Leadership Team
We Believe In People Planet Profit
Founding Team
Gary L. Polk Sr., MS
Founder / CEO
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.
Michael S. Manahan
Co-Founder/CFO
Co-Founder / CFO
Michael S. Manahan is a financial strategist, consultant, and full-time professor at California State Dominguez Hills. He has over 30 years of experience in the financial industry, having served as the chief financial officer for three publicly traded companies and started and owned seven small businesses. He is a graduate of the British Columbia Institute of Technology in Financial Management and has earned an MBA from Pepperdine University, as well as a CPA (non-active) in Canada. Mr. Manahan has also completed all coursework for a Doctorate in Organizational Change at Pepperdine University (ABD).
As an advisor, Mr. Manahan has worked with more than 150 management teams and has co-founded the Polk Institute Foundation. He is the author of “The Secrets to Raising Capital,” “The Key to Landing a Job – The Interview,” and “The Secrets to Job Success.” Mr. Manahan is also the former host of Biz Rap Radio show and podcast and has been featured and quoted on financial websites such as Yahoo Finance, WalletHub, MoneyGeek, and The Motley Fool for his advice on personal finance and his work with the Polk Institute.
In addition to his extensive experience and publications, Mr. Manahan is dedicated to educating the CEOs and CFOs of the future as a teacher of finance and accounting at California State University Dominguez Hills.
Devon Blaine
Public Relations
Co-Founder / PR
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
Co-Founder/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.
Erin Thompson
Chief of Global Partnerships
Co-Founder/ Chief of Global Partnerships
Erin Thompson is Special Projects Manager for Inner City Law Center and Program Manager for Homeful.LA – a non-profit law firm that focuses on housing and benefits cases and a program that promotes opportunities for both lawyers and non-lawyers in Los Angeles County to volunteer, advocate and donate towards ending homelessness. Erin is founder of her own entrepreneurial endeavors including E3 Enterprises LLC., an edutainment production company, and The S Word Project, which created safe spaces for hundreds of teens in LA and Chicago to talk about sex and relationships. Erin is currently an adjunct Professor of Social Entrepreneurship for Loyola Marymount University’s College of Business Administration – MBA Program. Her passion is to cause leaders and have them be educated, engaged and inspired. She is also a Chicago Bears Football fan.
Timothy Dura
Chief Operating Officer
Co-Founder / Chief Operations Officer
Tim received two B.Sci. Degrees from North Dakota State University, the first was in 1974 and the second in 1982. Afterwards, Tim continued on with his education and completed an M Ed/Bus degree from Chapman University.
He served as a command fighter pilot in the United States Air Force, after 22 years of service, retired due to medical issues.
In the meantime, Tim started and operated three diverse businesses in entertainment, food service, and aviation. He
then began a 20-year teaching career and became involved with teaching entrepreneurship. Tim’s program was extremely successful, sending five businesses to the NFTE National Business Plan Competition in New York City in
the six years his NFTE kids were eligible. He was honored with
the “Global Outstanding Entrepreneurship Educator of the Year” for 2015 by NFTE National Headquarters.
After Tim retired, he continued doing consulting work, coaching girls’ softball and acting as the COO of the Polk Institute Foundation, based in Los Angeles, CA.
Claudine P. Polk
Chief of Staff / Director of Candidate Success
Chief of Staff / Director of Candidate Success
Jason Clark
Director of Branding /
Market Support
Director of Branding / Market Support
Jason Clark a Los Angeles-based commercial photographer and graphic
designer with a unique perspective when it comes to image creation. With over 25 years of experience as a graphics professional, Jason sees things
differently than other photographers, and shoots with the end-result in mind.
His website is a peek into his visual world, showcasing a wide variety of
photographic styles and looks that demonstrate his versatility as a student of the arts.
Jason began his photographic journey over 16 years ago after realizing that some photographers couldn’t capture the visions he had for multiple graphic design projects. He learned from the best of the photographers he worked with and became close friends with, shooting film years before the digital revolution. He still shoots on occasion with his Hasselblad 501cm Medium Format camera.
He has since photographed for the Entertainment, Fashion, and Food Industries, gaining experience and learning from multiple image makers. His Art Direction/Graphic Design background has prepared him for all client challenges, making him a versatile and reliable choice for any project.
Currently, Jason serves as the Director of Branding/Market Support and Creative Director. With over 30 years of professional experience in all areas of corporate branding, marketing design, publication design, advertising, commercial photography, and conceptual development, design, and production, Jason is a multi-talented visual wizard. His skill set allows him to approach projects from multiple angles, ensuring a cohesive and effective end result.
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