Gregg D. Ander, FAIA - Host

Gregg D. Ander is the Managing Director of Gregg D. Ander, LLC and Senior Fellow at Navigant Consulting (A Guidehouse Company) providing consultative services on a variety of workforce, power and energy sector issues. He recently stepped down as the Vice President of Power Strategies at the Energy Foundation in San Francisco, where he oversaw a portfolio of investments including utility generation, distributed energy resources, energy efficiency, and cross cutting (grid integration, finance, data, pricing, and business models). Previously, he held numerous senior management positions during his 30-year career at Edison International, worked at the California Energy Commission, and was in private practice in Wisconsin and Arizona. Mr. Ander was the Executive Producer of seven environmentally focused television programs for NBC, CBS, and PBS. One program, “Greener Buildings/Bluer Skies,” won an Emmy award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Mr. Ander serves on the Board of Directors of the Sustainable Building Industry Council (SBIC) and the New Buildings Institute (NBI). He has authored over 70 energy-and environment-related articles and has won awards for various projects from the U.S. Department of Energy; American Institute of Architects; American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers; and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He was elevated to “Fellow” by the American Institute of Architects for his body of work and accomplishments.

Dr. Jon Michael Caffery

Dr. Jon Michael Caffery's roles as Regional Director at Saddleback College and Deputy Sector Navigator at the College of the Desert showcase a commitment to aligning education with industry needs. His leadership experience extends to community engagement, serving as President of the Palm Springs Economic Development Corporation and Director of the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce. With an extensive educational background, including a Master's in Adult Education and a Doctor of Education, Dr. Caffery embodies lifelong learning. Personal accolades, including recognition for top-producing businesses and community leadership, underscore his impact. In essence, Dr. Jon Michael Caffery's life narrative is one of service, entrepreneurship, and education, leaving an indelible mark on business, education, and community development. His legacy is defined by a commitment to excellence, continuous learning, and the positive transformation of the communities he served.

Dr. Saucedo-Daniel

Dr. Saucedo-Daniel is a graduate of USC with a Doctorate in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.), with a concentration in Educational Psychology. This past spring, he completed a curriculum dissertation on Faculty Implementation of Culturally Relevant Instructional Practices in the Community College Classroom. Dr. Saucedo-Daniel possesses extensive experience in career and continuing education, economic and workforce development, and instructional design. He has worked as a noncredit CTE coordinator and adjunct faculty at Santiago Canyon College (SCC) and San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC), teaching CTE courses. He is currently the Regional Director of Talent Development and Retention (TDRD) at Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD), where he supports the Orange County Regional Consortium (OCRC) and collaborates with the county's four community college districts and ten community college institutions. He is a visionary, a change agent leader, and a committed advocate for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI). He has created pathways and opportunities for learners from diverse backgrounds and lowered the barriers to education. He has paid it forward by mentoring professionals and students in their career journeys and has presented at regional, state, and national conferences.

Miriam Farnbauer

Miriam Farnbauer is the project director at DIAG USA. Her focus of work is the Skills Initiative, an effort that promotes apprenticeship training based on the German Dual Education System in the US. Farnbauer leads a number of projects to enable dialogue and cooperation between the US and Germany. Her focus is to bring stakeholders at a local, regional and national level together to create a sustainable pipeline of talent and solutions. She was a participant of the NextGen Initiative (cohort 2020-22) of the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany and currently serves as a steering committee member at AmCham Germany. Farnbauer holds a master’s degree in Education and Intercultural Communication from the University of Augsburg, Germany and Swansea University, UK.

Dr. Wallace Walrod

Dr. Wallace Walrod is Chief Economic Advisor for the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), the nation’s largest Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), Orange County Business Council (OCBC), and the Draper Hero Institute (San Mateo). He is also a strategic research advisor to OCTANe and Visionary Venture Fund, an Executive Consultant with Esri, a Strategic Advisor to EdTech Capital (Texas), and an Expert in Residence at UC Irvine’s Beall Institute for Applied Innovation. His work includes designing innovative program, strategy, research, and policy solutions for private industry, government, and private foundations. Dr. Walrod graduated with a PhD in Regional Economics from UC Irvine. His dissertation studied successful strategic management practices in high-tech firms, including advanced electronics and biotechnology.

Erick Briggs

A community college work experience expert. Erick has spent the last decade leading Network Kinection’s efforts to connect community college students to meaningful internships, apprenticeships and careers in high-growth, high wage fields. By working alongside college leadership, faculty, and students, his time is spent constantly seeking the most efficient and effective ways to connect employers with the top entry-level talent they need to succeed.

Annette Kelly-Whittle

Annette is a workforce development professional and grant writer.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in business.  Annette has worked in public services in various leadership capacities for over 16 years providing workforce development services to job seekers and businesses.  She is a passionate advocate for economic opportunity for underserved populations and vitality in economically distressed communities.

Annette currently serves as the Regional Organizer for the Orange Regional Planning Unit (RPU) which consists of the Anaheim, Orange, and Santa Ana Workforce Development Boards. As the Regional Organizer Annette supports ongoing efforts to enhance regional workforce leadership collaboration and implement the Orange RPU Regional Plan. Annette encourages alignment of workforce development, education and economic development in efforts to engage employer/industry champions and promote services to individuals with barriers to employment by supporting ongoing dialogue between labor, business, education, community, and the public workforce system. Annette also acts as the liaison between the State Board and regional leaders and the communication pipeline between the State Board and LWDB Directors.

Devin Armendariz

Devin Armendariz has an Associate's Degree in Physics and an Associate’s Degree in Mathematics. He is currently working to complete his Associate's Degree in Engineering in the Spring. Devin has an Associate's Certificate in Mechanical Design as well as a certificate in NASA's Aerospace Scholar Program (NCAS). He is currently an engineering technician at Oakley.

Vincent Beller

Vincent Beller possesses an A.S. in Specialized Electronics Technology from Lincoln Technical Institute and a B. S. in Computer Science from DeSales University. Beller worked in the Automotive, Semiconductor, Food and Beverage, Retail, and Life Sciences Industries accounting for over 35 years of experience and countless certifications. His career has brought him from Maintenance Technician through Manufacturing and Controls Engineering to Operations Training and currently, Corporate Operations Technical Training Program Management. In his current role as a Corporate Operations Technical Training Manager, he works across company sites developing and partnering with various entities to form apprenticeships and programs to achieve Technical Skills Training Excellence for Industry and partners across the United States.

Karen Caswelch

Karen is CEO of bridgED robotics and COO of Archytas Automation. Previously, Caswelch was CEO or COO at various startups after leaving a successful automotive career at General Motors in operations where she improved incoming supplier quality by 97% at Allison Transmission and was a part of the leadership team that sold Allison to private equity for over $5.5B. She successfully raised over $800K in seed funding, graduated from the inaugural Techstars Starburst Space Accelerator cohort and finalized contracts with multiple $100B+ Enterprises. While at Full Spectrum Laser, she led the company through 46% revenue growth while decreasing personnel turnover by 50%. Caswelch has an MBA from Harvard and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from MIT. She served on the Indianapolis Airport Authority Board and is the independent board member for CanvasGFX.

Israel S. Dominguez, MBA

As the Director of Economic & Workforce Development at Saddleback College, Mr. Dominguez serves as the primary external workforce and training representative of the college to agencies, consortia, industry partnerships, and regional workforce groups throughout the region. He is responsible for cultivating and promoting positive and substantive relationships with local business and industry. He develops and delivers fee-based customized training solutions for business and industry as well as seeks workforce development grants to provide educational and career opportunities for targeted populations in South Orange County. He serves as a leader of and an advocate for the College within the external community.

Mr. Dominguez previously served as the Director of the Business and Entrepreneurship Center at Cuesta College (BEC) an initiative of the Economic and Workforce Development division through the California Community Colleges. Mr. Dominguez holds a master's in business administration degree with a concentration in Leadership and Management from the University of La Verne, and a Bachelor of Science in business administration degree with a concentration in marketing management from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

Umberto Facchin

Umberto Facchin is an Operations Director for Automation and Tooling at Oakley. With over 10 years of working experience, he has worked in the automotive, consumer goods, and fashion industries, where he was able to apply his MSC in Mechatronic and Robotics engineering.

Charles Henkels

Charles has over 20 years of experience in the field of education and workforce development and has spent his career focused on developing and expanding registered apprenticeship opportunities for students, workers, and job seekers. After observing how individuals could learn more efficiently when combining their education with meaningful work experience, and witnessing the national student debt approach $1.5 trillion, in 2016, Charles began building new partnerships within the education system to support the expansion of “earn-and-learn” models that keep students out of debt while developing the highest valued skills needed in our changing economy. In 2018, he began leading the LAUNCH Apprenticeship Network sponsored by the IEDRC, which focuses on integrating apprenticeship pathways into the K-12 and college systems. LAUNCH has provided new opportunities for businesses to collaborate dynamically with their colleges and high schools using the apprenticeship model. Charles broadly supports the California Apprenticeship Initiative through statewide work. He was appointed by the California Secretary of Labor to serve as a public commissioner on California’s Interagency Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship.

Vinz Koller

Vinz is a national expert on US career education and workforce policy and a thought leader in adapting a European dual-professional education system for the US. He has been leading technical assistance initiatives for the US Department of Labor, Education, and Housing and Urban Development related to equitable systems optimization and integration, leadership development, as well as inclusive apprenticeship and career pathway systems. Currently, Vinz is coaching several states in expanding their apprenticeship systems, assisting the Urban Institute in developing National Occupational Frameworks for new and existing apprenticeship pathways, and supporting the California Youth Apprenticeship Committee in developing a plan to introduce Youth Apprenticeship at scale in California.

Vinz will share with us how the modern apprenticeship – also known as College without Debt – not only solves the current paradox of positions going unfilled while talented people are unable to find viable career paths but also future-proofs career education.  He will show us how we can make it the most equitable way to close the gap while growing our economies.