FBEI Advisory Board

Dr. Joseph Edward Allen is a Board-certified physician and professional artist.  He has been in private practice in Point Loma since 2002, and as Consulting Physician to PLNU since 2003.  His outside interests include botany, business management, investing, linguistics, architecture, interior design, rowing and martial arts.

Louis Amaya co-founded and, along with a dedicated team of associates, built a premier financial services company. Reporting directly into the Board of Directors, Mr. Amaya is responsible for strategic planning, M&A activity, trading, portfolio management and operations.
NAD Inc. was founded in October of 2006 to support the acquisition and management efforts of various investment funds, including NAD entitles as a principal, in the residential debt and real estate related asset classes. Through the leadership of Mr. Amaya, the enterprise quickly grew to include a specialty servicer, real estate disposition, residential mortgage banking and a technology provider. Subsidiaries include iServe Companies and xPlair Technology. The enterprise currently supports and manages over a 2.5 billion collective portfolio, has originated over 500 million, has over 280 million of real estate under, management and has 35+ investor/servicer clients using xPlair technology.

Joye Blount is a Wealth Management Advisor with the Private Client Reserve at U.S. Bank, Joye Blount helps successful individuals and their families meet their unique financial needs.  Her extensive experience enables her to build long-term relationships by offering insight and advice touching on all aspects of her client’s financial affairs.  Joye coordinates a carefully selected team of specialists to ensure that her clients fully benefit from the comprehensive capabilities and solutions the Wealth Management Group has to offer.

Joye has more than 17 years of experience in banking including philanthropic management, strategic communications, personnel management, private wealth management, trust and investments.  She holds a FINRA Series 7, 66 certifications in addition to a Six Sigma Green Belt certification.  She has earned numerous national business and community awards and nominations including YWCA Twin Award, Women Who Mean Business Award and Women Who Move the City Award.  She has served as a United Nations Official Observer for the Mexican presidential election in 2001 and 2006.  She is also a graduate of the FBI Citizen’s Academy and earned a B.S. Degree in Education from Winthrop University and a Master’s Degree in Leadership from The University of North Carolina.

Active in the San Diego community, Joye serves on the boards of The Point Loma Nazarene University President’s Advisory Board.

The Salk Institute Community Advisory Board, Voices for Children Advisory Board, and The United Way Women’s Leadership Council, and most recently was appointed by the Mayor to serve on the Balboa Park Conservancy Task Force.  She is also an active volunteer with The San Diego Symphony, The San Diego Futures Foundation, The San Diego Symphony and The Zoological Society of San Diego.

 
Steve Bothwell was named the 2010 Fermanian Business & Economic Institute “Business Partner of the Year”. Steve is a passionate entrepreneur with a long career based upon clear thinking, value creation, and ethical business principles. Steve and a business partner formed a joint venture partnership with a Taiwan Industrialist and started Specification Seals Company in 1984.  Spec Seals continues to be a valuable supplier of O-rings and molded rubber parts to major industries such as automotive, food processing and handling, water filtration, consumer products, medical, plumbing, electronics, and pumps/valves/actuators. Most fast food restaurants including McDonalds have Spec Seals O-rings in their soft-serve equipment.  Steve graduated from USC with a BA degree in Economics and a MA in Education. After being a high school teacher for 8 years, Steve started his business career in the electronics, product labeling, and industrial rubber prior to starting Spec Seals.  Through experience, Steve has developed expertise in international business development, sales management, product development, company structure and dynamics, market share penetration, and distribution strategies.

Claire Buckley began working as the MBA Graduate Admissions Recruiter in July of 2007. Previously, she worked in public relations, undergraduate university admissions, as director of activities and alumni magazine editor at a private high school, and as a journalist for various new services, newspapers and magazines. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and her Master of Arts degree in Education with a concentration in Counseling and Guidance (academic and career) from Point Loma Nazarene University. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, reading, hiking, oil painting, and volunteering with her church and mission organizations.

Aimee Call works at Torrey Pines Bank where she underwrites commercial loan requests and manages banking relationships of small to mid-sized businesses. Through her position at the Bank, she has developed credit analysts internship program partnered with PLNU as part of her enthusiasm in building outside relationships with the school. As a native San Diegan, Call enjoys working out, running at the beach, and spending time with family and friends.

  Helen S. Cheng  is a trusts and estates attorney at Higgs Fletcher & Mack, where she assists clients in estate planning, estate and trust administration and charitable planning. Ms. Cheng brings a diversity of experience to her clients.  After graduating from Stanford Law School, Ms. Cheng practiced international corporate and tax law at Baker & McKenzie in China and California.  In addition to working with multinational corporations, such as Oracle, Intel and Seagate, on international tax strategies, she assisted a Chinese Internet company with its application for a public listing on NASDAQ.  Prior to joining Higgs Fletcher & Mack, Ms. Cheng worked at the San Diego Zoo to create its bioinspiration and technology transfer program, and worked directly with companies such as Procter & Gamble, WD-40, Nike and Qualcomm to develop technologies inspired by nature.  Ms. Cheng currently sits on the Board of Advisors for Global Imprints, LLC; the Advisory Board for the Fermanian Business & Economic Institute; and is Secretary of the San Diego Regional Sustainability Partnership.  Ms. Cheng received her B.A. from the University of Kansas, Phi Beta Kappa and with highest distinction, and is proficient in Mandarin and Spanish.

Cliff Fisher graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University with a degree in business administration and began his career as PLNU’s first ROTC Graduate serving 4 years active duty with the U. S. Air Force.  He returned to San Diego where he worked in real estate development and then in Flight Operations for General Dynamics at Lindberg Field.

At thirty years old, he received a call to preach and moved to Kansas City to attend Nazarene Theological Seminary, graduating in 1987.  During his seminary days he joined the Air Force Reserve.

He served as senior pastor in the Church of the Nazarene for 15 years in three churches in Liberty MO, Banning CA, and Tulare CA.  He was District Secretary on the Kansas City District and on the Central California District.  He accepted a position as Assistant District Superintendent of Central California District Church of the Nazarene.  He received his Doctorate from Fuller Theological Seminary in 2002.

Immediately after 9/11/2001 he was recalled to active duty with the military assigned to the Command Post of the Air Force in the Pentagon for four years.  During the time in Washington DC, he also served as Assistant District Superintendent for the Virginia District Church of the Nazarene.

Cliff is currently employed at SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific managing research and development projects.   He is the District Treasurer for the Southern California District Church of the Nazarene, has preached at many churches across the district, and serves and teaches at his local church.  Cliff also serves on PLNU’s Alumni in Business Board and the Fermanian Business and Economic Institute Board.

Dr. Thomas Fitzpatrick is a 2001 graduate of Point Loma Nazarene University.  He went on to receive his Doctorate of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from Loma Linda University.  After graduating from dental school in 2006, Dr. Fitzpatrick joined two established dental practices in the San Diego area, one in Point Loma and the other in Del Mar.  He continually strives to provide the highest quality of dentistry in a caring environment.  When not working with patients, Dr. Fitzpatrick dedicates numerous hours to his community and in service around the world.  He sits on the Board of Directors of the Fermanian Business and Economic Institute, Foundation for Worldwide Health, Peninsula YMCA, and Optimist Club of Point Loma.  Dr. Fitzpatrick has had a passion to provide dental care for the less fortunate in Sri Lanka and in Mexico and has been dedicated to developing a self-sustainable model for providing care in Nicaragua through dental training and economic development in smaller, remote communities that don’t have regular access to care.

Nate Heckman
While his business card reads marketing and research, Nate is at heart a social scientist. "Mass market does not exist without mankind," said Heckman. Obvious, he agrees. "But in my line of business, it’s often ignored, with numbers taking the place of a nervous system." His belief in the de-evolution of market intelligence even extends to his agency's tagline, highlighting what his team does differently with their data: Tested on Humans™. Nate is known for his passion, candor, competitiveness and ardent objectivity. For him, it is personal, which is what clients appreciate most.

Beyond stints internally running corporate market intelligence efforts for global brands, Heckman also has worked in a consulting capacity with a myriad of product and service entities, including Braun, AT&T, Wells Fargo, Starbucks, and others.

Chris Hess came to Lusardi Construction Company in January 1989 after growing up working in his father's construction firm.  Starting as a Project Engineer, he rapidly progressed through Project Coordinator, Project Manager, and Senior Project Manager to his current position of Vice President – Operations. He is responsible for overseeing daily Company operations and the overall management of projects.  He has assisted the Company with the preparation and implementation of anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies, as well as having participated in the presentation of training workshops and classes for employees.

He has also headed up Lusardi's Estimating Department, where he was responsible for coordination of all competitive-bid estimates, negotiated estimates, subcontractor contacts and evaluation, and contract procurement after bid during very difficult recessionary times.  Most recently, Chris established the Lusardi Project Management Training Course and Lusardi Academy, both of which target the ongoing education of our Project Management personnel.

Chris serves on the Construction Education and Construction Tech Academy Advisory committees of the Associated General Contractors, San Diego Chapter; the Advisory Board for the Fermanian Business and Economic Institute at Point Loma Nazarene University; and is a member of Kansas State University Foundation Presidents Club.

Dana Irby is the Director of Sales at Bartell Hotels, one of the largest independently- owned hotel companies in San Diego.  Dana started her career in the hotel business in 1984 with Travelodge Corporation while attending San Diego Mesa College’s Hotel/Motel Management Program.  In 1985 Dana joined the hotel pre-opening crew at the Bay Club Hotel and Marina on Shelter Island as Reservations Manager and quickly moved into the Director of Sales position at both the Bay Club and Inn by the Sea in La Jolla.  In 1992, Dana joined Bartell Hotels as Director of Sales at Humphreys Half Moon Inn and Suites and facilitated such events as the America’s Cup in 1992 and 1995, Superbowl in 1998 and 2003 and the Republican National Convention in 1996.  In 2004, Dana was responsible for introducing The Dana on Mission Bay Hotel’s new $15 million conference center and hotel expansion to the corporate meetings and special events markets as well as the social and wedding markets. In 2005, Dana was promoted to corporate Director of Sales for Bartell Hotels and currently oversees the international and domestic wholesale, receptive and tour operator market, major airline partners and corporate accounts.
One of Dana’s most endearing projects is the continued development of the partnership between PLNU and Bartell Hotels.  The partnership, developed in 2006, has donated more than $500,000 towards student scholarships.

"Andy" Kotner  Kotner’s keen knowledge of non-profit organizations, fundraising, recruitment, and event planning -- coupled with her desire to support her husband’s interest in international business, led her to her most recent position as Vice President of Business Development at WTCSD. Kotner worked very closely with each WTCSD business member to assure that they receive optimized and customized support for their local, national, or international activities, and solicits sponsorships for all WTCSD events. Creating and organizing two-three WTCSD Trade Shows each year has been just one of her many successes.

Prior to joining WTCSD, Kotner served as the President & CEO of San Diego County Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA).  As CEO, she handled all aspects of this non-profit, legal reform, advocacy organization, including media spokesperson, community and legislative educator, fundraiser, membership, and event organizing.  She has won numerous national, state and local awards for her Civil Justice Reform activities including The California State Senate - 2006 “Woman of the Year” Award.

 Kotner served on the Board of Directors and Audit Committee of San Diego Family Care – an $11 million dollar non-profit organization that oversees the activities of three Community Care Clinics in San Diego County.  Currently she serves on the Greater San Diego Transportation Club.
 

Kotner is a post-solo student airplane pilot with more than 200 hundred hours of flight time logged in both a Cessna 172 and Turbo 182 -- including 150 hours of Garmin G-1000 time logged.  She is a member of the Plus One Flyer’s Club at Montgomery Airport in San Diego, The 99’s Inc. – an International Organization of Women Pilots, and Women in Aviation.  She looks forward to completing her pilot’s certification in the next couple of months.  

 She has won numerous national, state and local awards for her Civil Justice Reform activities including The California State Senate - 2006 “Woman of the Year” Award. 

Stephen Miller was named the Entrepreneur of the Year in the inaugural 2007-08 EEP, with his Cereal Company business plan, which was further developed as a Honors Project while a student at PLNU.  A double major (Magna Cum Laude) with a Bachelor of Arts in both Business Administration and Philosophy/Theology, 2008 Business Student of the Year Miller also obtained a minor in accounting which helped launch his career. He is currently employed as a Staff Auditor at Capin Crouse LLP, a public accounting firm servicing non-profit clients, and recently attained his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certificate in June 2011. Stephen’s particular areas of expertise include finance, non-profit business, entrepreneurship and interpersonal communication and relationships.

José Muñoz is currently in his third year of a doctoral program in Business at Anderson (IN) University.  He has over 30 years of senior executive management experience in large public corporations and small private start-ups, for-profits and non-profits, and domestic and international businesses.  Jose is the former CEO of Chicken of the Sea and has served on, and reported to, the boards of directors.  He has over 13 years of college teaching experience at the graduate and undergraduate levels.  He has very strong financial skills as evidenced by an MBA in Finance and a CPA certificate. He is completely fluent in English and Spanish.  Jose is owner of a consulting firm (JEM, Inc.) specializing in international and domestic business projects, utilizing a strong executive, financial, and operating background.  He has also worked on a range of projects in Mexico, South America, the South and Western Pacific, and the USA. 

Larry Nuffer is Director of Marketing Communications for CDC Small Business Finance, one of the largest SBA lenders in the nation, helping small businesses expand and create jobs.  Prior to his current position at CDC, which he's held since 2006, Nuffer was president of his own strategic planning and communications consulting firm, providing counsel to San Diego nonprofit organizations.  Nuffer also served as director of communications for Children's Hospital San Diego and as vice president for Nuffer, Smith, Tucker public relations agency for 18 years.  He has been a member of the San Diego Downtown Breakfast Rotary Club since 2003 and held several leadership positions.  Nuffer has a masters degree in communications from San Diego State University. 

Doug Satre is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara and Fuller Theological Seminary. He is an ordained Presbyterian (PCUSA) Pastor and has served churches in Germany, Oregon and San Diego. After 15 years in church ministry, Doug became the Director of Development at Plant With Purpose, a San Diego based international development organization that focuses on serving rural communities struggling with the effects of poverty and environmental degradation. Plant With Purpose currently works with over 100 indigenous staff in six countries, including Mexico, Haiti, The Dominican Republic, Tanzania, Burundi and Thailand. Founded in 1984, Plant With Purpose employs many PLNU graduates and has benefitted greatly from its close relationship with the university and FBEI, as they seek to foster economic, agricultural and spiritual development among the world’s poorest people.

Professor Randal Schober graduated from University of South Australia in 1990 and obtained his Doctorate in Education specializing in Exercise Physiology in 1996.  He is currently the Executive Director of SurfAid International USA, a non-profit humanitarian organization whose mission is to improve the health, wellbeing, and self-reliance of people living in isolated communities connected to us through surfing.   Randal is active at PLNU as an adjunct professor in the MBA program, mentor in the EEP, a thesis advisor, and member of the FBEI advisory board.