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Diann M. Ackard

Diann M. Ackard, PhD, LP, FAED is a licensed psychologist in private practice who specializes in the treatment and research of mood and anxiety disturbances, eating disorders and body image disturbances, and the sequelae of traumatic experiences. In addition to her private practice, Diann holds positions as Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Division of Epidemiology and Community Health at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN and as Research Scientist at the Eating Disorders Institute at Park Nicollet, St Louis Park, MN. Diann serves as co-founder and co-chairperson of the Trauma and Eating Disorders Special Interest Group (SIG) of the Academy for Eating Disorders (AED). Additionally, she sits on the Advisory Board to the Aurora Center for Advocacy and Education at the University of Minnesota, a center focused on providing education, advocacy, and counseling to individuals who have experienced sexual assault, relationship violence, or stalking.

Lisa Bonner

Lisa Bonner is the founder of Bonner Law, PC, a boutique entertainment law firm with offices in New York City and Los Angeles. Ms. Bonner advises large media companies, film distribution companies, music, television, film producers, artists, writers, magazine publications and authors. Prior to attending law school, Lisa enjoyed a successful career in the banking and finance industries, as an analyst for Lehman Brothers in New York and later as an associate at M.R. Beal and Company. Most recently, Lisa worked as a partner at the law firm of Dreier LLP. Lisa has been a live legal correspondent for Fox News and CNBC and is the Executive Director of Black Women in Entertainment Law Foundation. She received her BA from the University of Missouri-Columbia and her JD from New York University School of Law.

Joanne E. Caruso

Joanne Caruso is Managing Partner for the Southern California offices of Howrey LLP, a global law firm focused on high-stakes, complex antitrust, litigation and intellectual property matters. She is also a member of the firm's Executive Committee and has held numerous leadership positions since joining the firm in 1986. In 2006 Joanne was named one of the top 100 attorneys in California by Daily Journal. She has a long-standing commitment to community service and pro bono work, and has served on numerous boards including that of Women Lawyer's Association of Los Angeles, the Association of Business Trial Lawyers, and the Alumni Association of Boston College, where she received her B.A. and J.D. degrees.

Mike Catalano

Mike Catalano is Senior Vice President and Branch Manager of international commercial real estate firm Studley’s West Los Angeles office. Having represented some of Southern California’s largest organizations in their commercial real estate dealings, he has earned a reputation as a superior tenant representative. Mike is frequently quoted in the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Business Journal, and the Commercial Property News. He is also a requested speaker by industry groups to address commercial real estate trends and issues. Mike received his Bachelor of Science degree in psychology with an emphasis in business administration from the University of California at Los Angeles. Mike spends most of his free time with his wife and five children, including toddler-aged twins and an adopted child.

Suzanne M. Morris

Suzanne Morris is Vice President, West Coast Technology Operations, for Home Box Office. Prior to HBO, she worked at J.H. Whitney, a private equity firm which handles media and telecommunications investing, and at the prestigious firm of JP Morgan, where her focus was on corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions. Suzanne has been a supporter of various professional and community organizations, including serving on the board for the New York City Chapter of Women in Cable and Telecommunications and on the junior board for A Better Chance, a non-profit organization that identifies high potential youth and places them in prestigious boarding schools. Ms. Morris is a Summa cum Laude graduate of Howard University School of Communications and holds a JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Christine (Chris) Murphy

Chris Murphy CPA, PMP, MBA is a Director of Sales Administration at WellPoint, the nation's leading health benefits company. In her 15 years with Wellpoint Chris has worked in the the areas of finance, mergers and acquisitions, integration, strategic projects, operations, operational accounting, business process improvement and project management. In addition, she had the privilege of being a Chief of Staff to a President of the Blue Cross of California Plan. She received her Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with a minor in Management Information Systems from California State University, Northridge and a Masters in Business Administration from Pepperdine University. She is a Certified Public Accountant, Project Management Professional, and holds a Certificate in Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine Law. Prior to joining WellPoint Chris was a Financial Statement Auditor for BDO Seidman, the fifth largest international accounting and consulting firm.

Sam Pryor

Sam Pryor is a partner at the law firm of Dreier Stein Kahan Browne Woods George, LLP. He has extensive experience as a trial lawyer in entertainment, business, and employment litigation in state and federal courts. Sam represents celebrities, motion picture production and distribution companies, producers, directors, writers and others associated with the entertainment industry. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles County Bar Association's Committee on Entertainment Law and Intellectual Property, and an Adjunct Professor of Law at USC law school. He received his B.A. from Hamilton College and J.D. from Yale Law School.

Rachel Wilkes

Rachel Wilkes is an associate with the law firm Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger LLP, where she handles litigation in a variety of subject areas, including employment; entertainment; intellectual property; real estate; and general business litigation. Rachel is a regular contributor to Greenberg Glusker’s entertainment law blog, Law Law Land, and in Spring 2010 co-taught a “Deposition Strategies and Techniques” course at USC Gould School of Law. In September 2008, she was honored by the State Bar of California with the “Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award” for her work representing a transgender, HIV-positive asylum seeker from Mexico. Rachel’s involvement with Break the Cycle began in the summer of 2003, when she was a law intern in BTC’s Los Angeles office. Rachel subsequently helped start the Break the Cycle Young Professionals group. Rachel is a fluent Spanish speaker and relishes any opportunity to use the language. She received her B.A. from Scripps College and her J.D. from UCLA School of Law.