CBA Dean's Advisory Council

Jayson Yardley is a CEO, President, Board Member, innovator, entrepreneur, speaker, and Amazon.com bestselling author of Rev Up! Bold and Disruptive Strategies to Rev Up Your Revenue Cycle Hero’s Journey. Featured on radio and podcast programs around the country, including NPR and iHeartRadio, Yardley focuses on innovation and applying new technologies for the purpose of improving the Patient Financial Experience.

Yardley holds a patent for the utilization of augmented reality in explaining healthcare and non-healthcare bills, with prior career experience spanning executive positions with Avadyne Health, Conifer Health Solutions, Navigant Cymetrix, Navigant Consulting, Capgemini and Ernst & Young, LLC.

A Cal Poly Pomona alum, Yardley holds a Master of Business Administration from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona and a Bachelor of Arts of Political Science degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He is also an active member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA).

For the past 34 years, Michael Reeves has shaped the Southern California luxury home industry, as a leader in custom residential building from Los Angeles to Orange County. As one of the region’s most prominent high-end custom home builders, Reeves now heads Corbin Reeves Construction, the firm he founded in 2012, to focus his expert team’s full-service residential construction practice on the Orange County market.

Corbin Reeves Construction is renowned for its projects in the area’s most exclusive enclaves, ranging from Shady Canyon in Irvine, to The Strand in Dana Point, to the oceanfront in Corona Del Mar and Laguna Beach.

Reeves also has served on the Design Review Committee for the Irvine Company. Prior to forming Corbin Reeves Construction, he was a partner in and served as CFO and Director of Operations of Finton Construction – the firm he co-founded in 1989. Reeves established Finton Construction’s Orange County headquarters in 1996 and, in the ensuing 15 years, built one of the county’s most successful, client-focused, and respected custom residential construction firms.

Heba Ramzy is a purpose-driven global leader in social impact and digital inclusion, with over 20 years of experience at the nexus of technology, equity, and public policy. An entrepreneur at heart, she is known for designing scalable initiatives that empower underserved communities, drive systemic change, and align business with purpose.

Her journey began at a pioneering policy think tank in Egypt, where she launched the country’s first internet gateway for children and co-led a national tech movement that reached millions youth across Africa and the Middle East. At Microsoft, she spent 14 years advancing CSR and public policy across 80+ countries—partnering with governments, nonprofits, and multilateral organizations to expand access to technology, shape regulatory frameworks, and bridge the digital divide. She also led efforts to equip nonprofits in emerging markets with technology solutions to amplify their impact and build long-term capacity.

At Avanade, Ramzy built the company’s Global Citizenship platform from the ground up, co-founded its nonprofit advisory business, launched its ESG scorecard, and scaled global employee volunteering programs—empowering millions of youth annually and positioning social impact as a strategic growth driver.

An Eisenhower Fellow and recognized among the #EmpowHER50, Ramzy is part of a global network of pioneering changemakers. She continues to mentor emerging leaders and champion inclusive innovation to build a more just, connected, and future-ready world.

An adept and versatile lawyer, David Alvarado is passionate about helping institutional owners, operators, and developers capitalize on opportunities. He continues to be the go-to lawyer for several of Southern California's leading real estate companies due to his ability to solve problems, maximize negotiating leverage, build momentum, grow relationships, and timely close transactions.

Alvarado’s practice focuses on purchase and sale, debt and equity financing, development, construction, and leasing transactions. With experience that spans all asset classes and property types, he has successfully shepherded numerous major projects to completion with a total aggregate consideration of over $1 billion in development projects and over $5 billion in real property acquisition and disposition work. Alvarado has achieved great success for both landlords and tenants with the completion of lease transactions covering millions of square feet. He also advises his clients on day-to-day operational matters and property management issues.

After beginning his legal career as a tax associate at Deloitte, Alvarado joined the real estate department of Allen Matkins. He later becamee a partner at Elkins Kalt Weintraub Reuben Gartside LLP and Crosbie Gliner Schiffman Southard & Swanson LLP (CGS3) before co-founding Harvest. Alvarado gives seminars to real estate professionals and graduate students on a variety of legal issues and has lectured on real estate law topics at USC, UCLA, and Loyola Marymount University.

For more than 30 years, Marissa Andrada has helped CEOs, boards, and leadership teams turn culture into a competitive advantage — scaling iconic brands by scaling people.

As Chief People Officer and head of HR at companies including Chipotle Mexican Grill, Red Bull, Starbucks, GameStop, and Kate Spade & Company, she has led transformation, hyper-growth, and turnaround by aligning purpose, talent, and operations to deliver measurable business results.

Today, Andrada serves as Chief Culture Officer at WUF World, a Board Director at Krispy Kreme and BizBox, and an advisor to founders and executives shaping what’s next. She speaks and writes on culture, the future of work, and belonging. At the core of her work is a simple belief: work should create dignity, connection, and opportunity.

Dan Bejmuk is Co-Founder and CEO of Dreambox, the nation’s leading digital advertising agency within the restaurant space. Fortunate to have worked with over one hundred-fifty national and regional restaurant brands in the firm’s twenty-five year history he brings a unique perspective to digital marketing across every segment of the industry. He has been named to the Nation’s Restaurant News “Power List” among the most influential service providers and serves as the Vice-Chair of the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group.

Additionally, Bejmuk is one of thirteen ambassadors in the state for Restaurants Care, the non-profit foundation of the California Restaurant Association working to benefit restaurant workers.

A graduate of Cal Poly Pomona’s College of Business, Bejmuk spends most of his free time chasing around his eight-year-old daughter Chloe and is based in Los Angeles.

Luke Blackamore is an accomplished entrepreneur and digital innovator with over 25 years of experience in software development, technology leadership, and business building. His time studying Computer Science at Cal Poly Pomona helped spark a passion for solving complex problems through technology — a passion that has defined his career.

After his time at Cal Poly Pomona, Blackamore founded BGWG Monster Media, a digital media and software development company specializing in experiential technology, mobile applications, and website design. Under his leadership, BGWG Monster Media has grown into a profitable firm trusted by major brands across industries ranging from entertainment to consumer goods. In addition to BGWG, Blackamore is the founder of Greencard Payments, Inc., a financial technology company revolutionizing digital payments in the cannabis industry. By providing merchants and consumers with compliant, secure, and cashless payment solutions, Greencard Payments is setting a new standard for financial services in emerging markets.

As a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board for the College of Business Administration, Blackamore looks forward to staying connected with the Cal Poly Pomona community and helping shape the future of business and innovation.

Marilyn Davis is an accomplished People Operations executive with more than 30 years of experience leading strategic people initiatives across diverse industries, including sports, entertainment, media, and finance. Since beginning her career in 1991, Davis has built expertise in talent strategy, organizational design, workforce performance, employee engagement, labor relations, compensation and benefits, and compliance.

As Vice President of People Operations for Los Angeles Dodgers LLC, Davis provides strategic guidance and leadership for all aspects of the people function. She oversees the full complement of core human capital programs, policies, and services, driving initiatives that foster a high-performance culture and align people strategies with organizational goals. While at the Dodgers, Davis has been fortunate to work alongside a team that earned three World Series Championships, reflecting the organization’s collective commitment to excellence.

Prior to joining the Dodgers, Davis held senior leadership roles in the entertainment and media sectors, including Fox Entertainment and Univision Communications Inc., where she served as Vice President of Human Resources.

Davis holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management and Human Resources from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Born in Cuba and raised in Huntington Park, California, Davis is passionate about advancing the People Operations profession, mentoring future leaders, and giving back to the community through initiatives that promote education, diversity, and inclusion, helping create opportunities for future leaders.

Pete De Best is a U.S. real estate entrepreneur, investor, and executive with extensive experience in mortgage finance and property investment. He serves as President of US Lending Network, Inc., where he oversees mortgage lending operations and provides financing solutions for clients navigating buying, selling, and refinancing homes. In this role, de Best applies deep market knowledge to guide borrowers through complex financial decisions while maintaining high standards of client service.

In addition to his lending leadership, de Best is Co-Founder and Managing Member of Tarek Buys Houses LLC, a real estate investment and house-flipping company co-founded with business partner Tarek El Moussa. Through this venture, he has played a key role in identifying, acquiring, and transforming undervalued residential properties, contributing to successful investments and neighborhood revitalization.

Pete also co-founded Next Level Property Investments LLC, where he focuses on strategic real estate investment opportunities and portfolio growth.

Pete’s career is characterized by entrepreneurial leadership, real estate investment expertise, and a hands-on approach to creating and scaling successful property ventures.

With nearly 20 years of extensive senior-level expertise across various facets of the aviation industry, including airport operations, strategic marketing, social media, brand management, public relations, marketing, advertising, and strategic communications, Atif Elkadi currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer for Ontario International Airport. In this capacity, he orchestrates day-to-day operations, spearheads an expansive capital development program, oversees revenue management, finance, administrative functions, marketing and communications, and information technology, consistently exploring innovative approaches to drive both revenue and passenger growth.

Atif's journey with Ontario International Airport commenced in the role of Senior Director of Marketing before progressing to the position of Deputy Chief Executive Officer.

Prior to his leadership at Ontario, Atif played a crucial role as the Senior Corporate Communications Manager, where he developed comprehensive communication strategies and managed initiatives to align with the strategic objectives of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, the world's fourth busiest airport. His responsibilities included shaping the overall communication strategy and overseeing its successful implementation.

Bringing his expertise to the global stage, Atif made significant contributions to Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest airport for international passengers. During his tenure, he spearheaded the development and management of internal communications, customer service communications, and social media strategies, ensuring alignment with the diverse communication needs of employees and customers.

Atif holds a Master's Degree in Communication Management from the University of Southern California, an M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix, and a bachelor's Degree in Journalism from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. His diverse educational background, combined with his wealth of experience, positions him as a highly accomplished professional in the aviation industry.

Albert Fattal is a distinguished technologist and strategic operational leader specializing in the architecture of next-generation Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain systems, used within macroeconomic finance. He is federally certified in Artificial Intelligence (GSA Tracks: Acquisitions, Leadership & Policy, and Technical) and has achieved the distinguished Federal Reserve Board of Governors Division Director’s Award.

With proven experience operating within the most sensitive and secure environments, including his current role at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, Fattal has dedicated his career to pioneering the institutional shift toward Industry 4.0. He is a forward-thinking expert in leveraging transformative technologies to solve complex challenges in high-stakes economic informatics, spearheading the transition to the next industrial revolution.

Fattal’s extensive work involves designing and implementing large-scale, AI-driven institutional computational architectures that redefine organizational efficiency and capability. He masterfully utilizes the unique benefits of the immutability of Blockchain's distributed ledger technology to build systems with unparalleled security, transparency, and accountability. He has a deep, practical knowledge of Computer Information Systems and Data Science, underscored by an unwavering commitment to maintaining maximum data confidentiality and privacy in environments with extreme operational security requirements. Fattal’s core architectural values are centered on creating scalable, standardized, and future-proof AI-first designs that streamline an institution's technological strategy for dynamic and continuous growth.

His primary objective is to continually explore and implement cutting-edge innovations in AI and Blockchain to resolve high-level infrastructure complexities, positioning organizations for market leadership through superior technological prowess.

Brian Kjos has participated in the real estate industry for over 45 years. He has a comprehensive background in retail leasing, operations management, and executive development, having started his career at The Irvine Company. Kjos then owned and operated the western regional office of Staubach Retail, where he developed and managed specialized industry platforms, including the Staubach AutoGroup, Design & Construction Services, and the Restaurant & Entertainment Group. During his time at Staubach, Kjos managed relationships with The Walt Disney Company and oversaw the national rollout of major projects such as ESPN Zone, DisneyQuest, and Club Disney.

In 2004, he founded the Sequoia Restaurant and Entertainment Group, successfully expanding Yard House Restaurants from six to seventy-six locations, which was later acquired by Darden in one of the largest restaurant acquisitions. In 2019, Kjos and his two daughters launched Kjos Restaurant Group, building on their extensive experience in the industry and growing full service restaurants across the country.

Jawaad Malik is the Vice President of Strategy and Sustainability, and Chief Environmental Officer for Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), a Sempra regulated California utility. Malik contributes to advancing the organization’s strategic initiatives with a strong foundation in financial planning, risk management, and financial analysis, and he has developed a comprehensive strategy and sustainability plan to position SoCalGas as a long-term leader enabling California’s clean energy future.

Previously, Malik served as Vice President of Strategy and Sustainability, and Chief Environmental Officer, as well as Vice President of Gas Acquisition and Vice President of Accounting and Finance for SoCalGas. Prior to joining SoCalGas in 2007, he held various finance and auditing-related roles at the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power and the California Department of Insurance.

Malik holds a master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance from Pepperdine University and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from California State University, Los Angeles, and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant. He currently serves on the board of directors for LA’s BEST, a nationally recognized after-school program serving more than 20,000 children in neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Malik also sits on the Dean’s advisory council of Cal Poly Pomona’s college of business administration and the UC Davis Energy & Efficiency Institute board of advisors.

Geoffrey W.S. Okamoto’s political expertise has put him on the world stage. As the managing director of the Office of Government Affairs at Goldman Sachs, Okamoto (’08, computer informations systems) leads the firm’s efforts on international public policy, coordinates work on cross-jurisdictional issues and engages with global policymakers. He also assists clients on matters involving economic, geopolitical and financial developments worldwide.

Prior to joining Goldman Sachs in 2022, Okamoto served as the first deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), making him the agency’s No. 2 official. The alumnus managed relationships with G-7 and G-20 nations, as well as oversaw institutional strategy, lending policies, risk management, economic surveillance and the IMF’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Okamoto previously served as U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs and Acting Assistant Secretary for International Finance, where he oversaw global markets, economic coordination, trade negotiations and participated in the Financial Stability Board.

Prior to joining the Treasury, he held prominent positions in the U.S. Senate, such as majority staff director for the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection, and policy director for the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Monetary Policy and Trade.

Laureen S. Gonzalez serves as Chief Human Resources Officer of Ducommun Incorporated, a publicly traded aerospace and defense company headquartered in Costa Mesa, CA (NYSE: DCO). Founded in 1849, Ducommun is the oldest continuously operating business in California.

As a business executive with over 20 years of HR & Leadership experience across multiple industries, Gonzalez is responsible for guiding Ducommun’s overall people strategy, optimizing talent, driving organizational transformation, developing high performance teams, and aligning company culture and talent with business success.

As CHRO, Gonzalez has played a significant role in shaping the people strategy and culture that was instrumental in Ducommun being recognized by Time Magazine as one of America’s 2025 Best Mid-Size Companies. Through innovative talent initiatives, along with a commitment to cultivating strong leaders and a people-first culture, she works continuously to build a workplace where employees thrive, and business performance excels.

Gonzalez serves on the Board of the Ducommun Foundation and actively supports community, education, and philanthropic initiatives. In 2025, she was nominated by Orange County United Way as Executive Leader and Corporate Ambassador of the Year. Gonzalez received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Cal Poly Pomona and an MBA from CSU Long Beach. She holds designations as a Certified Compensation Professional (CCP©) and a Certified Sr. Human Resources Professional (SPHR©).

David P. Singelyn is the founder of American Homes 4 Rent, a leader in the single-family home rental industry. He has built his decades-long business career on the foundation of the bachelor’s degrees in accounting and computer information systems he earned at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in 1984. He credits his time at Cal Poly Pomona with providing him the academic knowledge, hands-on learning opportunities and professional confidence to succeed in the business world.

After graduation, Singelyn worked as an accountant and computer auditor at Arthur Young & Co. and later served as controller for Winchell’s Donut House. He has held key positions at private and publicly traded real estate companies, serving as treasurer of Public Storage; chief financial officer, chair, president and board director of Public Storage Canada; and chief executive officer of American Commercial Equities.

As he has soared to great heights in the business world, Singelyn has maintained his connection to Cal Poly Pomona. He and his wife, Ruth, who graduated from Pomona in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in computer information, provided a philanthropic investment of $12.5 million in 2022 to expand the university’s graduate business program, which is now named the Singelyn Graduate School of Business in the College of Business Administration. A previous donation from the couple in 2017 established the Singelyn Center for Innovative Analytics, a visual analytics lab that supports graduate business programs.

Singelyn is also generous with his time, serving as the board vice chair of the Cal Poly Pomona Philanthropic Foundation, a board member of the Dean’s Advisory Council and a member of the Singelyn Center for Innovative Analytics Advisory Board.

In recognition of his notable business acumen and his numerous contributions to Cal Poly Pomona, the Board of Trustees of the California State University and California State Polytechnic University, Pomona conferred upon David P. Singelyn the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.

Lawrence “Larry” Taff oversees financial management and property operations for Pacific Office Properties in Hawai‘i. Since joining the organization in 1995, he has played a key role in guiding the firm’s growth strategy, including planning new business ventures and identifying property acquisition opportunities across the region. In 2003, Taff was one of the founding shareholders when the Shidler Group partners converted their private holdings into Pacific Office Properties, a public real estate investment trust focused on institutional office assets in the western United States.

Taff currently serves as President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Financial Officer of Pacific Office Properties Trust, where he is responsible for overseeing corporate strategy, financial management, and operational performance across the company’s portfolio.

In addition, he is President of Shidler Pacific Advisors LLC and a partner of The Shidler Group, where he helps manage real estate investment activities and strategic initiatives tied to office and ground-lease real estate holdings.

Prior to entering the real estate investment sector, Taff began his career with Arthur Andersen LLP, where he rose to the position of tax partner and specialized in real estate consulting, tax compliance, and advisory services.

Taff earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from California Polytechnic State University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Pawan Tomkoria is a results-oriented business leader who is semi-retired and has transitioned to teaching as Adjunct Professor in International Business and Finance. He has extensive expertise in International/Cross-Cultural Business, Executive Management, Investment Analysis, and Corporate Finance.

Previously, he was Vice President, Finance and Vice President/GM Asia Pacific at Edwards Lifesciences and Founder/Managing Director of investment management firm PNAB.

Tomkoria has helped establish the Student Management Investment Fund and Program at Cal Poly Pomona and serves as the director of the program.

Rif W. Wiguna is a seasoned supply chain and operations executive with over three decades of experience in the restaurant and foodservice industry. He currently serves as Managing Partner of Supply Forward, keeping his focus on consulting for chain restaurants and food manufacturers.

This new chapter began after his nearly three-decades of service to Panda Restaurant Group. Most recently, he served as Vice President, Supply Chain Management, where he led strategic sourcing, procurement, and supply chain optimization efforts to support the company’s expansive restaurant footprint and operational growth. In this role, he drove initiatives to enhance inventory visibility, cost controls, and supplier collaboration across the enterprise.

Wiguna also held the position of Director, Purchasing & Distribution at Panda Restaurant Group, where he was responsible for managing purchasing operations and distribution logistics that supported national supply chain functions. In this capacity, he championed improvements in procurement efficiency and distributor relationships.

Before joining Panda Restaurant Group, Wiguna served in supply chain and logistics roles early in his career, including leadership responsibilities that laid the foundation for his long-term trajectory in supply chain management within the restaurant industry. Wiguna’s career reflects a deep commitment to operational excellence, cross-functional collaboration, and driving measurable improvements in supply chain performance.

Ramsey currently serves as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Financial Officer of Breeze Holdings Acquisition Corp., where he oversees corporate strategy, financial management, and acquisition initiatives for the publicly traded investment company.

Previously, Ramsey served as President and Chief Financial Officer of Saddle Operating, where he guided financial and operational strategy for the company’s energy investments and development activities.

Earlier in his career, Ramsey held several senior finance roles at EXCO Resources, Inc., including Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, helping lead the company through major growth and financing initiatives, including its return to public markets and expansion to billions in assets.

In addition to his executive career, Ramsey has taught finance as an adjunct professor and has supported business education initiatives, including contributions to Cal Poly Pomona’s financial markets learning facilities.

John W. Tush is a sales executive and industry leader with nearly four decades of experience in the foodservice packaging and distribution sector. He served as Senior Partner and former Chief Executive Officer of Access Partners, a manufacturers’ representative agency that connects food-container and packaging manufacturers with major restaurant chains, distributors, and suppliers across the United States.

During his tenure with Access Partners, Tush helped expand the firm’s national presence and built long-standing relationships across the foodservice supply chain. His leadership contributed to the company’s reputation as a trusted intermediary between manufacturers and large foodservice organizations seeking reliable sourcing and distribution partnerships.

In addition to his business career, Tush has been an active supporter of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. In 2014, he worked with the College of Business Administration to establish scholarships through the Access Partners Foundation and served as an Executive-in-Residence, mentoring students, connecting them with internships, and helping them prepare for careers in sales and business development.

Through both his professional leadership and philanthropic engagement, Tush has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to advancing industry partnerships and supporting the next generation of business leaders.

Lance Williams is a homebuilding executive and real estate developer with more than three decades of experience in residential construction and community development. He is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Williams Homes, a privately held homebuilding company he co-founded in 1996 with housing industry leader Ray Watt. Under his leadership, the company has developed and delivered thousands of homes across dozens of communities in California and other western states, with projects collectively valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

As CEO, Williams oversees corporate strategy, land acquisition, development, and construction operations for the company’s growing portfolio of residential communities. His leadership has helped establish Williams Homes as a relationship-driven builder focused on delivering high-quality homes and strong customer service for families and homebuyers.

Prior to founding Williams Homes, Williams held leadership positions with Watt Housing Corporation and Beazer Homes, where he gained experience in large-scale residential development and homebuilding operations.

Williams earned a bachelor’s degree in Finance, Real Estate, and Law from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and is a licensed real estate broker and general contractor.