ALLISON ANDREWS is founder of Fashion Week San Diego® (FWSD), president of APA Business Consulting and executive director of FAB Authority. A passionate entrepreneur, Andrews founded FWSD in 2007, growing the year-long event to become one of the biggest and most prominent Southern California events, and the only bi-national Fashion Week in the world. Prior to launching FWSD, Andrews founded APA Business Consulting, a consulting firm that supports startups and entrepreneurs with business, brand development, marketing, and sales strategies. She started the company in 2005, at the age of 20. In 2015, she also launched the FAB Authority, a non-for-profit organization, providing resources and events for emerging artists, designers and beauty industry professionals. Andrews’ passion for helping and empowering others is apparent in all that she touches. In addition to her full-time commitments with FWSD, APA Business Consulting, and the FAB Authority, Andrews is an active community member, sitting on the board of several not-for-profit organizations and donating her time to support others. She serves as a Board member and longtime volunteer for Rancho Coastal Humane Society (12 years) and is a volunteer and donor for Love on a Leash pet therapy and St. Paul’s Senior Homes and Services. A recognized and respected industry thought leader, Andrews speaks frequently at various San Diego events, led by professional organizations, as well as local colleges, graduations, networking events, seminars and other fashion events. In 2013, she was selected as a finalist for San Diego Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business Awards. Andrews holds an Associate of Arts degree in Merchandise Marketing from Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership from National University.

LISANE BASQUIAT is a dynamic leader, entrepreneur, and life strategist with a diverse background that spans across the realms of corporate, artistic, and personal development. As a former corporate executive, Lisane has a wealth of experience in navigating the challenges of the professional world while maintaining a focus on personal growth and well-being. With a passion for empowering others to find balance and fulfillment, Lisane founded Shaping Freedom, an organization dedicated to guiding individuals in breaking free from emotional constraints and embracing their inner strength. Through her work as a life strategist with Shaping Freedom, Lisane has become a leading force in the fields of spiritual and personal growth, inspiring countless individuals to reclaim control over their lives and rewrite their personal narratives through her workshops and the Shaping Freedom with Lisane Basquiat podcast.

Lisane is the owner of Hera Hub Carlsbad, a female-focused coworking space that fosters collaboration, creativity, and connection among women entrepreneurs. This innovative space further demonstrates her commitment to creating supportive environments where individuals can thrive both personally and professionally.

 Lisane’s artistic heritage runs deep as the co-administrator of the estate of her late brother, renowned artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. In this role, she not only preserves and shares her brother’s legacy but also nurtures the artistic spirit within others. As co-curator and co-executive producer of the Jean-Michel Basquiat: King Pleasure exhibition, Lisane showcases her brother’s groundbreaking work while offering a platform for new generations to explore the impact and importance of artistic expression.

Lisane was recognized as the NAWBO San Diego’s 2022 Business Woman of the Year. She has been featured in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Good Morning America, the Tavis Smiley Show, the Karen Hunter Show, the Rolling Stone and more. With her unique blend of professional expertise, artistic insight, and passion for personal growth, Lisane Basquiat is a powerful force in empowering others to find balance, fulfillment, and the strength to create lasting, positive change in their lives.

TIFFANY WAI-YING BERES, PhD, is the Manager of Arts for the San Diego Airport Authority. She is an accomplished curator, writer, and art project manager. Tiffany has curated more than 30 exhibition projects for museums and institutions around the world such as the Museum of Photographic Arts in San Diego, the China Institute, New York, the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, the Pagoda Paris in France, the Today Art Museum in Beijing, and more. She has also commissioned more than 20 works of art, including site-specific projects for historical and public spaces around the world. Previously, Tiffany was based in China for a decade, where she worked with artists and published extensively about topics in Asian contemporary art.

CHARLOTTE CAGAN is a non‐profit executive with extensive experience in organizational development, strategic planning, fundraising, community engagement and institutional revitalization. She has led six nonprofits to achieve their mission, vision, and goals, including an 11-county food bank and a city women’s commission. She has provided leadership for four museums in organizational rejuvenation, financial stabilization, and growth, community engagement, and re-branding.  She has developed strategic alliances, coalitions, and public/private partnerships, and she has a broad range of experience that spans arts and culture, education, human service, business, and government. Cagan has also been a consultant to cultural, educational and business organizations in marketing, fundraising, event planning, strategic planning and organizational development. She has served on numerous nonprofit boards including arts, environmental, human services and leadership development organizations. Cagan has a B.A. in political science, magna cum laude, from Cornell University with post-graduate study at Harvard and Columbia universities as well as continuing studies at Stanford University

DANIELA DE LEON – A multidisciplinary professional with extensive experience in the arts, education, and cultural promotion, Daniela de León holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from the Autonomous University of Baja California and completed additional studies in education with a psychology focus at the University of Alcalá in Madrid, Spain. With over eight years in the arts and cultural sector, she has contributed to numerous initiatives focused on fostering creativity, community engagement, and cross-border collaboration. Notable past roles include serving as General Coordinator at La Caja Galería, where she managed exhibitions and helped to represent artists on local, national, and international levels. She also served as Artistic Director for Fundraising at Fundación Tú Más Yo, organizing art auctions to support community development initiatives in Tijuana. Her artistic practice includes independent work with a strong focus on urban and graffiti art, alongside creating large-scale murals in partnership with Reacciona Tijuana. This work highlights her dedication to exploring public spaces as platforms for artistic expression and community dialogue. As part of her work with World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024, she co-created a youth program aimed at empowering and supporting young people in the region. This initiative reflects her deep commitment to investing in future generations. “When we prioritize education and provide attention to the youth, we lay the foundation for transformative change in our communities,” she believes. She served as Binational Liaison Coordinator at the Municipal Institute of Art and Culture, strengthening Tijuana’s international cultural presence working with different countries like London, China, Spain, France, Africa and many more. As Tijuana Liaison for World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024, she played an active role in uniting the two cities under a shared vision of creativity and design, fostering innovative cross-border projects. Her work reflects a passion for advancing the arts, celebrating culture, and building bridges between communities.

THOM DANCY has worked in the arts non-profit sector for over a decade. He has had the pleasure of engaging with multiple dance organizations and company founders in program planning, outreach, social media marketing, development, and strategic planning. One of his favorite past projects was working with Joshua Manculich to win him the Princess Grace Award for Choreography in 2015. Thom has presented on the topics of social media and dance education to the Board of Directors at Arts for Learning San Diego, The Arts Empower Mega-Conference, and San Diego Unified School District. Thom has previously served on the communications committee for AERO San Diego, as well as on the executive committee for Rising Arts Leaders of San Diego. Thom studied Ballet Performance at the University of Oklahoma, and danced for Milwaukee Ballet II, Grand Rapids Ballet, The Big Muddy Dance Company, The Muny, and Malashock Dance. Thom is still an active teacher and choreographer, traveling nationally as a guest artist and has received multiple awards for his work at Youth America Grand Prix and various dance festivals. For the past three years, Thom has been a part of the The Rosin Box Project as the company’s inaugural Managing Director and now Executive Director. Through his work, the company has grown from a $30,000 to $300,000 budget and engaged students across San Diego in numerous dance education workshops. Thom is most proud of the success of TRBP’s flagship outreach program, The Ballet Machine, which will reach 40 classrooms in 2022.

CHI ESSARY (Emeritus Board Member) is an artist, writer and photographer who promotes and explores the intersection of art, science and the public. She studied printmaking and photography at Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, Oregon and has an active practice in oil painting and found objects. She curates cross-disciplinary exhibitions that bring artists together with other fields of creative inquiry such as contemporary literature and science, as she is a firm believer that “the best gift to humanity is bringing people together.” In 2017 she curated “Extra-Ordinary Collusion”, pairing almost 50 scientists and artists for a massive cross-disciplinary exhibition encouraging further exchange in San Diego’s rich art and scientific communities. She also curated several lofts fro an immersive art takeover called SENSORIUM which was featured on the NatGeo Channel. Previously a board member of Vanguard Culture, Chi has been the lead contributor to the artists studio visit series: Poetic License. Her curating and writing has given her a unique perspective that she applies towards her mission to help build programs that support world-class art in San Diego.

JORDAN JACOBO – Jordan Jacobo is a San Diego-based performing artist who has developed and appeared in various films and series. As a writer, Jordan’s work has been featured on stage at the Old Globe Theater as well as a myriad of media platforms. He currently serves as host of the KPBS digital series, “Jordan Loves,” in which he highlights the seldom-explored corners of his native San Diego.”

JOHN MALASHOCK brings 35 years of experience in dance, theater and film to his current endeavors as Artistic Director of Malashock Dance & The Malashock Dance School, during which time he has created over 70 choreographic works, dance/theater collaborations, theater and opera productions, and award-winning dance films. John founded Malashock Dance in 1988, after a distinguished performing career.  Under his leadership, Malashock Dance has grown to become one of California’s premiere dance companies and his work has now been presented throughout the United States, Central America, Japan and Central Europe. With the Tharp Company, he performed worldwide; appeared in the Academy Award-winning film Amadeus; was featured in numerous television specials; and performed in benefit concerts with Mikhail Baryshnikov. Malashock has many notable collaborative credits to his name.  He has choreographed for productions at the La Jolla Playhouse, The Old Globe Theatre, and the San Diego Rep.  His work has been commissioned by the San Diego Symphony, La Jolla Music Society and San Diego Opera. He has garnered four Emmy Awards for his dance films, which have aired on over 30 affiliate PBS stations nationwide.  His recent collaboration with The San Diego Museum of Art, The Floating World, was widely praised. A leader within the local and national dance communities, Malashock currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Dance USA and is proud to have taken the leadership role in conceiving, developing and establishing Dance Place San Diego at Liberty Station. As an Artist in Residence at the La Jolla Playhouse, John is currently developing a dance musical based on the life, work, and relationships of artist Marc Chagall.

KAMAAL MARTIN’s passions are arts & culture, community development, finance, improving our local food system and raising the quality of life throughout the San Diego/Tijuana region. Before founding San Diego-based social enterprise and consulting firm, Art Power Equity, he developed a unique skill set and network through professional experiences including: Director of Advocacy (Southern California) with the California Charter School Association, Adjunct Faculty (Political Science) in the San Diego Community College District, Government Relations Specialist with the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority and years as a staffer in the California State Assembly, including roles as Field Director, Special Assistant to the Speaker and District Director. A graduate of the University of Oregon, with a B.A. in History and an M.A. in International Studies, he’s served on the boards/advisory groups of numerous community organizations including: years on the board of directors with Project New Village 501(c)3 and Somali Youth United 501(c)3 and is a former chair of the NAACP San Diego’s Political Action Committee.  He currently lives in Lemon Grove, CA, with his partner and two teenage daughters.

ROB MARLBROUGH stands at the intersection of technology innovation and digital marketing leadership. With many years of hands-on experience, he has become a trusted partner for businesses seeking to amplify their online impact and optimize their technical operations.

As the founder of Press Wizards since 1997, Rob’s vision and guidance have shaped the company into a premier source for WordPress expertise and web hosting excellence. His entrepreneurial drive continues at 5 Star Plugins, where he serves as Co-Founder and CTO. Since it’s founding in 2017, he has led the development of ground-breaking solutions in WordPress, Laravel, and AI, helping clients of all sizes harness the power of modern web technology.

Rob’s career is marked by multi-year nominations for the San Diego Magazine Top Tech Exec Award and by his commitment to knowledge-sharing within the tech community. As a frequent WordCamp speaker, he brings practical insights to audiences in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Las Vegas, and beyond.

Before his entrepreneurial ventures, Rob spent many years shaping the future of software engineering and IT management, notably contributing to the success of Nik Software, creators of Apple’s 2011 iPad App of the Year, Snapseed—prior to their acquisition by Google.

A dedicated advocate for community and collaboration, Rob has held leadership roles as past Event Director of Social Media Club San Diego and as a past board member of SDX (now ONE Club San Diego). Across every endeavor, he is committed to empowering others and driving transformation through innovative digital strategy.

PAULINA TAPIA is a dynamic media professional with over two decades of experience shaping the marketing, entertainment, and broadcast landscape across San Diego and Baja California. A proud native San Diegan, Paulina’s strength lies in her deep local roots and her unmatched ability to connect people, brands, and culture; she truly “has a guy for everything.”

From strategic marketing executive to voiceover talent, both behind the scenes and on the scene; Paulina has worn many hats in the industry. Whether you’ve worked with her on a campaign, heard her on the radio, seen her on TV, or spotted her at a local event, her presence is instantly recognizable and authentically local.

As an Integrated Marketing Specialist at Local Media San Diego, Paulina crafts and executes multi-platform campaigns for brands that want to resonate locally, nationally, and internationally. Her bilingual fluency and creative flair make her a sought-after voice (both literally and strategically) across 91X, Magic 92.5, and Z90.3, as well as across digital platforms, where she brings every campaign to life with strategy, authenticity, and cultural nuance.

A proud graduate of the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts and the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, Paulina has leveraged her storytelling background into a career that blends creative vision with marketing momentum and measurable results. Her diverse portfolio spans film, radio, digital, events, marketing, and publishing, always with an eye for inclusion, connection, and impact.

Known for her sharp wit, collaborative energy, and deep understanding of the creative pulse, Paulina continues to be a trusted connector and creative force in the media world, championing campaigns that don’t just make noise, but make a difference.

ARTURO RODRÍGUEZ is an arts leader and entrepreneur and with a Degree in Business Administration from CETYS University of Tijuana. His passion for the arts and collecting art, led him to found La Caja Galería in 2005. Eighteen years later, the gallery has transformed into a cultural project which has been redefined as The Art and Culture Box, where it promotes exhibitions, sells works, advises on art acquisitions, conducts appraisals, organizes auctions, provides specialized information, workshops, courses andthree certificate programs from México’s Secretary of CultureINBA. They also provide a space for community gatherings, culinary experiences and conferences. The space stands out for combining artistic expressions with culinary art into a novel “100 percent regional” concept named VOGOT.Rodríguez is currently Vice Chair of the COCAT (Committee of Organizations of Culture and Arts of TIJUANA AC) which has 10 members of the most outstanding cultural bodies of the city including the Opera de Tijuana AC, Lux Boreal AC, and Sinfonica Juvenil de Tijuana ACamong others. He also serves on Artes Sin Fronteras A.C. and was former chair of the Red Aser, AC, which has 24 members of the most outstanding non-profit organizations in the city. In addition, the international impact that he has achieved with his career and his untiring contributions to the community, led him to be named by the newspaper Frontera, as the “Man of the year 2015” in the city of Tijuana and in that same year the weekly Zeta also designated him As the “Man of Culture 2015”. In 2015 he was awarded with a 2-page feature story in the L.A. Times about his 10 years of work within the cultural promotion of this city, and in 2016 was acknowledged in NEWSWEEK Mexico a notable leader in the arts.

MARILU SALINAS (M A L U) is a classical and electronic musician based in Tijuana, Baja CA, México and New York City. M A L U ’s main focus had been in orchestral works and now she is focusing in electronic music compositions and performances, touring CA, US, MX, Asia and Europe. Recently, she composed the music for Portrait of a Nation short film honoree Dr. Anthony Fauci at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC. and performed for the Cesar Chavez Anniversary with son speaker Paul Chavez at the University of California, San Diego. Founder of South Train, festival that united more that 80 artists and art projects from two countries, four cities: Los Angeles, San Diego, Tijuana, and Ensenada to perform and promote in pandemic time. M A L U has performed in many festivals including Raw Festivals Canada and US, La Mesa Music Festival,US , La Jolla Playhouse SD, ART San Diego, ART Los Angeles, Latin American Art Fair, We Want Women of Liverpool, England, Cyberpunk & Underground Festivals in Mexico, SD & TJ Film Festivals, Buddhagaya in Japan, Música y Visuales Universidad de Artes UABC Ensenada, Das Vierte in Switzerland, Collateral Collective SD, SubStore Electric Fest, Tokyo, Heroic Procession House of Blues.

WHITNEY SHAY has been lighting up stages since her performance journey began at just 3 years old. Starting in musical theatre in her hometown of San Diego, Whitney performed in countless community and professional productions before earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre with an Emphasis in Performance from San Diego State University. After college, Whitney found her true groove in soulful music—and she’s been on fire ever since. A five-time San Diego Music Award winner (including Artist of the Year in 2019) and recipient of a San Diego City Beat “Best Of” Award, Whitney’s talent has earned her local and international acclaim. Her latest album, “Stand Up!”, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Blues charts and topped the Roots Music Report. She’s completed 10 tours across Europe and South America and has lent her voice to numerous TV and film placements, including NBC, HBO, Bravo, BET, Hulu, and Disney+. Known as the #busylittlesinger, she’s kept an impressive pace, performing 200–300 shows a year. During the pandemic, Whitney discovered a new creative passion: design. While maintaining her rigorous music schedule, she earned two degrees in Interaction and Graphic Design from San Diego City College, one of the world’s top programs for design.  Whitney has since enmeshed herself deeply in San Diego’s design community.  She serves on the Events Committee for the San Diego User Experience Researchers group and has volunteered for San Diego Design Week, San Diego Design Trek, the International Design Celebration Summit, and World Design Capital events.  Whitney Shay is elated to join the Advisory Board for Vanguard, bringing her lifelong dedication to the arts full circle to serve and better elevate the San Diego arts community as a whole.

TATIANA SIZONENKO (Emeritus Board Member) is a University Professor, art historian, and curator. She received her Ph.D. in Renaissance art history, with a specialization in Venice and the Mediterranean world, from the Visual Arts Department at University of California, San Diego. Ms. Sizonenko teaches courses on Western art, from ancient to contemporary, with a strong focus on the intended function of art objects in their respective historical settings and cultural contexts. Ms. Sizonenko’s research and teaching has been informed by her wide-ranging curatorial practice. Ms. Sizonenko held positions as curator for the University Art Gallery at UC San Diego; curatorial fellow at the Timken Museum of Art; curatorial fellow for the dean of the Division of Arts and Humanities at UC San Diego; curator of collections and special exhibitions at the Museum of Making Music in Carlsbad, CA; and guest curator at the La Jolla Historical Society in San Diego and at the Barrington Center for the Arts at Gordon College, MA. She received her M.A. in Museum Studies from John F. Kennedy University, Berkeley, CA, and a Diploma (MA equivalent) in Art History from Leningrad State University, St. Petersburg, Russia. Before coming to the United States, she was assistant curator in the Department of Medieval Art at the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. She has been the recipient of several fellowships including the Getty Foundation’s “Connecting Art Histories” Fellowship, the Timken Museum of Art Fellowship, the Dean of Art and Humanities Dissertation Research Fellowship from UC San Diego, the UC San Diego Visual Arts Department’s Funded Semester at Harvard University and Russia’s National Fellowship for Distinguished Scholarship in Art History.

RICHARD P. TRUJILLO is an award-winning actor, director, and producer who has shared the stage with Tony Award Nominees Grace Keagy, Clayton Corzatte, and Patrick Page. He may be the only actor to perform works by these Latino vanguards–Latins Anonymous, Culture Clash, and John Leguizamo. His mentor, the late theatre icon Diane Rodriguez, directed each production. A directing highlight was leading the original production of James E. Garcia’s Voices of Valor, a joint project from Artes Americas partners Arizona State University Public Events and the University of Texas in Austin. He is a proud member of Actors Equity Association. Richard has extensive experience as an arts administration professional having previously served Supervising Arts Specialist with San Diego Unified and as Artistic Director at the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts (SDSCPA) where he led the artistic vision and guided the school to a renewed sense of purpose, putting it on track for national arts accreditation. Richard curated 13 seasons of award-winning theatre, music, visual and media arts, creative writing, and dance. He led the formalization of the art majors and designed the programs of study, establishing and authenticating the school’s distinctive dual curriculum.