Chip Goodman, Chairman of the Project ECHO Board

Chip Goodman, co-founder and chairman of the Project ECHO Board of Directors, is the founder and president of School-Link Technologies. SL-Tech is the leading provider of K-12 cafeteria technology and offers business solutions to school food service operations. Mr. Goodman has spent his entire professional career in the food service industry as both a food service vendor and a software developer. An entrepreneur himself, Mr. Goodman believes in the importance of developing and nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit in youth. He founded Project ECHO in 1996, in order to provide a vehicle for a meaningful hands-on education and to offer an alternative approach to learning life skills. Mr. Goodman received his bachelor’s degree from Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California. He lives with his wife Vicky in Santa Monica and has two grown children.

Scott W. Fennel

Mr. Fennel is a member of Level 11, a Los Angeles-based consultancy where he creates and executes consumer-facing business and marketing strategy for start-ups through the Fortune 100. Prior to Level 11, Mr. Fennel practiced law from 1988 – 2003, focusing on IP and entertainment litigation and strategy for studios, labels and corporations. Additionally, Scott operated and sold Serious Music, LLC and its related labels / publishing companies; created and produced Spanish language DVD’s in the fitness market; and is a founder of the first independent anti-doping agency in professional cycling among other start-up corporations.

Mr. Fennel holds a B.A. in Finance / B.S in English from Abilene Christian University and a Juris Doctorate from Pepperdine University School of Law with an emphasis in International Business.
Bryan Jones

Bryan Jones is Founder and President of Pareto Corporation, a niche publishing company. Pareto publishes several lines including: eLearningArt, a stock image site for e-Learning; SportSpectator, a sports series for novice fans; and CitizenshipU, a United States citizenship preparation guide. Bryan started his career as a consultant for SmartForce, developing training programs for companies, including Network Appliance, Minolta, E*Trade, and APL. Bryan received his BA in Political Science with a concentration in Game Theory from the University of California at Los Angeles. He earned his MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Manuel Lozano

Manuel Lozano is the Director of Sales at TSRI Solutions. TSRI Solutions is a boutique Consulting and Staff Augmentation firm focused on the Technology and Telecommunications industry in the U.S. and abroad. Manuel is also a partner with his wife in a new Santa Monica based Music Academy. Green Brooms Music is focused on teaching music theory, voice, piano and other stringed instruments to adults and children of all ages. Located on 6th and Broadway, the academy was founded to create a great environment conducive to learning a new instrument or re-discovering one’s passion for music. Prior to TSRI and Green Brooms, Manuel managed Sales in the West Coast for NeuStar, who provides clearinghouse services for Large Communication Providers. In 2005, Manuel was President of C-Different, a Non-Profit organization focused on inspiring the visually impaired to lead active and healthy lives. Manuel earned his BA degree from the University of California at Berkeley.

Richard McLeod

Richard “Mac” McLeod is a Vice President at Wells Fargo Of California Insurance Services in Sherman Oaks, CA. He began his insurance career with The CHUBB Group as an underwriter and has been part of the independent agency system since 1984. Over the years he has developed expertise in Property, Casualty and Workers’ Compensation Insurance for non-profits, schools, homebuilders, manufacturers and retail organizations. He acts as a resource in the areas of Risk Transfer, Risk Management, Loss Control and Claims Management. His involvement with non-profit organizations has grown over the years through service on his church’s school board. There he assisted in the accreditation process, budget development, school standards and personnel interviews. Mac has led sessions at the National Hospitality House and National Association of School Business Officers Conferences.

Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith is President & CEO of Payment Processing Inc. Chuck has over twenty-five years of experience in the electronic transaction/financial services industry and is the guiding force behind PPI’s unique business model and rapid expansion. Chuck was PPI’s first General Manager and assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer in 1996. Under his tutelage, PPI grew from an aggressive start-up into the industry leader it is today, processing over 5 billion dollars in electronic payments in 2008. Chuck is considered one of the pioneers in PC-based transaction processing and an expert in merchant banking, security and transaction processing solutions.

David Tokofsky

David Tokofsky attended public schools from kindergarten to UC Berkeley. He graduated UC Berkeley with a double major in History and Spanish with honors in History. He then earned a number of teaching credentials from Cal State Northridge and became a teacher at John Marshall High School for 12 years. In his third year at Marshall High, David led the school to the LAUSD’s first national championship in the United States Academic Decathlon. At Marshall David taught Advanced Placement courses as well as coached soccer, mock trials and the decathlon. He was California’s teacher of the year earning the Christa McAuliffe Fellowship from the US Department of Education. He has earned fellowships from the National Endowment of Humanities, Stanford University and UC Berkeley. He traveled to Central America and Mexico on a Fulbright Hays Fellowship and was a recipient of the American Council of Young Political Leaders. In 1995, he was elected to the Los Angeles Unified School Board where he served 12 years representing East LA, Northeast LA, and the Southeast cities of Los Angeles county. His most important triumphs on the school board included passing 4 school bonds valued at 15Billion dollars and started LA schools on full day kindergarten.

Jeff Kravitz

Jeff Kravitz is currently a Partner at Fox Rothschild LLP where he focuses his practice on business and intellectual property, entertainment, and technology matters. Prior to joining Fox in February, Kravitz was a partner in the intellectual property and entertainment practices at Silver & Freedman and at Lord Bissell & Brook LLP, where he was managing partner from 1999-2002, in Los Angeles. Active in the legal community, Kravitz is a member of the Los Angeles Copyright & Trademark Society, the British American Business Council, the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, and the American Bar Association Sub-Committee on Communications Law. In the past, Kravitz has served as director for the Westwood Homeowners Association, and was on the board of directors for The Westside Congregation (Kehillat Ma’arav). Kravitz was recently named a Top 10 Entertainment IP Lawyer by the Los Angeles & San Francisco Daily Journal, and he has been selected consistently as a Southern California Intellectual Property “Super Lawyer” since 2003. Kravitz received his J.D. from Loyola Law School, and his B.A., cum laude, from the University of California at Los Angeles.

Suzanne Wilson

Suzanne Wilson is a partner at the Los Angeles office of Arnold & Porter LLP, a DC-based law firm. Suzanne Wilson specializes in representing Internet and technology companies, as well as consumer products companies and other businesses, in commercial and intellectual property litigation at the trial court and appellate levels in both state and federal courts. She frequently writes and speaks on IP issues. She has been recognized by the Southern California Super Lawyers publication in 2006, 2008, and 2009 for Intellectual Property Litigation and The Legal 500 US in 2008 in the copyright area. She received her undergraduate degree in economics from UC Berkeley and is a graduate of Harvard Law School. She is a member of the board of the California Women’s Law Center and was recently elected treasurer of the board. She is also active in the International Trademark Association (INTA).

Andrea Azdril

Andrea Azdril is the CEO of Startech Global, a custom software development firm that builds high quality new products for growing software companies. Startech’s hybrid onshore/offshore development model solves the pain of outsourcing while keeping prices affordable. Andrea also serves as the Senior Strategy Consultant for UCLA’s Management Development for Entrepreneurs Program, assisting hundreds of business owners with strategic growth planning each year through teaching and coaching. She is a frequent guest lecturer for UC Santa Barbara’s Technology Management Program, and serves as the global chair for the Entrepreneurs’ Organization’s Accelerator Program. Andrea holds a BA from UC Santa Barbara, and an MBA in entrepreneurship from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Michelle Lindner

Michelle Lindner is the Director of Marketing and Corporate Sponsorships at Generic Events. She co-founded Generic Events, an Athletic Event Planning and Promotions company, with her husband in 2002. Today, Generic Events owns and executes over twenty events a year varying from the California XTERRA Trail Run Series to the Bali International Triathlon. Before venturing into entrepreneurial territory, Michelle was the Marketing Director for HQ Entertainment, a Gift Card Program Management company, and assisted with the launch of the first national mall gift card program for Westfield Shoppingtowns. Michelle earned her BA degree from San Diego State University.