Movie Director, Pixar Animation Studios – As a movie director, I am responsible for all creative aspects involved in making an animated film.. They build and articulate models and sets
Trang 1Piedmont High School Career Day 2018
March 28, 2018
Sponsored by the Piedmont Boy Scout Council and the PHS College and Career Center
Trang 21 Careers in Art Considering a career as an artist? Learn from Douglas Schneider and Suzie Skugstad about their
career paths and how to make a living in the art world.
Artist – I am an abstract realist painter specializing in oil painting, as well as highly integrated collage I studied
at the California College of the Arts and The Art Center, Pasadena, CA, and have been an instructor at the Academy of Arts, California College of Arts and Crafts, and California State University at Long Beach
Artist, Art teacher – I teach elementary art both as the in‐school teacher and in the after school program at
Wildwood School focusing on 1st through 5th grade. I'm also a painter, mixed‐media, and mosaic artist producing and selling my art both through my website and through gallery art shows. Art commissions, private lessons, art camps as my own boss I do it ALL!
2 Film: Animated! Go behind‐the‐scenes in the world of animated film! Hear from three outstanding professionals
in the industry from award‐winning Pixar Animation Studios.
Movie Director, Pixar Animation Studios – As a movie director, I am responsible for all creative aspects involved
in making an animated film. I come up with a concept, develop it, and guide the 300+ actors, artists, and technicians who do the work. I was the director of “Brave” and also worked on “The Incredibles”, “Ratatouille”,
“Cars” and “Toy Story 3”.
Senior Research Scientist, Pixar Animation Studios – Our group is responsible for pushing the technology
envelope, finding new solutions to enable our artists to make the films they envision. For example, we could work on better methods of directing cloth motion, easier ways to control character shape and motion, better algorithms for rendering hundreds of thousands of objects, etc. Our job is to look forward and take chances in
an attempt to create tools that extend the artistic vision and ease the movie‐making process. We use computer programming, mathematics, and User Interface design to create new tools.
Lead Lighting Technical Director, Pixar Animation Studios – TDs are the technical artists who make visual movie
magic at Pixar. They build and articulate models and sets in 3D software, they write computer programs called
"shaders" that create the look of all those sets and models, they manipulate a CG camera as cinematographers for every shot in the film, they light the movie with special CG software comparable to live‐action movie lighting, they simulate character hair and cloth using special in‐house tools, they create special‐effects that mimic the look of water, fire, rain, ice, snow or whatever a movie director needs. I have been a lighting TD for 17 years, and a production manager for the short films for 4 years before that.
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3 Music: Composition & Performance If you've ever thought about pursuing music as a career, don't miss career advice and a range of
experiences from two very highly regarded musicians: composer and music director, Stephen Main and lead guitarist, vocalist and banjo‐player Mitch Polzak from The Royal Deuces.
Piedmont Community Church – I am a film composer, writing music for independent short and feature‐length
films in Hollywood. I oversee the entire process of creative discussion with a director, through actual composition, arrangement, orchestration, and production of the final musical score that accompanies what the
audience sees the on the screen.
Musician ‐ Bluegrass/Rockabilly/Cajun – I've been a professional musician since 1999. I perform about 180
shows a year in the US and Europe in my band Mitch Polzak and the Royal Deuces which I write the original material for as well as working with two other bands as well. I also teach private lessons, produce, do session work, and book most of my shows. I began my musical career in my teens and continue to enjoy playing many genres of classic American music, including bluegrass, rockabilly and Cajun. I love what I do.
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4 Writing: Books Interested in becoming a writer? Author Kelly Corrigan and Cookbook author Christina Gray,
have actually done it! Come hear what it's really like to be a writer, and what it takes to be successful.
Author – I am an author of bestselling books, memoirs and essays, including my recently published “Tell Me
More”. I also am the Creative Director for The Nantucket Project working to create a national movement
& Words, an annual fundraiser for Hospital UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland.
Author & Photographer, Be Free Cooking, Bella Luna Studios Photography – I combined my love for both
photography and cooking in January of 2015 when I self‐published my first cookbook titled Be Free Cooking‐The Allergen Aware Cook". It had been a dream of mine for 17 years to write a book. With the rise of food allergies and my need to understand how to cook for people who had them (I don't have food allergies) I decided to write my own manual for cooking food allergy or not. I also have a photography business called Bella Luna Studios.
5 Writing: Journalism & Speech Writing Thought about using your writing skills to report and inform others? Journalist Sherry Boschert
and Speech Writer Terry London, do it in their careers! Come hear what it's really like to be a writer, and what it takes to be successful.
Author, Journalist, Independent Scholar ‐ I've been a reporter or editor at daily and weekly newspapers,
freelanced for major newspapers and magazines, and worked as a multimedia journalist reporting medical news. I wrote a book about electric cars and am working on another about Title IX.
Speechwriter, Weaver, Field & London ‐ I work with corporate leaders, ghost writing their speeches for projects
such as initial public offerings, conference keynotes, commencement addresses or congressional testimony. I also help develop visuals or PowerPoint slides to accompany the presentations (if needed) and I rehearse/train clients to deliver their speeches as effectively as possible.
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6 Entrepreneurship Do you dream of coming up with that “big idea” and starting your own business? Join Cyrus
Baseghi, Daniella Mohazab and Roger Strauch as they describe how they became entrepreneurs and about being a venture capitalist helping to build high tech companies.
President, OSSI ‐ I am a Piedmont alumnus who went on to start a company that specializes in designing systems
for large data management, analytics, forecasts, and predictions. I plan for the future vision and new projects that our company enters into through our main businesses in Airport Advertising, Convention Center Technology, Smart Parking Meters, and Hospitality Technology Systems Design.
Founder & CEO, Happy Pill – I am a 2014 graduate of PHS and have founded, Happy Pill, a company that
connects young women with mental illnesses together with mental health professionals. I am also currently attending the University of Southern California, studying communication, media economics, and
entrepreneurship.
Chairman, The Roda Group – I am a venture capitalist who has helped build high technology companies that
have gone public or been sold to prestigious companies like Hewlett Packard, Interactive Media and Logitech. The Roda Group provides entrepreneurs the resources, environment and guidance to launch and grow their business. We currently invest in and support, extraordinary people and businesses that address the issues associated with climate change, the increasing demand for low carbon energy, and the stress on the Earth’s natural resources. We believe innovative solutions to these global challenges will benefit society and offer outstanding investment opportunities. We advise entrepreneurs on fundraising, competitive analysis and go to market strategies. I am an electrical engineer with degrees from Cornell and Stanford.
7 Advertising & Public Relations Interested in behind‐the‐scene stories about developing advertising and public relations
campaigns for some of America’s biggest companies and start ups? Learn the tricks of the trade and hear how the process works from these leaders at three premier Bay Area advertising and public relations firms.
Founder, Me & Pete, Partner & Executive Creative Director, barretSF – As a creative director in the
advertising industry, my job is to oversee talented writers and art directors, develop great ideas for clients,
then sell those ideas to the client so we can go produce the work. In the past I’ve written TV campaigns for the NBA, Major League Baseball and got milk?, stunts for the truth campaign, and websites for everything from Nintendo to Hewlett‐Packard. Getting to take a blank sheet of paper and fill it with ideas is an ideal job, even
in a changing environment where most ideas have a tough time getting sold and brought to life.
Creative Director, Addis – I create brands for established companies and brands as well as startups. My day to
day responsibilities include ideating unique styles to represent a brand, developing and creating the creative expressions for client meetings/approvals, developing the team of designers for each project, budget
management, art direction, management of mechanical art and attending vendor facilities for production
management like: signage specs, press checks, paper selections, etc., My clients range from many consumer packaged goods (i.e.; Mighty Leaf Tea, Kashi Foods, Wild Planet Crystal Geyser Water Co, to corporate and
venture funds.
wear lots of hats. ensuring my team of 12 talented and creative people provides great work to our technology,
financial services, food and beverage, non‐profit and other clients, researching and rolling out new services,
attracting new clients and managing our tribe. Our agency provides clients with new creative strategies, great
media coverage, compelling content, engaging social media, and captivating web/graphic design, video. Our clients
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8 Managing Money Looking to develop your financial acumen? Then learn from two experts about how to raise
capital and invest money: wealth management expert John Kelson and investment fund
Certified Financial Planner, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith – I work with individuals and families, to
create a road map for their future. It can be very intimidating to approach the complexities of wealth, and I discuss the different pieces tied to it. This can include: investing, saving, budgeting, lending, and minimizing taxation. By collaborating with our clients to address their objectives, I educate people about their options, and empower them to make informed decisions. As my clients move forward they use this roadmap to navigate an
uncertain future and maximize the probability of success.
Managing Director, Harvest Capital – I manage an investment fund that looks to benefit from the long term
trends in food/agriculture (growing population and improving diets in emerging markets will require a doubling
of the world's food output over the next four decades). I grew up on a farm in Illinois, graduated with an engineering degree, built potato chip manufacturing plants for Frito‐Lay, returned to business school for an MBA, performed financial consulting for distressed companies and was CFO for a Purina Mills division (making animal food) prior to my career as a hedge fund manager.
9 Real Estate Development & Brokerage Interested in a career in real estate? Hear from Julie Gardner, David Kram, Rachel Kram about
their experiences in the exciting, challenging and ever‐changing world of residential and commercial real estate.
McGuire Real Estate – “The Butcher, the Baker, the Candlestick Maker" I help motivated Buyers and Sellers
through a highly stressful transition in their lives, be it purchasing or selling a home. I organize and oversee inspectors, painters, stagers, gardeners, photographers, web designers, roofers, web designers, and all other appropriate vendors. I design and carry out all aspects of marketing and presentation, I meet with the public often, and I analyze and follow current market trends on a weekly basis. Finally, I write a popular weekly real estate blog ‐ The Piedmont Perspective ‐ that tracks the journey that is homeownership.
Vice President, Arroyo & Company – I am involved in the disposition and acquisition of shopping centers, office
buildings, multifamily, and single tenant net leased assets nationwide. I have analyzed many asset types including mobile home parks, land, service stations, and self‐storage facilities. I specialize in multifamily, single tenant net leased properties and shopping centers.
Broker, Arroyo & Company – I work as a commercial real estate broker in San Francisco. I switched careers in
2016 after a decade as a non‐profit executive, raising millions to support educational and community organizations. I have also taught and did research at the University of Arizona, where I earned a doctorate in History and Master's in Latin American Studies. I have also worked in marketing and public relations in New York and the Bay Area. I have a B.A. in Sociology and Spanish from U.C. Davis. I recently moved back to Piedmont and my two sons attend the same schools I did growing up!
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10 Design & Build Interested in a career as a designer, developer or in the construction business? Find out more
about what it takes to design and build structures – from beautiful residences and vacation homes to commercial projects. Hear from these speakers about their most recent creative projects.
Architectural Design & Residential Developer, markbecker inc. – I am a Residential Designer/ Developer. I
have a small design firm that specializes in high end custom residences throughout the state. We work for a variety of interesting clients and create many different types of homes for them. I am personally responsible for the client relations and the actual design of their home. We also look for small projects in and around the bay area to purchase, design, and ultimately bring to the marketplace.
11 Architecture & Structural Engineering Explore the creative world of careers in architecture and structural engineering with Mike
Temple and Eric Long from the award winning firm of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
Director, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP – As a Senior Structural Engineer for large scale building projects, I
develop the structural systems for the project starting from a conceptual level, through detailed design, and finally produce a set of construction documents which the contractor will use to build the project. I help to develop a building design which is safe, efficient, cost effective and which seeks to accomplish the Owner's objectives.
Architect, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, LLP – I am a licensed Architect and a design associate at Skidmore,
Owings & Merrill LLP. As an Architect, I oversee the design direction of several projects both domestically as well as internationally in China. Our projects typically range in scale from high‐rise residential and office
towers to smaller‐scale university buildings. Structural and architectural integration is one of the key design ideas we try to bring forth in all of our projects.
12 Interior Design & LEED Certification Have a flare for design? Hear about exciting careers creating, commercial interiors and furniture
design as well as an overview of management of LEED certification projects from Laurie Johnson and Rachelle Sessions.
LEED Facilitator and Interior Designer at ASD|SKY – I currently focus 90% of my time as a LEED Facilitator for
ASD|SKY. I am the person responsible for overseeing a majority of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification projects for ASD|SKY throughout the country. Having been at ASD|SKY for over 17 years I have broad experience as a designer focusing on interior finishes and furniture design and specification, space planning, and project management for corporate interiors. I continue to work as a designer with ASD\SKY in addition to the LEED work.
RKSessions Interior – I am a design professional and art consultant with many years of experience working a
wide range of clients. Engagements include large scale residential, commercial retail, schools, non‐profit organizations and also one‐room projects. I work with the client to tailor the projects to match their individual tastes and budgets.
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13 Cosmetics Marketing & Sales Love the beauty world and interested in pursuing a career in cosmetics? Hear from these
speakers about Sales and Marketing career opportunities in this exciting field.
Director of Sales, Bare Minerals & Buxom Cosmetics – I create consumer product launch plans with retailer
that consists of product messaging, in‐store and online merchandising, marketing and education to maximize sales potential.
Director of Marketing Strategy, SEPHORA, Inc. – I am a consumer brand professional, and in my work I marry
a focus on brand experience, a strategic mindset and strong analytic skills to deliver improvements in customer engagement, cross‐functional operations, and product profitability.
My industry experience includes Retail, Apparel, Grocery, Packaged Goods and Home Goods. My role includes both Marketing, Strategy and Financial Planning.
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Government & Politics
What career path can you travel with a degree in political science and a law degree? Anywhere from a U.S. Supreme Court law clerk, to practicing attorney, to involvement in political campaigns to diplomatic service and seeking political office. Jeff Bleich will shed light on the exciting opportunities that you can discover.
Attorney, Dentons Diplomats & Candidate for California State Lt. Governor – I lead the diplomatic practice for
Dentons, and am currently a candidate for Lt. Governor of California. I lead a group of former senior government officials to help solve complicated problems around the world that involve policy and politics as well as legal issues. This can include helping address cyber‐hacking, opening markets for ride‐sharing and electric vehicles,
or helping negotiate a hostage release. I previously served as Special Counsel to President Obama in the White House, and as the 24th United States Ambassador to Australia from 2009‐2013.
15 Careers in Law Interested in a dynamic legal career and have you wondered how lawyers make tough decisions
about which cases to take? Eric Havian, a “whistle‐blowing” attorney who litigates against companies that cheat the federal government, Rob James, an attorney with a focus on the construction and energy fields and Laura Mazel, an attorney specializing in immigration will
Attorney, Constantine Cannon – I am an attorney specializing in representing whistleblowers. We bring cases
against companies that cheat the government (such as overcharging Medicare or providing the military with substandard airplanes or who commit securities fraud or tax fraud. If we win, most of the money goes to the government, but our whistleblower clients get a share. I used to be a federal prosecutor.
business contracts‐‐mostly in the construction and energy fields. For example, I drafted the architect and construction contracts for the San Francisco Giants stadium, and I work on BART's expansions to the airports. What I love about my work is learning and explaining about the risks and rewards of a possible project, in order
to get people comfortable with taking the risks (and being rewarded for it). As a result, they enter into agreements for improvements that you can see in your daily life.
Founder, Mazel Immigration Law, PC – I am an immigration law attorney. After many years in large law firms,
just this January, I founded my own firm, Mazel Immigration Law to streamline work for startup companies and other employers of amazing talent in the Bay area. Examples of professionals our clients hire include software engineer graduates from schools in the US but who happen to have studied here from abroad, computer scientists, research scientists, advertising directors, physicians, and financial services experts. I also do pro bono,
or work in the public interest, in helping people obtain political asylum because they are being persecuted in their home country. We advocate for immigration with Congressional representatives and federal agencies. We have a lot of fun and enjoy problem solving with constantly changing laws and regulations which keep us on our toes in a fast paced industry.
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16 Video Games & Software Engineering Do you spend some time playing computer or online video games? Have you dreamed of
creating these games or writing software? Learn about the endless opportunities for careers in video game design and software engineering from three industry leaders.
Retired CTO at Zynga & Founder/President at Page 44 Studios – I ran an independent video game company for
13 years and served as an executive at Zynga for 3 years. I've worked on everything from console games (Playstation, Xbox) to mobile titles (iOS, Android), from huge productions (Tony Hawk, Madden) to tiny independent games. Although I am an engineer by training, I've hired artists, producers, testers, designers, as well as programmers.
CEO and Founder, Niantic, Inc. – As CEO, I lead Niantic, Inc. which is an innovative company dedicated to building
“Real World” mobile gaming experiences that foster exploration, exercise and social interaction. Niantic has
developed and released two games, Ingress, and the global phenomenon Pokémon GO. The company was
originally founded as a startup within Google to explore the creation of new kinds of entertainment at the intersection of location, social, and emerging mobile devices. I also was a founder of Archetype Interactive which created one of the very first online multiplayer games, Meridian59, and was with Google overseeing Google Earth projects.
Software Engineer, Arista Networks – I design and write software for Arista Networks which builds high speed
network switches. You probably don't know that you are using our switches every time you save your PowerPoint in Office360 or stream a movie from Netflix or click “like" on a Facebook page. Our customers depend on our product always working and it's fun and challenging to deliver software that meets their needs. This involves writing robust code and creating tests that try to break it. My career experience runs the gamut from startup to well‐established (bigger company) company culture, and both are exciting. The main thing I enjoy about my field is the opportunity to solve technical problems and intricate puzzles.
17 Careers in Technology The field of technology continues to boom, especially in the Bay Area, the heart of the Tech
industry. Come hear Chris Colby and Sarah Wagener speak about their experience in the tech world.
Senior Staff Software Engineer at Google – I work on machine learning (AI) technology for recommendation
systems, such as suggesting what YouTube video you might want to watch next. Prior to that, I built animation systems at Pixar and worked in several startups. I have a B.S. in Computer Science from the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University specializing in the mathematical semantics of programming languages
Francisco that is creating and developing interactive, adaptive, and personalized learning that helps motivate and engage students while addressing gaps in proficiency. I create sales strategy and the systems to maintain that strategy while managing an U.S. based team. In addition to supporting the sales team, I have my own
customers where I am recommending solutions that best meet their needs striving to be a trusted advisor by providing expertise, information, and guidance. An important aspect of my position is to identify strategic
business development partnerships and new sales opportunities to increase revenue. I travel quite a bit
(sometimes weekly) to meet with customers and speak at industry events.
Former Vice President of Human Resources, Pandora – I develop and deliver programs to help employees get
their jobs, grow and learn to get better at their jobs, connect with other employees to feel like they belong and have fun and express themselves at work. The groups that I lead to drive this work are Recruiting, Diversity & Inclusion, Employee Engagement and Learning & Development.