EXP Insider: A great start to 2026
EXP’s Women in STEM Career Day Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jacqueline Sanderlin
Welcome, Dr. Jackie, to EXP's Women in STEM Career Day!
We are excited to announce Dr. Jacqueline L. Sanderlin, also known affectionately as Dr. Jackie, as our keynote speaker for the 10th annual Women in STEM Career Day on Thursday, March 5, at Los Angeles Harbor College!
Dr. Jackie is an accomplished educator, leadership expert, and author renowned for building powerful, sustainable school-community partnerships. With over 25 years of experience as a special education teacher, curriculum specialist, assistant principal, principal, and senior director of school and community engagement, Dr. Jackie brings both depth and authenticity to her work with educators, executives, and community leaders.
Formerly the K12 National Leadership Executive Manager at Apple, Dr. Jackie has a proven track record of bridging education, business, and community. She is the Founder and CEO of The Why Not? Incubator, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing opportunities for youth and helping them discover their full potential. She is also the CEO of Impact Leader Enterprises, where she deepens leadership impact through empowering keynote speeches and results-driven professional learning experiences.
In her acclaimed book, The Why Not Challenge: Say Yes to Success with School-Community Partnerships, Dr. Jackie shares proven, practical strategies for building lasting relationships among schools, organizations, and companies. Read Dr. Jackie's full bio here.
We are excited to have Dr. Jackie motivate and inspire our 500+ students to explore STEM-related careers and learn from our 100+ volunteers from 30+ companies.
Sponsorship opportunities are available now! Please contact Jessica Ureña, Director of Development, at jessica@expfuture.org, to learn more!
Your Support in Action
"Teamwork in Action" at Phineas Banning HS
On Friday, January 16, the International Trade Academy (ITA) advisory board hosted the first “Teamwork in Action” event for students in the pathway, encouraging them to work together and network with board members. Activities included an alumni career panel and a networking bingo. Then, students competed in the Egg Car project, where they built a pinewood car as a group with a safe bumper and restraint system to protect a raw egg passenger during a crash test. What a fun way to work on communication and leadership skills!
Inspire our students at Spring Career Fairs
Would you like to showcase your business and industry to high school students? We are looking for organizations to participate in our upcoming career fairs.
Carson High School - Friday, March 20, 12:30 - 2 p.m. Please contact Sandra Rascon, Program Manager, at sandra@expfuture.org.
Barstow High School - Tuesday, March 31, 7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Please contact Patty Negrette, Senior Program Manager, at patty@expfuture.org.
EXP Internship Program kicks off with career-readiness workshops
And they’re off! The career-readiness workshops have begun for students in the EXP Internship Program, including those in the Global Business Magnet at Gardena HS. This is the beginning of their semester-long preparation to apply for the paid summer internships. YOU can be a part of this life-changing journey!
Become a host site: Make an impact in a student’s life by hosting our intern for 10-20 hours a week from July-August. Please connect with Trevor Amy, Internship Program Manager, at trevor@expfuture.org
Volunteer for mock interviews: Help our internship candidates prepare for their placement interviews! We’ll have dates up soon, but in the meantime, please reach out to Devyn Degree, Program Coordinator, at devyn@expfuture.org if you are interested in learning more.
Sponsor our program: Please connect with Jessica Ureña, Director of Development, at jessica@expfuture.org to learn about how you can provide economic support to our students.
EXP Night at Ontario Reign Hockey - April 17
Join the EXP team and our students from Barstow High School and Central High School for an evening of fun as the Ontario Reign takes on the San Diego Gulls on Friday, April 17, at 7 p.m., at Toyota Arena in Ontario. $5 from every ticket sold will go to support EXP programs in Barstow!
Ahead of the game, our Barstow students will be treated to a behind-the-scenes arena tour, a Q&A panel with Ontario Reign professionals to learn about career possibilities in sports, entertainment, and event operations! What an experience!
Toberman Neighborhood Center CEO Dr. Lupe Rivera, Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka, and EXP CEO Mary Tran at the State of the Port
Heart in the Harbor. Eyes toward the Future.
We are so honored and humbled by the support from the Los Angeles harbor community these past few weeks.
First, on January 22, the record crowd at the sold-out State of the Port of Los Angeles luncheon, hosted by the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA). Ticket proceeds from the event have now raised more than $350,000 for local non-profit organizations, including EXP and our friends at Toberman Neighborhood Center. We are grateful to be a PMSA nonprofit partner since 2016!
Then, on January 29, the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners approved an unprecedented $1.85 million in grants to support 47 non-profit organizations undertaking initiatives benefiting the communities of the Los Angeles Harbor area through the Port of Los Angeles Community Investment Grant Program, including EXP.
“The Port’s community grants program continues to be instrumental in supporting many local organizations doing tremendous work in our community,” said Los Angeles Harbor Commissioner President Lucille Roybal-Allard. “We’re proud to be able to contribute to the missions and success of these non-profit groups.”
“Since 2014, the Port’s grant program has allocated more than $14.5 million to 422 worthy community groups,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka. “We’re proud to provide an ongoing mechanism to support promising and impactful local projects in the Los Angeles Harbor area.”
Thank you for 26 years of community partnership, Port of Los Angeles!
Dr. Noel Hacegaba, Ryan Lansden, Hannha White, and Jaime Gutierrez.
Clean Energy Future is Here
The clean energy future is already here, according to the panel of experts at the Carol Rowen Legacy Circle Power Breakfast last Thursday, January 29. At the sold-out “Charged Up: Clean Energy and the Future of Work,” the Port of Long Beach CEO, Dr. Noel Hacegaba, led an impactful discussion on how clean energy is creating new opportunities and how we can prepare the future workforce for these jobs. Panelists included:
Jaime Gutierrez, Executive Director, Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network (LBWIN)
Ryan Lansden, Director, Sustainability, APM Terminals
Hannah White, Fuel Cell Integration Engineer, Toyota
The panel discussed the state of the clean energy industry, skills needed to succeed, and the exciting future ahead.
Thanks to our event sponsor, APM Terminals!
Welcome, New Board Members
It is our pleasure to welcome Robert Menald, President, Titan Environmental Solutions, to our Board of Directors! Robert’s leadership is rooted in teamwork and empowering others to deliver high-quality, innovative solutions. A long-time friend of EXP, Robert is committed to community service, supporting youth education, fundraising, and local outreach, reflecting his dedication to public health and social responsibility.
“EXP’s mission aligns perfectly with my passion for empowering the next generation,” said Robert. “Helping students gain real-world exposure, build confidence, and discover their potential is both meaningful and necessary. I’m honored to support EXP’s work in building a more prepared, inspired, and inclusive future workforce.”
And we’re happy to welcome back our former board member and the 2020 Bill Stein Memorial Leadership Award recipient, Daniella Ruiz! Daniella joined the Port of Los Angeles in April 2023 as a Cargo Marketing Manager. She facilitates meaningful engagement with both the local community and global industry stakeholders. Daniella utilizes her extensive leadership, marketing, and communication skills to promote Port facilities, attract business, and represent the Port at trade, government, and community events locally and globally.
Daniella has a bachelor’s degree in international business from Mount St. Mary’s University.
Daniella is passionate about community service and currently serves on multiple boards of directors, including the ITA at Phineas Banning HS, as noted earlier.
“I’m so excited to serve on EXP's Board of Directors again. EXP’s mission is truly inspiring!” said Daniella. “Here at America’s Port, I’ve witnessed EXP’s impact up close—EXP’s programs open doors, change trajectories, empower, and propel young people into incredible opportunities for their futures. I’m fueled with high-octane enthusiasm to collaborate with my fellow Board Members, the awesome team at EXP, and our industry partners; being a part of EXP again feels like coming home.”
Welcome New EXP Team Member
Once a Pilot, always a Pilot! We are excited to welcome a Phineas Banning alum, Jessica McCarns, to the EXP team as the Program Manager at Banning HS. Jessica can be reached at jessicamccarns@expfuture.org.
Jessica has joined EXP, bringing a rich background in Biomedical Sciences and urban public health disparities. Her experience encompasses program assistance, educational programming, community outreach, and youth-focused initiatives. Jessica is dedicated to advancing student success through accessible, equitable, and innovative educational pathways.
Jessica’s passion is empowering young people to build confidence and skills, aligning with EXP's mission to prepare students for future success. With experience in higher education and STEM instruction, Jessica employs a thoughtful, student-centered approach and is eager to leverage her skills to help students maximize their potential and develop meaningful pathways to their futures.
“I am so impressed by the impactful work happening at EXP and am excited to contribute to the mission and work together to make a difference,” said Jessica.
Jessica holds an MS in Urban Public Health and an MS in Biomedical Science from Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science.
Upcoming Events
March 5 - EXP’s Women in STEM Career Day @ Los Angeles Harbor College.
March 28 - EXP’s Partner Event: South Bay Business Expo @ CSU Dominguez Hills. Use code EXP2026 for 20% discount!
April 2 - The Future is Working Giving Day. More information coming soon!
April 17 - EXP Night at the Ontario Reign @ Toyota Arena. $5 from each ticket purchase will support our programs in Barstow.
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.