Brenden Hexberg moved to Laguna Beach from New Orleans at age 13 and is a graduate of Laguna Beach High School (Class of 2006). After spending several years in Texas attending SMU and coaching youth soccer, he returned to Laguna Beach in 2014. He is involved in golf media and lifestyle branding, including work with Random Golf Club, and remains active in the local community.

Barbara MacGillivray has worked in film production and post-production for decades, collaborating on projects with her husband, filmmaker Greg MacGillivray. Alongside her film work, she spent 30 years with the Orange County Health Care Agency as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist specializing in Children and Youth Services. She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and has contributed to science research and production on documentary films focused on conservation and education, including Journey to the South Pacific.

Harley Rouda is an American attorney, businessman, and former U.S. Representative for California’s 48th district (2019–2021), elected as a Democrat after a career in real estate and business. He served one term before losing re-election and was known for his focus on bipartisan solutions while representing coastal Orange County. Born in Ohio, he holds multiple degrees, including a J.D. and M.B.A., and previously served as President of the National Association of Realtors before entering politics.

Richard Reisman is Publisher and CEO of the Orange County Business Journal, a position he has held since 1990. He previously served as director of market development for the Orange County edition of the Los Angeles Times and earlier practiced law, including as special counsel to the U.S. House Ethics Committee. Reisman holds an MBA from UCLA and a law degree from George Washington University and brings deep media and business leadership experience to the board.

Meital Taub is a Laguna Beach–based real estate broker and founder of the Meital Taub Luxury Group, with more than $1 billion in career sales. She has ranked among the top agents nationally and has represented several record-setting and high-profile transactions across Orange County. Meital also founded Livel Real Estate, a consultancy serving buyers, sellers, and investors, and serves on the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire.

Newth Morris is the co-founder and managing director at Ankona Capital, a growth-stage venture capital firm in Newport Beach. His career began as an electronic systems designer at Electronic Design Associates, working on early technologies like audio encoding and GPS. In 2000, he co-founded Telogis, a pioneer in fleet vehicle tracking (telematics). Telogis excelled in hardware, SaaS, digital mapping, and parallel computing, and Morris played a role in early product development before transitioning to sales and strategy. Verizon acquired Telogis in 2016, where Newth served as senior vice president for connected car and IoT strategy. Beyond his industry contributions, he chaired the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) chapter, received accolades as Orange County’s Entrepreneur and Innovator of the Year, and was named Business Person of the Year. Morris and his wife are active in the autism community and support initiatives in Guatemala through the Newth & Claudia Morris Foundation.

Joanna Bear is President and Chief Executive Officer of Visit Laguna Beach, where she leads destination marketing and stewardship efforts for the community’s tourism program. She previously served for more than two decades in hospitality leadership, most recently as general manager of the Surf & Sand Resort in Laguna Beach, where she oversaw major property renovations and operations. At Visit Laguna Beach, she is focused on promoting responsible tourism, strengthening collaboration between local businesses and arts organizations, and aligning marketing efforts with community priorities.

John Zegowitz is a seasoned creative strategist and advertising executivewith extensive experience leading brand and content work for major clients. He served as Chief Creative Officer at Schiefer Chopshop, guiding the agency’s creative vision through significant growth and diverse campaigns. Zegowitz also developed the Radical Origins film series and related branding work for Visit Laguna Beach, a tourism initiative focused on deeper engagement and mindful visitation. Currently, he advises on stewardship messaging to help visitors understand and respect Laguna Beach’s community and environment, drawing on his background in creative direction and destination marketing.

Dave Anderson, also known as “New Wave DJ Dave,” is a longtime mobile disc jockey and emcee in Orange County. He hosts Flashback Thursdays on KXFM, featuring music from the New Wave era and drawing on decades of firsthand experience with the genre. His background spans performance, teaching, and live event hosting, which informs his on-air storytelling and interviews with artists connected to the era.

Mark Schwartz is a sports business executive and longtime performing arts professional. He is a veteran theatre actor, event emcee, and announcer for the annual Swallows Day Parade in San Juan Capistrano. Mark hosts Feeling Jazzed on KXFM, where he shares his passion for jazz and live performance.

John Dittmar is a retired booking agent with more than 40 years of experience in the music industry. Over his career, he represented major touring artists including Alice Cooper, Oasis, Sting, R.E.M., Metallica, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple. He now hosts Johnny Strikes Up the Band on KXFM, drawing on his industry background through long-form conversations with musicians and other creative professionals.