Theme: COLORFUL

What makes your life more colorful?

The State Theatre
1307 J Street
Modesto, California, 95354
United States

Chad Kennedy

Landscape Architect

Chad Kennedy is a licensed landscape architect, a certified playground safety inspector, and an advocate for equal play opportunity. He has designed many socially inclusive playgrounds in the California region, and speaks nationally on the subject. His most recent local effort has been "The Awesome Spot Playground". Since 2015, he has been an integral part of the team of community advocates that are working tirelessly to make this socially inclusive playground a reality. The project is a socially inclusive and sensory integrated play space designed to eliminate social, physical, sensory, and cognitive barriers from play. These barriers, unfortunately, have been a long standing problem for some populations in our society including persons with disabilities, individuals on the autism spectrum and those with moderate to severe sensory processing disorders.

Chelsea Foy

Blogger

Chelsea Foy is the Founder and Editor of Lovely Indeed, a do-it-yourself and lifestyle blog all about creating and finding loveliness. A Modesto native, Chelsea graduated from CSU Stanislaus with a degree in music before moving to NYC to pursue musical theatre. She performed in various national and international theatrical tours before relocating back to Modesto to start a family. In the midst of her performance career, Chelsea began blogging as a hobby; the blog eventually took on a life of its own and is now her full-time creative career. Lovely Indeed has been featured both online and in print by such outlets as Better Homes and Gardens, HGTV, Martha Stewart, and more. Chelsea is sought after as a presenter at creative conferences and workshops throughout the United States, and has appeared on The Hallmark Channel's Home and Family show as a guest instructor. Above all, she values the chance to be creative every day. Chelsea's greatest work is her family -- Ryan, Henry, and Maggie.

Dawn Tacker

Human Resources Director

Dawn Tacker is a local mom and travel enthusiast. A passion for people, a passion for storytelling, a passion for life, an engaging speaker, a voracious laugh, and a makes you feel good personality…all descriptions people would use to identify her. Dawn is the HR Director at Storer Transportation having recently accepted this amazing opportunity after spending 18 years as the HR Manager at Center for Human Services. It was here that she developed her skillset and determination to meet people where they are, to help people be heard, and to celebrate their accomplishments no matter the size… each one is taking a step in the right direction. She is the mom to two amazing, accomplished children, the fiancé to a wonderful man, and a resilient woman who has a large group of trusted friends and confidants who have helped her on this journey.

Layla Kasha

VP of Marketing

Layla Kasha is the Vice President of Marketing at a leading grocery retailer. She is passionate about helping and mentoring other women to achieve more and maximize their opportunities. Kasha works to develop and create strategies for women to continue to work together to reach the highest levels of their definition of success. Kasha has learned through personal experience and her work ethic what it takes to rise up and meet all the challenges that come her way both as a woman and as an executive. She feels there is nothing better than when women win together. In order to do that, Kasha believes women have to identify the challenges that they face as women and be better together. Kasha has worked in many environments and cultures over her career. She has built her own successful businesses and has insights on many of the issues that plague women executives and women who are working the path to the boardroom. She is an advocate and fighter.

Lindsey Bird

Teacher

Since 2009 Lindsey Bird has been the Social Science instructor and coordinator of the Language Institute, a specialized program serving immigrant, refugee, and asylum seeking high school students in Modesto, California. All newcomers to Modesto City Schools are consolidated to Grace M. Davis High School, where a "school within a school" approach provides targeted language acquisition, acculturation support, and access to mainstream content as rapidly as possible. Educating and advocating for this demographic in the Central Valley has proven to be a challenge, especially during today’s national political climate- but the success of the students has proven rethinking past practice to address achievement gaps can lead to greatness in the classroom, community, and our country.

Mike Daniel

Business owner

Mike Daniel is the co-owner of Final Cut Media, a digital marketing and video production agency based in Modesto. MIke has devoted his career to helping companies find their voice through strategic branding, marketing, and public relations campaigns. Mike’s experience is vast - including building the marketing department for one of the nation’s largest managed IT companies, helping develop a mobile startup to secure Stage 2 funding, and rebranding California’s largest independent fitness chain. When he’s not building brands, he’s focused on his community involvement, serving on the Board’s for Haven Women’s Center of Stanislaus, South Modesto Partnerships, Women’s Education and Leadership League, and is a vital member of the Steering Committee helping build Camp Taylor is West Stanislaus County. Mike has a 6 year-old son, Matthew, and a 3 year-old Goldendoodle, Lucy.