Leadership Team
We Believe In People + Planet + Profit
Gary L. Polk Sr., MS
Founder / CEO
Gary L. Polk, Sr. is a distinguished Adjunct Professor of Business Management, Ethics, and Entrepreneurship at CSUDH (California State University, Dominguez Hills) located in Carson, CA. He discovered his true passion for teaching in 1991 when he began instructing at CSU, Northridge, and has been an influential figure in the academic community ever since.
Currently, Gary serves as an independent Business Advisor at Pacific Coast Regional (PCR)/SBDC, where he is a well-known figure in the entrepreneur ecosystem that encompasses L.A. County. Moreover, he has served as the Executive Director of two business incubators. Firstly, for two years, he successfully turned around the South Bay Entrepreneurial Center (SBEC), leading it from red ink to black ink. Secondly, Gary was the Founder and first Executive Director of the Innovation Incubator @ CSUDH, where he served for three years before returning to full-time teaching in 2019. Additionally, he also serves as a Coach and CEO / Founder of Polk Consulting. Gary's background in banking, District Financial Services Sales Management, and Women's College Basketball Coaching/Recruiting Coordination spans 40 years of practitioner experience.
Gary received his Bachelor of Arts in Marketing/Finance from Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, and his Master of Science in Administration from CSUDH. His academic areas of research include Strategic Management, Ethics, and Entrepreneurship. Recently, Gary was honored with the NFTE 2020 National Volunteer of the Year Award, along with his wife, Claudine.
Gary has been blessed with a loving family, which includes his wife, five grandchildren, three adult children, and two dogs. He currently resides in the South Bay region of Los Angeles. Gandhi's quote, "Live as if you were going to die tomorrow, Learn as if you were going to live forever," encapsulates Gary's positive outlook on life.
"Pursue your passion"
Claudine P. Polk
Chief of Staff / Director of Cohort Success
Claudine Pacheco-Polk moved from Maui, Hawai'i to California in 2012. With limited formal training but deep dedication, she is self-taught and has built a meaningful career through hands-on learning, humility, and heart. Her work with the Polk Institute reflects a commitment to inclusive entrepreneurship and the People–Planet–Profit mission. Claudine brings warmth, clarity, and care to every project – whether crafting outreach materials or coordinating community events. Her humble roots and tireless spirit shine through in everything she does, creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and inspired.
Aloha
Aloha
Co-Founder / Public Relations
Devon Blaine is a professional communicator with vast experience in all aspects of the industry. Formerly an actress, model, and stunt driver, Blaine founded The Blaine Group, Inc., a full-service communications agency based in Beverly Hills, California, in 1975.
The agency specializes in creating comprehensive public relations campaigns and marketing strategies, as well as providing stand-alone services. Blaine has been responsible for overseeing the implementation of consumer, trade, and financial public relations campaigns, investor relations, advertising efforts, and marketing strategy, including conducting market research, for a diverse range of companies and organizations.
Blaine's agency has an award-winning track record in serving the needs of emerging companies and major corporations alike. In addition to her business achievements, Blaine is also actively involved in entrepreneurial organizations such as LAVA, where she serves as a Director for 18 years.
Blaine is a frequent speaker on topics such as branding, marketing, and public relations. Her agency has created and managed special events, fundraisers, and community relations projects. In 2012, Blaine was named Book Publicist of the Year by Book Publicists of Southern California for her agency's international campaign on behalf of Abbey Road To Ziggy Stardust by Ken Scott and Bobby Owsinski.
Blaine's knowledge gained from venture-building is incorporated into the philosophy of The Blaine Group. Her reputation as "the entrepreneur's entrepreneur" is well-earned, and she continues to provide expert guidance to businesses of all sizes.
Alix Williams II
Director of Talent Acquisition
My passion lies in utilizing my combined experience as a senior recruiter and spiritual leader to help early to mid-career professionals navigate their career, and ultimately experience a meaningful life. Over the course of my career as a recruiter, I've succeeded in helping over 700 people to take strides forward in their career. The majority of the people that I have worked with find themselves at a crossroads on their path. The college senior, the recently laid-off young professional who isn't sure what to do next, the mid-career professional who has been working the same job for eight years and seeks change.
Aloha
Alice Taylor
Fundraising and Advancement
As the principal grant writer and chief strategist for fundraising and brand positioning for Polk Institute Foundation Alice brings a long and varied history of advancement expertise to the role. By day, Alice is the Director of Sales and Marketing for the Los Angeles Maritime Institute at the LA Waterfront in San Pedro. She has the great job of selling educational sails and private charters on three tall ships that sail practically every day out of the Port of LA and Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach. The ships operate as a non-profit organization with 35 years of successful youth experiential education training. She came to be involved with the Maritime Institute through her work in San Pedro and Wilmington with the Harbor Community Benefit Foundation after a long career with Hughes-GM-Boeing in market research and new business Development.
She has over twenty-five years’ experience in leading high tech strategic initiatives, new business ventures, business planning, systems engineering, competitive intelligence, market research, and intellectual property portfolio development. She is an expert in identifying and securing all levels of government (federal, regional, state, and local) and/or commercial funding for a wide range of industries and start-up endeavors including but not limited to the following industries: photonics, satellite communications, broadband networks, mobile communications and mobile applications, agtech, telematics, homeland security, disaster recovery, neuroscience, and bluetech applications.
She is a product development champion for high tech inventions and applications with an emphasis on creating an enabling environment for intellectual property and the right commercialization strategy. She works with both for profit and non-profit entities and is particularly skilled at public-private partnerships and pursuing grant opportunities.
William L. Strickland
Chief Operating Officer
A seasoned attorney, business executive, and educator with more than 40 years of experience in contract negotiation, business strategy, conflict resolution, and sports management. Throughout his distinguished career, he has represented elite professional athletes, negotiating more than $2 billion in contracts across the NBA, NFL, and other major sports leagues. In addition to serving in senior executive roles with leading sports agencies, William has taught law, business, negotiation, and conflict resolution at institutions including USC Gould School of Law, UCLA, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and California State University, Dominguez Hills. A respected speaker, consultant, and board advisor, he is widely recognized for his leadership, industry expertise, and contributions to the legal, business, and sports communities.
DEVON BLAINE
A professional communicator
Devon Blaine is the founder of The Blaine Group, a Beverly Hills-headquartered public relations agency that creates visibility for visionaries.
Blaine is experienced in all facets of the communications industry. Formerly an actress, model, and stunt car driver, she founded the agency in 1975.
Besides designing communications campaigns that help businesses maximize their success, she has long been active in numerous entrepreneurial organizations, thus earning a reputation as "the entrepreneur’s entrepreneur.” She has incorporated the knowledge gained from these ventures into the philosophy of The Blaine Group. The agency has an award-winning track record in serving the public relations needs of fast-track emerging-growth companies and major corporations alike. Learn more at www.blainegroupinc.com .
