Exceptional Minds Boosts Board with Four Game-Changing Additions

As a film enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that Exceptional Minds, the remarkable California-based academy dedicated to helping young adults on the autism spectrum excel in digital arts, has welcomed four new members to its Board of Directors. These talented individuals are Doug Gardner, Tim Gobran, Renard T. Jenkins, and Maria O’Hollearn. Each brings a unique perspective that will undoubtedly contribute to the academy’s continued success.

Patricia A. Turney, chair of the board, stated that these new team members possess a diverse set of skills essential for guiding EM during our expansion into creating career opportunities within the entertainment industry for people on the autism spectrum. We’re delighted to have four fresh additions to our Board, which now represents a 50% increase in size. Their commitment to diversity, fairness, and equality, along with their drive to support our students and graduates, will propel us forward and keep Exceptional Minds at the forefront of neurodiverse talent development.

Graduates from Exceptional Minds have found employment at various renowned companies such as Disney TV Animation, CBS Sports, Mattel, DreamWorks Animation, NBCUniversal, Marvel, Cartoon Network, and Nickelodeon studios. In 2024, Gardner took on the role of director of finance and operations at Echo Horizon School, overseeing finance, facilities, IT, and health/safety functions.

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Exceptional Minds graduates have secured positions at Disney TV Animation, CBS Sports, Mattel, DreamWorks Animation, NBCUniversal, Marvel, Cartoon Network, and Nickelodeon studios, among others. In 2024, Gardner became the director of finance and operations at Echo Horizon School, managing finance, facilities, IT, and health/safety functions.

Gobran holds the position of Managing Director for Talent and Organization at Accenture, acting as the Global Lead for his team. With more than 28 years under his belt, he specializes in organizational transformation, change management, and analytics. He has worked extensively with clients from various industries and regions. Being a father of two neurodiverse sons, Gobran is deeply committed to championing neurodiverse talent and fostering inclusivity. As part of Accenture’s leadership team for the Neurodiversity Employee Resource Group (ERG), he also lends his expertise to the Autism Society of San Diego by sitting on their board.

Jenkins currently holds the positions of President and Chief Executive Officer at I2A2 Technologies, Studios, and Labs. This company focuses on software development and consulting, with a particular emphasis on creating ethical tools, solutions, and experiences. Prior to this role, he was the senior vice president overseeing production integration and creative technology services at Warner Bros.

Tech professional and multicultural marketing expert, O’Hollearn, boasts over two decades of experience in leadership, management, sales, and training. As the founder and CEO of IvyLatina, she focuses on fostering business expansion through strategic executive partnerships, prioritizing diversity and inclusion.

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2025-02-01 03:46