Tom Nguyen, Founding Partner, WinCorp

Moderator Diversity & Procurement Panel

Tom Nguyen, a founding partner, established WinCorp Solutions in 2009; an Irvine, CA family owned staffing company. The core mission was to fill a major void in the staffing industry by differentiating with a less commoditized, more analytical and concierge client based approach in servicing and supporting companies. Tom oversees all FORTUNE 500 client relations at WinCorp Solutions and has oversight over quality assurance. Prior to WinCorp Solutions, Tom served in Senior VP corporate finance leadership positions at companies, such as Warner Bros., The Walt Disney and California Pizza Kitchen.

Since 1996, Tom has spent many years in fine tuning the modern corporate work force to deliver results. WinCorp Solutions has won many entrepreneurial excellence awards from industry, such as Orange County Business Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, Senate, Congressional and State awards. Tom holds his MBA from Pepperdine University and Entrepreneurship education from UCLA and Dartmouth. Tom also been devoted to community causes and has been an Officer and Board member with ABAOC, a volunteer with Women Helping Women and volunteer leader with Boy Scouts of America, serving as Cubmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster and Commissioner since 2012.

Vaughn M. Williams III, Supplier Diversity Program Manager for SoCalGas Company

Vaughn is responsible for ensuring the advancement of small, minority and underrepresented businesses. This position coincides with his passion of service and economic development. Previously he served as Category Manager for Southern California Gas Company (A Division of Sempra Energy), where his responsibilities included management of all staff augmentation, contracts negotiation and management, fostering long-term client relationships in the areas of engineering, environmental, food services and Human Resources. Prior to assuming this role, Vaughn worked as the On-Site Client Services Manager (Sempra Energy Utilities) under the auspices of Agile-1.

Michael Herrera, Program Manager for Supplier Diversity and Development, Southern California Edison

Michael Herrera is the Program Manager for the Supplier Diversity and Development department at Southern California Edison (SCE). He is responsible for managing all aspects of the company’s compliance with applicable rules, regulations and public laws related to small and diverse business procurement. This includes managing strategies, programs and goals that facilitate the ongoing inclusion and growth of small and diverse business enterprises.

Prior to his current role, Michael was a Category Management Advisor for Supply Management at Southern California Gas Company and San Diego Gas & Electric. Over his professional career, he has led large cross-functional project teams, managed multi-million dollar budgets, negotiated large settlements agreements, led the execution of strategic sourcing efforts in addition to other contract management activities and also worked for a small Woman-Owned General Contractor out of Orange County, CA.

Michael also serves on the Corporate Advisory Boards of several non-profits that target both the Asian and Women business community.

Daniel Rosinsky-Larsson, Outreach Liaison, California Department of General Services

Daniel Rosinsky-Larsson serves as Outreach Liaison for the California Department of General Services, where he educates and advises targeted business groups on applying for contracts and work with state agencies. Before joining DGS, Daniel worked as a journalist, editor, policy analyst, and teacher. He holds a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and M.P.A. from Montana State University.

Lydia McGee, Principal Public Affairs Representative, Metropolitan Water District

Lydia McGee is the Principal Public Affairs Representative with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Through the Business Outreach program, she works to promote business and economic development in the area of contracting opportunities for regional, small, and disabled veteran businesses. This program represents a current reinvestment of more than $1 billion in small businesses. As the regional, small and disabled veteran business program outreach representative, she is charged with identifying and vetting businesses that are positioned and seeking to do business with the Metropolitan Water District.

Lydia oversees Metropolitan’s training, coaching, and mentoring programs for Small Business Enterprises, Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises, along with hosting and participating in various training workshops. Lydia hosts Business Outreach’s signature event Connect-2-Met and/or Connect-2-Vet twice a year. Lydia represents MWD in industry groups, professional organizations and supplier diversity advocacy groups, demonstrating MWD’s commitment to partner with and assist in the development of small business capacity building.

Pia Veesapen, Orange County Transportation Authority

Pia brings over 20 years of contract management experience from both private and public sectors. She joined the Orange County Transportation Authority in 2007 working in the Contracts Administration and Materials Management Department. Pia currently oversees the Contracts and Procurement Department. The types of procurements handled by Pia’s Department include professional and technical services, fixed assets, cooperative agreements, revenue contracts, purchasing all vehicles, buses, cars as well as all parts and supplies to maintain them. She directs the Authority’s procurement functions, provides strategic policy, leadership, and direction.

Clare Venegas, Curt Pringle & Associates

Moderator of Mayoral Fast Pitch

Clare Venegas has nearly 20 years of executive management and strategic communications experience in the private, public, and non-profit sectors.
Most recently, she served as President of Obria Medical Clinics, the largest network of life-affirming reproductive healthcare clinics in Southern California. Operating as licensed community clinics since 2006, Obria serves thousands of young people each year with services that include STI testing and treatment, pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, well-woman care, and most recently, full-scope prenatal care.
Prior to Obria, Venegas served as the Executive Director of the Lincoln Club of Orange County, an influential business group whose members promote free-market policies and contribute millions of dollars to conservative political candidates and causes each election cycle.
Prior to the Lincoln Club, she served as manager of public affairs and communications for the Transportation Corridor Agencies, Orange County’s largest toll-road system, and held communications and public relations positions for technology manufacturers in Silicon Valley and OC. She began her career as a journalist for the Orange County Register and holds a BA in Political Science degree from Loyola Marymount University.
She lives in Orange with her husband Matt and three young children, and is active in her local church.

Alex Kim, Three Kings Public Affairs

Moderator of Mayoral Fast Pitch

Alexander Kim is Founder & Principal of Three Kings Public Affairs, a government & community affairs consulting company helping with public & private business clients with accessing municipal, state, federal, and international elected and appointed officials including outreach to community leaders, especially with Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders in the Southern California region.
He recently served as Senior Advisor to City of Los Angeles Councilmember David Ryu of the 4th District (2015-2017) providing guidance on budgeting, policy, and community engagement planning for over 300,000 residents.
He was appointed as Deputy Director and Community Liaison (Counties of Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, and Orange) to former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger from 2004 to 2010. He also was Central Area Director to former City of Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn from 2001 to 2004.
Alexander has a MBA with honors from Pepperdine University and a Fellowship under the School of Social Work “Network of Korean American Leaders” program at the University of Southern California. He has completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California at Irvine with a B.S. in Biological Sciences and minor in Political Science where he co-founded & served as its first President of the UCI Korean American Alumni Chapter.

Steve Jones, Mayor of Garden Grove

– In 1986, Mayor Jones graduated from Rancho Alamitos High School in Garden Grove. He continued his studies abroad by attending Kings College, Cambridge University, England in 1988. Returning to the states, he received both his Bachelor and MBA degrees from the University of Southern California, with a dual emphasis in Finance and Real Estate. Mayor Jones is the Past President and a current Board Member of the Garden Grove Community Foundation since 2007. He also serves as a Board Member for the Orange County Transportation Authority and the Orange County Sanitation District. Mayor Jones served for 8 years on the Garden Grove Planning Commission, with several terms as Chair, and 10 years on City Council prior to becoming Mayor in 2016. Since 1999, he has been an active member of the Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce.
– In his professional life, Steve Jones is the Founder and President of a privately held Asset Management company called Olympia Capital Corporation, formed in 2001.
– Mayor Jones’ community goal is to remain open and accessible to the public and play a unifying role amongst fellow Councilmembers and other community leaders in order to facilitate consensus on what actions should be implemented to keep Garden Grove a great place to live, work, and play.

Tri Ta, Mayor of Westminster

– Tri Ta was born in Saigon, Vietnam. He came to the United States with his family in 1992 at the age of 19. He then received a B.A. in Political Science and has completed the requirements for an M.A. in International Relations. Tri appreciates the opportunities given to him by the political process and democracy in the United States, leading him to begin working as a legislative representative in 1998.
– Mayor Tri Ta was elected on November 6, 2018 to serve his fourth term as mayor. Mayor Ta was first elected to the Westminster City Council in November 2006 and re-elected in 2010. In 2008, he was selected to serve as Mayor Pro Tem. Mayor Ta became the first Vietnamese-American elected mayor in the United States with his victory on November 6, 2012; he was re-elected as mayor in November 2014 and 2016.
– Tri has been active in many non-profit organizations, committees and projects, including UVSA; VPAC; New Horizon; Orange History Program; NAVASA; Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Measure Advisory Committee; Giving Back Program; Asian Pacific National Steering Committee and Kiwanis International. He is frequently sought-after by universities as an inspirational speaker whose ultimate message to the youth is “Follow your dream ’til the end.”

Mayor Rhonda Shader

Mayor Rhonda Shader is honored to serve the great City of Placentia at this important time in our history. During her term as Mayor, she has created the “Do the Right Thing” Award where everyday heroes in Placentia are honored and celebrated. Placentia residents are encouraged to e-mail Mayor Shader or hashtag on social media #ptownhero to nominate an individual for this award.

Mayor Shader’s top priorities are fiscal sustainability, public safety and infrastructure. She is most proud of the establishment of Policy No. 460 General Fund Reserve Policy, where income into the City is prioritized and planned for based on our highest priorities for sustainability.

Mayor Rhonda Shader has lived in Placentia with her husband Frank for over 18 years. They have two adult children that live in Southern California: Chantal Shader a graduate of Valencia High School and Point Loma Nazarene University, who is currently working for FedEx, and Zachary NewComer a graduate of Orange Lutheran High School of Orange County and Vanguard University, who is currently an Auditor at Marcum and married to Krysten NewComer a medical student. Mayor Shader owns an insurance agency in Placentia where she regularly employs 3-5 people.

Mayor Eric Peterson

As a longtime resident of Huntington Beach, Erik Peterson has seen the city grow and flourish. Elected to the city council in fall 2014, he wants to keep Huntington Beach one of the best places to live. Erik and his wife Brandi have two sons and plan to retire in Huntington Beach some day. In 2005, Erik opened his own company in the interconnect/networking industry and made Huntington Beach its central location with a small branch office in San Diego.

Erik has given back to our country and our community. In 1991, he joined the Marine Corps where he served for five years and received an Honorable Discharge. Locally he has serviced by volunteering as a Scoutmaster, as a former Huntington Beach Finance Board Member, a former Design/Review Board Member, and a former Huntington Beach Planning Commissioner.

As a Council Member, Erik served as the liaison for the Design Review Board, 4th of July Executive Board, Wintersburg Task Force, Communications Committee, Downtown Task Force, School district/City Meeting, California Coastal Coalition Board, Visit Huntington Beach, and Orange County Sanitation District.

Roberto Martinez, Grow with Google partner program

• Roberto Martinez is a speaker for the Grow with Google partner program. He is also a Google Digital Coach and has over 12 years of experience helping companies better use digital marketing tools.
• Reaching Customers Online with Google: Learn how customers find your business online and how to promote your business using Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Smart Campaigns in Google Ads. In this workshop we’ll discuss best practices for improving your website’s visibility in Google’s organic search results on all devices, creating a free Google My Business listing and advertising your business on Google2.
• Using Data to Drive Growth: Learn best practices and analyze trends about how customers engage with your business online, then turn these insights into well-informed, actionable decisions. In this session we’ll talk about identifying business goals and how you plan to use your online presence to achieve them, incorporating data into your marketing plan and selecting tools to help you find the answers you need.