamsconsultants.com.
Alyse Hart
Founder, Corporate Recovery. Exit Strategist, Speaker, Writer.
Corporate Recovery‟s (yours, not theirs) mission is to help professionals survive and thrive when
everything is up to you. Alyse promotes practical and playful ways to work on Plan B while you're still
getting a paycheck. Her focus is on repurposing your talents, skills, and gifts, and remixing them in ways
that serve you best and allow you to work on your own terms.
Alyse Hart is an exit strategist, general instigator, and agent for change. She left the daily grind in 2000
after 20 years. Now she inspires professional women to rethink their relationship with their jobs and
teaches them how to make work work while they figure out what's next and repurpose what they've got to
get it.
Alyse knows her subject well. She worked in trade publishing company as the youngest female Vice
President of Advertising at Faulkner & Gray and later Thomson International Publishing. After weathering
buy-outs and start-ups, she managed the Western District for Miller Freeman PSN from her home office.
That's where she created her own exit plan and developed the concept of "Corporate Recovery."
Alyse attended Ohio University and the Fashion Institute of Technology. She dropped out after four years
because she didn't see the relevancy and didn't know what she wanted to do when she grew up. Her real
schooling came through continuing education classes, workshops, and a business consultant.
Her proudest accomplishment is her long-term happy marriage. Her favorite addictions are now coffee,
drumming, dancing and anything to do with Pugs. She also volunteers for the Center for the
Advancement of Non Violence and Suited for Success.
Alyse Hart can be reached through her website: corporaterecovery.org.
Gutsy Women and Savvy Entrepreneurs Speaker Bios
Philippa Kennealy MD, MPH, CPCC
Founder, Oya Consulting. Executive and Professional Coach.
Dr. Kennealy received her coaching training and ICF-recognized certification
(CPCC) from the Coaches Training Institute in San Rafael, CA. In addition to
Executive and Professional Coaching, Dr. Kennealy gives presentations and
workshops to organizations nationwide on Heartful Leadership™ - Using Coaching
as a Leadership Tool; Avoiding Flameout – How to Prevent and Deal with
Professional Burnout; and Demon-Busting: How to Deal with the Inner Critic.
Philippa is also a board-certified family physician, a former hospital Medical Director and CEO of UCLA-
Santa Monica Medical Center, and a former Executive Vice President for two Internet companies. She
received her MD in South Africa and worked as a physician in private practice in Zimbabwe and in Santa
Monica. Her MPH in Health Services Management from UCLA was completed in 1997.
Philippa Kennealy can be reached through her website: oyaconsulting.com.
Linda Spevacek
President and Founder, Avisio Group LLC
Linda Spevacek is President of Avisio Group LLC which stands for Life and Leadership Coaching. She
helps professionals become the CEO of their own lives, in order to reclaim personal power, overcome
challenges and recognize opportunities. She also works with organizations to develop inspired and
inspiring leaders from within.
Linda is a deal maker by background. Having spent over 20 years negotiating multi-million dollar
commercial real estate investments, she now challenges people to "Make the Biggest Deal of Your Life -
Make a Deal With Yourself!"
Linda has an undergraduate degree from Colorado College and her MBA from the Anderson School at
UCLA.
She serves on the Planning and Zoning Board in her traditional New England town, as well as on the
Board of a professional theater company. She has been married to the same man for 22 years (who she
dreamed-up via a four-page list of characteristics before she met him). They are currently raising two
teenage sons and recently built the house they envisioned together.
Linda Spevacek can be reached through her website: avisiogroup.com.
Laurie Yehia
President, Quantum Leadership Solutions
Quantum Leadership Solutions, LLC in Santa Monica, California, creates,
integrates and delivers innovative leadership products and services. Quantum is a
strategic partner of the Koestenbaum Institute and Philosophy in Business
(PiB.net) for development and delivery of content for Leadership Diamond®-based
seminars, workshops, website and tools.
Ms. Yehia, a member of the State of California Bar, previously served as General
Counsel for Billboard Entertainment Marketing, Inc., as Senior Counsel for American Medical
International, Inc. (now Tenet HealthSystem) and as an associate with the law firm of Weissburg and
Aronson.
Laurie received her J.D. from the University of Southern California Law School and completed
her undergraduate work in Government and Studio Art at Wesleyan University and Stanford University.
Gutsy Women and Savvy Entrepreneurs Speaker Bios
An active supporter of education in her community, Ms. Yehia co-chairs the legislative committee of PTA
Council for the Santa Monica - Malibu School District, and has served on the site governance board for
Franklin Elementary School and the board of directors of the Westside Waldorf School. She is married,
has three sons and lives in Santa Monica.
Laurie Yehia can be reached through email: LYehia@quantumleadership.net.
CAREER COACH
Marion Mayer, RN, MS, NP
Life Coach, Circle Facilitator and Founder, Women are Wise
Marion has a private Mind-Body Energy Healing practice, facilitates Women‟s Circles, and is a Mind-Body
Life Coach. Marion‟s exploration of mind-body healing began when shortly after graduating from college,
she experienced an episode of headaches that was so acute it lead to a three-day hospital stay. After
many tests, she was released without a diagnosis. Marion later discovered that the stress from a personal
tragedy the year before had caused the headaches. This eye-opening realization began a 24-year
exploration of Mind-Body healing.
Marion‟s first job was as a Family Nurse Practitioner in the South Bronx; she later served as a Women‟s
Health Nurse Practitioner at various Planned Parenthoods in California. Frustrated with traditional nursing
care, she began a shiatsu/healing practice and taught classes on intuition development. Marion has
studied and been trained in a range of holistic healing methods including: Shiatsu and aspects of Oriental
Medicine, Homeopathy, Life Coaching, Therapeutic Touch, Aromatherapy, Color Therapy and Reiki.®
She recently taught on-going Stress Reduction classes at the Center for Health and Healing at St.
Vincent‟s Hospital in L.A.
Marion has a Bachelor‟s degree from Brown University and a Master of Science from Pace University.
She lives in Los Angeles with her husband of 16 years and their two daughters.
Marion Mayer can be reached through her website: womenarewise.com.
LUNCHEON SPEAKER
Mimi Donaldson
Author
For over twenty years, Mimi Donaldson has captivated audiences from the Fortune
100 to the just plain fortunate. She's won acclaim for her rousing keynote speeches,
compelling workshops, and in-house training programs. Mimi‟s current book is Bless
Your Stress: It Means You’re Still Alive.
Mimi is also co-author of Negotiating for Dummies, published by John Wiley & Sons.
It has been published in six languages and has sold over 1 million copies worldwide.
Mimi has recently been a visiting professor at Harvard University‟s Center for Public Leadership at the
Kennedy School of Government. For 10 years, she was a staff Human Resources Specialist with Walt
Disney Company, Northrop Aircraft, and Rockwell International.
She holds a Bachelor‟s Degree in Speech and Dramatic Arts from the University or Iowa, and a Master‟s
Degree in Education from Columbia University.
Mimi Donaldson can be reached through her website: mimidonaldson.com.
Gutsy Women and Savvy Entrepreneurs Speaker Bios
LIFE’S A PITCH: RAISING THE MONEY TO FINANCE YOUR DREAM
Geoff Bland
Managing Director, Wedbush Capital Partners
Geoff Bland has been an active investor in middle market companies for nearly 20 years. Previously, he
was a Senior Advisor for the middle market private equity firm, Mercury Partners (now Sage Capital) and
was a Partner with Recover Equity Partners, a $200 million private equity firm. His investment experience
includes leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, growth equity, and venture capital. Mr. Bland has
experience investing in a broad range of industries, including consumer products, basic industrial,
financial services and specialty retailing. Mr. Bland also has experience as an operating executive, co-
founding ShareWave, a fabless wireless semiconductor company, which was acquired by Cirrus Logic.
Mr. Bland began his private equity career with Manufacturer‟s Hanover Equity Corporation (now JP
Morgan Partners) as an associate following his graduation
from college.
Mr. Bland holds a BA in economics from Stanford University. In 1991 he received his MBA from the J.L.
Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.
During his career, he has served as board member for a number of companies and is currently a board
member of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), Los Angeles Chapter.
Geoff Bland can be reached through the website: wedbushcapital.com.
Karen K. Brown
Senior Vice President, Pacific Western Bank
A twenty-five year commercial lending and finance veteran, Ms. Brown got into the industry as a collateral
analyst and senior staff auditor for Barkley's Business Credit, now Bank of America Business Finance.
She went on to serve as loan team manager for five years with City National Bank in Woodland Hills, as a
First Vice President/ team manager with Pacific Century Bank for 10 years, then as Senior Vice President
and Regional Manager at U.S. Bank in Encino for 5 years. Karen Brown now works for one of Southern
California's fastest growing regional business banks, Pacific Western Bank, as a Senior Vice President/
loan team lead in the company's Glendale, California Regional Commercial Lending Office.
Karen was elected San Fernando's top 25 bankers in 2002, and has served on
various charitable committees and non profit organizations over the years.
Karen Brown can be reached through email: kbrown@pacificwesternbank.com.
Peter Cowen
Entrepreneur, Investment Banker, Angel Investor, Peter Cowen & Associates
Peter Cowen has advised over 200 emerging growth companies and has helped raise over $100 million
for early stage businesses, primarily in Southern California. He has assisted companies with their
strategic growth plan, attracted key executives and advisors as well found investors for these ventures.
In addition, Peter has invested in over 25 companies and has been a member of Tech Coast Angels in
Los Angeles for 5 years, which is the largest angel investing group in the country. In 2000, the Los
Angeles Business Journal named him one of the top 30 Angel investors in the City.
Previously, he co-founded a computer network company that was sold to a public company. Peter also
worked at Hewlett Packard and Unilever in sales and marketing. He founded and chaired the annual
Gutsy Women and Savvy Entrepreneurs Speaker Bios
UCLA Entrepreneurial Capital Conference for 7 years. Peter has an MBA from UCLA and a BA from the
University of Pennsylvania.
Peter can be reached through his website: petercowen.com.
Jody Dunitz
Angel Investor
From January, 1995, through March, 2003, Jody Graham Dunitz held the position of Executive Vice
President of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Jody was involved in the day to day management and
administration of Sony/ATV's worldwide operations (which included 40 offices around the world) as well
as its strategic planning. Major areas of Jody‟s responsibilities included direct oversight of all U.S.
activities (catalog acquisitions, “A&R,” business affairs, etc.) and general oversight for worldwide royalty
and income collection systems and practices, worldwide budgeting, and internet initiatives.
Prior to joining Sony Music Publishing, Jody was a partner at the law firm of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, As
an entertainment lawyer, she specialized in the music industry, specifically music publishing. Songwriters
she represented include Diane Warren, Billy Steinberg, Martin Page, Jon Lind, and Wendy Waldman.
Jody also represented such artists as Prince, Jackson Browne, Metallica, Soundgarden, and Yanni.
Jody graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political
Science, and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of California, Davis. She has lectured often and
moderated and participated in dozens of conference panels concerning all areas of the music business.
Jody Dunitz can be reached through email: jgd@jgdunitz.com.
Mark Lieberman
Manager, Regional Economic Development
Community Development Commission of Los Angeles County
As the manager of regional economic development for the Community Development Commission of Los
Angeles County, Mr. Lieberman‟s responsibilities include the Business and Technology Incubator
programs, loan programs and enterprise zones. Mr. Lieberman is a founder and co-chair of Los Angeles
County Technology Week, a series of events that promote technology in Los Angeles County. Mark also
continues in his capacity as the Administrator of the world class Business Technology Center (BTC).
Prior to joining the BTC, he was CEO of Ibis Associates, a strategy and organization change consulting
company. Previous to that, he served as Vice President and Chief Operations Officer for New Alliance
Corporation. He also served as an International Banker with the Israel Discount Bank of New York. Mr.
Lieberman also teaches Technical Entrepreneurship at USC and Strategy, and Management
Fundamentals in the Master of Arts in Organization Management at Antioch University.
He is concluding his doctoral dissertation entitled, "A Computer Based Learning Tool for Strategy and
Strategic Thinking." Mr. Lieberman holds an MBA from the Presidential/ Key Executive Program at
Pepperdine University.
Mr. Lieberman is a member of the Pasadena Angels and the Tech Coast Angels. He is an active member
in Professionals Network Group, and serves on the Executive Committee of the Pasadena group.
Mark Lieberman can be reached through the website: labtc.org.
Gutsy Women and Savvy Entrepreneurs Speaker Bios
FABULOUS, FEARLESS, AND FEMALE – THEY DID IT AND SO CAN YOU!
Sherry Avery
Manager, Los Angeles Tower District
Sherry is the LAX District Air Traffic Control Manager. She has worked for the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for 32 years and is responsible for LAX
Tower, as well as Van Nuys, Burbank, Santa Monica, El Monte, Hawthorne, and
Whiteman Towers..
LAX is the fourth busiest passenger airport in the world with approximately 2000
takeoffs and landings per day. It‟s the busiest parking concession in the world
and the second busiest cargo operation. One of Sherry‟s most challenging moments at LAX Tower was
9/11 when they had to evacuate the tower because of a suspected bomb in an adjacent parking structure.
Sherry started working for the FAA as an air traffic controller. Prior to assuming her current position of
Manager of the Los Angeles Tower District, she managed many other air traffic control facilities, moving
to progressively more complex airports. As a radar controller, she was the only female, working with 42
male controllers. When she began as manager of the LAX Tower, there was only one other female
manager in the country of a tower as busy as LAX‟s.
Sherry graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree, magna cum laude, from the University of
Wisconsin.
She has her private pilot's license, real estate broker‟s license. In October 2001 she was an honoree at
the Women at Work Organization. In December 2002 she was honored at a March of Dimes luncheon.
Sherry is divorced and has two sons, 20 and 18. Her hobbies include snow skiing, parasailing, playing
blackjack, and going to Lakers and Clippers games
Sherry Avery can be reached through email: Sherry.Avery@faa.gov.
Linda Hollander
Author and Founder, Women’s Small Business Expo
Linda Hollander is known as the „wealthy bag lady.‟ She is the author of the best-
selling book, Bags to Riches: 7 Success Secrets for Women in Business. A
popular international speaker, she is the industry leader in teaching
entrepreneurial women about small business success.
As the founder of the Women‟s Small Business Expo, Linda has engineered massive empowerment
events that take place every year all over the country. She was nominated for the best women-owned
business award by the National Association of Female Executives and has over 20 years of experience in
business, sales, marketing, design, promotion and creating lifetime customers.
In 1988, Linda and Sheryl Felice launched a packaging business called The Bag Ladies which sells
custom-printed paper and plastic bags to leading-edge companies. Linda searched long and hard for the
best method of building a successful business, and decided to create her own success formula. She
devised a sales and marketing plan which made the fledgling business profitable in a short amount of
time. Disney, Cisco Systems, Mattel, Universal Studios, Nissan, Columbia Tri Star, CBS, Robinson‟s May,
Casio Phone Mate, Gold‟s Gym, City of Hope, Union Bank, Kaiser Permanente, Variety, Sears and Infiniti
are some of her clients.
Linda lives in Los Angeles, California with her husband, Leslie Greenfield, and their two cats, Carmella
and Sneaker
Linda Hollander can be reached through email: linda@wealthybaglady.com.
Gutsy Women and Savvy Entrepreneurs Speaker Bios
Michelle Jordan
Principal and Founder of Jordan LLC
Jordan LLC is a consulting firm that assists CEOs and senior executives with their
strategic communications needs. The company, founded in 1998, is based in
Southern California and works with clients on both coasts.
While Michelle Jordan‟s professional experience runs the strategic
communications gamut, she specializes in counseling clients in Issues and Crisis
Management, and Leadership Marketing, with a focus on assisting women CEOs raise their visibility to
enhance the reputation of their companies or organizations. Her clients have ranged from Fortune 500s
to pioneering start-ups, and from entrepreneurs to public figures.
Jordan has spent over twenty-five years in the strategic communications and public relations field. Prior to
opening her own firm, she served as president of the Los Angeles office of GCI Group, the global PR
agency of Grey Advertising. From 1994 to 1996 she headed corporate communications for Digital
Pictures, where she helped the company navigate the Senate House Committee hearings on violence in
video games. Jordan previously worked in New York in senior management positions with three leading
public relations firms: The Dilenschneider Group; Hill & Knowlton, and The Rowland Company.
Jordan is a past recipient of The New York Women in Communications‟ Matrix award for excellence in the
field of public relations. In 2005 she was recognized by OC Metro as one of “10 Women Making a
Difference.” She has spoken at The Conference Board, The Corporate State (Canada), The California
Governor‟s Conference for Women, and Babson College. Jordan has appeared as a media strategist on
the Fox TV News Channel, and is the creator and moderator of a regular series for Orange Coast
Magazine, called “Broadly Speaking.”
Michelle Jordan can be reached through her website: jordanllc.net.
Nien-Ling Wacker
Founder, Chairman and CEO, Laserfiche
Ms. Wacker released the original Laserfiche document management
software for DOS in 1987, the same year that marked the founding of
Laserfiche the company, a division of Compulink Management Center, Inc.
Ms. Wacker founded Compulink Management Center, Inc., in 1974 to
develop custom software solutions. By the early 1980s, she had identified an
emerging need among her clients – for an electronic document repository that would provide both secure
storage and instant retrieval by any word or phrase in the document.
Her vision began to take shape in 1981, while Ms. Wacker was conducting a study for one of the major
Japanese automakers. American Honda engaged her to design a system to help manage documents. By
the time she finished the analysis, it was clear that the current technology was unable to handle large
document volumes cost-effectively.
Ms. Wacker is a native of Shanghai, China. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from
the University of Melbourne, Australia, and a Master of Science degree in chemical physics from the
University of Southern California.
Ms. Wacker served on the board of the Association for Information and Image Management (AIIM) and
continues to serve on the board of the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC) Education
Foundation. She has been honored repeatedly, including the AIIM Pioneer of the Year Award in 2002
and National Luminary of the Year by the Mothers in Business Network in 2005. Ms. Wacker was
inducted into the National Association of Women Business Owners Hall of Fame in Los Angeles in 2006.
Nien-Ling Wacker can be reached through email: Ebosio@laserfiche.com.