College of Business

Executive In Residence Program

The Executive In Residence Program at CSUMB's College of Business was launched in 2019. Appointed by Dean Kamath to renewable one-year terms, executives in residence bring their experience, energy, and perspective to provide practical business perspectives and content to College of Business students, projects, and initiatives.

Tom Bryan photo

Tom Bryan

 

Tom Bryan – Former CFO, Taylor Farms

Tom Bryan has been in the produce industry since 1986 in management and executive roles with Dole, Fresh Express and Taylor Farms. Originally from Jefferson, Georgia, he attended Duke University, graduating with a B.A. in Management Science. After working in banking in Atlanta, he attended the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and graduated with an MBA in Finance. Tom returned to commercial banking before taking a position with Dole Vegetables in Salinas in 1986. He served as Chief Financial Officer at Taylor Farms from 1995 until retiring in 2020. He remains active in the produce industry, serving on the boards of Vegetable Growers Supply, Latitude 36 Foods, LLC, and True Leaf Holdings.

Mr. Bryan has appeared as a guest lecturer in these classes:

  • BUS 353 - Advanced Financial Management
  • BUS 307 - Finance
  • BUS 350 - Financial Literacy
  • BUS 383 - Intermediate Accounting I
  • BUS 203 - Financial Accounting
  • BUS 384 - Intermediate Accounting II
Sharon Crino

Sharon Crino

Sharon Crino – Former VP & General Manager, Eastman Kodak

Sharon Crino is a retired executive from Eastman Kodak Company, where she held several senior management positions, including General Manager of Health Imaging and Corporate Vice President. During her 30-year career at Kodak, she led the digital transition of the company’s second-largest business across Europe, the Pacific, the Middle East, Asia, and Russia, covering 50+ countries. She also served as the executive liaison to the European Union for Kodak’s European Business Units.

After leaving Kodak, Ms. Crino held senior management roles at the American Red Cross, Monterey Peninsula College, and CASA. She currently serves on the Business Advisory Board at California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB) and the CHI Board (Community Health Innovations) at Montage Health in Monterey, CA. Additionally, she is involved with several local startups and entrepreneurial initiatives. Her previous board positions include the Carmel International Film Festival and Tanimura & Antle in Salinas, CA.

Ms. Crino has appeared as a guest lecturer in these classes:

  • BUS 451 - Venture Formation/Finance
  • BUS 305 - Principals of Management
  • BUS 330 - Human Resources Management
Lorri Koster photo

Lorri Koster

Lorri Koster – Principal at Koster Communications

Lorri A. Koster is a Principal at Koster Communications and former CEO and a primary shareholder of Mann Packing Company, a grower, shipper, and processor of fresh vegetables headquartered in California’s Salinas Valley. Mann Packing is certified as a women’s business enterprise through the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the nation’s largest third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women in the US. Lorri was raised in the agricultural industry and is the third generation of her family to work in produce. Lorri has a Bachelor of Arts degree in public relations with a minor in business marketing from California State University, Chico.

Ms. Koster has appeared as a guest lecturer in these classes:

  • BUS 322 - Integrated Marketing Comm.
  • BUS 323 - Service Marketing
  • BUS 375 - AgriBus Trading & Risk Management
  • BUS 421 - Market Research
  • BUS 425 - Global Marketing
  • BUS 306 - Fundamentals of Marketing
Kevin Murphy

Kevin Murphy

Kevin Murphy – Former CEO & COO of Driscoll’s

Kevin Murphy is the former CEO of Driscoll’s, where he oversaw all worldwide operations. Driscoll’s, headquartered in Watsonville, grows and markets fresh strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries across more than 60 countries, with operations in over 20.

Before joining Driscoll’s, Kevin served as President of Capurro Farms, a family-owned company, where he led a series of transformations that ultimately resulted in a merger with Growers Express. Prior to that, he spent nearly 15 years at Fresh Express, holding leadership roles in strategic planning, marketing, and operations.

Originally from South Africa, Kevin holds an undergraduate degree in agricultural economics and an MBA.

Mr. Murphy has appeared as a guest lecturer in these classes:

  • BUS 375 - AgriBus Trading & Risk Management
  • BUS 435 - Supply Chain Management
Kelly O'Brien photo

Kelly O’Brien

 

Kelly O’Brien – CEO, Tendaji, LLC

Kelly O'Brien is an entrepreneur, software developer, and former radio host. She is the Executive Champion of the Responsible Business Innovation Lab and a longstanding member of the Dean's Business Advisory Council at CSUMB's College of Business.

O’Brien is the CEO of Tendaji, LLC, a woman-owned, employee-driven service company based in Monterey, California. Tendaji operates with a commitment to responsible business, emphasizing profit, customer service, employee equity, environmental sustainability, community service, and transparent governance. Previously, she was a founding partner and Chief Operating Officer of Sensortech Services LLC, a medical device logistics and program management company.

Her career spans environmental engineering research and management roles at the University of Santa Clara, New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., and FMC Corporation. As a founding partner and Chief Information Systems Officer of Gaia Systems in Portola Valley, she developed environmental management GIS software and launched two commercial products. From 1990 to 1996, she taught Environmental, Health, and Safety Management at several institutions, including UC Berkeley and UC Santa Cruz Extension. She also served as President of the Board of Directors at KUSP 88.9 FM and was the host of Life in the Fast Lane, a program showcasing technologies aimed at reducing fossil fuel dependence.

O’Brien holds a Master of Liberal Arts (A.L.M.) in Sustainability and Environmental Management from Harvard University and an MBA with honors from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.

Ms. O’Brien has appeared as a guest lecturer in the following classes:

  • BUS 433 - MGMT of Non-Profit Organ.
  • BUS 451 - Venture Formation/Finance
  • BUS 200 - Personal and Professional Responsibility in Business
  • BUS 305 - Principals of Management
  • BUS 310 - Entrepreneurship
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