Join Andrew Gregson as he sits down with Howard Kummerman, the compassionate force behind the Cypress College Foundation, to explore how a tight-knit campus community keeps students in the classroom and changes lives.

Through candid stories, Howard shares the journey of a former Cypress College student in his 30s who was living in his car while attending classes, a student who, with the right support, went on to transfer to Stanford, alongside the story of a beloved professor whose lasting legacy brought hundreds together to celebrate her life. Together, these moments illustrate how small acts of care can create life-changing outcomes.

Howard also walks listeners through the traditions and fundraising efforts that sustain the college, including the Americana Awards, alumni engagement, and scholarship programs that thoughtfully connect students with donors. Along the way, he reveals the deeply human side of philanthropy: donors who once needed help themselves, committed board members, and dedicated staff quietly working behind the scenes to hold the campus together. It’s a hopeful, human story about education, community, and the powerful ripple effects of giving back.

On her 296th day as Mayor, Joyce Ahn takes us from global sales floors to neighborhood sidewalks in a conversation that unfolds like a close‑up of leadership in action. She recounts late nights launching tech brands, years of volunteer work that pulled her into public service, and the unexpected moment the community asked her to become their voice, a story of quiet conviction that becomes a public calling.

Along the way she wrestles with real stakes: revitalizing an aging Friendship Park, growing Buena Park’s Koreatown as an economic engine, and modernizing public safety, all while balancing the strain of decision‑making and the reward of community moments like CultureFest and youth programs. Listen for practical lessons on civic teamwork, the grit of municipal strategy, and a mayor’s personal promise to leave a safer, stronger city for the next generation.

On a stormy morning in Orange County, immigration attorney Lisa D. Ramirez recounts the moment she could no longer stand on the sidelines: the day enforcement swept through Santa Ana and she felt the law and people’s lives slipping away. For 25 years she has stood beside asylum seekers, trafficking survivors, veterans and families, and that work becomes the heartbeat of her campaign for California’s 40th District.

This episode follows Lisa from an eye-opening exchange student summer in Italy to a nonprofit fellowship that redirected her toward immigration law, and then into the courtroom and the community where she’s fought for due process, DACA youth, and a Marine’s family caught in the immigration system. Through candid stories of clients, the strain on small businesses, and a vision for affordable healthcare and housing, listeners are invited into a personal and pragmatic case for public service, one driven by compassion, urgency and the belief that government should work for people, not politics.

Join ChamberTalk host Andrew Gregson as he sits down with Patty Oh, whose unlikely journey from licensed Harley‑Davidson jewelry to leading Cool OC becomes a story about resilience, reinvention and the power of community. After a career shift forced by trade wars and a pandemic, Patty turns personal concern for her children’s future into a mission to make sustainability accessible across Orange County.

Through neighborhood block parties, youth leadership programs, hands‑on repair clinics and community gardens, Patty and Cool OC show how small, practical choices, composting, fixing what’s broken, making room for electric vehicles can add up to real change. Along the way she navigates city partnerships, funding challenges and the big-picture policies that shape our shared future.

This ChamberTalk episode blends candid personal history with useful takeaways and an invitation: do what inspires you. Whether you’re a business owner, parent, or curious neighbor, hear how one nonprofit is building connection, hope and tangible solutions one block at a time. Watch video: https://youtu.be/kPyhaFCPUo4

Dr. Stefan Bean’s life reads like a novel: born in Saigon, rescued by Operation Babylift, raised by foster heroes, and overcoming polio to become an educator, principal, and now County Superintendent.

In this episode of ChamberTalk, Dr. Bean opens up about:

• His bold 5-3-1 plan to protect students and prepare them for the future

• Facing crises like fentanyl, cyberbullying, and widening job gaps

• Playing cribbage with incarcerated youth to build hope and connection

• The village that helps him raise his four children

• Leadership lessons shaping his memoir, Lifted to Lead

Join us for an inspiring conversation with a leader turning hard stories into practical change and reimagining what education can achieve when students come first.

Meet Professor Rosalind Henderson, a lifelong educator who turned burnout into a blueprint for bold, authentic leadership. In this episode, Rosalind shares the pivotal moments that pushed her to reflect, set boundaries, and rediscover her voice. She reveals the exact practices that sustained her through teaching 850 students, writing multimillion-dollar grants, and navigating one of the most demanding professions.

Through candid stories like setting firm boundaries with parents, redefining a life of service, and unlearning the “be quiet” programming many women inherit, Rosalind shows how small daily practices such as five-minute resets, baby steps through change, and disciplined self-care can build resilience, clarity, and influence.

Whether you’re leading a team, returning to work, or simply feeling stuck, Rosalind’s message is both practical and inspiring: reconnect to your core, lift others up, and lead with your full, feminine power.

Join Andrew Gregson on ChamberTalk for a heartfelt conversation with Janeth Manjarrez, a first-generation student turned educator and now Interim Executive Director of the Friends of Fullerton College Foundation, who is rebuilding the organization from the ground up.

From intimate stories of students in crisis to major milestones like securing a $3 million STEM grant, Janeth shares how compassion, strategy, and persistence come together to create real impact. She opens up about the quiet, meticulous work of turning care into systems that scale, building scholarships, endowments, and planned giving opportunities that expand access for the most underserved students.

This episode traces a journey of equity, resilience, and community:

• How one small but mighty team multiplies impact

• The realities of supporting first-generation and underserved students

• Why leadership and resources can open pathways where none existed before

Janeth’s story is both a love letter to students and a call to action. As she reminds us with her motto, “Sí se puede,” or “Yes, you can.”

Whether you’re a donor, educator, student, or neighbor, this episode invites you into a narrative of purpose, showing how one foundation can transform thousands of lives.

Meet Jill Schulman, a Marine officer veteran, leadership expert, and author whose life is a study in courage. In this episode, Jill recounts the moment she decided to keep showing up as a young ROTC candidate, the lessons that turned doubt into determination, and how those same principles now help leaders and businesses push past fear to achieve meaningful results.

Through candid stories and evidence-based insights drawn from psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral science, Jill explains 'The Bravery Effect': why choosing the hard path builds confidence, well-being, and lasting success. Whether you’re a leader, a parent, or an entrepreneur navigating uncertainty, her practical strategies, from the power of “yet” to building a brave tribe, offer a roadmap for turning fear into forward motion.

Tune in to discover how to embrace discomfort, overcome self-limiting beliefs, and cultivate the habits that propel careers and companies forward. By the end, you’ll be asking: will I choose courage or live with the pain of regret?