Keynote Speaker: Dr. Kevin J. Fleming

Dr. Kevin J Fleming is an educator, speaker, producer of multiple viral animation videos, including Success in the New Economy, and author of the bestseller, “(Re)Defining the Goal.” Dissatisfied with the status quo, he has dedicated over two decades to advancing career education forward as both a faculty member and administrator. Dr. Fleming serves as the Founder and CEO of Catapult, which delivers hybrid-flexible masterclasses to educators that truly advance and transform our schools and colleges forward faster. Dr. Fleming is a passionate advocate, ensuring all students intentionally equip their potential, enter the labor market with a competitive advantage, and find their purpose on purpose.

Gregg D. Ander, FAIA, Managing Director, Gregg D. Ander, LLC.

Gregg D. Ander is the Managing Director of Gregg D. Ander, LLC  providing consultative services on a variety of workforce, power and energy sector issues. He has worked closely with the California Community College Chancellors Office (CCCCO) statewide ECU Directors and Executive Vice Chancellor on policy, strategy and tactical issues to align the college system with CA policies, legislation, and regulations. He was a Senior Fellow at Navigant Consulting (DBA Guidehouse Consulting) for seven years and was the Vice President of Power Strategies at the Energy Foundation in San Francisco, where he oversaw a portfolio of investments including generation, distributed energy resources, efficiency, and cross cutting (grid integration, finance, data, pricing, 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 has served on the numerous Board of Directors including the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS), Sustainable Building Industry Council (SBIC) and the New Buildings Institute (NBI), and others. He has authored over 70 articles and has won awards for various efforts 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 Caffery Ed.D., Regional Director of Employer Engagement, Orange County Regional Consortium

Dr. Jon Michael Caffery's life is a tapestry of service, entrepreneurship, and impactful leadership across diverse sectors. Born in 1959, his journey began with distinguished military service in the U.S. Navy, instilling discipline and work ethic.

Transitioning to entrepreneurship, he led successful ventures in the construction and mortgage industries, recognized for managing multimillion-dollar monthly operations. A pivotal shift towards civic service saw him as the Chairman of the Palm Springs Planning Commission for over a decade. Dr. Caffery's commitment to community development was evident in his role as President/Owner of First Priority Mortgage, Inc., steering the company to unprecedented success. Embracing education as a transformative force, he pursued a Doctor of Education, becoming a trailblazer in academia and workforce development. His 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. As a Grants Coordinator, Dr. Caffery implemented federal and state-funded initiatives, contributing significantly to economic development. His leadership extended 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, 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.

Miriam Farnbauer, Project Director, DIAG USA

Miriam Farnbauer is the program director at DIAG USA, a non-profit foundation dedicated to advancing apprenticeship opportunities in the US. Farnbauer's 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 initiatives to enable dialogue and cooperation on a local and regional level as well as fostering the transatlantic dialogue between the US and Germany on workforce development issues. She is the leading force to bring stakeholders at a local, regional and national level together to create a sustainable pipeline of talent and solutions. Miriam Farnbauer has been appointed a member of the Information Technology subcommittee of the Interagency Advisory Committee on Apprenticeships of the state of California since 2018 to provide guidance and expertise on apprenticeship matters. She has been involved in numerous workforce related studies and has been quoted in Forbes magazine.  

Farnbauer graduated from the NextGen Leadership Program (cohort 2020-22) of the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany in 2022. She currently serves as a steering committee member at AmCham Germany and is a participant of the 2024 Global Female Leadership Summit. Farnbauer holds a master’s degree in Education and Intercultural Communication from the University of Augsburg, Germany and Swansea University, UK

Andrea Harlin, Strategic Business Advisor, Division of Apprenticeship Standards - Apprenticeship Workforce Innovation Unit, California Department of Industrial Relations

Andrea Harlin is a Strategic Business Advisor for the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS), Apprenticeship and Workforce Innovation (AWI) Unit. In this role, she assists employers in developing and registering apprenticeship programs with DAS as part of California’s statewide effort to provide viable career pathways, education, and opportunities to Californians while addressing skilled workforce needs in a variety of sectors from advanced manufacturing, healthcare, information technology, transportation, agriculture, education, public/civil service and more.

Devin Armendariz, Engineering Technician, Oakley

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, Manager, Operations Technical Training Programs, B. Braun Medical Inc.

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, I work across the company sites across the US 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, Chief Operating Officer and co-Founder, Archytas Automation

Karen Caswelch 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 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.

Victoria Catalano, Human Resources Leadership Development Associate, Parker Aerospace

Victoria (Tori) Catalano is a dedicated HR professional with experience across dynamic industries. Having navigated the intricacies of both the semiconductor and aerospace sectors, as well as a background in retail leadership, she has cultivated a diverse skill set that spans various HR functions. Her passion lies in creating inclusive workplaces where individuals feel valued and respected. With a commitment to being a strategic business partner, she aligns organizational goals with people strategy, ensuring a harmonious intersection between employee engagement and overarching business objectives.”

Israel S. Dominguez, Director of Economic & Workforce Development, Saddleback College

Mr. Dominguez holds a Master 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.

As the Director of Economic & Workforce Development, 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; serves as a leader of and an advocate for the College within the external community; plans, develops, organizes, and implements the goals and objectives of Economic and Workforce Development Plan of the College and coordinates the branding and marketing efforts of Saddleback College's Economic and Workforce Development (EWD) program.

Hernan Ricaurte, President, Ricaurte Precision Inc. (RPI)

Hernan joined RPI in early 2016 with the objective of further strengthening the quality and scope of services at the company. Prior to joining the family business, Hernan spent over 20 years in the medical device and healthcare industry, serving in senior management positions in the US and Japan.

In addition to working closely with customers to ensure quality and timely delivery of parts and services, Hernan is also responsible for various growth initiatives while ensuring Ricaurte Precision remains on the cutting edge of new technology implementation.

Andre Souisa, Mechanical Engineer, Oakley