EXP Insider: Guest Speakers, Field Trips, Big Impact -- See What You've Powered
Your Support in Action
PARTNER IN ACTION: STRIKEWORKS
Our internship host, StrikeWorks, pulled double duty last week for our IT Pathway students at Vista Meridian Global Academy! First, CEO Victor Villanueva dropped by to share his story and discuss the industry's future. A few days later, students got to see cybersecurity work in action as they spent the day at StrikeWorks' office in Irvine, learning about deepfakes, malware, and hardware disposal.
GUEST SPEAKER SERIES
Our guest speaker series continues to bring industry to the classroom from the LA harbor to Barstow's high desert! You wish you had this many guest speakers coming to your school when you were a student!
Gardena HS: The Hoop Gang Collective founders, Chuka Anuluoha and Samir Davis, discussed their entrepreneurial journey with Global Business Magnet students.
Carson HS: Nancy Mogy of Future is Foster podcast inspired MEDIA students with her career journey and hands-on activity.
Leuzinger HS: Jackie Birdsall from Toyota spoke to Environmental Careers Academy students about the exciting work Toyota is doing, from developing cleaner-air vehicles to reducing emissions.
San Pedro HS: Culinary CTE continues to host local chefs, sharing their stories and recipes, including Chef Mike Ortiz; Amanda Moreno Erdogan, owner of A Treat Life Bakery; and Chef Will and George Fallon from the San Pedro Brewing Company.
Lawndale HS: Professor Greta Vines-Douglas, a Physician Assistant at Ketchum University, shared her career trajectory with Biomedical Careers Academy students, and Dave Bader, Chief Operations & Education Officer at Marine Mammal Care Center, talked about the work of the Center with the Marine Science Academy students.
Beckman HS: Visual Imagery Pathway students welcomed back portrait photographer Mahnaz Demehri, who shared her entrepreneurial journey.
Foothill HS Visual Imagery Pathway: Students enjoyed a lively visual and graphic arts panel featuring Bethany Faught, Project Coordinator and Graphic Designer at San Bernardino College; Thomas Robles, College Professor and Marketing Consultant at San Bernardino College; and Anthony Rivera, Freelance Photographer and Director of Photography at ALPFA OC. They also got a visit from sports photographers Freddy Prince and Vanessa Bonilla.
Vista Meridian Global Academy: The Biomedical Pathway students learned about the different roles biomed has in our daily lives from Dr. Caroline Kelmis, a physician at Long Beach Memorial Hospital, and Ray Zelada from the Los Angeles Sanitation District.
FIELD TRIPS
Barstow HS Multimedia CTE students had a magical visit to Warner Bros. Studio Tour last week, where they got to see behind the scenes of movies and television productions. They even got to see Emmy Award winner Noah Wyle filming on the set of The Pitt!
And finally, Sato Academy of Math and Science students experienced firsthand how their classroom learning connects to advanced manufacturing in the real world during an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Weber Metals in Paramount, where they toured the facility and met employees, from engineers to sustainability experts to maintenance managers.
Interested in being a classroom guest speaker or hosting a field trip? Please contact Devyn Dupree, Program Coordinator, at devyn@expfuture.org today!
EXP Alumni Reconnected at Happy Hour
We are so happy to see EXP alumni across generations (2008 to 2024) and EXP-supported high schools connected at the EXP Alumni Network Happy Hour earlier this month at Ambitious Ales in Long Beach. We definitely feel the love!
The summer happy hour is already in the works! EXP/ITEP alums - Make sure you don’t miss out on the news. Sign up for alumni emails here and/or join our Facebook group here.
Would you like to support future casual get-togethers for our alumni and supporters? Contact Oakley Boren, Director of Marketing, at oakley@expfuture.org today!
Giving a Gift and Making an Impact TWICE!
‘Tis the giving season, and we are aiming to raise $100,000 to grow our internship program. Your gift before December 31st is being matched dollar-for-dollar up to $25,000, thanks to an anonymous donor!
Your support leaves a lasting impact–not just today but for the future. More than 10 years ago, Stephanie Holloman hosted Elizabeth “Liz” Machuca ‘09 as an intern. Now, Liz is lifting up EXP students like Rachna, creating a full circle moment for both our volunteers and alumni. Read the full story here.
Every dollar matters! Please consider giving a gift of opportunity today.
Incoming Port of Long Beach's CEO to Moderate the Carol Rowen Legacy Circle Power Breakfast
Clean energy is reshaping the future. Will our workforce be ready? Join us at the Carol Rowen Legacy Circle Power Breakfast: Charged Up: Clean Energy and the Future of Work for a discussion with industry, community, and education leaders on how clean energy is creating new opportunities, what skills will be in demand, and how today’s classrooms can help students plug into the jobs of tomorrow.
We are excited to have the Port of Long Beach's incoming CEO, Dr. Noel Hacegaba, to moderate our panel of experts!
Jaime Gutierrez, Executive Director, Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network (LBWIN)
Ryan Lansden, Director, Sustainability, APM Terminals
Hannah White, Fuel Cell Integration Engineer, Toyota
Sponsorship opportunities are also still available. Please contact Jessica Ureña, Director of Development, at jessica@expfuture.org for details.
Seating is limited. Be sure to register today!
Join us at the State of the Port of Los Angeles
Join us on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles for the 11th Annual State of the Port of Los Angeles, hosted by our partner PMSA - Pacific Merchant Shipping Association.
Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka will share the latest on trade trends, infrastructure investments, sustainability milestones, and what’s ahead for the nation’s busiest port gateway. All proceeds will benefit EXP and the Toberman Neighborhood Center, Inc., supporting local youth career pathways, family services, and frontline community support across Los Angeles.
This popular event will sell out! Make sure to register today.
EXP’s Women in STEM Career Day - March 5
The award-winning EXP’s Women in STEM Career Day turns 10 in 2026! Set for March 5, 2026, our 10th annual career discovery event introduces high school students to STEM-related careers with a special focus on inspiring girls and non-binary students.
Earlier this year, nearly 400 students from 14 high schools across Southern California attended the event at Los Angeles Harbor College, inspired by more than 130 STEM professionals at the career discovery expo, breakout career panels, and “Lunch with a STEM Professional”.
Sponsorship opportunities are available now! Please contact Jessica Ureña, Director of Development, at jessica@expfuture.org, to learn more!
Thanks to our sponsor to date - Marathon Los Angeles Refinery
EXP Staff Updates
A bittersweet update for two of our beloved team members as they depart EXP this month.
EXP alum and Program Manager, Maribel Alejandre, will be joining the San Pedro High School as their CTE School Counselor starting this week! Maribel joined EXP almost five years ago as the Internship Program Manager. She later transitioned into the Program Manager role, where she executed and delivered our programming at her alma mater, Banning High School. We are excited for her future, and we look forward to working with her as we continue to deliver programs at San Pedro HS!
And at the end of this year, after 7 years with EXP, our Development Manager, John Harris, is taking on a new adventure: retirement! John came to us from corporate sales with a passion to use his professional skills to make a difference in the community. And that he did, helping grow our corporate partners program and bringing vital resources to the table that impacted all of our students. As John would say himself, “It’s the end of an era.” We are going to miss John, but we know he will be much happier only answering to “The Boss”, aka his wife, from now on!
Want to be a part of our passionate and dedicated team? Learn more and apply here.
Program Manager (Full-time. Hybrid. Exempt.)
Development Coordinator (Part-time. Hybrid. Non-exempt.)
Event Calendar
January 22: EXP's Partner Event: PMSA presents State of the Port of Los Angeles @ AltaSea
January 28: Carol Rowen Legacy Circle Power Breakfast presents Charged Up: Green Energy and the Future of Work @ Big Rec Country Club, Long Beach
March 5 - EXP’s Women in STEM Career Day
March 28: EXP’s Partner Event: South Bay Business Expo @ CSU Dominguez Hills
April 30 - Oceans of Opportunity Awards and Scholarship Celebration @ Hotel Maya
Corporate Partnership opportunities are now available for all of our events. Please contact Jessica Ureña, Director of Development, at jessica@expfuture.org today.