Karl Von Ahnen
Karl Von Ahnen is the Chief Technical Director for the The Planetarium at De Anza College. He has been teaching short courses and astronomy shows for adults and children for many years.
Michael Askins
Michael Askins has taught astronomy and physical science to thousands of students and members of the general public in both formal and informal settings. He has produced and presented programs at Foothill College Observatory, the Lawrence Hall of Science, and Flandrau Planetarium (Tucson, Arizona). He is an astronomy resource for Project ASTRO (Astronomical Society of the Pacific), and since 2001 has taught popular classes in astronomy and digital electronics to 2nd through 8th grade students through Lyceum of Santa Clara Valley.
Dave Broida
Dave Broida is a private Blues instructor and musician. He has taught Beginning Blues Harmonica at California Community Colleges and at Parks and Recreation Departments for over ten years.
Nancy CanterDr. Nancy Canter is a graduate of the University of California Irvine with a B.A. in Studio Arts, and an M.A. in Education and Masters in Fine Arts from Claremont Graduate University in Painting and Printmaking. Her Doctorate in Education was awarded from the University of Southern California in Community College Educational Leadership. Currently, Dean of Creative Arts at De Anza College since 1998, Nancy has taught drawing and painting at the college level for over 25 years. Her paintings have appeared in many exhibitions and collections both public and private. Nancy has served on the Cupertino Fine Arts Commission for the last eight years and is a member of Watercolor West, College Art Association and the Santa Clara Watercolor Society.
Robert Dvorak
Robert Regis Dvorak is a watercolor artist and popular speaker on subjects of creativity in business and education. He has authored four books on drawing: Drawing Without Fear, The Pocket Drawing Book, The Magic of Drawing, Experiential Drawing. He has also produced a number of animated films featured in festivals in the USA, Europe, and Australia.
Rich Hawthorne
Rich Hawthorne studied music at the University of Hawaii and is owner of The Guitarist in Santa Clara. The Guitarist has been in business since 1991. Rich is the co-author of the book - I Always Wanted to Play Guitar.
Laurel Leone
Laurel Leone has been on the staff of Roger Ebert's Film Festival since 2005. An avid movie fan since childhood, she's seen over 5,000 films, including many at the old Stanford and New Varsity Theaters in Palo Alto. Owner of Leone Advertising, Laurel is delighted to be able to apply her experience in websites and online advertising to her love for film.
Anthony McCann
Mr. McCann is a Fine Artist and Furniture Designer. His works have been exhibited since 1980 throughout California, the Bay Area, and with the Vorpal Gallery in San Francisco. His works are in both private and corporate collections in the U.S. and Asia. He is currently working on a series of limited edition furniture built with carbon composites, aluminum and wood.
Carine Soriano
Carine Soriano learned French picture framing techniques in Paris, France. In 2003, she moved to Canada and taught picture framing to friends who encouraged her to pursue her passion for teaching and offer classes to larger audiences. In 2006, she began her journey as a private teacher and conducted classes at the Aylmer Art's Council in Canada and, after relocating to California, has taught her matting techniques at local community colleges, including Chabot College in Hayward, CA.
Jim Wiltens
Jim Wiltens is a human profiler: Primary occupation to seek out the best, discover their strategies, and then share those techniques. He is an award winning columnist and author of five books. His adventures have seen him buying camels in India's Thar desert, portaging SCUBA gear into Yucatan jungles to explore underwater cave systems, visiting Italy as Leonardo da Vinci, and kayaking rivers in South America. He is past university coach, industrial chemist, and marine biologist as well. He is author of the book, Memory Smart.
Margaretta K. Mitchell
Margaretta K. Mitchell is a nationally-known artist and professional photographer, author, and educator based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Art History and Fine Art from Smith College, as well as a Master's degree in Visual Studies in Photography from UC Berkeley.
Margaretta photographs portraits and weddings, gardens, interiors and other assignments, and exhibits her fine art photography internationally. Her photography is included in the book A History of Women Photographers (1994). On January 31, 2000 she was honored by the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra at the world premiere of a new work by French composer Jean Pascal Beintus, commissioned by Kent Nagano and inspired by Margaretta's photographic project Dance for Life.
Bradley Shirakawa
Brad Shirakawa earned his BA in Photojournalism from San Jose State in 1989 and his MS in Mass Communications from SJSU in 2001. He also holds an AA in Photography from City College of San Francisco in 1976.
He worked for seven years as the Chief Photographer at the Hollister Free Lance Newspaper, and as a photographer for Nagareda Studio for three years. He was the photo editor for “Generations, A Japanese American Portrait,” a book about San Francisco’s Japantown.
He also continues to shoot weddings, portraits, events and sports professionally. He is also an assistant videographer and editor for Zoom Productions, a wedding and commercial video business in Santa Clara. He designs newsletters and posters, and managing two websites for Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Palo Alto, and the West Valley Next Generation Volleyball League in San Jose.
He is currrently a photography instructor at Evergreen Valley Community College, a position he has held for nine years.
Parry Shoemaker
Parry Shoemaker has 20 years experience as a professional in the computer graphics industry. During the past six years she has specialized in digital imaging, both in teaching ‘The Digital Darkroom’ and working as a digital photographer. She presently teaches two very popular classes in digital photography at several Community Colleges throughout Northern California: Getting Started in Digital Photography and Getting More from your Digital Camera.
Betty Burr
For over 10 years Transition Steps consultant and coach Betty Burr has been helping people plan their mature lifestyles and later-stage careers. Betty has redefined herself several times over the past 30 years as a manager, small business owner, teacher, coach and consultant. She is committed to helping those 50 or better get the most out of life. Betty is completing her MA in Gerontology at San Francisco State University and already holds an MA in Communication. She is a trained and licensed career and retirement coach. Betty is a member of the Gerontological Society of America, the International Coaches Federation and the American Society on Aging, where she is presenting on mature career transition at the 2006 national conference. She is a contributing author to Coaching for the New Century and the author of many articles on mature careers for the bonus years.
Adam Costa
Adam Costa is a Google Qualified Advertising Individual and consults others on how to properly manage their online advertising. He is an online entrepreneur and co-author of the book Business In A Backpack: A Step-By-Step Guide To Running A Profitable Business While Traveling The World.
Heather Costa
Heather Costa graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Hart School of Music in 2003 with a Bachelors Degree in Vocal Performance. Shortly after graduation, Mrs. Costa began her professional career in voice-overs, and has recorded numerous radio and television commercials, website narrations, training & educational videos and telephone systems. Her clients include major corporations such as the Educational Testing Service (ETS) Playtex, KoolConnect Technology etc. She is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) and has recorded numerous folk songs that have been heard on radio stations throughout the country.
Bob DeMatteis
Bob DeMatteis is an inventor extraordinaire with 20 U.S. patents and licensed sales exceeding $1 billion. Bob is author of From Patent to Profit, Essentials of Patents and founder of Patents in Commerce.
Dorcas Kelley
Dorcas Kelley is founder of Clarity In Action LLC, specializing in executive coaching, management consulting, and entrepreneurship. With over twenty years of experience in corporate, small business, non-profit, and entrepreneurial environments, Dorcas brings a wealth of skills, talent, and knowledge to her work and teaching.
A popular teacher, nationwide workshop leader and motivational speaker, she has published multiple articles and books on topics related to personal and business success. A certified consultant and coach, Dorcas works with high achieving leaders and entrepreneurs who want to aggressively get beyond any obstacles and reach their goals. Dorcas is a Certified Management Consultant (CMC), a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC), and a Professional Certified Coach (PCC).
John Maybury
John Maybury is a freelance copy editor and proofreader with 30+ years of experience in journalism, advertising, marketing, corporate communications, and publishing (academic, technical, and trade). Clients include ChevronTexaco, Red Envelope, Williams-Sonoma, Gump's, Providence Publications, Northern California Grantmakers, San Jose Sharks, Pebble Beach Resorts, Infocom, and several advertising agencies. John teaches Find Your Inner Editor, a copyediting and proofreading workshop at Bay Area community colleges and adult education programs. He writes Wandering and Wondering, a weekly column for his hometown newspaper, the Pacifica (Calif.) Tribune. He also writes Meandering, a bimonthly column for the Sierra Club (Loma Prieta chapter) newspaper, the Loma Prietan.
Elaine Moran
Elaine Moran has been teaching business classes in community colleges since the mid-1980's. She holds a California Community College Instructor Credential (Lifetime). She has also worked part-time as a mystery shopper for 20 years and has developed a tremendously popular mystery shopper workshop. These classes are offered in selected colleges throughout California, Washington and Arizona.
Nancy Nelson
Nancy Nelson is an Educational Specialist trained by eBay, teaching group and individual classes designed to help people buy and sell on eBay. A seller since 2002 with over 850 satisfied customers, she specializes in vintage and collectible items. When not selling on eBay, Nancy is a human resource consultant, educator and trainer.
Rick O'Malley
Rick O’Malley is a Founding Partner of InnerSkil, a professional sales and customer service training and consulting firm. He has more than 35 years of sales and sales management experience in a variety of industries, including pharmaceutical, automotive, and semiconductor. Rick is a recognized sales leader, mentor, and instructor, creating, managing, and growing sales organizations within small and mid cap to $1B publicly traded companies. His wealth of in-the-trenches anecdotes from the field brings the classroom lessons to life with relevance and practical application.
Mike Rounds
Mike Rounds is a full-time professional speaker and was a featured speaker at the Toastmaster’s International Convention where he delivered the presentation: “Goin’ Pro-Making the Move to Professional Speaking’”.
He’s a past president of the National Speakers Association Greater Los Angeles Chapter and the author of several books and audio products on professional speaking.
Mike addresses thousands of speakers each year and has coached over 500 people to full-time speaking success.
Terry Rowen
Terry Rowen is a medical management consultant and owner of a successful medical billing service. She is also a published author. She has been training individuals in the art of medical billing for more decades then she would like to admit. Join her in class for learning and laughing.
John Spiers
John has worked in Seattle and San Francisco and traveled extensively worldwide with import-export companies since 1974, in virtually every position. Since 1984, John is self-employed trading internationally. In his class, John shares what he has done in the past, what he has advised others to do successfully, and what he is doing now all in a seminar highly rated by participants.
World Instructor Training Schools (W.I.T.S)
Established in 1995, W.I.T.S. mission is to provide conveniently located, quality training and testing world wide in a digestible retainable framework, relevant to basic educational standards. A functional employable graduate will emerge, to successfully work with individuals that have no apparent physical limitations or special medical needs. W.I.T.S. is recognized by the National Board of Fitness Examiners as an accredited provider of Fitness Certification Programs.
Rick O'Malley
Rick O’Malley is a Founding Partner of InnerSkil, a professional sales and customer service training and consulting firm. He has more than 35 years of sales and sales management experience in a variety of industries, including pharmaceutical, automotive, and semiconductor. Rick is a recognized sales leader, mentor, and instructor, creating, managing, and growing sales organizations within small and mid cap to $1B publicly traded companies. His wealth of in-the-trenches anecdotes from the field brings the classroom lessons to life with relevance and practical application.
Curtis M. Adney, MS, JD, has a degree in psychology from Fresno State, and a law degree from Brigham Young University. He is an author, trainer, and life coach specializing in career fulfillment, academic success, and maximizing personal achievement. He conducts nearly 200 seminars on these topics annually throughout the Western US. His academic seminars are based on his personal accomplishment of graduating at the top of his college class of over 3000 graduating seniors with a 4.0 GPA (while also working full-time during the first two years.) His career seminars stem from original research on thousands of people over a period of ten years—which is chronicled in a forthcoming book: Pinpoint Your Destiny. He is a retired Marine Corps Officer, and former member of the Utah State bar.
Communication Academy
Communication Academy’s mission is to enhance students' communication skills and to increase their self-confidence and self-esteem. Communication Academy offers a series of hands-on, fun-filled public speaking and debate classes to elementary, middle school and high school students in the Silicon Valley. We have crafted an innovative set of communication classes for students by incorporating the best practices from college communication classes and professional presentation training, and carefully adapted them for younger students. Communication Academy boasts one of the most creative communication curriculums available for students in the Silicon Valley.
Lydia Hearn
Lydia Hearn is the interim Associate Vice President of Instruction at De Anza College. She has served as De Anza's Language Arts Division Dean, Faculty Senate President, and Honors Program Coordinator. She has been an English Professor for nearly 20 years, having taught at UC Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara City College, Allan Hancock College, Westmont College, and De Anza College. She has offered classes and workshops on personal statement writing for over 10 years. Students she has worked with have been accepted to colleges such as Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, New York University, Stanford University, UC Berkeley, UCLA, University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania, and USC.
Norman Prince
Norman Prince is an Adjunct Professor of English at Skyline College in San Bruno where he has taught Reading Improvement, Speed Reading, Grammar, Vocabulary, Basic Writing, and Learning Skills, and a GMAT-prep Instructor at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA. Norman has designed and taught workshops, including SAT-I, Speed Reading, Grammar and Vocabulary, for Foothill-De Anza Community Education, and Speed Reading and Speed Learning for De Anza Professional And Workforce Development and Stanford University Training And Organizational Development. He tutors test-prep and speed-reading and learning skills at levels from middle school to adult. His unique test-prep sessions include work on learning styles, anxiety-reduction and nutritional preparation for tests including SAT-I,
ACT, GRE, GMAT, some SAT-II’s, CBEST, SSAT and preparation for comprehensive exams and state and national boards for graduate students in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Steve Putz
Steve Putz has taught LEGO robotics at local schools and coached award winning FIRST LEGO League (FLL) teams since 1999. He has directed the annual Northern California FIRST LEGO League State Tournament. In 2002, Steve founded RoboticsLearning.com to provide LEGO Robotics workshops, classes and summer camp programs. Steve has a degree in Computer Science from U.C. San Diego. He has worked for the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center doing software research and has several software patents.
Alan Bisarya
Alan Bisarya, Ed.M. taught Positive Psychology at Harvard University, where over 1000 students enrolled, with most students finding the course life-changing. In recognition of his work, Alan was nominated for the prestigious Joseph R. Levenson Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching at Harvard. Alan holds a Master in Education degree from Harvard University and a B.A. in Economics from Stanford University. He is a candidate for a Master in Counseling Psychology degree at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in Palo Alto and is pursuing licensure to become a Marriage and Family Therapist.
Danni Burton
Danni Burton is a professional speaker, trainer, and life coach to corporate and individual clients. Ms. Burton brings humor, compassion, insight, and knowledge to her work from her extensive background of over 30 years experience and education. She teaches many popular classes including Assertive Management, Being Effective with Challenging Behaviors and Situations, as well as How to Start a Successful Event Planning Business.
Carolyn Franklin
Carolyn went to San Francisco State University where she received her teacher's credential and first Master's Degree in Psychology. She later devised a class where she could teach students the benefits of using the speaking voice more purposefully in social and professional communication. To compliment this knowledge, Carolyn attended San Jose State University where she received her second Master's Degree in Communication Skills. Her present focus for many of her students is to blend the correct speaking techniques with the proper communication message. She teaches both Voice Dynamics and Your Voice, Your Personality through the Foothill-De Anza College Short Courses Program.
Carolyn Kellams
Carolyn Kellams, MA, knows that everyone has a story to tell. That's why she loves to meet new people and teaches Contact: The First Four Minutes classes through the Foothill De Anza Short Course Program. A former teacher, she started a training company, National Training Forum, in 1982. Her clients included high tech companies, the Army, PG&E, and many other business and community colleges around the Bay Area. Carolyn also teaches both men and women parenting communication skills at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin and at the West Contra Costa Detention Center in Richmond. Additionally, Carolyn travels extensively throughout the world.
Preston Ni
Preston Ni is a professor, coach, trainer, and course designer in the areas of professional communication, cross-cultural understanding, and interpersonal effectiveness. Since 1990, thousands of participants have benefited from his dynamic and powerful courses. He has worked with companies including Fortune 500 stalwarts Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems, Visa, and Yahoo, as well as individuals seeking to enhance their professional and personal success.
Professor Ni holds a Master of Science Degree in Business Administration, and is faculty of the Communication Studies Department at Foothill College in Silicon Valley, California. He appeared twice on the television show "China Crosstalk", and has been featured on the KTSF evening news. He is the recipient of the Diversity Leadership Award in Teaching and Learning, and the inaugural recipient of the Silicon Valley Speak-Up Distinguished Speaker of the Year award.
Prof. Ni is the author of the books "How to Communicate Effectively and Handle Difficult People" and "With Dignity and Honor: Understanding Racism, Unlearning Racism". He is also keynote speaker on the DVD program "Cross-Cultural Communication: East and West", featured on the Business and Technology Network and the National Technological University Network.
Rick Sheridan
Rick Sheridan teaches at California State University and Butte College. He has a master’s degree in Media Arts, and has received awards for both his teaching and his Web design.
Liz O'Brien
Liz O’ Brien is a Certified Member of the Apple Consultant Network and possesses over 25 years of computer experience.
Deborah Lacy
Deborah Lacy has been a consultant in the Silicon Valley for more than twelve years. Her clients have included Hewlett-Packard, Accenture, Netscape, Yahoo!, Sybase, SRI and several start-ups. She has also run international communications training programs in the United States and Africa. Prior to becoming an independent consultant, Deborah worked at IBM, a technology start up and several public relations agencies. Her byline has appeared in the Red Herring and Investor’s Business Daily.
Diane Schmidt
Diane Schmidt has been a corporate executive for twenty years and over that time she has hired nearly fifty consultants in various roles in marketing, finance, and operations. Currently working as an independent consultant, Diane's background includes executive roles at Nortel, 3Com, and three start-ups. She has designed and conducted successful corporate training programs in the areas of management development, sales strategy, product technical training, and communications.
Jennifer Ayre
Mrs. Ayre is Owner, President and Sommelier of Savvy Cellar Wines (www.savvycellar.com) in Redwood City, CA. Jennifer is a Certified Specialist of Wine (Society of Wine Educators) and a Level 2 Sommelier as designated by the International Sommelier Guild. Jennifer also teaches regularly at Savvy Cellar (privately) as well as through the Sequoia Adult Education School in Redwood City.
Her broad experience prior to founding Savvy Cellar Wines includes management positions in finance and software, many years as a high school teacher, and work as a professional jazz musician.
Jared Carlson
Jared Carlson is the owner of The Roasted Coffee Bean in Cupertino since 1982. Carlson’s extensive experience and passion for coffee are attributed to his work with various coffee roasting companies in San Francisco. His coffee shop is intimate and lively, and prides itself on its community outreach and quality customer service.
Fuki Sushi Restaurant
A classic Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar located in Palo Alto, CA. In addition to their food, Fuki Sushi provides classes and workshops on sushi making, sake tasting, and dining etiquette.
Tabitha Stroup
Tabitha Stroup earned her Bachelor of Science in Social Anthropology and Food Science at Cal Poly and attended the California Culinary Academy. A bonafide fromage expert, she likes to guide people on journeys of pleasure and leisure. She has served as pastry chef at Theo’s and the Dream Inn and knows every vine, wine, nook and cranny in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Chef Nanci Wokas
Chef Nanci Wokas is owner and executive chef of Cooking with Class, a gourmet culinary company. She is a busy caterer, event planner, and a popular instructor at Sur La Table in Los Gatos. Nanci has enlarged her kitchen to include the food and culture of Tuscany, as twice a year she takes groups of students to explore food, wine, and how to cook the amazing delicacies of this magnificent region.
Steve Godwin
Steve Godwin is a Broker and Portfolio Strategist with First Allied Securities, Inc. located in Santa Clara. He holds licenses as a General Securities Principal and Registered Investment Advisor. He has over 37 years experience in investing in stocks, options, mutual funds, and indexes. He holds B.S. & M.S. degrees in Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering.
Stephen Lewis, Jim Curran, & Deborah Peri
Steve Lewis is the President of Lewis & Mathews Investment Management, Inc. The company is a registered Personal Financial Advisory firm in Menlo Park, California. Lewis & Mathews has been repeatedly named as one of Bloomberg’s Top Wealth Managers. Prior to founding the firm, Lewis was an Account Executive with Morgan Stanley for over twenty years. He was a Vice President and was the first in the company to receive the Certified Financial Planner designation.
Lewis has a California State Teaching Credential in Banking and Finance and over the years has been on the faculty of several local colleges. He regularly teaches courses on personal finance, estate and financial planning, and investments. Over the past 35 years, he has taught more than 30,000 students. He has also given seminars for many Bay Area companies, associations, and institutions including the University of California, Canada College, the International Association of Financial Planners, Foothill College (Adjunct Professor), the American Association of Individual Investors, DeAnza College, and Stanford University, to name a few.
Lewis is a past officer and has served as a board member of the Santa Clara International Association of Financial Planners. He served on the National Academy Advisory Board of the International Association of Financial Planners, and is a member of the Palo Alto Financial Planning Forum as well as other professional investment organizations. He has also served on the Advisory Board of TD Ameritrade.
Lewis has a B.S. degree in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh, where he was a member of the honor society, Psi Chi, and was one of five undergraduates in the country to receive a research grant from the National Science Foundation.
Jim Curran
Jim’s career in the financial services industry dates back to April of 1981. He began as an Account Executive with Judy and Robinson Securities of Menlo Park, where he specialized in working with individuals and small businesses evaluating their retirement planning and investment issues. In 1983 Jim was promoted to manage the San Jose branch office for Judy and Robinson Securities. Since 1983 he has conducted numerous financial workshops for companies and organizations throughout Northern California, including Wyle Labs, Aerojet Co., and the Franchise Tax Board. He also has been a guest lecturer for DeAnza College Community Services and Foothill College, Business Division.
In 1991, Jim co-founded FPC Investment Advisory, Inc. a fee-based asset management firm in San Jose, CA. In 1996 he co-founded Curran & Lewis Investment Management, Inc. where today he is President and Chief Portfolio manager. For several years, Curran & Lewis has been named as one of the top 500 Wealth Managers in the United States by Wealth Manager Magazine.
Jim has employed the techniques of Economic Hedging, which will be discussed in this lecture series, to lower client risk and enhance investment returns. He piloted client accounts through the turbulent waters of 2000-2002 with barely a ripple in client managed assets.
Deborah Peri
Debbie is Vice President of Curran & Lewis Investment Management, Inc., where she helps individuals with their retirement planning, portfolio analysis, and investment management.
Ms. Peri began her career at Ernst & Young, LLP as an auditor and consultant. During her tenure there she successfully completed her CPA requirements. She left to spend a sabbatical backpacking and biking in Europe. Upon her return, she joined a local CPA firm where she became a licensed financial advisor while helping to expand their consulting and financial services divisions. She worked for Wells Fargo Investments as a financial consultant before joining Curran & Lewis in 2005.
Ms. Peri graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BSBA degree in Accounting from the University of Arizona. She is currently a CFP candidate and is a published investment writer.
Dennis Shapses & Dave Cuellar
Dennis Shapses and David Cuellar bring more than 28 years of investment counseling experience. Both are Vice Presidents and Retirement Planning Consultants with an internationally recognized investment banking and wealth management firm with 1.4 trillion dollars in assets worldwide.
Dr. Allen Dubner D.C. & Sharon Dubner D.C.
The Dubners possess 20 years experience as Cupertino Chiropractors, empowering people to choose natural positive lifestyles. They have given over 500 “Natural Health Strategies” classes at public venues, including Whole Foods and ACE in Cupertino. Both doctors were high school teachers before they became chiropractors.
Johanna Jaffer
David & Karen Gamow
David and Karen Gamow are corporate trainers who specialize in stress reduction and meditation. They have personally trained 10,000 people in these methods – clients include, NASA, Sun Microsystems, Maxtor, Nokia, and the U.S. Army.
Debanti Sengupta
Debanti Sengupta is a current Ph.D. candidate in Chemistry at Stanford University as well as a long-term practitioner of yoga and meditation. A certified yoga, breathwork and meditation instructor, she has taught stress-management and self-development workshops for Stanford students, staff and faculty as well at other colleges (Amherst College, San Jose State, Foothill) and locally through the Art of Living Foundation, a United-Nations chartered NGO. A 2009 recipient of Stanford University's James W. Lyons award for service, Debanti is committed to student and faculty well-being on campuses.
John Tyler
John Tyler has been teaching CPR and First Aid for 14 years, having started his medical career as an EMT-1A, and graduating from UCLA with a pre-med background. Through the years, he grew his private company, John Tyler & Associates Safety Training to over 200 instructors strong, serving Los Angeles, the Bay Area, and Hawaii. His focus is to teach in an easy to remember, fun, entertaining, and heart-felt way. Come learn to save a life!
Kit Davey
Kit Davey's mission is to help her students and clients create beauty, harmony and order in their homes. She started her business, A Fresh Look, in March of 1991, providing room makeovers, design advice, staging and professional organizing services. Since then she has transformed thousands of homes.
Kit is an Allied Member of ASID, a licensed Realtor and Feng Shui Practitioner, and is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers. She is a design columnist for the Palo Alto Weekly, and a nationally syndicated columnist for “Content That Works”. Kit has been an instructor for the Foothill-De Anza College Short Courses program since 1998.
Nancy Higgins
Nancy Higgins is the owner of her own landscape design business and winner of the Most Beautiful Design Award at the San Mateo Home & Garden Show and second place at the Ventura County Fair. Nancy’s goal is “to beautify the world, one yard at a time.”
Nancy Miller
Nancy Miller is a leading authority on de-cluttering and getting organized. She is the author of the nationally syndicated Clutterology:® Getting Rid of Clutter and Getting Organized line of products and presents dozens of seminars each year to thousands of participants who want to get organized. She is a Past President of Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the National Speakers Association, member of NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers).
Richard Morrison
Richard Morrison, AIA, ASID is a Menlo Park architect and interior designer with more than 20 years of experience in home remodeling. In addition to writing a local newspaper column on remodeling, he is the 2004-2005 President of the ASID California Peninsula Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers. He has now taught this remodeling class in various places around the Bay Area for 18 years.
Ismail Agaev
Ismail Agaev, Ph.D in Philosophy (from 1985), has written a book and 2 monographs on cultural and religious developments in the Middle East and the post-Soviet republics of the Caucasus. A professor of political philosophy and history of culture with over 25 years of intense teaching and research experience he chaired the Department of Islamic Philosophy at the Academy of Science, Baku Azerbajan from 1993 to 1999. In the US, Dr. Agayev taught and contibues to teach multiple courses at UCSC, CSU East Bay and other educational institutions of California.
Paola Moncini
Ms. Moncini is a native Italian educated in Milano, Italy. Her educational background is in classical language arts with emphasis on Italian, Latin, and Ancient Greek. She has been teaching Italian for Beginners and Intermediate Students at local community schools & colleges for four years. Recently, she taught through ACE Fremont Adult School.
Gabriela Zuniga
Gabriela Zuniga is an enthusiastic Spanish teacher with over 6 years of experience. Prior to this, she has had extensive experience teaching Marketing and Science courses for adults. She is a native of Mexico and she has a B.Sc. from the Instituto Tecnologico de Monterrey, in Monterrey, Mexico. She also holds a M.Sc. from the University of North Carolina. She has taught Spanish to children from Kindergarden to 2nd grade, Middle School (6th to 8th grade) and Highschool (9th and 10th grades) at various schools in the Bay Area.
Gene Blinick
A resident in the area for over thirty years, and with over ten years experience as a Realtor®, Gene Blinick possesses ample knowledge of the Bay Area, representing buyers and sellers from San Jose and Los Gatos up to the upper part of the San Francisco Peninsula. Gene has wide-ranging experience in business and community affairs and a particularly strong interest in education at all levels. He maintains an active practice limited to those clients for whom he can provide an exceptionally high level of personal service. He has assisted scores of first-time buyers successfully navigate the daunting process of becoming homeowners. Gene is also an experienced trainer of real estate agents and license applicants.
Pat Kapowich
Pat obtained his real estate license in 1987 and his brokers license in 1997. In 1999, Pat began his consumer protection cable television program "Kapowich on Real Estate." He is the Broker/Owner of KAPOWICH REAL ESTATE in Sunnyvale.
Warren Racine
Warren Racine, who holds a Master's degree in Civil Engineering and a Master of Business Administration degree, has been a California real estate broker for more than thirty-two years. He is an investor in foreclosures and a mentor to those who buy distressed properties at a discount, repair the properties and sell for profit. He has taught more than 10,000 students since 1974 and continues to teach and to write weekly articles about foreclosures for the Daily Journal in Los Angeles with eleven subsidiary newspapers throughout the western United States.
Donald Frank
Experienced billiard (aka pool) player who has participated in this sport for over 50 years. He developed his present skill level by many hours of recreational play as well as participation in tournaments at all levels. Don's held membership in the USPPA (United States Pool Players Association) and the APA (American Poolplayers Association). He conducts special clinics, ad hoc instruction, trick shot presentations, and has taught the Introduction To Billiards (aka Pool) class since 1999.
Fremont Hills Stables
Fremont Hills Country Club Stables is a multi-disciplined facility that offers a wide variety of programs & training to accommodate riders of all skill levels, from beginner, to advanced & competitive showing. We invite you to join us and be a part of a fun and exciting equestrian future. Our range of riding programs includes: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Competitive Showing, Summer Camp, and instruction through the local community college.
Hala Dance
Hala Fauzi is the Founder of Hala Dance in Santa Clara. She has been teaching and performing the elegant, authentic style of Middle Eastern dances throughout the San Francisco Bay Area since 1997. Hala has taught at Stanford University, Santa Clara Adult Education, San Mateo Adult Education and at many more adult/community education programs in the area.
Spinnaker Sailing School
Established in 1980, Spinnaker Sailing has been a leader in Sailing Instruction in the San Francisco Bay Area for 25 years. The School is a member of both the American Sailing Association and the US Sailing Association. Spinnaker’s sailing staff consists of over 25 instructors who possess ASA & US Sailing Certifications as well as U.S. Coast Guard Captain Licenses. The School is based out of the Port of Redwood City.
Curtis M. Adney, MS, JD, has a degree in psychology from Fresno State, and a law degree from Brigham Young University. He is an author, trainer, and life coach specializing in career fulfillment, academic success, and maximizing personal achievement. He conducts nearly 200 seminars on these topics annually throughout the Western US. His academic seminars are based on his personal accomplishment of graduating at the top of his college class of over 3000 graduating seniors with a 4.0 GPA (while also working full-time during the first two years.) His career seminars stem from original research on thousands of people over a period of ten years—which is chronicled in a forthcoming book: Pinpoint Your Destiny. He is a retired Marine Corps Officer, and former member of the Utah State bar.
Chuck Bradley
Chuck Bradley has over eight years experience as a Training Consultant. As a life-long interest, he now devotes his training expertise to the topic of successful personal growth.
Helene Rene
Helene Rene, hair designer, make-up artist, and international lecture owns Helene Hair and Make-Up Salon on Union Street in San Francisco. She is the author of Got a Minute Never Have Another Ugly Day, a step-by-step guide as to how to do your own hair and make-up. Helene’s salon has been noted to be one of the top ten in San Francisco.
Jim Wiltens
Jim Wiltens is a human profiler: Primary occupation to seek out the best, discover their strategies, and then share those techniques. He is an award winning columnist and author of five books. His adventures have seen him buying camels in India's Thar desert, portaging SCUBA gear into Yucatan jungles to explore underwater cave systems, visiting Italy as Leonardo da Vinci, and kayaking rivers in South America. He is past university coach, industrial chemist, and marine biologist as well. He is author of the book, Memory Smart.
The Santa Cruz Experience
The Santa Cruz Experience is a locally owned and operated provider of guided winery tours. They are committed to the sustainable growth of local business and tourism and are dedicated to sharing the wines this wonderful region has to offer, in a responsible manner, always with the objective of preservation, not exploitation. For more information about The Santa Cruz Experience, go to www.thesantacruzexperience.com.
Tara Gupta
Tara Gupta was born and raised in India, and she immigrated to the United States in 1991. She has worked in the travel industry for over 23 years -- both in India and the U.S. Tara began her career as a Travel Agent where helping clients plan exotic vacations was her passion! She is also adjunct faculty at Foothill College Travel Careers program. As a public speaker she has presented on local and national levels on a wide variety of topics, including Travel Series for San Mateo County Libraries. A course book for Travel Agents, “Destination Specialist –India” sponsored by The Travel Institute, will be published shortly.
Susan Borkin
Susan Borkin, M.A. is a licensed psychotherapist, coach, and writer. She is the founder of Write Now!, a professional practice specializing in the use of writing for personal and professional growth. Susan specializes in helping people overcome creative blocks and achieve deep personal transformation through the use of writing. A personal growth writing teacher for more than twenty-five years, she is the author of When Your Heart Speaks: Take Good Notes: The Healing Power of Writing and Writing From the Inside Out: Using a Journal for Personal Growth & Transformation.
Gordon Burgett
Since 1981, Burgett has published 1,700+ articles and offered an average of 100 seminars and speeches annually, mostly to dental and medical associations, conventions nation wide, and through uni ver sity extension programs. During that time he has appeared extensively on radio and TV, as a guest author and a publishing specialist. Burgett is a long-standing mem ber of the National Speakers Associa tion, the Ameri can Society of Authors and Journalists, and the Publishers Marketing Association; has pro duced 26 audiocassette se ries and singles, and has published 26 other books.
Four of Burgett’s books have been Writer’s Digest Book Club top choices: Sell and Resell Your Magazine Articles, The Travel Writer’s Guide, The Writer’s Guide to Query and Cover Letters, and How to Sell More Than 75% of Your Freelance Writing.
Joanne Stewart-Wetzel
JoAnne Stewart Wetzel's picturebook, THE CHRISTMAS BOX (Alfred A. Knopf), was named one of the best books for children published in 1992 by Bank Street College. Her writing for children includes ONSTAGE/BACKSTAGE (Carolrhoda Books), and poetry as well as content for the CD-ROM "Where In Time Is Carmen Sandiego" (Broderbund) and the web page "The Otto Club" (California State Automobile
Association). She is the former Regional Advisor of the San Francisco South Chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Currently, she is also a short course instructor for the Foothill-De Anza College Short Courses Program, teaching her very popular class “How to Write a Children’s Book and Get It Published.”