Dr. Ashanti Hands, President of San Diego Mesa College, proudly shouts out her college’s innovative programs and courses that meet the current and future goals of its diverse student body.  Dr. Hands chats about Mesa’s Meditation Garden, its Wellness Vending Machines, MESA Center, the Small Business Virtual Incubator and its two Baccalaureate Degree offerings.

Veronica Perondi, Executive Director of LEAD San Diego, and Dr. Nancy Rohland-Heinrich, an EVP at National University and the Chair of the 2024 LEAD San Diego Visionary Awards, talk about this year’s honorees that will be recognized on September 19 at Humphrey’s Half Moon Marina.  Perondi and Roland-Heinrich chat about LEAD’s three programs: Advance, Influence and Impact.

Renato Paiva, Executive Director of Access Youth Academy, shouts out the mission of the Academy, which focuses on transforming the lives of underserved youth through academic enrichment, health and wellness, social responsibility and leadership through sports, namely squash.  Paiva, a champion Brazilian squash player and at one point the world’s 10th ranked squash player, discusses how squash will be introduced at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the leadership role that the Academy will play in those Olympics.

Alex Nunez, Chief Growth Officer for Neighborhood Healthcare, and Dr. Edgar Bulloch, the organization’s Assistant Chief Medical Officer, discuss the massive reach of the health center, accumulating more than 500,000 visits at its 29 locations through San Diego and Riverside Counties.  Nunez and Dr. Bulloch highlight the myriad services and programs of Neighborhood Healthcare.

Connor Boyd, Associate Artistic Director for the Trinity Theatre Company and a performer in Company’s production of 35MM, A Musical Exhibition, and Mia Dawson, also a 35MM, A Musical Exhibition performer, chat about the unique production.  Boyd and Dawson talk about the Theatre’s Fall classes; its school partnerships; and Trinity Tots.

Raul Prieto Ramirez, Artistic Director for the Spreckels Organ Society, discusses the history of the iconic Spreckels Organ; the Society’s mission; and the San Diego International Summer Organ Festival.  Prieto Ramirez is joined by Michael Gerdes, Director of Orchestras at SDSU and the conductor of the August 19 “Organ & Orchestra Concertos.”

Jose Cruz, longtime CEO of the San Diego Council on Literacy, chats about the 38-year history of the Council, along with The Truth About Reading Documentary, that delves into the illiteracy problem in our country and proposed solutions for a future where every child learns to read proficiently. 

Attorney Dawn Hall Cunneen, Founding Partner of Cunneen Booth LLP, discusses the importance of having a trust to ensure that estates do not go into probate.  Cunneen talks about the Corporate Transparency Act, a requirement that many small business owners are unaware that they have to complete.

David Boone, President & CEO of the San Diego Military Advisory Council (SDMAC), is joined by Terry McKearney, President of the SDMAC Foundation, discuss the mission of their respective organizations; the enormous financial impact of the military in our region; the annual SDMAC Achievement Awards event slated for August 22; and the Foundation’s upcoming reception and auction at the event.

Joe Sammartino, the new Board Chair for Access Youth Academy, talks about the Academy’s expansion of school partners and students they are serving.  Sammartino is joined by Blair Sadler, immediate past Board Chair, to chat about squash being designated as an Olympic sport for Los Angeles in 2028 and for the Academy to play a major role in expanding its pilot program at the 2028 Olympics.