Falene McKenna is a product manager with a strong background in software development, conversational experience design, and data analysis. Specializing in Robot VUIs, she is passionate about using technology, particularly social robots and Conversational AI, to improve people's lives.

Coming from a background Linguistics, Falene began her Social Robotics career at Intuition Robotics, working on their flagship project ElliQ—an AI-powered social companion robot for older adults—and developing in-car voice experiences. She later collaborated on a proof-of-concept for Fur Hat Robotics and Microsoft PVA before serving as the Head of Product for Aico, an AI-driven early childhood learning robot by Curiosity Robotics.

In October of 2023, Falene started her own company, Lingua Robotica, with the hopes of bringing ethical and holistic design into multimodal development.

A voice in the conversational AI space, Falene has presented at various events, including the Conversation Design Festival 2022, emphasizing the importance of bot building standards, language expertise in AI experiences, and persona building. She is also an active member of Women in Voice, promoting gender diversity in the voice technology industry.

Falene McKenna is a product manager with a strong background in software development, conversational experience design, and data analysis. Specializing in Robot VUIs, she is passionate about using technology, particularly social robots and Conversati... Show more

Rebecca Grier, Ph.D. is a behavioural scientist with 20 years experience in product development across various business sectors. Most recently she was the lead for Customer-Driven: EMEA at Microsoft, with the goal to change product making culture to be more customer obsessed. Previously she moved Ford to consider people with disabilities in the design of their autonomous vehicles and the US DoD to include user experience in testing of systems. She currently lives in Dublin with her husband and son.

Rebecca Grier, Ph.D. is a behavioural scientist with 20 years experience in product development across various business sectors. Most recently she was the lead for Customer-Driven: EMEA at Microsoft, with the goal to change product making culture to ... Show more

Franziska Brenner (M.A.) studierte Geschichtswissenschaft, Romanistik, Deutsch als Fremdsprache, Soziologie und Erziehungswissenschaft in Bielefeld, Sevilla, Magdeburg und Roskilde. Seit 2019 arbeitet sie als wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin im Team E-Learning der Universität Leipzig. Neben ihrer Mitarbeit und Koordination im Verbundprojekt Digitalisierung der Hochschulbildung Sachsen in der Programmlinie Digital Change Agents baute sie das universitätsweite Netzwerk Lehre.Digital auf. Im Rahmen ihrer Promotion beschäftigt sie sich mit der Rolle von Hochschullehrenden vor dem Hintergrund von KI.

Franziska Brenner (M.A.) studierte Geschichtswissenschaft, Romanistik, Deutsch als Fremdsprache, Soziologie und Erziehungswissenschaft in Bielefeld, Sevilla, Magdeburg und Roskilde. Seit 2019 arbeitet sie als wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin im Team E... Show more

Arne Mertz has been working with modern and not-so-modern C++ codebases for over 15 years in various kinds of embedded and enterprise contexts. He is a mentor and teacher for clean code and modern C++ for colleagues and customers at Zühlke Engineering. Since 2015 he has written more or less frequently about those topics on his blog "Simplify C++!"

Arne Mertz has been working with modern and not-so-modern C++ codebases for over 15 years in various kinds of embedded and enterprise contexts. He is a mentor and teacher for clean code and modern C++ for colleagues and customers at Zühlke Engineerin... Show more

For over 25 years, Andrew Kolikoff has been a leadership coach who identifies & solves where issues are stemming from and elevates company cultures.

For over 25 years, Andrew Kolikoff has been a leadership coach who identifies & solves where issues are stemming from and elevates company cultures. Show more

My PhD journey in the cold of northern Sweden has led me down a path to much of the latest cloud-native tech. Between that and my somewhat alarmingly high interest in homelabbing, I really live in the cloud-native ecosystem. But those are just side-hustles, cat-dad is my main occupation.

My PhD journey in the cold of northern Sweden has led me down a path to much of the latest cloud-native tech. Between that and my somewhat alarmingly high interest in homelabbing, I really live in the cloud-native ecosystem. But those are just side-h... Show more

Nicolle is a certified Personal Performance & Relationship Coach specializing in conscious relationships and embodiment, including feminine embodiment. Her work helps high-achieving women navigate love, leadership, and personal growth with greater presence, clarity, and connection. Drawing on transformational coaching, mindfulness, high-level communication, and trauma-informed somatic practices, she has coached individuals, teams, and businesses and facilitated workshops and seminars with organizations such as Simon Sinek’s The Optimism Company and Lululemon.

Nicolle is a certified Personal Performance & Relationship Coach specializing in conscious relationships and embodiment, including feminine embodiment. Her work helps high-achieving women navigate love, leadership, and personal growth with greater pr... Show more

Detective in IT world.

Detective in IT world. Show more

Full-stack application creator. Musician. With degrees in philosophy and librarianship. A father, a husband, a brother, a son. Human, after all.

Full-stack application creator. Musician. With degrees in philosophy and librarianship. A father, a husband, a brother, a son. Human, after all. Show more

Tyler Suard is a Python software developer in the field of Machine Learning and AI. He loves spaceships, giant robots, and his cat Ridley.

Tyler Suard is a Python software developer in the field of Machine Learning and AI. He loves spaceships, giant robots, and his cat Ridley. Show more

I’m a Labor Relations graduate (UNLaM) with a postgraduate degree in Neuroscience applied to organizations (UCEMA) and over 15 years working in the world of talent—always within the tech and digital ecosystem.
I’ve worked across consulting, outsourcing, and product companies, and today I lead Boost Inc., a company I co-founded to help startups and digital teams grow with a people-first, business-savvy approach. My focus is on building strong leadership, shaping culture, and making sure talent strategies actually drive impact. I work side by side with technical leaders and teams that want to grow with purpose, make better decisions, and turn talent into one of their biggest assets.

I’m a Labor Relations graduate (UNLaM) with a postgraduate degree in Neuroscience applied to organizations (UCEMA) and over 15 years working in the world of talent—always within the tech and digital ecosystem. I’ve worked across consulting, outsourc... Show more

Dr. Phillip T. Meade is a transformational leadership expert with over 30 years of experience in systems design and culture change. As a senior leader at NASA, he led the cultural transformation following the Columbia tragedy, guided the workforce transition during the Space Shuttle retirement, and helped reinvent Kennedy Space Center into the world’s busiest commercial spaceport. Now a consultant and keynote speaker, Dr. Meade helps organizations navigate complexity, drive cultural shifts, and build high-performance systems from the inside out.

Dr. Meade’s keynotes and presentations are designed to meet the unique needs of your event, whether you’re looking to inspire leadership teams or dive deep into culture transformation and strategic alignment. Dr. Meade is also available for on-demand speaking, offering his signature talks to deliver immediate, actionable insights that create lasting impact.

Dr. Phillip T. Meade is a transformational leadership expert with over 30 years of experience in systems design and culture change. As a senior leader at NASA, he led the cultural transformation following the Columbia tragedy, guided the workforce tr... Show more

Alex Reis is a Experience Strategist and Service Design leader with 10+ years of experience leading user-centered transformations in high-complexity sectors including Finance, Telecom, and Agribusiness.

As the founder of Cliente Sempre, Alex facilitates the intersection of User Research and Product Ownership, ensuring that design decisions are treated as strategic business investments. His career is defined by measurable impact: from saving $1M in operational costs through automation to scaling support operations for over 1 million active users.

Holding certifications in Design and Strategy Execution from Harvard Business School, Alex provides a pragmatic, data-grounded approach to CX that prioritizes revenue, risk mitigation, and operational efficiency.

Alex Reis is a Experience Strategist and Service Design leader with 10+ years of experience leading user-centered transformations in high-complexity sectors including Finance, Telecom, and Agribusiness. As the founder of Cliente Sempre, Alex facil... Show more

Stephen is an author, speaker and accomplished and award-winning leader with over twenty years of experience in complex, uncertain and high-scale technical organisations.

Across diverse sectors, including information technology, healthcare, banking, insurance, manufacturing, and government, Stephen has a track record of driving real success, backed by hands-on achievements and industry recognition.

Leadership highlights
• C-Suite leader during a period of extraordinary growth, achieving 400% YoY
• Leadership coach for a 300-million-dollar international software rollout
• Mentor and consultant for an international leadership team managing over 750 professionals through an organisational transformation
• Strategist for the successful launch of 50+ commercial cloud-based products and services, shaping the future of business technology

Awards
• Most Influential Business Leader, 2016 Agile Awards
• Most Improved Agile Team, 2016 Agile Awards
• Best Leadership and Agile Coaching Provider, 2020 UK Enterprise Awards

Stephen is an author, speaker and accomplished and award-winning leader with over twenty years of experience in complex, uncertain and high-scale technical organisations. Across diverse sectors, including information technology, healthcare, banki... Show more

Ibrahim Mustapha is a public speaking coach and communication consultant dedicated to helping individuals and organizations speak with clarity, confidence, and impact. With a strong background in communication and international marketing, he specializes in training leaders, professionals, and young people to develop persuasive speaking skills and effective communication strategies.

Through coaching, workshops, and digital learning programs, Ibrahim empowers his audience to overcome fear, articulate their ideas powerfully, and create opportunities through communication. He is also passionate about using modern tools, including AI, to enhance public speaking and leadership development across Africa and beyond.

Ibrahim Mustapha is a public speaking coach and communication consultant dedicated to helping individuals and organizations speak with clarity, confidence, and impact. With a strong background in communication and international marketing, he speciali... Show more

Michael Collett is a San Francisco born-and-based career designer with nearly two decades of experience in graphic, print, brand, web and generalized two-dimensional design. He has also taught, designed, developed and built exhibitions and public programs, while operating as a sole practitioner and team member at studios, start-ups and institutions.

He is currently the Design Director and a co-founder at Àrokò Cooperative, a worker-owned design studio and publishing concern.

Michael Collett is a San Francisco born-and-based career designer with nearly two decades of experience in graphic, print, brand, web and generalized two-dimensional design. He has also taught, designed, developed and built exhibitions and public pro... Show more

Full-Stack Developer building Web3 infrastructure | Founded INGENIOUS tech community (500+ members) | Ex-BRIHAT INFO TECH | 5x Hackathon Winner | Actually ships production code at 3 AM

Full-Stack Developer building Web3 infrastructure | Founded INGENIOUS tech community (500+ members) | Ex-BRIHAT INFO TECH | 5x Hackathon Winner | Actually ships production code at 3 AM Show more

Dr. Dillip Narayan Sahu is a distinguished researcher, educator, inventor and international speaker in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Quantum Machine Learning. With over 13 years of academic and research experience, he has made significant contributions to the global research community through the publication of more than 80 peer-reviewed papers in reputed international journals and conferences, along with securing 30 national and international patents. He has also authored 10 international textbooks, reflecting his commitment to academic excellence and knowledge dissemination.
He is currently serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of MCA at Gangadhar Meher University, Sambalpur, Odisha, India. In addition, he plays an active role as IQAC Coordinator and is a member of the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Cell, contributing to institutional development and research innovation initiatives.
Dr. Sahu’s research interests include Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, Hybrid Machine Learning Models, Quantum Machine Learning, and Data-Driven Intelligent Systems. His recent works focus on developing advanced predictive models for early disease detection and secure AI-driven ecosystems.
As a passionate educator and speaker, Dr. Sahu has been involved in mentoring students, guiding research scholars, and delivering lectures, workshops, and seminars at various academic platforms. His vision is to promote interdisciplinary research and foster innovation that addresses real-world societal challenges through intelligent technologies.
He is keenly interested in global academic collaborations and actively seeks opportunities to contribute as a keynote speaker, resource person, and research mentor in international conferences, workshops, and academic programs.

Dr. Dillip Narayan Sahu is a distinguished researcher, educator, inventor and international speaker in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Quantum Machine Learning. With over 13 years of academic and research experience, he has m... Show more

Dr. Kelli Hill is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). Her teaching and research spans over a decade with workshops taught in local communities and higher education. In addition, Dr. Hill has worked for private and non-profit organizations on projects focusing on building self-efficacy through socialization, substance abuse prevention, mental health education, and gender-based health disparities.

Dr. Hill’s current studies center around the social impacts on adolescent development, which includes a broad study of parent—child socialization, self-efficacy, learned helplessness, and learning outcomes. Her goal is to bring awareness to more positive youth development and to create more resources for youth to improve their social and academic well-being.

Dr. Kelli Hill is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). Her teaching and research spans over a decade with workshops taught in local communities and higher education. In addition, Dr. Hill has worke... Show more

Depuis près de 30 ans, Patrice Fornalik vit, observe et accompagne des transformations managériales, culturelles et organisationnelles dans des contextes exigeants. Entrepreneur, formateur, coach et auteur, il s’intéresse à une question simple en apparence mais décisive en pratique : comment faire évoluer un collectif sans lui faire perdre ce qui le fait tenir. Agiliste dans l’âme et créateur de l’approche SteadyChange, il partage des repères concrets pour changer sans casser la confiance, le sens, l’identité collective, ni renoncer à des approches frugales. Auteur de La résistance au changement n’existe pas ! et de Ta gueule, c’est Agile !, il a également contribué à quatre ouvrages sur l’agilité et le leadership.

Depuis près de 30 ans, Patrice Fornalik vit, observe et accompagne des transformations managériales, culturelles et organisationnelles dans des contextes exigeants. Entrepreneur, formateur, coach et auteur, il s’intéresse à une question simple en app... Show more

I am a dynamic Partnerships Manager and entrepreneur with a solid background in AI partnerships, global startup scouting, open innovation, and international business development. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in International Relations with a research focus on the AI ecosystems, I combine academic insight with practical expertise in technology, AI strategy, and partner ecosystem development.

My career bridges the corporate world and global startup ecosystems, with experience at companies like Engevix, Eletrobras, Intelbras, and Rocket Internet in China. I specialize in AI scouting, building B2B and SaaS partnerships, and driving cross-border collaborations between enterprises and AI solution providers.

As a Partnerships Manager at AI Collaborator, I lead the expansion of a global network of AI startups, enabling enterprises to adopt cutting-edge AI solutions. My work focuses on strategic partnerships, partner success management, and scaling partner ecosystems aligned with client needs.

Passionate about AI commercialization, digital transformation, and internationalization, I help companies grow globally through sustainable partnership strategies and innovation-driven growth.

Let’s connect to explore synergies in AI, emerging technologies, and global partnership opportunities.

I am a dynamic Partnerships Manager and entrepreneur with a solid background in AI partnerships, global startup scouting, open innovation, and international business development. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in International Relations with a research f... Show more

As a Global Co-Creation Director working at the intersection of technology and human transformation at Version 1, Cleo architects how organisations develop the skills, leadership, and adaptive capacity to navigate constant change and harness technology as a force for real innovation. She does not deliver programmes. She builds change-capable, values-led organisations where leaders navigate ambiguity with confidence, teams co-create responsibly with AI, and continuous learning becomes a strategic habit rather than an HR initiative.

Cleo led the design of a reimagined change framework developed at Version 1 to support AI adoption across private and public sector organisations, grounded in real implementation evidence and built from the front lines of change.

Grounded in 18 years of senior leadership across global L&D and organisational development, and holding postgraduate qualifications in Organisational Development and Transformation, Organisational Behaviour, Executive Coaching, and Business Psychology, Cleo brings a distinctive lens to AI transformation: one shaped by behavioural science, NLP, executive coaching, workplace resilience, and a firm belief that technology only creates value when people are genuinely ready to use it well.

Her track record includes designing Level 9 certified future skills programmes, securing Enterprise Ireland funding for skills innovation, and leading Version 1's enterprise-wide AI adoption programme. She has spoken at the Irish Hotels Federation, Tech Summit, Learnovation at Trinity College Dublin, and EMCC Ireland, consistently helping senior audiences move from anxiety to agency.

A Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, EMCC Senior Practitioner, NLP Practitioner, and Master Practitioner in Workplace Resilience and Wellbeing, Cleo works with leaders and transformation teams across the public and private sectors on human-led adoption of AI.

Her conviction: real transformation happens at the intersection of strategy, culture, and co-creation. And it only sticks when you bring your people with them.

As a Global Co-Creation Director working at the intersection of technology and human transformation at Version 1, Cleo architects how organisations develop the skills, leadership, and adaptive capacity to navigate constant change and harness technolo... Show more

Dr. Mark Porter is the founder of Soteria Alliance and the architect of its governing doctrine, Performance Mastery Culture (PMC). His work is grounded in sustained exposure to organizations where excellence was expected to hold under pressure, endure leadership change, and remain reliable over time. His Best-selling book: The Architecture of Excellence: Engineering Excellence that Endures Under Pressure outlines the foundations of Performance Mastery Culture (PMC):
• Systems thinking: identify why current efforts fail at the root level
• Behavioral science: understand how people think and respond under pressure
• Structure: clarify roles, accountability, and decision ownership
• Anti-Drift doctrine: recognize the inevitability of performance decay
• Architecture: governing laws that organize structure into coherent performance
• Design: embed architecture into daily behaviors that sustain excellence

Across more than two decades, Mark has operated inside large, complex organizations with direct responsibility for the enterprise conditions under which excellence either persisted or decayed. His experience spans executive leadership, system-wide organizational responsibility, and post-acquisition integration in environments defined by regulatory scrutiny, operational interdependence, and real consequence.

Repeated exposure to these conditions revealed a consistent failure pattern. Capable leaders intervened more frequently, carried increasing load, and applied greater effort as excellence became less reliable. Intent, experience, and commitment were present. What failed was the architecture’s ability to preserve excellence once conditions changed.

Performance Mastery Culture emerged as the architectural response to that reality. It exists to govern excellence as a permanent institutional condition, independent of individual leaders, episodic initiatives, or cultural reinforcement.

Mark holds a Doctor of Business Administration in Leadership and a Master of Science in Organizational Psychology. His academic grounding informs his work, but it is the sustained responsibility of operating inside consequence-bearing systems that ultimately shaped the architecture now embedded within Soteria Alliance.

His work spans North America and Europe and is confined to environments where authority, accountability, and institutional continuity cannot be delegated or diluted.

Dr. Mark Porter is the founder of Soteria Alliance and the architect of its governing doctrine, Performance Mastery Culture (PMC). His work is grounded in sustained exposure to organizations where excellence was expected to hold under pressure, endur... Show more

During my studies I discovered my enthusiasm for technology, innovation and programming. After a few years in larger corporations such as Continental and IBM, I moved to the IT service provider MaibornWolff. Today, I work there as a software engineer in agile teams designing various digital products.

https://www.eileen-fuerstenau.com

During my studies I discovered my enthusiasm for technology, innovation and programming. After a few years in larger corporations such as Continental and IBM, I moved to the IT service provider MaibornWolff. Today, I work there as a software engineer... Show more

What happens when a clinically trained social worker builds a multi-seven-figure business from the ground up, and then watches her entire team walk out the door? If you're Samantha Goldberg, you don't retreat. You rebuild. And then you take everything you learned about shame, failure, and what real leadership actually requires, and you bring it to every stage you can find.

Samantha Goldberg, MSW, is a clinically trained social worker, entrepreneur, executive coach, and keynote speaker who works at the intersection of shame resilience, leadership, and self-worth. Named a Woman of Steel by PNC Bank and the Pittsburgh Steelers, she's on a mission to help people show up boldly and lead intentionally--without shame, imposter syndrome, or fear of failure calling the shots.

Samantha is the Founder & CEO of a group mental health therapy practice and multidisciplinary wellness hub in Pittsburgh established in 2018, built around a staffing model centered on business mentorship and entrepreneurial support. She built her practice into a large multimillion dollar operation, navigated a significant organizational crisis, and rebuilt it with radical transparency--an experience that grounds every framework she teaches in real operational leadership, not just research. Through her executive coaching and speaking platform, Unleashed Impact, she helps leaders and high achievers break free from shame, imposter syndrome, and the confidence barriers holding them back. She also serves as a private practice business consultant, providing business coaching to group practice owners across the country.

With 15+ years in the field, Samantha brings rare clinical depth to the leadership conversation--delivering keynotes that are equal parts research-backed and disarmingly honest, turning complex psychological frameworks into tools that actually change how people lead. Samantha is known for her sharp wit, radical honesty, and an uncanny ability to make a room full of high-achievers feel deeply seen--and ready to move.

Off stage, she lives in Pittsburgh with her first responder partner, two dogs, and a cat who has never once struggled with self-worth.

What happens when a clinically trained social worker builds a multi-seven-figure business from the ground up, and then watches her entire team walk out the door? If you're Samantha Goldberg, you don't retreat. You rebuild. And then you take everythin... Show more

Tim Huff is a decorated combat veteran, certified executive coach, and award-winning CEO recognized for servant leadership and character. A graduate of the U.S. Army’s Ranger School, Tim served 14 years as an Infantry Officer, culminating in a year-long deployment to Afghanistan with the US Army National Guard as Chief of Operations for a brigade responsible for training and sustaining the Afghan National Army. For his leadership in combat, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

After active military service, Tim made what he calls his ‘most extreme transition’… from command of over a dozen tanks and leading 100 troops, and a few months later, to a cubicle at The Walt Disney Company, managing spreadsheets. That moment reinforced in him that genuine leadership isn’t tied to uniforms, titles, or settings. It’s about character: the one constant that endures when pressure mounts. He later advanced in technology leadership roles with Macy’s, CRH Americas, and Owens & Minor, but his life took another defining turn in 2017 when he became the client of an executive coach. The experience gave him a profound sense of leadership freedom and clarity and set him on a new mission: to help leaders everywhere discover the same success based in character.

Today, Tim is the President of Turknett Leadership Group, a 38-year-old Atlanta-based firm trusted by Fortune 500 companies and global organizations. He is a Titan 100 honoree and recipient of the Servant Leader of the Year Award, recognized for his commitment to building leaders who live and lead with integrity, respect, and responsibility. In 2024, he extended that commitment in the most personal way, by donating a kidney to help save the life of a colleague.

Tim’s message is clear: skills can be taught, strategies can shift, but character is the bedrock of leadership. Whether on the battlefield, in the boardroom, or at the side of someone in need, it’s character that inspires trust, courage, and authentic leadership.

He lives in Cumming, Georgia with his wife, Kristin, and enjoys hiking in the North Georgia mountains where he finds both rest and renewal for his life of service!

Tim Huff is a decorated combat veteran, certified executive coach, and award-winning CEO recognized for servant leadership and character. A graduate of the U.S. Army’s Ranger School, Tim served 14 years as an Infantry Officer, culminating in a year-l... Show more

Margaret Juhae Lee is the author of the award-winning Starry Field: A Memoir of Lost History (Melville House), which was named a best book of 2024 by the San Francisco Chronicle and other outlets. A former literary editor at The Nation, she received a Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Studies Fellowship from Harvard University and a Korean Studies Fellowship from the Korea Foundation. Her articles have been published in The Nation, Newsday, Elle, ARTnews, Writer's Digest and The Rumpus. A seasoned public speaker, she has lectured and taught workshops at universities, libraries and community organizations on searching for family history and how to talked to loved ones about the past, She lives in Oakland, California, with her family.

Margaret Juhae Lee is the author of the award-winning Starry Field: A Memoir of Lost History (Melville House), which was named a best book of 2024 by the San Francisco Chronicle and other outlets. A former literary editor at The Nation, she received ... Show more

Méthodique, rigoureux et empathique, passionné par la dynamique de groupe et par la complexité, deux aspects majeurs de la vie des équipes IT actuelles, j'interviens pour trouver un équilibre entre les besoins des équipes et ceux de l'entreprise. Mon approche vise à faire cohabiter management et autonomie, en mettant l'accent sur l'amélioration continue, les objectifs et la manière de les atteindre.
Avec toujours cette phrase de François Dupuy en tête : "Le changement se produit quand il est possible et non quand il est nécessaire".

Méthodique, rigoureux et empathique, passionné par la dynamique de groupe et par la complexité, deux aspects majeurs de la vie des équipes IT actuelles, j'interviens pour trouver un équilibre entre les besoins des équipes et ceux de l'entreprise. Mon... Show more

Alan Yeh is a PhD candidate in French at the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in refugitude aesthetics, memory, and food in 20th- and 21st-century French and francophone literature. Foregrounding refugee experiences and epistemologies, his dissertation combines archival research and oral histories with close readings of culinary encounters and tensions in diasporic Vietnamese literature in order to uncover transdiasporic approaches to care through feeding.

Alan Yeh is a PhD candidate in French at the University of California, Berkeley, specializing in refugitude aesthetics, memory, and food in 20th- and 21st-century French and francophone literature. Foregrounding refugee experiences and epistemologies... Show more

Meet Samuel Rangel

Samuel Rangel, a proud Merced, California native, is a devoted husband, father of seven, and grandfather of eight. He currently serves with the Merced County Human Services Agency’s All Dad’s Matter Program, where he empowers fathers and families through support, education, and advocacy.

With over two decades of service, Samuel has established himself as a licensed substance abuse counselor, Certified Lactation Education Counselor, author, court-appointed gang culture expert, motivational speaker, and community advocate. He is also the co-founder of two nonprofit organizations—Mentoring Odd Jobs Organization (MOJO) and Distinguished Outreach Services—both of which are dedicated to improving the quality of life for Merced County residents with a strong emphasis on youth engagement, prevention, and fatherhood initiatives.

Samuel’s work extends beyond titles. He is widely recognized for his ability to connect with people from all walks of life, often using his own experiences to inspire others. Having overcome personal challenges, he understands the struggles many in his community face today. His story of resilience fuels his mission: to help individuals break cycles of hardship and to create pathways toward healthier families and stronger communities.

Outside of his professional and nonprofit leadership, Samuel has lived a dynamic and inspiring life. He is a former MMA coach and fighter, a recording artist with seven albums, and a five-time competitive BBQ rib champion. Each of these pursuits reflects his belief in discipline, creativity, and the importance of pursuing one’s passions fully.

His passion and dedication have earned him numerous accolades, including Safeway’s Humanitarian of the Year Award, recognition as Hispanic Man of the Year by the Merced County Hispanic Chamber, and formal accommodations from both the California State Assembly and the United States House of Representatives. These honors reflect not only his personal achievements but also the profound impact he continues to make on families, youth, and the broader community.

Looking ahead, Samuel remains committed to expanding his work in advocacy, mentorship, and fatherhood education. His vision is to see every father equipped with the tools to lead with love, responsibility, and purpose—because stronger fathers create stronger families, and stronger families build stronger communities.

Samuel often shares this guiding belief:

“You can spend a lifetime looking for your purpose, but when you find your passion, you begin to live.”

Meet Samuel Rangel Samuel Rangel, a proud Merced, California native, is a devoted husband, father of seven, and grandfather of eight. He currently serves with the Merced County Human Services Agency’s All Dad’s Matter Program, where he empowers fa... Show more