Maura Lemon is a corporate educator and strategic advisor with a proven ability to drive employee engagement and business transformation. She has held leadership roles at top organizations like Disney, Warner Bros., and FDH Aero, where she designed impactful learning programs, led organizational change, and aligned workforce development with business objectives. Known for her consultative approach and cost-effective talent solutions, Maura consistently delivers measurable improvements in satisfaction, retention, and performance. A trusted leader with strong coaching skills, she excels at building high-performing teams and fostering a culture of growth and collaboration. Maura holds an MBA from Pepperdine University and a BA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and remains committed to advancing talent development as a key driver of organizational success.

Tim Erickson is a seasoned Learning and Development professional with over 10 years of experience, including 5 years as an independent consultant, specializing in leadership development, coaching, and human capital strategy. He currently serves as Sr. Learning & Development Partner at Partners, a Walt Disney company, where he designs and implements impactful leadership programs. Tim holds a Master’s in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and certifications in Executive Coaching, Hogan Assessments, and Lean Six Sigma. Passionate about advancing the L&D profession, he is dedicated to creating strategies that enhance employee engagement, professional growth, and organizational success.

Cathy Frial is a dynamic and vibrant talent leader who uses her lifelong passion of learning to create and sustain cultures of engagement. Cathy has extensive talent, learning, and organizational development experience with a variety of industries including grocery retail, luxury goods manufacturing, and insurance.  Cathy’s broad industry background combined with her deep functional expertise results in a discerning ability to identify, design, and deliver the right talent solutions for any business setting. Cathy has held a variety of leadership roles in her expansive career, sparking an absolute love for leadership development where she creates, develops, and grows high impact learning solutions that deliver long term results increasing employee engagement and improving the overall associate experience. Currently, Cathy is heading up Learning and Talent Development for Northgate Gonzalez Markets, a large grocery retailer in Southern California. Cathy believes that we have the individual ability to reach our greatest potential by utilizing our natural strengths to obtain impactful results and build strong relationships. With Cathy’s in-depth experience as a leader and passion to create meaningful workplace cultures, she effectively has created learning and development, wellness and engagement strategies leading to Best Places to Work and Employer of Choice designations throughout her career.

Anupa Naik is a veteran Learning & Development professional with a comprehensive background in a variety of leadership and consulting roles, industries, and Fortune 500 companies such as AIG, L‘Oreal USA, United Airlines, and more. A Chicago native, she earned a Master’s degree in Adult Education from Loyola University Chicago, then moved to New York City where she lived, worked and also served on the Board of ATD New York. Now a new resident of the Southern California area, Anupa is excited to collaborate with the local L&D community, share experiences and explore opportunities to build our collective expertise and grow in our careers.

Valerie Quezada has 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry ranging from clinical to commercial manufacturing with a variety of responsibilities. Her current role at Takeda Los Angeles is Instructional System Designer, supporting multiple business units. In this capacity she develops eLearning, designs various curricula, and facilitates training sessions. She recently obtained her M.S. in Instructional Design and Technology from California State College, Fullerton and in addition holds a B.S. in Animal Science from California State Polytechnic, San Luis Obispo. In her spare time, she explores the local trails with her horse Cowgirl.

Jeff Trovinger is a Talent Development leader and consultant with 15 years' experience in crafting people-centric talent solutions for non-profit organizations, government agencies, and retail, sales, and distribution companies. His passion for excellence and commitment to continuous learning and growth are alive in what he’s professionally realized: MBA in Organizational Leadership from Mount Saint Mary’s University (Los Angeles), ATD Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD), ATD Master Trainer certification, SHRM-Senior Certified Professional (SCP) and TMI Talent Management Practitioner. From his Midwest roots to current home in Long Beach (a dream come true), Jeff’s career journey from Training Coordinator to Director and everything in between has shaped his overarching perspective on developing human potential – build connection and trust, lean into strengths, and always be learning and willing to adapt. As he embarks on this new chapter as a member of the greater Los Angeles ATD community, he is thrilled to learn from, collaborate with, and bring fresh perspectives to the current and next generation of Talent Development professionals who are also inspired and committed to making a difference in others’ personal and professional lives.

Denise is the ATD-LA Association Manager and has been with the chapter since 2008. She handles the day-to-day operations, reporting, and compliances; and is your contact through email and phone. Her business, More than Just Words, is an association management and virtual assistance company. She also manages the ATD-Orange County Chapter and serves as a bridge for the two chapters.