ɫ��ɫ

Barron Effenberger is the current Chair of the ɫ��ɫ MBA Advisory Board and an alumnus of the Evening MBA program. He brings more than 15 years of experience in the industrial automation industry, working with Emerson Electric and its Impact Partner network, and currently serves as Business Development Manager at Caltrol, Inc., where he helps operators in complex industries take automation initiatives from concept to deployment.

Beyond his day-to-day work, Barron is passionate about sustainability and the energy transition, with a focus on where industrial automation supports cleaner fuels and trustworthy emissions measurement and reporting. He also serves as Vice Chair of Sustain SoCal.

Prior to his automation career, Barron served in the United States Marine Corps, where he reached the rank of Sergeant (E-5) and held various leadership and quality-control roles throughout his enlistment. He holds an MBA in Finance from ɫ��ɫ and a B.S. in Business with a concentration in management, and earned a Sustainability Certificate from UCLA Extension.

A ɫ��ɫ MBA Alum, is an experienced non-profit Board member, professional networker/connector and retired business development professional in the financial services industry. Lori earned both her BS Finance and MBA degrees from ɫ��ɫ while working full time. She understands the challenges students face, especially post pandemic.  

When asked, why join the Board, she stated that, “this is an important time for alumni who are business people in the Community to get involved and make a difference.”She knows she can help be a bridge between the students and industry by leveraging relationships with businesses with the needs of the students and the college. She brings all of this and is making a difference.

Beltran is a seasoned municipal leader whose two-decade tenure with the city of Lakewood exemplifies steady, purposeful public service. Since March 2004, he has served as deputy city manager, having also held roles as assistant to the city manager and senior management analyst, building a deep institutional knowledge and commitment to effective local governance. 

Beltran has contributed to the broader field of city management on the state and national levels as well, serving on policy committees for the League of California Cities and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). Yet perhaps what defines Beltran most is his dedication to mentorship and developing the next generation of public servants. 

He has mentored graduate students through his service on the ɫ��ɫ Graduate Business Programs Advisory Board, the MPA Program and at UCLA, and continues to guide emerging public sector professionals through ICMA, investing his experience and insight into those who will carry the work forward. 

Sean Boatman is a banking professional with over 20 years of industry experience, spent primarily with Farmers & Merchants Bank of Long Beach. After moving to Long Beach in 2004, he built his academic foundation locally, attending Long Beach City College before earning both a Bachelor of Arts in History and an MBA from California State University, Long Beach.

Deeply rooted in the local community, Sean resides in Cypress, California, with his wife, their two daughters, and dog. His oldest daughter is continuing the family’s ɫ��ɫ legacy by pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. 

Driven by a desire to give back to the institutions that shaped his personal and professional journey, Sean is dedicated to supporting the success of the Long Beach academic community and is honored to serve the ɫ��ɫ Graduate Business Programs Advisory Board.

Kurt Brouwer enjoyed a 35-year career with the City of Newport Beach, where he dedicated his entire tenure to the Finance Department. Serving as the Senior Buyer at the time of his retirement, Kurt was responsible for procuring goods and services for all thirteen municipal departments across the city.  He also oversaw operations of the Central Warehouse, managing an inventory of more than a thousand unique items ranging from tools and safety equipment to janitorial supplies.

Kurt has remained deeply engaged in higher education and community service. He began volunteering on campus at KLON (now KKJZ) back in the late 1980’s, and has continued his service across five decades. He currently serves on the GBP Advisory Board and the MPA Alumni Engagement Committee (in the College of Health and Human Services). He also contributed more than ten years of service on the ɫ��ɫ Alumni Association Board of Directors, completing two terms as President. Kurt has mentored students through both the Student Center for Professional Development (SCPD) and the Graduate Business Career Services (GBCS) programs.

Kurt earned his Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Administration from ɫ��ɫ in 2000. He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology (with minors in Psychology and Human Services) from California State University, Fullerton and an Associate’s Degree from Orange Coast College.

With nearly 30 years of broad executive experience in several countries, today Sharon Eshett uses her background—and her ɫ��ɫ degrees—to manage her family’s real estate holdings. 

A ɫ��ɫ Finance graduate, she launched her career at Southern California Edison as a financial analyst. A few years later she returned to ɫ��ɫ for her MBA. Next, she followed our globalizing economy with a home decor company in Israel and in Switzerland with Gucci Timepieces. 

Sharon returned to the U.S. and worked in the executive offices of a corporate holding firm and a real estate investment company, ultimately using her experience in consulting, helping a wide range of clients, particularly in transportation and logistics. 

Having nearly grown up on campus—in her father’s faculty office—Sharon is happy to be back at ɫ��ɫ sharing her extensive business background on the MBA Advisory Board.

Marlon Euceda is a supply chain and procurement professional with over 10 years of experience in inventory management, demand planning, sourcing, production planning, and logistics. He holds a Master of Science in Global Supply Chain Management and an MBA, combining a strong technical and business foundation to drive data-driven operational decisions.

Throughout his career, Marlon has supported organizations in the automotive, consumer electronics, manufacturing, industrial equipment, oil & gas, energy, and apparel industries. His expertise includes procurement, inventory optimization, forecasting, supplier relationship management, ERP systems, production scheduling, and cross-functional collaboration. He has developed replenishment strategies, implemented inventory control processes, improved forecasting accuracy, and led process improvement initiatives that enhanced operational efficiency and reduced supply chain risk.

Passionate about continuous improvement and lifelong learning, Marlon enjoys solving complex business challenges through analytics, collaboration, and strategic planning. He is recognized for building strong relationships across organizations, mentoring teams, and delivering practical solutions that support business growth and operational excellence.

Kevin Okerstrom isn industry expert in environmental health and safety and an MBA, ɫ��ɫ Alum. 

Kevin was heavily involved in the Student Center for Professional Development (SCPD) Advisory Board for several years. He was Chair of that Board and implemented many new initiatives to enhance the program and it grew greatly under his leadership. He now feels called to contribute in a new way by joining the Graduate Business Programs (GBP) Advisory Board. Bringing an environmental health and safety background will add depth to the Board, as well as bringing experience from another ɫ��ɫ Advisory Board. His leadership and strategic skills will have a strong and immediate impact.

Massimo Masini is an expert of continuous improvement leveraging Lean Practices, Quality and Operational Excellence in several custom-engineered, made to order businesses ranging from small companies to Fortune 500 firms. 

Massimo held Operations leadership positions in several manufacturing industries from high-tech to Aerospace (Technicolor, ThyssenKrupp, B/E Aerospace, TECT Power, Bodycote). While at Bodycote, Massimo built a very strong leadership team that improved OTD from 80% to over 98% in less than one year. He transformed the Business from a reactive to a proactive customer centric culture embracing the “zero defect base” reducing the Cost of Poor Quality by 50% and improving Safety reducing LTIP by 65% currently. 

Massimo gained global experience managing all international operations while at Technicolor in Thailand, US and three European countries. In addition to holding a B.S. and M.S. in Engineering, Massimo has a MBA from CSU Long Beach; he is Certified Black Belt and Six Sigma. He resides in California with his wife and two children and as hobby he teaches at ɫ��ɫ the “Management & Operations” course in the On-line and the Saturday MBA.

Aivanna P. De Villa is an IT Governance Specialist with UCLA Digital & Technology Solutions, where she supports technology governance, strategic planning, and cross-functional initiatives that advance the university's digital transformation efforts. She partners with executive leadership, campus stakeholders, and governance committees to facilitate decision-making, strengthen organizational effectiveness, and drive institutional priorities.

Prior to joining UCLA, Aivanna held multiple positions within the California State University Chancellor's Office, where she supported executive leadership in human resources, organizational operations, and systemwide initiatives. Her professional background spans governance, strategic operations, project management, organizational change management, and process improvement across higher education.

Aivanna earned her Master of Business Administration from California State University, Long Beach, and holds the SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) credential, along with certifications in Prosci Change Management and Lean Six Sigma. She will begin pursuing her Master of Legal Studies at the UCLA School of Law in Fall 2026.

As a member of the Graduate Business Programs Advisory Board at California State University, Long Beach, Aivanna is passionate about strengthening partnerships between higher education and industry while helping prepare future business leaders for long-term success.

Kaylin Poley is the Employee Experience and Internal Communications Manager at Terran Orbital. She received her bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management with an emphasis on culture and diversity in the workplace from California State University, Long Beach. She recently graduated with a master's degree in Organizational Leadership from Columbia Southern University.

Kaylin has been in the aerospace industry for 6 years. Her role consists of employee engagement, communications, managing employee resource groups and clubs, overseeing all learning and development initiatives, and handling rewards and recognition programs.

Jose Raya Perez is a Procurement Operations Specialist with the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic & Paralympic Games (LA28), where he supports end-to-end procure-to-pay activities across multiple procurement categories. In his role, he oversees and processes more than 45 concurrent requisitions while managing purchase orders and change orders to ensure the timely delivery of goods and services and accurate payment processing, all in compliance with organizational policies and procedures.

Jose earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State University, Long Beach (ɫ��ɫ) with dual emphases in Management and Operations & Supply Chain Management. He recently completed his Master of Business Administration (MBA) at ɫ��ɫ, further strengthening his expertise in business strategy, operations, and leadership.
With approximately six years of experience in the aerospace and industrial manufacturing sectors, Jose has built a strong foundation in procurement, supply chain operations, process improvement, and manufacturing support. Throughout his career, he has contributed to maintaining supply chain integrity, ensuring operational compliance, enhancing data accuracy, and driving efficiencies across procurement and manufacturing workflows.

As a first-generation college graduate, Jose is passionate about mentorship and student development. During his time at ɫ��ɫ, he served as a mentor in the university's GenExcel Program, helping first-generation students successfully navigate the transition to college by providing guidance on academics, professional development, leadership opportunities, and campus resources.

Jose currently serves as Chair of the Business Organization Student (BOS) Alumni Advisory Board within the ɫ��ɫ College of Business. In this leadership role, he collaborates with student organizations to develop and deliver annual leadership boot camps focused on leadership transition, project management, organizational sustainability, and financial stewardship. Since the board's inception, these efforts have contributed to increasing student engagement by more than 200 percent across participating organizations.

Outside of his professional and volunteer commitments, Jose enjoys attending and watching soccer, baseball, and football games, visiting Disneyland, traveling, attending concerts, exploring new coffee shops, and having memorable experiences with family and friends. 

Stacy Shaffer is the Senior Director of Marketing Operations & Business Intelligence at PBS SoCal, where she has worked for 15 years. She oversees integrated marketing functions, including campaign planning, advertising, social media, email marketing, communications, marketing technology, and audience insights. 

Stacy holds a B.A. in Communications Studies and an M.B.A. from California State University, Long Beach.

Karita Webber is a Business Management Director, Northrop Grumman Space Sector.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from California State University, Long Beach, and has completed advanced graduate studies and professional certifications at prestigious institutions, including UCLA, where she participated in programs such as the Executive Management Program, the African American Leadership Institute, and earned the Professional Designation in Government Contract Management. She also earned a Certificate in Effective Leadership from the University of Southern California. Karita’s continuous pursuit of education culminated in a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Mid-America Christian University, and she is currently advancing her expertise through a Doctor of Strategic Leadership at Liberty University.

She enjoys serving on the Graduate Business Programs Advisory Board at California State University, Long Beach, where she actively supports emerging leaders through mentorship and guidance.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Karita is deeply passionate about community engagement and personal development. She also serves as the Director of Fine Arts and Worship Leader at Greater Cornerstone Church of Los Angeles, where she shares her dedication to her faith and the arts. She is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Mark Suazo serves as dean of the College of Business at California State University, Long Beach, bringing extensive experience in higher education leadership and public service. A first-generation college graduate, he is deeply committed to social mobility, student success, and fostering a strong sense of belonging for all students. Prior to ɫ��ɫ, he served as dean of the Harmon College of Business and Professional Studies at the University of Central Missouri and held leadership roles at several other universities. Dean Suazo holds a Ph.D. in business from the University of Kansas and brings prior professional experience from the U.S. Department of Energy, shaping his emphasis on ethical leadership, communication, and collaboration. 

Ella Gomez joined the College of Business at California State University, Long Beach in November 2018 as Development Director working on major gift fundraising. She reaches out to alumni and friends of the university to share philanthropic opportunities that support student success, from scholarships to funding for academic departments, experiential learning programs, and centers. 

Ella has also worked in development at Loyola Marymount University, CSU, Dominguez Hills and Classical KUSC. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from ɫ��ɫ.

Frank McEnulty is a Fractional CFO, Business Consultant and a full-time Lecturer at California State University, Long Beach in the areas of Finance, International Finance and Entrepreneurship.  Prior to starting his teaching career and continuing today, he has been involved in multiple start-up ventures spanning a wide range of business activities.  As an experienced financial executive, he has an extensive background in new business start-up, finance and accounting, multiple location management, real estate development, financial analysis, workout and mediation, presentations and public speaking, cash management, property management, development and operations.  

Frank also serves on the Board of Directors for Ojai Oil Company, a 100-plus year-old self-storage and oil company. In the past he has served as a board member and cofounder of medical device, bio-medical and cannabis industry companies.

Frank has B.S. degrees from CSU Long Beach in Accounting and Finance and an MBA from the University of Southern California in Entrepreneur and Venture Management.

Sabrina Landa serves as a Lecturer in Accountancy and Graduate Programs Director of Academic Support & Innovation with over ten years of experience teaching a wide range of undergraduate and graduate courses. She brings more than 25 years of accounting and leadership experience, including roles as Controller, Chief Operations Officer, and Fractional CFO, which inform her practical, applied approach to teaching. Her expertise spans strategic decision-making, data management, analytics-driven program development, and public financial reporting.

As the principal owner of an advisory and accounting firm, Sabrina remains actively engaged in industry practice, ensuring her curriculum reflects current trends and real-world application. She is deeply committed to student success and serves as Faculty Advisor for the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) at California State University, Long Beach. Her dedication to service and continuous learning is reflected in her involvement in community outreach and applied research.

Sabrina holds a BS in Accounting and a BS in Finance from Chapman University, an MBA from University of Massachusetts Global, and has achieved ABD status in the EdD in Organizational Leadership program at Argosy University.

Cynthia Saavedra joined ɫ��ɫ in 2015 as a central fundraiser, educating prospects and donors on the importance of giving, and identifying new philanthropic support for various presidential and campus-wide fundraising priorities. 

In 2025, Saavedra joined the College of Business development team, focusing efforts on growing philanthropic resources in the college to further the dean’s vision, empower current and future business students, and expand the impact and value of a ɫ��ɫ business degree. 

Professor, Dept of Accountancy
Director, College of Business Graduate Programs
Director, MS Accountancy Program
Director, Evening MBA Program
Director, Online MBA Program
Director, Daytime MBA Program
Director, Weekend MBA Program

Professor Smith joined ɫ��ɫ over 20 years ago. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Irvine. His primary research interests focus on financial and non-financial measures of organizational performance, and the business value of information technology. He has published articles in The Accounting Review, The Journal of Information Systems, The International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, and the Journal of Management Accounting Research, among others. He teaches Advanced Accounting Information Systems and Data Analytics for the M. S. in Accountancy program and Accounting Information Systems at the undergraduate level. 

Dr. Alysa Turkowitz has spent the majority of her career working within the university setting. Her career in academia began at Columbia University and spanned over 20 years serving in several progressively responsible, high-profile roles, including at the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, the School of Public Health and Columbia Business School. 

Her expertise within higher education including academic administration and operations, marketing and recruitment strategy, student and alumni affairs and career development. While at Columbia, Alysa taught as an Adjunct Professor in the Counseling Psychology Program. 

After a move to the west coast, she spent 3 years working at the Anderson School of Management at UCLA serving as Executive Director of a specialized graduate program and was instrumental in helping lift it to a top 10 national ranking program. She currently serves as the Associate Dean at the College of Professional and Continuing Education at Cal State Long Beach and oversees all professional and workforce development and academic programs and courses. 

Alysa holds an E.D.D. in Adult Learning and Leadership from Columbia University, an M.A. in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University and a B.A. in Psychology from Vassar College.