2023 Coachella Valley Business Conference & Economic Forecast

AmPac provides direct community loans for small businesses as a CDFI and SBA Community Advantage and Micro lender and through partnerships with local governments.

Kennedy has received numerous honors and recognition at the local, state, and national levels. Kennedy was designated Ambassador for Inland Empire Women in Manufacturing bringing greater awareness to women in the region about the significant contributions of women Makers – Manufacturers. She was selected as Woman of the Year by Congresswoman Judy Chu. Hilda is V.P. of Regulatory for the National Association of Development Companies (NADCO), she is on the Board of Trustees of Cal Baptist University, Riverside, and is a past President of the National Association of Women Business Owners – Inland Empire Chapter and California, representing 11 chapters throughout the State.

Bruce A. Sher H ead of B usiness D evelopment , LG T hin Q E nergy S olution Bruce A. Sher, is the team Leader of ThinQ Energy Business at LG Electronics, Inc., has several past roles including SVP Smart Buildings Division Leader at Selex ES, a division of Leonardo. Sher also held the position of VP, Energy Services at Weston Solutions where he led an engineering team responsible for integrated energy management and environmental solutions. He also served as Co-Founder of Viridity Energy, Inc. and was Vice President and Regional Business Leader at Constellation NewEnergy, where he performed supply sourcing, demand side programs, and

innovative renewable projects. Mr. Sher has received honorable awards including Scientific Atlanta Distributor of the Year, Manufacturing Partner of the Year, and frequently speaks at association and clean energy technology conferences. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in BioPhysics from the University of Michigan and a Master of Science degree in Energy Management from the University of Pennsylvania.

Scott White P resident & CEO, V isit G reater P alm S prings (VGPS)

Scott White, a native of California, White has more than 25 years of hospitality and destination marketing leadership experience. White serves on Governor Newsom’s California Travel and Tourism Commission as well as the Executive Committee of Destinations International, the California Travel Association Political Action Committee, and the board of the U.S. Travel Association. White’s visionary leadership of VGPS has helped to attract millions of visitors and billions of dollars to Greater Palm Springs and the local economy.