University Advancement

  • Oviatt Library

Clips

Brittany Brown’s Coach

Brittany Brown’s Coach is Lawrence Johnson also known as the "Boogie." Johnson joined the Arkansas Razorbacks as an assistant coach. His expertise lies in teaching sprints and hurdle races. Johnson has twice been awarded USATF National Coach of the Year in 2013 and 2019. He had previously coached Olympic athletes Dalilah Muhammad and Briana Rollins McNeal to world records. Most recently, Johnson served as Clemson's Director of Track and Field. Before that, he coached at Virginia Tech, Southern Illinois, and Cal State Northridge. Johnson is a former competitive sprinter, who has a record of excellence in developing some of the finest athletes in the world. -- Sportskeedia

Valley 200 – 2024: Julian De Salay

De Salay is a sales executive with more than 20 years of experience. He graduated from California State University, Northridge with a degree in international business management. De Salay started his sales career with Infiniti selling cars. After graduating college, he worked for Countrywide Home Loans. Just before the 2008 financial crisis, he left Countrywide to assume the role of vice president of domestic sales and customer service at Printing Technologies Inc., an office supply wholesaler in Chatsworth. After teaching high-level sales to IT professionals and working with small dealers, he realized a segment was underserved. He and his best friend, Brian Borna, co-founded JB Office in 2012 to fill the need. -- San Fernando Valley Business Journal

Valley 200 – 2024: Mike de Vere

de Vere has served as chief executive of Zest AI since January 2020. The company was founded in 2009 with the mission of broadening access to equitable lending. Located in Burbank, it’s one of the fastest growing fintech companies in the U.S. de Vere first joined Zest AI in September 2018 as chief operating officer. Prior to that, he worked for Nielsen, where he held the title of managing director, consumer insights and innovation. He’s also served in leadership roles at Harris Interactive, Radius Financial Inc. and J.D. Power and Associates. He is a graduate of California State University, Northridge. -- San Fernando Valley Business Journal

Valley 200 – 2024: Seyed Sajjadi

Sajjadi’s background includes a tenure as a robotics and systems engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he contributed to significant projects like the Europa Clipper and CADRE/PUFFER missions. He is recognized for his contributions to the tech industry, including being named in Forbes 30 Under 30 for Manufacturing & Industry in 2023. Sajjadi is a a founding member of the Autonomy Research Center for STEAHM, supporting underrepresented students at CSUN, from which he is a graduate. -- San Fernando Valley Business Journal

Valley 200 – 2024: Adi Livyatan

Livyatan is an agent at brokerage firm Rodeo Realty’s Sherman Oaks office. Specializing in luxury homes, particularly in the San Fernando Valley, Livyatan averages sales over $300 million each year. She has won her company Presidents Circle Elite award a number of years and is one of a very few to win the Chairman’s Award – the highest accolade possible at the firm for her production in 2022 and 2023. She is a graduate of California State University, Northridge, where she originally pursued business law. She embarked on her real estate journey with her husband, initially flipping houses. She continues to specialize in newly constructed properties and collaborates closely with developers. Livyatan is also actively involved in the Jewish community. -- San Fernando Valley Business Journal

CLARISS GUCE POSTS LOW SECOND ROUND IN PORTLAND

Epson Tour member, Clariss Guce saw one of the lower rounds of the day, signing for a bogey-free 66. The 34-year-old has spent time on both the LPGA and Epson Tours this year and feels confident teeing it up amongst the best in the world because of her time and experience on the Road to the LPGA. Friday’s low score saw Guce jump from 17th to a share of fourth, putting the California State University, Northridge alumna in a position to chase the leaders on Saturday and Sunday, something she’s familiar with on the Epson Tour. -- Epson Tour

FOR THE RECORD

Joseph Ayala, a prospective candidate for Area A on the Simi Valley Unified School board, is a proposal director for a data analytics company and a lecturer at Cal State Northridge. He is not the same person as Joe Ayala, the labor union leader who ran for mayor in 2022, as stated in our article last week listing individuals who pulled nomination papers to run in local races. Also, SVUSD trustee Kareem Jubran was elected for a partial term in 2018; he was not appointed. -- Simi Valley Acorn

Piar set for US Women's Amateur Tourney

Piar is one of 156 golfers to qualify for the amateur tourney. She just wrapped up her sophomore season on the golf team at Cal-State-Northridge in California. -- Advantage News

Pages