2008 Speakers

Andy Litinsky President of Trump Productions

Born and raised in south Florida, Andy Litinsky was the youngest of four brothers. He got his start in business at a young age, creating a business at the age of thirteen - a company called JHL Ventures, Inc., co-founded with just $500. The company provided both corporate and individual clients with concert packages. In just two years time the company had grown to over 30 part-time employees and was generating six-figure revenues.

Andy took part of the profits from JHL Ventures, Inc. and put them toward his tuition at Harvard University. Once there, Andy started a Not for Profit Organization, The Harvard AIDS Coalition, during his freshman year. The idea was to raise awareness of AIDS in Africa, and the coalition has now grown to over 100 members at Harvard, as well as spreading to over 10 universities across the country. Among his other accolades, Andy Litinsky won the United States National Debate Championships in Commentary Speaking. Most interestingly, Andy Litinsky was the first person in the history of "The Apprentice" to be re-hired by Donald Trump to work at The Trump Organization. Mr. Trump personally selected Andy to work as a Project Manager on his business development team.

After working directly for Mr. Trump for a year and a half in New York, Andy was subsequently promoted to head up the day-to-day business operations of Trump Productions in Los Angeles, CA. Andy is responsible for developing more television properties on top of Mr. Trump's existing portfolio (The Apprentice, Miss USA, Miss Universe, etc.) using the resources and assets of The Trump Organization. Andy Litinsky currently works at Trump Productions headquarters in Los Angeles, CA.

 

Andy MasichAndy Masich President and CEO of the Senator John Heinz History Center

Andy Masich is President and CEO of the Senator John Heinz History Center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and the largest history museum in Pennsylvania. Andy is involved in Pittsburgh’s 250th anniversary celebration and is working with regional planners on joint awareness initiatives and developing a timeless exhibit about Pittsburgh’s innovations in 2008 at the History Center.

As the President and CEO of the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center, Pennsylvania's largest history museum and an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, I have a constant eye on our region's rich past. And the great thing about our history is what it means for our present and our future. It makes Pennsylvania a fascinating place to live, work, and visit—a place rich with character and culture, and with a tradition of innovation fueling our 21st century identity.

  

Brenda Vester, Vice President of Business Development
Lee Hecht Harrison

Brenda Vester is Vice President of Business Development of the Pittsburgh office of Lee Hecht Harrison, a talent solutions company focused on delivering career management, leadership consulting and workforce solutions for organizations committed to developing their best talent and becoming employers of choice.

Brenda plays a major leadership role and is responsible for both the business development and account management in the Pittsburgh area. She has extensive experience in Human Resources, including recruiting, training, M&A, and outplacement.

Prior to joining LHH, Brenda managed her own business, HR21, focused on helping companies create a 21st Century workplace, with a strong emphasis on connecting the business strategy with the HR function. As a local speaker, she has developed and delivered speaker topics such as, "Capture the Power of the 21st Century Woman", and " The Business of You." Brenda has also taught Business Communications in the Katz School at the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to that, Brenda worked in both local and corporate Human Resources with Lazarus Department Stores, US Airways and Ketchum. She has a BS in Business Administration and her Professional HR certification. Brenda is a member of the Pittsburgh Human Resources Association, Society of Human Resource Management, and Coachville. She is also a panel advisor for PowerLink and a Lee Hecht Harrison President's Award winner.


Raul Valdes-Perez is CEO and Co-Founder of Vivisimo, one of Pittsburgh's hottest tech companies that is being touted as the next Google by industry insiders.  The company has developed an award-winning clustering technology that organizes search results into titled folders to allow users to learn at a glance the type of information available and ultimately find information faster. 

Raul co-founded this rising superstar tech company in June, 2000. During his tenure, he has been recognized as a top ten reader favorite for entrepreneur of the year by Inc. magazine, a CEO of the year finalist by the Pittsburgh Technology Council, and three times as one of the fifty most important hispanics in business and technology by Hispanic Engineer magazine. Before Vivísimo, Raul was on the Carnegie Mellon computer science department faculty since 1991; he is now an Adjunct Associate Professor there. His research on new methods and applications of knowledge discovery led to publishing nearly 50 journal articles in natural, social, and computer science. He was a principal investigator on six grants from the National Science Foundation, served on its advisory committee for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences, and was an action editor of the journal Machine Learning.

 

Blaine McCormick is Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs at Baylor University's School of Business and author of the critically acclaimed new book, Ben Franklin: America's First Entrepreneur. 

Recently featured on ABC World News Tonight and various radio outlets, Blaine McCormick's take on Ben Franklin's autobiography is recommended reading for anyone aspiring to success in the business world, whether as an individual entrepreneur or as a member of a corporate team.  Mr. McCormick has adapted and edited the original autobiography to showcase one of the best business stories ever told.  Ben Franklin was a superb entrepreneur, inventor, and writer who influenced not only the political, but also the business climates of his day.  Written in modern-day English, the book provides readers with insights and illustrations as applicable as business models today as they were more than two hundred years ago.

 

Paul Orfalea founded Kinko's in 1970 with a simple idea: provide college students with photocopying products and services they need at a competitive price. From its modest beginnings in Santa Barbara, California, Kinko's is now the world's leading business services chain, with over 1,200 locations worldwide. Much his success is believed to have been achieved by taking care of his co-workers and customers and by constantly seeking new opportunities.  In 2000, Orfalea retired from as Kinko's Chairperson and assumed the role of Chairperson Emeritus. In 2004, Kinko's was acquired by the FedEx Corporation. While Orfalea is no longer involved with FedEx Kinko's business management, he is active in several other ventures, including West Coast Asset Management Inc., Stone Canyon Venture Partners LP and others.

 

 

Keith Shelton began his career at Chick-fil-A in 1998 in the human resources department, where he selected staff employees at the Atlanta headquarters before joining the Operator Selection team as part of the company's massive initiative to expand franchises. Keith is responsible for the entire northeast region, with an emphasis in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey markets. He has helped select over 100 corporate staff members and over 70 Chick-fil-A operator/owners.

 

 

 

 

 

Lillian Vernon, founder and CEO of Lillian Vernon Corporation, a leading national catalog and online retailer that markets gifts, house wares, gardening, children's and Christmas products. She is a pioneer in direct marketing and is the first woman to have her company listed on the American Stock Exchange. Ms. Vernon was names one of the 25 most fascinating people by Fortune Magazine and is an internationally recognized speaker on the subject of entrepreneurship.

 

 

 

Rob Cochran, President and CEO of #1 Cochran Inc., the largest General Motors complex in the Eastern United States. Under his guidance, the company has expanded to include two locations representing ten franchises that together generate over $300 million in annual sales. Rob will share how he has positioned #1 Cochran among the top twenty privately held businesses in Western Pennsylvania.