Our Mentors

Charlie has spent more than a decade in senior finance and operations roles within the technology industry at Sybase and BlackBerry. During his tenure, he led critical functions including Investor Relations, Treasury, Strategic Planning, Variable Compensation, Post-merger Integration, and Strategic Alliances.

Reporting directly to C-suite executives, including the CEO, CFO, EVP of Corporate Development, and Chief Marketing Officer, Charlie participated in high-level strategic discussions and delivered presentations to executive leadership and board members. He served as a trusted adviser to both CEOs and CFOs, providing strategic counsel on critical decisions involving corporate direction, financial planning and strategy (including capital structure, capital allocation, financial modeling, and target-setting), external communications, and mergers and acquisitions.

Prior to his corporate finance career, Charlie spent 8 years on Wall Street as an equity research analyst, covering technology sectors including enterprise software, business intelligence, analytics, security, and electronic payment services. His deep understanding of both capital markets and technology operations uniquely positions him to bridge investor perspectives with operational strategy.

Charlie is a CFA charterholder, bringing rigorous analytical expertise to his strategic and financial leadership roles.

Throughout her career with MDUSD, Heather has championed student success by ensuring all students graduate college and career ready through expanded access to career education and early college credit opportunities.

As Co-Lead Instructor at Mt. Diablo High School's Digital Safari Academy, Heather co-founded the Innovation Project and co-developed the Innovation Project Model, which has been integrated into the Academy's sophomore, junior, and senior curricula. This innovative approach prepares students for real-world challenges while building critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Education

Heather holds a Bachelor's degree in History, an Educational Doctorate in Organizational Leadership, and a Juris Doctorate, bringing both educational expertise and legal insight to her work in public education.

Devin serves as a member of the Contra Costa County Sustainability Commission and currently holds the position of Vice President for both the National Recycling Coalition Association (N.C.R.A.) and Zero Waste Youth U.S.A. He also chairs N.C.R.A.'s Zero Waste Schools committee, where he champions the 6Rs, resource diversion practices, and zero waste initiatives in educational settings.

As a 6th-grade middle school teacher in Moraga, California, Devin brings environmental science to life for his students through Earth, Life & Physical Science and Engineering curriculum. A certified naturalist and environmental steward/citizen scientist, he integrates his passion for nature, environmental sustainability, and eco-literacy into every aspect of his teaching and daily life.

Devin's credentials include environmental sustainability coordinator, certified climate change educator, NASA GLOBE Educator, and NOAA Ocean Guardian educator. His Master's degree in Education was recognized for its focus on place-based education and outdoor learning in schools. His research study, "The Value of Supplementing Science Education with Outdoor Instruction for Sixth Grade Students," demonstrated that outdoor schoolyard environments significantly increase student engagement and environmental content knowledge retention compared to traditional indoor classrooms.

His work encompasses water and energy conservation, recycling, composting, and waste diversion practices, reflecting his deep commitment to environmental stewardship and resource conservation.

Education

Devin holds a Master's degree in Education and a Teaching Credential from St. Mary's College of California.

As a community organizer and advocate, Mark has founded or co-founded more than a dozen community organizations, projects, and programs. He currently serves as Executive Director of The Praxis Group, where he continues to guide and support non-profit organizations. Mark is also co-founder of the Innovation Project and Digital Safari Innovation Fair at Mt. Diablo High School in Concord, California.

Entrepreneurship & Business Development

Mark's expertise in entrepreneurship spans multiple leadership roles. He served as founding Director of the Contra Costa Software Business Incubator and founding Associate Director of John F. Kennedy University's Center for Entrepreneurship, where he also held the position of Resident Entrepreneur for the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership.

For over ten years, Mark worked as a certified Business Advisor for the Contra Costa Small Business Development Center, assisting numerous start-ups and early-stage companies. He has also served as Senior Business Analyst for Enterprise Valuations, Inc. and Senior Research Associate for Munroe Consulting, where he co-authored "What Makes Silicon Valley Tick?" with Dr. Tapan Munroe, former Chief Economist for PG&E. This comprehensive study analyzed Silicon Valley's innovation ecosystem and the factors driving its success.

Mark's international experience includes four years as U.S. Associate for Canton Venture Capital Company, a $100 million Chinese venture capital firm.

Education

Mark holds a Master's degree in Public Administration from CSU East Bay, a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies from UC Berkeley, and a Community College Instructor's Credential.

He is an accomplished executive with extensive experience in technology and policy leadership across industries, including autonomous vehicles, ADAS, smart cities, geothermal energy, and ocean exploration. He has a proven track record of collaborating with government leaders, regulatory agencies, and standards organizations such as SAE, NIST, and NHTSA in the US, Europe, and China, and has actively informed U.S. Congressional Leaders and NHTSA on critical developments.

His expertise spans Lidar technology, autonomous systems, geothermal energy, intelligent infrastructure, and deep ocean exploration. He has led high-impact projects with global corporations, universities, and research institutions, and is a co-founder of the Climate Innovation Coalition (CIC), a nonprofit dedicated to driving cultural shifts toward a sustainable future.

He is affiliated with the innovation hub of Notre Dame, the IDEA Center, where he has advised on Responsible Innovation in the tech transfer process, taught in the graduate entrepreneurship program, run a Tech for Good program with national nonprofits, and redeveloped student innovation competitions to focus on impact. He is also affiliated with the Reilly Center for Science, Technology, and Values and the Lucy Family Institute for Data and Society at Notre Dame.

He currently consults for Venture Capital firms on ethics and strategy and is working on his first book, on ethical innovation. He holds a Ph.D., MA, and BA in Philosophy as well as a BS in Physics.