Speakers and Mentor Profiles

C. P. KRISHNAN

C. P. Krishnan (CP) is the president and senior partner of CAK International, LLC (CAK) a global business development firm that develops successful companies based on Biblical principles since the year 1999. CAK graduated as an 8(a) Certified Small Disadvantaged Women Owned Business, GSA FSS Professional Services Schedule Holder, and the highly coveted 8(a) STARS II GWAC IT Contract. With its unique positioning in the federal contracting arena CAK has successfully secured contracts over $80 million in value for its small business client network. Over the past 23 years, CP has worked tirelessly in supporting the small business community and has been active in the growth & development of over 200 small businesses. The industries covered include aerospace, space technology, information technology, missile defense engineering, federal contracting, non-profit organizations, and other small business entities. The primary area of his focus is in building corporate infrastructure and increasing organizational capacity. He was awarded the Small Business Champion for the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. CP was recently in October 2021 inducted into the California Department of General Services Small Business Advisory Council. This is the highest-ranking small business advisory committee limited to a handful of seats in the entire state that advises the State Governor and Legislature on Procurement goals and business participation.

CP holds advanced educational qualifications including Certifications in Accounting & Auditing, Certified QuickBooks Pro Advisor, Certified Cost & Associate Chartered Accountant, Masters in Business Administration (MBA), FISMA & ITAR Specialist, and is Certified as a Specialist in Sarbanes Oxley Compliance (CSOX) & Corporate Governance. He is also the author of three bestselling books on Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) Compliance. In addition to his professional career, CP is an active volunteer with the Orange County Chapter of SCORE, TriTech Small Business Development Center, AmPac CDC (an SBA Certified Development Company), local universities, non-profits, churches, and faith-based organizations. CP offers one-on-one client engagements and training workshops at various events, contributing expertise and knowledge to the small business community.

CP lives in Southern California with his beautiful wife and a simple mission – to help others succeed both in business and faith.

ANN KRISHNAN

Ann, is Vice President and Senior Partner of CAK International, LLC (CAK). CAK specializes in Business Infrastructure Development & Capacity Building within companies based on Biblical principles since the year 1999.

In her career path Ann has worked alongside some of the world’s powerhouse entities. She began her illustrious career with the United States Senate and was instrumental in making history through her tireless campaign for the official declaration of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday as a National holiday. Ann, quickly became a specialist at the Senate Rules Committee, and the differing rulings that all legislative bodies need to abide by. Ann also was key in organizing many events included the inauguration of the President & Vice President of the United States. She was also a member of the Committee for the CSPAN Television airing of the floor proceedings. From politics to entertainment, she conducted Concert Promotions for big name entertainers and a host of celebrities. She also owned a successful beauty products company peaking as a premier industry leader.

Another hallmark of Ann’s career has been her involvement with the small business sector. Through her firm CAK she has reached over 200 companies, in the past 23 years of operation. The measurement of success in this case extends beyond simple numbers and ratios. It is the intangible sense of satisfaction & pride in the lives of others, especially the small business owner and their employees. Through the strategic alliances developed with the Small Business Administration (SBA), Orange County Chapter of SCORE, Inland Empire SBDC, and various Non-Profit & Community Organizations, Ann has assisted hundreds of clients in Planning, Funding, Forming, Running, and Growing a business.

She holds advanced educational qualifications including Degrees in International Marketing & Business Administration, Certifications in Accounting, and a Specialist in Sarbanes Oxley Compliance & Corporate Governance. God is the ‘Rock’ (Matt 7:24-25) in her life and is married to her wonderful husband for over 28 years. 

Hilda Kennedy

Ms. Kennedy is the President and Founder of AmPac Tri State CDC; a nonprofit economic development corporation certified by the United States Small Business Administration to provide SBA guaranteed 504 loans for new and growing small businesses. AmPac is the SBA’s first faith-based certified lender in the country. AmPac Tri State CDC is a member of the National Association of Development Companies (NADCO), a Board Member of the Risk Management Association – Inland Empire Chapter, Past President, National Association of Women Business Owners – CA – Public Policy Director; National Association of Women Business Owners – Inland Empire, and has strong relationships with a number of banks, investors and non-traditional lenders.

Ms. Kennedy spent twelve years working in local government and community lending. As the Director of Economic and Business Development for the City of Inglewood, Ms. Kennedy established and implemented a $45 million loan fund with funds from the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and matching funds from Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco member banks. During her tenure in Inglewood, she also served as Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Inglewood and the City Administrator; and as the City’s Public Information Officer where she was involved in coordinating City-wide events.

Ms. Kennedy graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a degree in Psychology and completed a post-graduate fellowship with the Coro Foundation in New York City, New York. Kennedy and her Coro Foundation completed a study for D. C. staffers on how the U. S. can provide quality, affordable health care to all Americans.

Ms. Kennedy was named Woman of the Year by Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod, was elected as Women in Business Champion by the U.S. Small Business Administration, served on the U.S. Small Business Administration Council on Underserved Communities; received the NAWBO ANITA; and has been recognized by countless other organizations.

Paramita Debbarman

A true global specialist in helping clients transform their lives, be it their
performance, their relationships, their career or their behaviors. She helps people understand their core values and how they can live purpose driven lives. Paramita specializes in strategic intervention techniques which enable people to overcome their limiting beliefs fast and give them breakthroughs in different areas of their lives.

Intuitive yet pragmatic in her approach to coaching, she helps people identify the
root causes of their challenges and discover their hidden potential for them to
become better. As a coach, Paramita has worked with clients in the United States, Mexico, Indonesia, Argentina, the Philippines, and India. Her clients include senior corporate leaders, doctors, lawyers, teachers, business owners, home makers, students, sports personalities and leaders of non-profit organizations.

Paramita holds a Bachelor of Engineering in electronics and telecom. She has also served in Senior Project & Operational roles for major telecom companies including IBM. She has certifications and accreditations from recognized global executive coaching organizations, including Certified Executive Coach by Marshall Goldsmith Stakeholder Centered Coaching, Strategic Intervention Coach by Robbins-Madanes Training, and Life Coach by Neoway Academy.

Recognized as an enthusiastic and empathetic coach, Paramita combines her
hands-on business leadership experience to access untapped potential and
consistently achieve results that positively impact lives of people. With more than two decades of global corporate leadership experience, she brings extensive business expertise and the ability to create transformation that positively impact executives, senior leaders, their teams and entire organizations. As a member of Global Coach Group (GCG) a global leadership coaching organization that integrates leadership coaching and innovative technology, she has partnered with Fortune 500 companies down to smaller multinational organizations to coach leaders from C-suite to aspiring team leaders and accelerate leadership development and team effectiveness.

Dr. Ramdass Chandra

Dr. Ramdas Chandra is an Associate Professor of Professional Practice in the Management and Global Business department at Rutgers Business School. Dr. Chandra received his Ph.D. in International Business and Marketing from the Stern School of Business at New York University.

Dr. Chandra’s research primarily focuses on the following areas: Market Entry and Expansion Sustainable; Government as a Customer; E-Commerce; Strategic Aspects of International Marketing; Teaming Partnerships and its impact on Economic Development; and Business.

Before joining the Huizenga School, his career included working in strategic business partnerships between small companies and large businesses specifically relating to federal procurement, product design & sales, management, and marketing. Dr. Chandra is currently involved in creating micro financing projects in economically distressed regions of Florida. He maintains close contacts with the corporate world as a consultant, which provides him with a wide network of experts and practitioners that act as valuable resources in developing successful teaming opportunities.

Dr. John Njoroge

John Njoroge, a former member of the speaking team at RZIM, never planned on becoming an apologist. He grew up in extreme poverty and deprivation in Kijabe, Kenya, and “in a family that was not Christian in any sense of the term.” Yet, through the intervention of God’s people and the gospel, John came to know Christ. He pursued a biblical education at Cairn University for his undergraduate studies and attended the Talbot School of Theology for his graduate studies. John also earned his Doctorate degree from the University of Georgia.

Today, he’s an internationally-recognized apologist and speaker running Valley Light Home, a children’s home for orphans in Kenya.

He and his wife moved back to Kenya in 2016 to focus on ministry here and also to run their orphanage, Valley Light Home, in Kijabe, which they founded in 2009.

Frank Elizalde

Frank Elizalde is a passionate UX/UI designer and digital strategist based in Orange County, California with years of experience helping small and mid-size businesses conceptualize, implement, and execute effective marketing strategies saving time, money, and stress. He has worked extensively building data-driven strategies within eCommerce, B2C, and, B2B environments.

Frank is degreed in graphic design and has completed certification courses with Skillcrush.com. He has worked in-house, and remotely on projects for leading brands, agencies, startups, and charities. He cares deeply about creating world-class, useful, and beautiful products that help people and make a difference. As a web designer, Frank spends every day experimenting with creating and implementing user-centered designs.

Recently he has been involved in creating more responsive websites. Frank’s expertise extends to Optimizing pages for search engine optimization, performing ongoing keyword research including discovery and expansion of keyword opportunities, researching, and implementing content recommendations for organic SEO success.

Frank has single-handedly been responsible for managing all SEM campaigns on Google, Yahoo and Bing in order to maximize ROI. His solid understanding of performance marketing, conversion, and online customer acquisition, In-depth experience with website analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, NetInsight, WebTrends) has led many a company to achieve web dominance quickly and organically.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth Briscoe

Those who know Dr. Briscoe will liken him to “Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’ {Acts 4:36-37 NIV} ). Barnabas in the bible was an influential, good man, full of the Holy Spirit, and Faith. Dr. Briscoe has a penchant for encouragement, support, and generosity which he so freely gives to all.

He is an Executive Pastor, an entrepreneur, and an Educator! He has been ordained a minister and Elder by the greats of faith namely Archbishop Benson Idahosa. He is also a licensed Minister with ‘The International Gospel of the Foursquare Church‘. He has served as a Lead Pastor at The Rock Church in Anaheim, CA. Further, he has helped plant four startup churches in California, and one in Arizona.

His continued thirst for greater knowledge and wisdom makes him an ardent student of the bible. He is a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary. Dr. Briscoes’s landmark research project titled ” The Benefits and Purpose behind Entrepreneur Disciplines from a Trinitarian Pentecostal Perspective” earned him the highly coveted Doctor of Ministry honors at the King’s University in Los Angeles, CA.

He has a taxation background and an International MBA with a concentration in Entrepreneurship. Currently, he is pursuing his Ed. D in Educational Leadership at Liberty University. Dr. Briscoe has over 30 years of experience in Multi-State Tax Consulting and has worked for the State of Texas and is currently with the State of Virginia Department of Taxation as a Tax auditor. He has single-handedly helped launch multiple businesses both domestically and internationally. He has traveled extensively including Haiti, Nigeria, Philippines, Sri-Lanka, South Africa, and Uganda, from ministering and launching business ventures.

Passion to see young adults succeed frames his work today. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of Excelsior Christian Academy (a virtual online K-12 school emphasis in Biblical Entrepreneur Education and Language “Chinese and Spanish”). He enjoys mentoring and training young adults in Entrepreneurship. He is married to his high-school sweetheart Laverne and is the proud father of two daughters and three grandchildren.