Speakers:

Bekele Demissie

Business Relations Administrator
Orange County Transportation Authority

Bekele brings over 30 years of International management, leadership and business development experience to the business community. A native of Ethiopian, Bekele graduated with BA & MA degrees in Business management/leadership. He has had extensive training in business development from various organizations. In the last past 30 years, he has worked with various government and non-government agencies. While working in a major assignment as a director and other positions, he received many awards as a business development officer. Recipient of Business Leader of the year award of Orange County Presidents Council; California.

His leadership of the business community was recognized by local, state and federal officials. In his present capacity, he works with companies, chamber of commerce, public and government agencies.  

Lorelei Carobolante, GPHR, SCRP, SGMS

President & CEO

G2nd Systems®

Lorelei Carobolante is a recognized global HR subject matter expert focused on increasing global organizations’ productivity and creativity. An experienced entrepreneur, Carobolante has spent more than 20 years creating, developing, and managing successful organizations. After more than a decade of research, she was first to identify the need for Intercultural English in the workplace context. Carobolante’s passion for leveraging the benefits of diversity and inclusion to improve business outcomes led her to develop the innovative Global Second Language® model and educational methodologies for non-native and native speakers of any language, to assess and strengthen linguistic competence and intercultural intelligence across multiple cultures at the same time.

 In 2005, she founded a global HR research & development/instructional design firm to develop educational curricula and technology, Global Second Language, Inc. In 2006 she expanded the scope of operations to include delivery of GSL® virtual and in-person education courses, assessments, benchmarking, legally defensible language proficiency testing, and global HR consulting services under her operational company, G2nd Systems, LLC, a Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) certified company. The GSL® English™ culturally-neutral communication methodologies activate and measurably strengthen native and non-native English speakers’ collaboration, leadership, productivity, and performance in multicultural workplaces.

An internationally published writer, Carobolante contributes her unique expertise to organizations that recognize the complexity of global competition. She serves as a SHRM Lead Global HR Subject Matter Expert, member of the US Technical Advisory Group for the International Organization of Standardization Technical Committee 260 for Human Resource Management (US TAG for ISO/TC260 HRM), and is currently working on a draft American National Standard for Diversity Programs in her role as an ANSI Standards Taskforce Voting Member (Diversity and Inclusion programs); and Worldwide ERC Global Editorial Advisory Committee (2004-2010). Carobolante works closely with WBENC to promote the benefits of national certification and facilitates corporate business opportunities for certified Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) and received the prestigious 2011 WBENC Women’s Business Enterprise Star award. She also serves on the 2011 WBEC-West Board of Directors; WBENC Women’s Enterprise Leadership Forum; and WBENC Global Services & Programs Committee.

Michael Cooper

Director, Sourcing & Procurement

Disney Worldwide Services

Michael Cooper is the Director of Sourcing & Procurement for Disney Worldwide Services, supporting Disney’s Domestic Theme Parks and Resorts.

Michael leads a Sourcing & Procurement team consisting of 27 professional Cast Members in various roles supporting the Disneyland Resort, The Walt Disney World Resort and Walt Disney Imagineering in the areas of Ride & Show, Facilities & Operations Services, Entertainment and Supplier Relationship Management.

Michael joined the Disneyland Resort team as the Manager of Food & Beverage Sourcing & Procurement in May 2004.  In 2005, Michael’s responsibilities were expanded to encompass the sourcing support for Marketing and Entertainment where he and his team were responsible for driving cost reduction initiatives while simultaneously identifying supplier capabilities and technologies that ensure outstanding show production, value and service for the Resort.

Prior to joining Disney, Michael held various positions in Strategic Sourcing, Manufacturing and Human Resources for divisions of Nestlé, Heinz and Kraft at locations throughout the US.  Michael earned Bachelors of Science Degrees in Management and Finance from the University of Utah. 

Michael currently serves on the boards of the Cypress College Foundation and the Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and has formerly served on the boards of United Cerebral Palsy of Utah and the Tea Association of the United States.

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