Daela Taeoalii-Higgs - Moderator

"I grew up in (Salt Lake City), and to me living healthy means engaging in activities and relationships that bring my face joy and make my spirit weightless. 

Ever since I attended an Intermountain Healthcare LiVe Well Conference awhile back, I've put stronger prompts in place for increased water, fruits, vegetables, Omega-3 and whole grain consumption in my diet. I'm also working on getting a minimum of 7-hours of sleep. These are all things I really love but haven't consistently been making the time for.

I'm passionate about: service to others; learning from others; celebrating others; and the expression of gratitude for life in all of its trials, blessings, lessons, and achievements."

Dr John Sanders 

Board-certified family physician with emphases in family medicine, pediatrics, dermatology, sports medicine, osteopathic musculoskeletal manipulations, and holistic medicine. He attended medical school at Nova Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Lauderdale and residency at a dual-accredited family medicine residency in Jacksonville. He has four children and his hobbies include woodworking, pickleball, soccer, volleyball, mountain biking and foraging for wild mushrooms. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and knowledgeable in Spanish. 

Sarah M. Toalepai - Moderator

I am a hardworking, productive, and results driven individual. A team player regardless of the task or industry involved. I enjoy encouraging, training, and uplifting others to rise to their potential and obtain results along the pathway for present and future success. Seeing others grow and succeed is very empowering, rewarding, and important to me.

With management opportunities among different industries, it has given me more insight, difference of perspectives, and understanding of people, communication, and how to achieve results and hit goals. 

Raymond Christy

I am a results-oriented professional with a strong focus on customer service satisfaction. My specialties include Federal Davis-Bacon wage compliance on construction projects, logistics, purchasing, consumer products sales, program coordination, mediation training, and federal program compliance.

Christopher Jennings

Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Chris attended the University of Utah and Gonzaga University School of Law.  He has worked as a prosecutor, and in public procurement at the State of Utah and Salt Lake City.  He enjoys hiking, travel and time with his family.   

Simeon Terry

Simeon is the Vice President of Diversity Affairs for Austin Commercial and has been in the construction   industry for 28 years and managed diversity programs for 20 years. In his current role as Vice President, Mr.   Terry oversees the companies Diversity and Inclusion program both internally and externally. This includes   overseeing the cultural competency education, diversity compliance, affirmative action, recruiting/hiring,   mentoring and business procurement diversity. In addition, developing and implementing strategic strategies   that will maximize inclusion in the workforce diversity work space as well as in the supplier diversity work   space. The role of diversity affairs is to ensure that equity, diversity and inclusion are considered at the   highest levels of all decisions within the company and established as a core organizational value. Previously,   Mr. Terry has held the positions of Director of Diversity and Diversity Program Manager for Austin   Commercial over his 18 years with the company.

Mr. Terry works hand in hand with many different departments within Austin including; accounting, legal, risk management, marketing & business development, operations and human resources. Prior to his career in construction Simeon worked as a manufacturing engineering for McDonnell Douglas in ST. Louis, MO building F-18 Hornet Airplanes for the Navy and as a Loss Control Regional Manager for Liberty Mutual.

Mr. Terry holds a Bachelor Degree in Industrial Engineering from Kansas State University and an MBA in Finance. He also holds a Master Compliance Administrator Certification (MCA) from Morgan State University.

Thomas Faaliliu

Experienced Customer Service Supervisor with a demonstrated history of working in the internet industry. Skilled in Microsoft Excel, Management, Microsoft Word, Team Leadership, and Team Building. 

Richard Wolfgramm - Moderator

Richard Wolfgramm is the co-founder and Vice Principal of Mana Academy Charter School's secondary campus and a former member of its Board of Directors. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Utah Museum of Fine Arts (UMFA), where he has played a key role in showcasing Pacific Island visual artists. Richard also sits on the Board of the National Pacific-American Leadership Institute (NAPALI) and the University of Utah IRB Board, advocating for Pacific Islanders in medical research.

With a background in publishing, radio, and podcasting, Richard is deeply committed to community activism and social justice. Born in Kahuku, Hawaii, with roots in Tonga, he grew up in Vava’u before settling in West Valley City, Utah.

Benjamin Powell

30 plus years in the beauty industry, a lead international stylist, has graced us with his work in many capacities in the hair and beauty industry. His career has spanned across several opportunities with Regis Corporation, a fortune 500 company, where he served as a Regional Sales Director. The last 15 years he was with Paul Mitchell as a national corporate sales and education leader, which allowed him to travel and work with salons in North America, Canada, Europe and Caribbean. Currently residing in Salt Lake City, working with various cosmetology schools and recruiting and hiring for Aveda salons in Salt Lake City. 

Afa Ah Loo

Self-taught fashion designer from Samoa, has gained global recognition for his culturally inspired creations, seamlessly blending traditional Samoan aesthetics with contemporary design. His distinctive style has left an indelible mark on international fashion, earning him invitations to prestigious fashion weeks worldwide, from Los Angeles to Fiji and New Zealand. A pinnacle moment in Afa's career was a special invitation from Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to showcase his designs at Buckingham Palace, alongside other Commonwealth designers. Afa's ability to infuse Samoan cultural elements into his designs not only captivates audiences but also brings attention to Pacific Island fashion. Breaking new ground, Afa made history as the first Samoan designer on Project Runway, showcasing not just technical and creative prowess but also paving the way for increased representation of Pacific Island talent in the global fashion arena. Additionally, Afa was the designer for past Miss Samoa and Miss Pacific Island winners such as Latafale Auva'a and most recently Moemoana Safa'atoa Schwenke. He has also been a judge for multiple pageants including Miss Samoa, Miss Island Goddess - Utopia Washington, and Miss Samoa Golden Gate. Beyond his fashion endeavors, Afa serves on the board of the Pacific Island Chamber of Commerce in Salt Lake City, Utah, and on the board of the Nafanua Foundation. 

Keola Keala - Moderator

With over 25 years of dedicated experience in the fitness and wellness industry, my journey has always been about connecting with people and positively impacting their lives. Beyond the titles I've held, it's the individuals I've met and the transformations I've witnessed that truly matter to me.

My passion lies in helping others learn and grow, and I consider myself a fitness industry leader and professional. My knowledge has been forged through hands-on experience at all organizational levels, and I have a proven track record of collaborating with businesses and teams of varying sizes.

My expertise spans a wide spectrum, from people development and exceptional customer service to effective sales strategies and leadership. What truly drives me is assisting people in reaching their full potential. Whether it's guiding someone toward their fitness goals, helping a team thrive, or nurturing personal growth, I find immense fulfillment in making a positive impact.

Outside of my professional life, family is at the heart of everything I do. My wonderful wife and three boys are my greatest treasures, and I'm grateful for the extended family I've gained through both work and life experiences.

Bill Kirth

35 years of experience in traditional banking, auditing, bank compliance, asset-based lending, factoring, purchase order financing, consulting, entrepreneurship, and private equity.

Bill is a partner with Rectify Partners, a corporate consulting company. He also owns/runs Rectify Capital LLC, a commercial loan brokerage. He has taught courses and has published material on asset-based lending for RMA, Lorman Education, Goldman Sachs and many other panels and seminars. He currently serves on the board of Kinect Capital (formerly VentureCapital.org), where he is also a mentor, Wasatch Business Finance (a Utah CDC), and Anchor 3PL. He is also a founder and past board member of ACG Association for Corporate Growth) Utah Chapter, the TMA (Turnaround Management Association) Utah Chapter board (as a founder) and the National RMA (Risk Management Association) membership board for 4 years as well as on the local board.

Bill also manages his own private equity fund as an Angel Investor, which currently holds equity positions in 5 companies. He has owned and sold other businesses during his career and has had extensive experience in financing early-stage, high-growth companies as well as turnaround companies.

Bill holds a green belt in Six Sigma and a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Dexter Tan

As an avid investor/entrepreneur, if you have an idea and need help with the execution or capital, message me and we can discuss a potential collaboration.

Currently writing a book on helping companies achieve maximum productivity through understanding the needs of the workforce. 

Nimesh Chadurai

Experienced Chief Operating Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the real estate industry. Skilled in Hotel Management, Customer Satisfaction, Public Speaking, Banquet Operations, and Management. Strong operations professional with a Bachelor of Science (BS) focused in Business Administration and Management, General from Westminster College. 

Brennen Thorne - Moderator

Andrew Hutchins

Andrew Hutchins is a seasoned airline professional with over 24 years of experience in the industry. Andrew began his airline career with ASA Delta Connection in 2000. Andrew Joined Ramp Operation Department as a Ramp Agent and was promoted after his first month to the Position of Customer Service Agent, after 2 years as a Customer Service Agent he accepted a special assignment as a Quality Representative, during this assignment his responsibilities included crew check rides, baggage claim observation and customer service agent and Customer interaction covering all airports in the Eastern part of the United Staes and Cananda as well as Monterey, Mexico. While Andrew was on his QA assignment, he was offered a newly created position in Tower Operation as a Departure Coordinator Monitor facilitating pre-boarding services, fueling of aircraft, catering, flight crew check-in and passenger boarding. In July 2006 Andrew was offered an opportunity to join the customer service leadership team as the Customer Service Supervisor. After serving several months in this role, Andrew accepted an opportunity to join Airport Tower leadership as a Tower Supervisor where he has served in various capacities from tower leadership training, standards and career development and an extensive range of management duties across the board. In April of 2021, he was offered the opportunity of a lifetime to help lead the Tower Operations Team as a Shift Manger at the Salt Lake City International Airport where he has been responsible for training, on time departure, emergency landings, vendor performance and monitoring as well as flight crew staffing. In November of 2021 he was offered a position in the newly created Delta Inflight Onboard Services Department, which he and his team are responsible for catering, vendor compliance, and safety and international flight protocol. With an incredible journey in the airline industry, Andrew’s greatest accomplishments are being a father of his beautiful and extremely talented 18-year-old daughter and taking care of his father, who is a disabled Veteran. 

Julius Romansanta

Julius has 20 years of leadership experience in the United States Air Force, specializing in operational planning, safety, and communications. He has built air defense plans for NORAD-USNORTHCOM, trained joint and allied military officers as an Aggressor pilot, and developed safety programs as a safety officer. A creative and dynamic strategist, Julius excels in motivating and inspiring teams.

Specialties: Command, operational planning, air defense, AOC operations, Presidential air support, operational assessments, intelligence integration, and safety.

Mele Fakaosi

A tenured airline professional with over 13 years of experience. Mele began her Delta career in 2011. She joined the Reservations team and after a few short months, transferred to Airport Customer Service where she spent 8 years working in San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, and Salt Lake City. Mele joined the IFS team in 2020 as a Field Service Manager and in the past four years, has supported the Technical Facilitators in the SLC Training Center, the San Diego AFP, and now supports the PDX base. Mele holds a bachelor’s degree in Family, Community and Human Development from the University of Utah. When not at work, Mele stays busy with her wedding photography business and enjoys quality time with her husband Siosiua, planning trips with her family, spoiling her nephew, and walks with her dog Rico. 

George Tonga

With a career spanning over two decades in law enforcement, I served at the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office from 1990 until my retirement in 2016 as a Sergeant. I have also worked with Delta Airlines for nearly 20 years, where I am currently a Ramp Agent and Wellness Leader. My skills include supervision, training, writing, computer proficiency, and effective communication. I hold an Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice Management and am a certified interpreter for the State of Utah. Additionally, I serve as an Outreach Coordinator for Granite School District, specializing in disability accommodations and human trafficking prevention.

Shannon Pirkola

Shannon Pirkola is the Engagement Center Director for Delta’s Salt Lake City Customer Engagement Center, currently leading Delta’s 2nd largest Reservations and Customer Care team.  A Delta employee since 2007, Shannon has progressed through leadership roles of increasing responsibility and impact, both in field operations and at Delta’s corporate office in Atlanta, GA. As the SLC Engagement Center Director, she has responsibility for developing and implementing strategies that ensure a world class experience for customers and employees alike through focusing on building high-performing, diverse and collaborative teams. 

Stephanie Mahina - Moderator

Proud Hafekasi woman, born to a Tongan father and an American mother. She is the founder of Talanoa Studios, a multimedia production company dedicated to producing and supporting authentic storytelling and connections among Pacific Islanders. Currently, Stephanie hosts a weekly radio show on KRCL, where she highlights leaders, organizations, artists, and community advocates. She's pursuing a Business Degree at Salt Lake Community College with aspirations of

holding an elected office position in the future. Over the past eight years, she has demonstrated her leadership and organizational skills through various roles in higher education and community advocacy. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys having dance parties and spending quality time with her 8-year-old daughter. She is a home-trained chef who loves outdoor activities, practicing yoga, and continuous learning.

Latu Kinikini

Higher education professional with a passion for organization and student success with over nineteen years of experience in program advisement, event planning, and counseling. Demonstrated success in developing degree plans for a wide range of students. Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills. Eager to apply contemporary approaches to practice, assessment and student services.

Currently pursuing my Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership and Policy. Completed a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication, with emphases in Argumentation & Decision-making, and Public Communication, Masters of Science degree in Educational Leadership and Policy. 

I welcome all professional invitations to connect and look forward to engaging with you on topics of student success, organizational excellence, and innovative practices in higher educations. 

Beth Colosimo

Executive Director at Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) for all things small business. She oversees programs such as the Business Resource Centers in Salt Lake and Park City, the Business Incubator, the Global Business Center, as well as the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program. Her goal is to provide training and educational programs to any and all entrepreneurs, start-ups and small businesses, to help them overcome obstacles and help them grow. All small business services, programs, and numerous partners are housed at one location on the Miller Campus in Sandy.

Beth’s diverse professional background involves many years in corporate America, small business ownership, and non-profit organizations.

Beth owned and operated Wasatch Home Furnishings. As an entrepreneur, she understands the challenges of owning and operating a small business and enjoys working with entrepreneurs at all stages of business development.

Beth has a BS Degree in Mass Communications, Broadcast Journalism from the University of Utah and an MBA in Marketing from Westminster College.