Mikle McBride

Assistant Director, Workforce Readiness, Long Beach Unified School District

Mikle McBride supports the district's high school pathways in the areas of work-based learning, grant management, and Project Lead The Way curriculum implementation. During his education career, he has served as a classroom teacher, pathway coordinator, and district administrator. Outside of his district duties, Mikle has served as an operational board member for the Los Angeles Regional Coalition for Linked Learning and the aLL-in regional collaborative, as well as an adjunct professor at the Loyola Marymount University School of Education.

A graduate of UCLA's Teacher Education Program and Principal Leadership Institute, Mikle is committed to improving outcomes for urban youth in the public education system.

Jose Pelayo

Director of Workforce Development, LAEDC - Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation

Jose Pelayo is the Director of Workforce Development at the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC). With over seven years of leadership experience, Jose has dedicated his career to supporting diverse communities, including individuals experiencing homelessness, youth, adults, seniors, and justice-involved individuals. His career spans roles as a case manager, job developer, and probation officer. Born in Mexico and raised by a single parent, he understands firsthand many of the challenges faced by Angelenos, which lends him a unique perspective in his work.

Jose holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from California Baptist University and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH). His academic background, combined with his hands-on experience, has provided him with a robust foundation in both program management and community engagement. Jose’s expertise extends beyond traditional workforce development; he is dedicated to driving meaningful social and economic impact through strategic partnerships and innovative solutions. Under his leadership, LAEDC continues to advance its mission of enhancing the economic well-being of the region while championing the needs of its most vulnerable populations.

Avin P. Sharma

Senior Director, Workforce and Government Affairs, Port of Los Angeles

Avin P. Sharma joined the Port in 2017 after having served in President Obama’s Administration as The White House Liaison and Counselor to U.S. Secretary of Labor Tom Perez. He previously served as the Economics Director in the Presidential Personnel Office at The White House and U.S. Department of Justice. Before joining the Obama Administration, he was a litigation attorney in private practice. In 2020, Avin also served on the Biden-Harris Presidential Transition Team where he was the lead for the U.S. Department of Labor.

In his role at the nation’s busiest port, Avin is responsible for engaging and maintaining positive relationships with labor unions, including the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), and International Brotherhood of Teamsters. In addition to leading the Port’s efforts to develop projects that support workforce development in the goods movement sector across Southern California, he also supports and advocates for legislation and regulations that support the Port and its stakeholders. In 2020, Avin was appointed to the California Workforce Development Board by Governor Newsom.

Working alongside Port Executive Director Gene Seroka, Avin helped to spearhead the Logistics Victory Los Angeles (LoVLA) COVID-19 response effort in March 2020 to assist in getting critical personal protective equipment (PPE) into the hands of healthcare workers. Avin played an integral role in acquiring supplies, working directly with hospitals and skilled nursing facilities to determine their immediate needs, from identifying medical-grade requirements and negotiating prices to vetting suppliers and securing donations. He facilitated a purchasing deal with Honeywell to manufacture 24 million N95 masks exclusively for the City of Los Angeles and helped to expand LoVLA to others throughout the supply chain by allocating donated masks for farm workers who worked outdoors amid the pandemic, wildfire smoke, and extreme heat.

Avin holds bachelor’s degrees in business economics and political science from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a juris doctor from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. He is an active member of the State Bar of California.

Brissa Sotelo-Vargas, Moderator

Director, Community Relations and Government Affairs, Valero Energy Corporation

With more than 25 years of experience, of which 18 years have been in the Petroleum Industry, Brissa Sotelo-Vargas manages and coordinates the full range of communication and stakeholder management activities including, but not limited to, government affairs, community relations, and local media relations to crisis communications.

Active on several professional and community boards, Brissa is Chair of the Energy, Water and Environment Sustainability Committee at the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, including the Executive and Board of Directors, BizFed Board of Directors, Chair of the LA Jobs PAC, and Co-Chair of the BizFed PAC. She is also active on chamber boards, including Wilmington and Long Beach, where she has held leadership positions. Brissa has been recognized as the Corporate Leader of the Year by the National Latina Business Women Association Women of Excellence Awards. A member and graduate of Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE), she’s focused on ensuring political and economic parity for Latinas through leadership, advocacy and education to benefit all communities and the status of women.

Outside her work responsibilities, Brissa is active at Dolores Mission Church, valuing a Jesuit service for and with others. Former Chair and Planning Commissioner for the City of Montebello she is also active in the city she resides in. In 2010, she was a recipient of the USC Widney Alumni House Awards and also served on the USC Latino Alumni Association Young Leaders Council. Other recognitions include Los Angeles Business Journal Women’s Leadership Awards nominee, 30 for 30 Honoree of the Southern California Leadership Network, 2017 Latina of Influence by the Hispanic Lifestyle Magazine, and also named to the Holy Names University Athletic Hall of Fame.    

Brissa has two master’s degrees from the University of Southern California, one in Communication Management from the Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism and another in Public Policy, with a certificate in Government Management from the Sol Price School of Public Policy. Sotelo-Vargas earned her undergraduate degree from Holy Names University.

What is the Carol Rowen Legacy Circle?

Named for EXP’s tenacious founder, Carol Rowen, the Legacy Circle recognizes individuals whose generosity continues her work of connecting industry and schools to impact youth and change lives. The Power Breakfast and other exclusive events bring together Legacy Circle members and special guests to share the important trends and policies affecting youth in our community. To learn more, please contact Jessica Ureña, Director of Development, at jessica@expfuture.org.