Meet Our 2026 Spring Academic Student Mentors

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Maren’s career has spanned various customer-facing, project management, and operational roles- primarily in the manufacturing sector for over 20 years. She earned both PMP® and CAPM® certifications in 2022. Along the way, she became a certified trainer in Britt Andreatta’s Change Quest model. Maren fell in love with this model for its simple approach, based on neuroscience, to understand how our brains navigate change. Maren has found that applying the practical tools from this framework can significantly boost project success rates.

Maren now serves as her company’s first-ever Transformation Strategy Manager (a.k.a. PMO Leader). By blending project and change management best practices, Maren partners with senior leaders to drive transformation that sticks. She’s excited to share her journey with the PMI community, offering fresh insights on navigating change with confidence and turning resistance into results.

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Theresa Parra is Executive Director of People & Development at Netafim North America (Orbia Precision Agriculture), where she partners with senior leaders to strengthen leadership effectiveness, reset culture, and align day-to-day behaviors with organizational values during periods of growth and change. Theresa holds a B.A. in Psychology from CSU Fresno, an MBA, and a J.D. With deep experience across talent management, leadership development, employee relations, and organizational culture, Theresa is known for translating complex people challenges into practical, actionable strategies leaders can apply immediately--especially in environments shaped by complexity, pressure, and transition.

A certified applied positive psychology coach, SPHR, and published author, Theresa brings a grounded, real‑world perspective shaped by hands‑on leadership work in high‑pressure environments. Her work focuses on helping organizations move beyond stated values to consistent, observable behaviors that build trust, accountability, and psychological safety. Theresa is a frequent speaker and facilitator for HR and leadership audiences, blending insight, clarity, and practicality.

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I have been with Community Health Systems for 14 years. Graduated from Fresno State on a Friday and started there on a Monday. Worked my way up from an entry-level analyst to manager for Enterprise Analytics in the Information Technology Services group. It has been a journey of dedication, tenacity, and confidence in the organization's mission. 

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I am a proud Fresno resident and Project Manager (PMP®) for the City of Fresno’s Capital Projects Department, bringing 15 years of entrepreneurial and corporate leadership to our local civil service. My professional trajectory is truly international – ranging from surveying valleys amongst Buddhist monasteries in the Upper Himalayas, calculating snow loads in Quebec to providing water and power to Disney and Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank.

As the first female engineer from my tiny village in North India to earn both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering—a traditionally male-dominated field—I am a passionate advocate for women’s education and empowerment.

My ‘backup plans’ include training in classical Indian ragas, ancient instruments, and folk dances, alongside preserving grandma’s recipes and traditional arts like pottery, knitting, sewing, and embroidery. I also hold 'honours in humour' (yes, with ‘u’:) and am always ready for a kite-flying competition on the terrace when I’m back home in India.

If any of these topics interest you, or if you would like to discuss your own professional path, I would love to connect. 

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work as a fractional VP of Strategy and CFO, helping companies turn data into better decisions. Most of my work sits at the intersection of finance, operations, and technology, partnering with leadership teams to clean up processes, implement the right systems, and build strategies that actually scale. I often step in as an executive proxy or sponsor on key initiatives, helping bridge the gap between strategy and execution. Through my firm, Fresh Strategies, I primarily work with companies in the produce and fresh food space, where things move fast and complexity builds quickly.

My background includes financial leadership, ERP optimization (Famous Software and Microsoft Dynamics 365 BC), and building out data and analytics platforms. I’ve worked on everything from cash flow and operational improvements to integrating multiple data sources into something teams can actually use, including layering in data science concepts to improve forecasting, trend analysis, and decision support. I’ve also held my PMP for nearly 10 years, which has shaped how I approach projects in a practical, structured, and execution-focused way.

Outside of that, I like building things. I run a woodworking brand where I design and make custom pieces, and I’m also working on building a social media presence by sharing fun videos and practical tips along the way. Whether it’s in business or in the shop, I tend to approach things the same way: simplify where possible, build systems that make sense, and create something that lasts.

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Lauren Huff is Deputy Director at CALSTART with more than 10 years of experience building the systems, governance frameworks, and cross-functional teams that help complex organizations scale. She currently provides leadership across a multimillion-dollar clean transportation incentive portfolio, overseeing operations, process improvement, and stakeholder alignment for programs that accelerate fleet adoption of zero-emission technologies. Students interested in operations, project management, sustainability, public policy, or technology-driven problem solving will value her expertise in leadership, systems transformation, and turning big challenges into measurable results.

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Jabed Khan began a professional career in 2001 after completing a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Texas Tech University. Over the past 25 years, Jabed has developed extensive expertise in engineering design, construction, and project management across a broad range of civil engineering projects, including transportation infrastructure, land development, water and sewer systems, and landfill facilities. In the current role as a Senior Transportation Engineer and Project Manager with Caltrans, Jabed oversees and manages a project portfolio exceeding $200 million along State Routes 99, 198, and 190 in Tulare County

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Mohamad Annan as Chapter President. A founding member of the chapter since 2010, with over 16 years of active engagement in PMI and extensive professional experience. Annan brings proven leadership, vision, and a commitment to advancing the role of project management in Central Valley’s economic and professional growth. 

As a professional in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Construction Management, and Project Management, Annan has successfully guided teams and initiatives across both the public and private sectors. His experience as a PMP® instructor further underscores his passion for professional development and his ability to inspire others to achieve project success.

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John Briar is an Independent Business Owner with Tranont and Co Owner of Johndrea LLC, operator of Starlight Design, a custom apparel and promotional products business. After retiring in 2022 from a successful career in information technology and project leadership, John now focuses on entrepreneurship, mentoring, and community service. His professional background includes leadership roles with California Health Sciences University, the California State University system, and Chevron. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an Information Systems option from California State University, Fresno, and an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley.

John has also dedicated many years to volunteer leadership, especially with the PMI California Central Valley Chapter, where he has served in several board roles. He and his wife live in the Coarsegold foothills, and he enjoys spending time with family, serving his community, and taking his classic 1964 1/2 Ford Mustang out for a drive.

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I approach project and program management through the lens of systems and process design, focusing on how business strategy translates into day-to-day execution. My work sits at the intersection of business and IT, where I help teams turn loosely defined goals into structured, scalable solutions.

I have supported the deployment of ERP and CRM platforms, including Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Salesforce, with a focus on improving customer engagement workflows and simplifying internal operations. Rather than treating implementations as one-time projects, I focus on how systems, processes, and teams need to evolve together to drive lasting impact.

I enjoy sharing practical, real-world insights with students and early-career professionals, particularly around navigating ambiguity, working effectively with technical teams, and building solutions that are both functional and sustainable.

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Max Tsai is a higher education technology and digital transformation leader at California State University, Fresno, where he serves as Director of Planning and Digital Transformation. He brings extensive experience in enterprise technology, AI-enabled innovation, platform modernization, and organizational strategy, with a strong focus on making technology practical and accessible for campus communities.

Max offers students a valuable perspective on how leadership, innovation, and digital transformation come together to solve real-world problems. He is especially passionate about workforce development, student success, and helping others connect technology, strategy, and meaningful career growth

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With 25 years in education, I’m passionate about helping students connect what they learn in school to real-world careers. I currently serve as the Business Engagement Coordinator for Fresno Unified School District, supporting the Career Technical Education (CTE) department. My focus is on building industry partnerships and creating hands-on learning experiences that help students explore careers and develop the skills they need to succeed.

In addition to my work in K–12, I’ve spent over a decade teaching in higher ed. I was an Adjunct Business Faculty member at the University of Phoenix for 12 years, and I now teach at Fresno City College and American Public University. I love bringing practical insights into the classroom and helping students understand how business concepts apply in everyday life and work.

I also bring an entrepreneurial perspective to everything I do. For 25 years, I’ve owned and operated a successful mobile DJ and photo booth business. Running a business has sharpened my skills in customer service, event planning, and business management. It has also given me plenty of real-world stories to share with students.

My goal is to help prepare the next generation of professionals by bridging the gap between education and industry. I’m always open to connecting with others who are passionate about education, workforce development, and building strong communities through collaboration.

My name is Karlie Pattillo, and I graduated from Clovis Community College with my associate’s degree in criminology. For the past three years, I’ve been working toward becoming a police cadet by staying consistent with physical training and studying. After going through several interviews, I am proud to have been hired in January 2026.

I’m currently working with the Clovis Police Department, where I help oversee the Youth Academy students and student interns. I also handle scheduling for the police cadets. I enjoy being part of a team and helping support others who are interested in a career in law enforcement. Soon, I will be helping train our new hires as we acclimate them to the culture of Clovis PD.

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Angela Pease is an IT project and program leader with more than 15 years of experience delivering complex technology initiatives, with background that includes Dell Technologies and leadership across regulated and high-risk environments. Her work has focused on project delivery, governance, risk management, digital transformation, and aligning technical execution with business value.

Angela also serves as Fresno Events Coordinator for PMI California Central Valley Chapter, where she supports the Vice President of Professional Development in delivering Fresno area chapter programs and events. At the Spring Forum, she brings students a practical perspective on disciplined delivery, structured leadership, and how strong project management helps organizations turn strategy into results.

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Jerry Dickerson, PMP® is a healthcare and project management leader with a long history of service to the PMI California Central Valley Chapter. His professional background includes Community Health System, and he has played a major role in building and sustaining academic outreach connections between PMI-CCVC and local universities. PMI-CCVC identifies him as Academic Outreach Coordinator, and chapter materials also reflect his long service in university academic outreach.

For the Spring Forum, Jerry brings students a valuable perspective on project management, professional growth, and the transition from campus learning to career application. Through his PMI-CCVC academic outreach work, he has helped connect students with mentoring, chapter engagement, and real-world project management opportunities.