Alumni Association
Alumni Leadership Council Biographies
Michael Belina
Michael is a candidate in the Masters of Public Policy interested in developing strategies to connect constituencies and interests with policymakers. He has worked with federal, state, local, and foreign governments on public policy issues concerning health care, energy, transportation, and taxation. Michael recently worked for the Ministry of Local Government in Rwanda as the intern for Good Governance. He developed a plan for government action in areas of ruling justly, government effectiveness, and investor climate and corporate governance. He also presented an action plan proposal before the Ministry’s steering and technical committees. Previously, Michael was the project coordinator for Design Select. He coordinated material acquisitions and project scheduling for construction companies. He also managed completion of dozens of individual homes to specification of clients. Michael was also an intern for Senator Tom McClintock in which he conducted data research for pending and ongoing legislation, formed policy reports and summaries on priority issues, and developed an understanding of legislative process and policymaking. After his internship, Michael went on to be the legislative aide to Senator Tom McClintock. While employed here he expanded research and conducted an independent analysis of energy, tax, health, environmental, and transportation policies.
Michael graduated from the University of California, Davis with a bachelor of arts in political science. He is currently working on his Master of Public Policy from Pepperdine University School of Public Policy where he is a candidate in international relations.
Lorraine Brinton
Lorraine received her bachelors in psychology from George Pepperdine College. Lorraine married Dr. James A. Brinton in 1960 and they have two lovely children together: daughter, Karen is 46 and son, Greg is 43. She was a computer programmer for 3 years before becoming a full-time mother.
While living in Orange County for 34 years: she taught Sunday School; Pre-school Board Chairman; volunteer art lecturer in grade schools; Room Mother; Boys’ soccer coach; Girls’ softball manager; charter member & president Town & Country Philharmonic Chapter; Women’s Board of O.C. Philharmonic Society; Children’s Home Society; Salvation Army Auxiliary; Alla Gitana Auxiliary to O.C. Performing Arts Centre; Assistance League of Tustin; Orange County Waves – Community Service Chairman; Alumni Board of Pepperdine University – 5 years, 2 as President; Member Trinity United Presbyterian Church.
They moved to Palm Desert – member of Southwest Community Church and small group Bible study; member Desert Alumnae Association of Kappa Kappa Gamma and read at an elementary school as part of our Reading Is Fundamental program; founding trustee for Olive Crest Homes & Services for Abused & At Risk Children the past 9 years. Just completed 4 residential homes in Coachella to house 24 students; W.I.P. Women in Philanthropy Board at College of the Desert (encourages further education at grade school level). Lifetime member Zeta Kappa Alumnae Association from GPC (twice president. Only active sorority alumnae association from the old campus). They continue to give scholarship money and money to things such as the Barney Bench and Chris Sangster Fund.
Pauline Castellanos
Thus far, Pauline has completed her first year of graduate school at Pepperdine University and will graduate in May 2010 with a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy.
She is currently one of the co-leaders for SLEAT, the Spanish Language Enhancement Association for Therapists. SLEAT is a student-led extra-curricular group that facilitates the enhancement of members' Spanish language proficiency and clinical competence working with Latino/a clients. The organization hosts biweekly meetings and arranges community outreach opportunities encouraging its members to become actively involved in improving their Spanish skills. In November of 2008, fellow members of the organization and Castellanos presented a poster entitled Spanish language enhancement association for therapists: Developing bilingual therapists for culturally competent work at the National Latino Psychological Association in Costa Mesa, CA.
As a first-year student, Castellanos also became involved in the Colloquia Committee and served as a student representative for the committee. She helped facilitate communication between students and faculty to encourage student contribution in arranging professional presentations offered by the University. She also participated in creating surveys to poll clinical and professional interests of students. Based on survey results, the committee planned professional and educational events to further develop students’ clinical training and professional development.
Pauline has recently completed her first traineeship at Green Dot Public Schools, a nonprofit organization that has opened 12 successful charter high schools in Los Angeles. The populations served are adolescents from urban Los Angeles: 98% are Latino or African American, 81% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and 32% of students are English-Language Learners. Many of the presenting issues include, but are not limited to, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance-related disorders, and adjustment disorders. She was a trainee at Oscar De La Hoya Animo (ODLH), one of Green Dot’s Founding Five Schools, for five months. Castellanos was responsible for maintaining a caseload of psychotherapy clients, conducting intake sessions for referred clients, meeting with a parent/legal guardian at least once after the intake session, consulting teachers and staff in hopes of gathering pertinent information regarding her clients, presenting her cases at individual supervision, and providing insight and feedback to her fellow trainees regarding their cases during group supervision.
Pauline will begin her new practicum site, Plaza Community Services, in July of 2009. Plaza Community Service’s mission is “to support children, youth, and families in need to develop and grow within a nurturing, spiritual environment by providing effective, high quality health, education, and other community services” (http://www.plazacs.org/mission.aspx). As a trainee at Plaza, she will have a full caseload of clients as well as facilitate a self-esteem group for women with substance abuse addictions.
Randy Clark
Randy Clark is CEO of Fruit Patch, Inc., a produce company owned by a NASDAQ equity firm. He also currently teaches at Wilberforce University in Ohio. While teaching, he acts as a consultant for an Internet Company. In this capacity, he is leading them into potential options and introducing them to capital resource individuals. He is also involved in negotiating the purchase of multiple companies (if the strategy is adopted) and selling them to larger firms.
As Board Member/Project Manager of Athletes in Action from 2003 to 2006, he managed capital improvements and building of athletic fields for this non-profit organization.
From 1999-2003, Clark was a Professor of accounting and marketing in the undergraduate and graduate programs at Masters College in Santa Clarita, CA. While teaching, he started and coached a top 20 softball program.
Clark started a $46 million company, Golden Valley Produce, and served as President, CEO, and Board Member from 1996 to 1999. He negotiated the licensing of the Green Giant label for a 25 year period with Pillsbury. Clark also played a part in the design and building of the 200,000 square foot, state-of-the-art processing plant and later negotiated the sale of the company to a competitor.
While at Mike Yurosek & Son, LLC from 1994 to 1996, Clark served as President, CEO, and Board Member of the company. Under his leadership, the company went from losing $10 million in one year to making a profit of $15 million annually. He established procedures for quality output and created a desire for excellence in the leadership of the company.
Mr. Clark received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1974 from Cedarville College, a Master of Science degree in accounting in 1977 from Kent State University (CPA 1978) and a Doctorate in Organization Leadership from Pepperdine University in 2005. He is also a GSEP Board of Visitors member.
Robert Clark
Robert Clark joined CH2M HILL Managed Service group in 2006 in business development as Enterprise IT Consultant. His role is to consult with C-level executives in mid-size companies, and provide IT managed services that help companies align their strategic initiatives with their IT portfolios. Clark has over 35 years of executive management experience in large high technology companies, such as Sun Microsystems, Silicon Graphics, Raytheon, ADIC and Plasmon. He also has a track record in launching and successfully implementing exit strategies for software startup companies.
Clark considers community service as an important part of his life vocation. He currently volunteers and serves on several boards; Colorado Mid-Market Venture Center, Pepperdine University Alumni Chapter Board, and Pepperdine University Parent’s Council.
Clark holds a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from California State University at Long Beach, and an Executive MBA from Pepperdine University. He has both National and California Board Certifications as a medical technologist. He currently resides in Castle Rock, Colorado with his wife and two sons. One his sons is currently enrolled in Seaver College and the other graduated in 2008.
JC Garrett
JC Garrett is a 20-month MBA student pursuing concentrations in Entrepreneurial Management and Marketing. He currently serves as the Student Body President for the full-time MBA program, is captain of the Pepperdine Case Competition Teams and is actively involved in Pepperdine intramural sports activities.
An aspiring entrepreneur, he will be using his summer internship opportunity to launch a new business venture focused on educating homeowners on how to make environmentally conscious and sustainable renovations to their properties.
Before enrolling at Pepperdine University, he received his B.S. in Communications from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. After finishing his undergraduate studies, he worked for two years in the non-profit management industry in Chicago, Illinois. He enjoys camping, traveling, sports, and volunteering for his college fraternity, Sigma Chi.
Christine Grimm
In 1997, Christine Grimm founded Aria Consulting International, Inc., with the goal of providing highly effective consulting, facilitation services, and customized management training to organizations-in both the public and private sector--- experiencing growth and change.
Christine is a practice leader in the alignment of executive teams and diverse, cross cultural work groups. She brings a broad range of business operations and organizational development experience to client engagements. She aims to help leaders develop a clear path for the organization, align as a team, and develop strategy, structures and processes that will help them exceed their strategic expectations and goals.
Her interactive, high-energy approach pushes groups to achieve their objectives, while participants acquire new skills and behaviors that are immediately applicable in both their personal and professional lives.
Christine works internationally with such companies as:
The Motion Picture Association, Witco Vinyl Additives Group GmbH (Germany), Carlson Wagon-lit Travel, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (US and Asia), Ticketmaster, CitySearch.com, Disney Interactive, Apex/Curative Health Care, DTS (Digital Theater Systems, Inc.), Pepperdine University, and Rockwell Automation.
Christine is the co-author of Training, Teaching, Transforming (Piccadilly Press, 2005) a text being applied in both corporate train-the-trainer and graduate level teacher education programs.
She is a member of the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD), the International Association of Facilitators (IAF) and The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Christine has earned her professional certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). She is a master trainer of team effectiveness and in 2006 was certified as a trainer of the DiSC® Dimensions of Behavior Model by Inscape Publishing, the leading publisher of behavior and personal effectiveness tools.
Christine received her undergraduate degree from Pepperdine University, in Social Science and Education, where she also earned a Secondary Teaching Credential for the State of California.
Cynthia Guerrero
Cynthia Guerrero currently serves as the Director of California Politics for TechNet, a leading bipartisan political network of CEOs that promotes the growth of innovation economy by building long-term relationships between technology leaders and policymakers both on state and federal levels.
Prior to joining TechNet, Cynthia worked in the area of politics and policy providing her clients with fundraising, compliance, and political strategy services for California state legislators/public officials, members of Congress and the U.S. Senate. In Washington, D.C., she managed the grassroots, PAC and political affairs operations for an international medical association focused on tort reform lobbying. Prior to moving to Washington, Cynthia worked at the Rand Corporation and consulted for the United Nations Association of the USA, the largest NGO affiliated with the UN. During her master program at Pepperdine School of Public Policy, she assisted Joel Kotkin with research for his recently published work, The City: A Global History and interned at the United Nations Information Center in Washington, D.C., the public affairs arm of the UN.
Ms Guerrero has also worked in the investment securities industry for top firms such as Credit Suisse First Boston – Technology Group, Barclays Global Investors, and Merrill Lynch.
Eric Hagen
Prior to joining McDermott, Eric was a partner with an international law firm, where he counseled and represented Fortune 500 clients and emerging growth companies in complex commercial cases involving patents, trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights, false advertising claims, antitrust and unfair competition issues, and related matters. Eric has successfully represented a diverse range of clients in the television, internet, marketing, life sciences, semiconductor, financial services, sports and entertainment industries. He also serves on the Board of Advisors for JibJab Media Inc. Eric has been recognized by The Legal 500 United States as a “partner with a proven track record in trade secrets” and as a leading lawyer recommended by clients in the field of trade secret litigation. He also serves on the Trade Secret Law Committee of the American Intellectual Property Law Association. Eric serves on the firm’s pro bono committee and is actively engaged in pro bono efforts, including guardianship and adoption cases for The Alliance for Children’s Rights. He was recently selected as a recipient of the Firm's 2008 Awards for Outstanding Achievement and Commitment to Pro Bono and Service to the Community. He is also a founding board member of The Serpentine Project, a nonprofit charitable organization that assists foster care youths transition out of the system and into adulthood.
Eric earned his bachelor's degree in biology from Pepperdine University, his master's degree from Dartmouth College and his J.D. (magna cum laude) from Pepperdine University School of Law where he was the note and comment editor for the Pepperdine Law Review. He served as a law clerk for Judge Robert D. Potter of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.
Seth Haye
Seth Haye is Vice President of Wealth Management and joined the Garapedian & Haye Group at Smith Barney in 2004. His background is in fundraising and national marketing.
Seth finds fulfillment in developing deep relationships with clients through helping them meet their financial and life planning goals.
Prior to joining Smith Barney, Seth served as Assistant Director of Alumni Relations at Pepperdine University. Seth is a graduate of Pepperdine University with a degree in Organizational Communication.
Along with his partner Barry Garapedian, Seth manages several hundred million dollars and serves as the primary contact for the comprehensive wealth management needs of his clients.
Seth has earned the highest national honor for first five-year advisors at Smith Barney, the Blue Chip Council Award, in each of his years serving as a wealth manager. Seth also received the national “Book Award,” an honor given to the top advisor in each national training class, as voted upon by their colleagues across the country.
Seth has been married to his high school sweetheart, Jolyn, for more than six years. The couple met in Seattle and both attended Pepperdine University. They were engaged while spending an academic year in Florence Italy and now live with their dog Baxter in Calabasas, California.
Seth and his wife Jolyn are active members of their community. Seth is involved with multiple boards and organizations at Pepperdine and within the Malibu and Conejo Valley communities. In his spare time, Seth enjoys a wide variety of athletic activities, including tennis, golf, weightlifting, surfing, swimming, skiing, and running.
Genna Jones
Genna Jones travels from Venice, Florida to study at Pepperdine University's Seaver College. She is a currently a senior and is excited to embark on her classes towards a degree in Finance. Genna served in the Student Alumni Organization during her freshman year from August 2006-April 2007. During this year, she was a member of the Special Events team and was chairperson for Hang 10 Dinners. She was also chosen by her peers as the "Outstanding SAO Member" for the 2006-2007 school year. During her sophomore year, Genna participated in the Buenos Aires International Program. Genna serves as the Student Alumni Organization President.
Robert Katch
Robert Katch is President of Manchester Financial, an Investment Counsel and Wealth Manager located in Westlake Village, CA. He founded Manchester Financial in 1990 while serving as Pepperdine University’s Associate Treasurer from 1989 to 1996. Robert was responsible for the University’s $250 million investment portfolio and corporate finance functions. Mr. Katch started his career with Arthur Young & Co., serving in both the International Taxation and Merger & Acquisition departments. From 1991 to 2003, Robert taught investment, accounting and finance courses for Pepperdine University’s undergraduate and graduate programs. Mr. Katch holds a BS in accounting and an M.B.A. from Pepperdine University. He serves on Pepperdine’s Seaver College Board of Visitors and as Chairperson for Ventura County Community Foundation’s Investment Committee. Robert and his wife Loretta (Seaver ’85) were married in 1987 and have 4 pre-Pepperdine children. They attend Conejo Valley Church of Christ in Thousand Oaks.
Savannah Mudgett
Savannah Mudgett graduated from Pepperdine's Seaver College in 2007 with a BA in Organizational Communication. Her extensive campus involvement included membership in both the Pepperdine Ambassadors Council and the Student Alumni Organization. It was Savannah's constant interaction with alumni, Crest Board members, and University staff that led to many rewarding mentorships and lasting friendships that are a continued encouragement to her.
During her sophomore year at Pepperdine, Savannah shaped, produced, and opened Malibu Marketing Group. Malibu Marketing Group is a promotional marketing firm that delivers cutting-edge marketing materials to both large and small corporations with exceptional creativity and attention to detail. Although conceived at the local level, Malibu Marketing Group now serves both national and international clients.
Savannah is married to John Mudgett, Pepperdine alumnus of 2006 and they currently reside in Santa Monica, California. Savannah enjoys supporting her community through membership in the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce and staying active in the Pepperdine Alumni community.
Narguess Noohi
Narguess is a third year law student and President of the Student Bar Association. She is Chair of the First Year Moot Court Competition and has been a member of the Moot Court board for the last two years. She is a student mentor for incoming students and a member of the Iranian American Law Association. She received her undergraduate degree is Psychology and Social Behavior from The University of California, Irvine in June 2007.
Nancy Padberg
Ms. Padberg is the founder and president of website and talk show Best Boomer Towns and partner in Navigate Boomer Media. She is a former Fortune 500 Times Mirror executive, Integrated Marketing Communications Vice President and MBA graduate from the Graziadio School of Business & Management at Pepperdine University. Ms. Padberg was the 2009 Friends of George Graziadio School of Business Golf Tournament Chair, has been nominated for "Women to Watch" by the Los Angeles Business Journal and as an "Outstanding Alumna" at Iowa State University. She has 18 years of media and marketing expertise, served on several non-profit boards, is a guest speaker, and former Big 12 golfer. She resides in Santa Monica.
Tim Phillips
Timothy C. Phillips is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Phillips & Company, a full service Wealth Management Firm, catering to business owners, CEO's and high-net-worth individuals. The firm, established in 1992, serves more than 8,000 clients nationwide and is one of Oregon's largest investment firms.
Formerly, Mr. Phillips served as the Board Chairman of the Willamette Family of Funds: a registered investment company that raised over $500 million in assets and had 10,000 shareholders.
Mr. Phillips received a Bachelor's degree from Pepperdine University where he currently serves on the Board of Regents and the Endowment Committee. In 2004 he was a candidate for U.S. Congress and was appointed by the State of Oregon Governor's office to a position on the Oregon Growth Account Board. The Board manages an investment fund that makes venture capital and private equity investments on behalf of the State of Oregon. Additionally, he participates as a member of Young Presidents' Association (YPO) International and the Oregon Chapter.
Both personally and professionally, Mr. Phillips is committed to giving back to the community. He is a member of the Endowment Committee and the Board of Trustees for Oregon Episcopal School (OES), which is one of Oregon's oldest and most prominent faith-based educational institutions. Mr. Phillips served as the Board Chairman of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Oregon from 1996 to 1998.
As a business leader and innovator, Mr. Phillips has encouraged his employees to become active in the community. Over the years, his company has supported a number of worthy causes including the Children's Cancer Association (CCA), Muscular Dystrophy Association, 9/11 Disaster Victims Fund, Boys & Girls Aid Society, Goodwill, Junior Achievement, OHSU Foundation, OMSI Development, Loaves and Fishes, Salvation Army, and United Way.
The Phillips family, which includes his wife and two children, reside in the Portland area. They attend Sunset Presbyterian Church, and enjoy skiing, fishing and reading.
Darren Pitts
Darren is a Senior Vice President and Principal for Staubach Retail. He is also a Principal in two of Staubach's affiliated development companies, Cypress Equities and Velocity Development Services. Darren was formerly a Senior Vice President at CB Richard Ellis for 10 years, leading one of the firm's top retail tenant representation teams and was regularly in the firm's Top 20 ranking nationally. Some of his current & former clients include Target, Wal-Mart, Lowe's Home Improvement, JCPenney, Mervyn's Department Stores, The Gap, Ross Dress for Less, JP Morgan Chase, CVS Pharmacy and others. He has also recently partnered with former NFL all-star and "Dancing with the Stars" Champion Emmitt Smith on a 35-acre development project in the Phoenix market.
He is a 1993 graduate of Millikin University (Illinois) as a James Millikin Scholar with Magna Cum Laude honors and later completed his MBA with Magna Cum Laude honors in Finance in 1995 from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. He and his wife Denise are the founders of The Halo Foundation (www.thehalofoundation.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting Arizona families who have been impacted by the drowning or near-drowning of a child.
Darren and his wife are also actively involved in their church, The Camelback Church of Christ, and with an African Ministry called the Northrise University Initiative (www.northrise.org) in Zambia, Africa. They have a 5-year old son Davis and 3-year old daughter Denae. Darren & his family reside in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Cesar Rosas
César Rosas brings more than 12 years of senior executive experience serving clients in the areas of strategic business planning, financial analysis, and business expansion. He also has extensive experience in the areas of new market strategies and development. As President and CEO for Toltec Financial, Mr. Rosas’ primary responsibilities to develop consumer lending business in California with an emphasis in Southern California specifically the underserved market and Latino segment.
Previously, Mr. Rosas served as Vice President Sr. Commercial Lending Officer of BBVA Bancomer USA primary responsibilities develop commercial business for the State of California with an immediate emphasis in Southern California. Additionally, he served as Executive Vice President, Director of Emerging Bank Markets for Community Bank Ventures, LLC., Mr. Rosas’ responsibility is to develop new bank projects on behalf of clients in underserved markets. Mr. Rosas successfully consulted in the start-up of the first Hispanic focused bank in Orange County, Santa Ana Business Bank. In addition, Mr. Rosas served as Senior Consultant for DLC Inc., Costa Mesa, CA., a leading financial and accounting professional service firm. While with DLC Inc., Mr. Rosas’ clients included Ingram Micro, Match Net, Fieldstone Community Home Builder, Cherokee International, Sybron Dental Specialties and Dot Hill.
Furthermore, Mr. Rosas has worked for major fortune 500 companies such as Pepsi Cola Bottling Group (PBG), GMAC, Bank of America, Citizens Business Bank, Security Pacific Bank, and Norwest Financial. Mr. Rosas industry experience is as follows: banking; financial services; manufacturing; distribution; aerospace; and high-tech.
Mr. Rosas was invited to The White House on May 4, 2007 and considered one of the top 100 most influential Hispanic business leaders in the nation. Mr. Rosas was recently elected to serve on the Executive Committee of the Alumni Association Board for Pepperdine University, September 2006 a three year-term. In addition, Mr. Rosas is an active Tutor Pal for the Big Brother Big Sister of Orange County since 2001.
Mr. Rosas graduated from California State University San Bernardino with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. He also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Pepperdine University.
Jay Rubenstein
Jay graduated from Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA. in 1977 with a Bachelor's Degree in business administration. He is a member of: Malibu Association of Realtors (MAR); California Association of Realtors (CAR); National Association of Realtors (NAR); Malibu Chamber of Commerce; Pepperdine University's Boone Center for the Family Advisory Board, the Waves Club Athletics Advisory Board and the Hall of Fame Committee.
Jay, as manager of Coldwell Banker’s Malibu West office, has earned the coveted NRT President's Council status 1997-2001 and 2003-2007. The office has earned Coldwell Banker's prestigious Premier Office award 1997-2008. The office was recognized 2003-2005 as Coldwell Banker's #1 office in the country for GCI (gross commission income) for an office with 36 to 50 agents.
Jay is married to the former Garianne Colson and they recently celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary. Jay and his wife Garianne married as a result of their time at Pepperdine and have two daughters who graduated from Pepperdine. Julie is a championship volleyball player and Rachel worked for Ken Canfield before relocating recently to Boulder, CO. The couple serves on the Boone Center for the Family Board and Jay actively supports athletics as an advisory board member. The Rubensteins frequently host receptions involving incoming students and parents and are currently both Athletics and Crest Associates. In addition to close ties with the Pepperdine community, Jay is also highly involved in the Malibu business community. Jay is especially interested in engaging alumni through athletics and increasing pride and support for all teams.
Brad Starkey
Brad Starkey is a partner in Jerry Johnson and Associates, a design firm specializing in marketing the products of entertainment-based Fortune 500 Companies. JJ&A's current client base includes Walt Disney Company, DreamWorks, Mattel Toys, Activision, Universal Pictures, Abercrombie and Fitch and Warner Brothers.
Prior to JJ&A, Brad was Marketing Manager for Ventura County National Bank, a small business bank headquartered in Oxnard. From 1988 to 1992, he was in charge of all marketing aspects, including promoting the bank, it’s subsidiaries and the complete line of products and services.
Brad is a graduate of Pepperdine University, Seaver College. He graduated in 1988 with a degree in advertising. Born in Akron, Ohio and raised in Orange County, he currently lives in Westlake Village with his wife, Patricia and their children, Brandon (13) and Lauren (11).
Mara Leigh Taylor
“Coach” Mara Leigh Taylor is the founder and executive director of GETTING OUT BY GOING IN, a nonprofit organization dedicated to education and empowerment of at risk and incarcerated men, women and children.
She is the author of Prison: Getting Out by Going In, a self empowerment book written specifically for inmate and reentry populations. Prison: Getting Out by Going In details simple psychological techniques for positive social actions and internal freedom. The book was developed over five years working with more than 600 inmates who successfully completed Taylor’s volunteer program. In serving the mental health care needs of prisoners, Coach Taylor developed RapidChange Therapy™ - a brief therapy model focusing on immediate and lasting personal change with marginalized populations.
Mara earned two master’s degrees in general psychology and clinical psychology at the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology, and was inducted as a Lifetime Member to the Psi Chi National Academic Honor Society. She is an ordained interfaith minister and member of the Sherriff’s Executive Clergy Council serving the greater Los Angeles, California area. Coach Taylor is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Psychological Association, the World Alliance of Interfaith Clergy, Association for Humanistic Psychology, and the Teachers of Psychology in Schools Speakers Bureau.
Mara Leigh Taylor raised her daughter, Mia, as a single mother. She maintains a private practice in Southern California. Coach Taylor’s second book, Freedom: It’s an Inside Job will be published later this year.
Jasmine Termain
Ms. Termain grew up in the idyllic Rocky Mountains in Vail, CO. Upon graduation from high school, she moved to Texas to attend Baylor University where she had a distinguished academic and collegiate career. With a double major in Political Science and Communications (Rhetoric) and a minor in History, Ms. Termain was well poised to enter law school. Immediately after graduating from Baylor, Ms. Termain entered Pepperdine University School of Law. During her time at Pepperdine, Ms. Termain participated in the London study abroad program and was also an inaugural class member for the Palmer Center for Entrepreneurship and the Law (formerly, CETL).
After graduation, Ms. Termain was hired by a fellow Pepperdine alumnus who had founded an online publishing company and served as their In-House Counsel and Marketing Director for three years. Desiring to continue growing her career, Ms. Termain moved to the Private Wealth Management division at UBS Financial Services Inc. in Beverly Hills and obtained her Series 7 and 66 licenses with the NASD. Most recently, Ms. Termain has moved back to practicing law and now serves as Corporate Counsel for the Phillips Group, an international real estate developer based in Manhattan Beach that specializes in master planned communities as well as international condominium and hotel developments.
Married in July, 2006 at Dundas Castle in Scotland, Ms. Termain now lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband, Mel, and their puppy Wicket.
