ELDER RICHARD J. MAYNES was named a member of the Presidency of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on January 20, 2012. He was sustained a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy on March 31, 2001, and served in the Second Quorum of the Seventy beginning in April 1997.
Currently, one of Elder Maynes' responsibilities include having stewardship over all singles in the Church. Elder Maynes has served as the Executive Director of the Family History Department since 2008. He previously served as an Assistant Executive Director of both the Priesthood Department and the Missionary Department. He has also served as president of the Philippines and South America West Areas.
His numerous years of Church service also include full-time missionary in the Uruguay and Paraguay Mission and president of the Mexico Monterrey Mission (1989-1992).
Elder Maynes formerly owned and was CEO of a company specializing in factory automation. He received a bachelor of science degree from Brigham Young University in business management and an MBA from Thunderbird: School of Global Management.
Richard John Maynes was born in Berkeley, California, on October 29, 1950. He married Nancy Jane Purrington in 1974. They are parents of four children and have nine grandchildren.
Currently, one of Elder Maynes' responsibilities include having stewardship over all singles in the Church. Elder Maynes has served as the Executive Director of the Family History Department since 2008. He previously served as an Assistant Executive Director of both the Priesthood Department and the Missionary Department. He has also served as president of the Philippines and South America West Areas.
His numerous years of Church service also include full-time missionary in the Uruguay and Paraguay Mission and president of the Mexico Monterrey Mission (1989-1992).
Elder Maynes formerly owned and was CEO of a company specializing in factory automation. He received a bachelor of science degree from Brigham Young University in business management and an MBA from Thunderbird: School of Global Management.
Richard John Maynes was born in Berkeley, California, on October 29, 1950. He married Nancy Jane Purrington in 1974. They are parents of four children and have nine grandchildren.
LAUREL CHRISTENSEN grew up in California, Kentucky and Missouri. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University which she received after serving in the Riverside California Mission. She has spent most of her career at Deseret Book Company where she worked for several years as the Director of Entertainment, producing shows like The Forgotten Carols and launching and managing Jericho Road, among other artists .
She is currently the General Manager for the Time Out for Women division and spends many weekends on the road producing Time Out events. Laurel just completed a Masters Program in Communications Management and hopes to take the LSAT soon, just to say she did it. She loves working with teenage girls and especially likes making sure they are well educated about the world of Jane Austen. She has released two talk CDs and her first book, LYFSGUD ("Life's good"): If God Sent You a Text Message, will be released this summer.
She is currently the General Manager for the Time Out for Women division and spends many weekends on the road producing Time Out events. Laurel just completed a Masters Program in Communications Management and hopes to take the LSAT soon, just to say she did it. She loves working with teenage girls and especially likes making sure they are well educated about the world of Jane Austen. She has released two talk CDs and her first book, LYFSGUD ("Life's good"): If God Sent You a Text Message, will be released this summer.
BEN HANSEN grew up in Bountiful, Utah, the 2nd oldest of 6 children. He received his Bachelors degree in Sociology at the University of Utah with study abroad in Australia. Inspired by TV shows like the “X-Files” which were popular while he was in high school, Ben cemented an interest in both a desire to work in public service for an investigative agency and an insatiable desire to explore mysteries of the unknown. After graduating college, he worked for several private and public agencies, including investigating child sex crimes and severe physical abuse and eventually landing a career working in federal law enforcement.
After a while working in law enforcement, an opportunity arose in the entertainment industry which had also interested him from the time he was in high school. Over the process of a year, he had the rare opportunity to help develop the concept of a new reality cable television series. Before the show was eventually purchased by a network, he made a pact with the rest of his team (who were all friends) that they would maintain a high standard in their values and the way they represented themselves not only on-camera, but off-camera as well. He knew that if the show was successful, they would be scrutinized by the world for how they lived. Young people and families might see them as role models so he informed his team that he would leave the show if any of them ever demonstrated they were not willing to live up to the important responsibility.
The show was eventually picked up and has had much success on cable TV in dozens of countries. Now airing in its 3rd season, Ben travels the world filming and gives lectures at conventions around the country in between developing and filming several new shows. Addressing topics such as life after death and life on other worlds, Ben has been able to share parts of his core values and beliefs in lectures designed for researchers and fans of the show.
After a while working in law enforcement, an opportunity arose in the entertainment industry which had also interested him from the time he was in high school. Over the process of a year, he had the rare opportunity to help develop the concept of a new reality cable television series. Before the show was eventually purchased by a network, he made a pact with the rest of his team (who were all friends) that they would maintain a high standard in their values and the way they represented themselves not only on-camera, but off-camera as well. He knew that if the show was successful, they would be scrutinized by the world for how they lived. Young people and families might see them as role models so he informed his team that he would leave the show if any of them ever demonstrated they were not willing to live up to the important responsibility.
The show was eventually picked up and has had much success on cable TV in dozens of countries. Now airing in its 3rd season, Ben travels the world filming and gives lectures at conventions around the country in between developing and filming several new shows. Addressing topics such as life after death and life on other worlds, Ben has been able to share parts of his core values and beliefs in lectures designed for researchers and fans of the show.
TAMARA DURICKA JOHNSON, with a career in producing news stories about extraordinary events and people's fascinating lives, has spent the last year writing about something she never imagined would be interesting: her dating life.
After a long string of breakups, Tamara tried to warm her broken heart by the 31 candles glowing from her birthday cake. She decided it was time to adopt a risky set of rules for her 31st year: learn how to enjoy first dates and avoid jumping into another tumultuous relationship. She vowed to say 'no' to relationships and, instead, would enjoy her successful single life in New York City by taking on the ultimate dating adventure: 31 Dates in 31 Days. While juggling a full-time news job and dwindling hours of sleep, Tamara would focus on dating one man every day for a month. On day 31 - Valentine's Day - she would host her 31st date, which would be a spectacular second date with one of the suitors.
From cynical New York City dater to hopeless romantic, Tamara's 31 dates helped change her attitude about men, dating, love, and life. She kept dating one of the men she met during her project. In one year's time, she went from blogger to bride.
Tamara has worked in television news for more than 12 years. Most recently, she was a writer for ABC's Good Morning America in New York City. She has also worked as a newscast producer for KATU-TV in Portland, Oregon, KSL-TV in Salt Lake City, Utah, and WSLS-TV in Roanoke, Virginia.
A D.C. area native, Tamara started working in the news business when she was 18, scurrying with political journalists behind-the-scenes at conventions for the 1996 presidential election. From there, she muscled her way into an internship at a local TV station, waking at 3:00 a.m. for a full day of work before tackling her over-packed schedule of college courses. As a motivated Dean's List student, she graduated from Roanoke College with a double-major in just three years, placing her among the school's youngest graduates in its nearly 170-year history.
Tamara also has a master of arts degree from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, where she was a recipient of the full-tuition Lee Bollinger Fellowship. It was in grad school where she first started writing about dating in New York with her thesis project, Celibacy and the City, a radio documentary profiling single Mormons in Manhattan.
After years in the busy news business, Tamara now spends her days writing about love, dating, and the life-changing project that helped her find the kind of man she never believed existed. She spends lots of time watching movies, lots of money on theater and concert tickets, and lots of calories eating cupcakes. She and her husband reside in Los Angeles.
After a long string of breakups, Tamara tried to warm her broken heart by the 31 candles glowing from her birthday cake. She decided it was time to adopt a risky set of rules for her 31st year: learn how to enjoy first dates and avoid jumping into another tumultuous relationship. She vowed to say 'no' to relationships and, instead, would enjoy her successful single life in New York City by taking on the ultimate dating adventure: 31 Dates in 31 Days. While juggling a full-time news job and dwindling hours of sleep, Tamara would focus on dating one man every day for a month. On day 31 - Valentine's Day - she would host her 31st date, which would be a spectacular second date with one of the suitors.
From cynical New York City dater to hopeless romantic, Tamara's 31 dates helped change her attitude about men, dating, love, and life. She kept dating one of the men she met during her project. In one year's time, she went from blogger to bride.
Tamara has worked in television news for more than 12 years. Most recently, she was a writer for ABC's Good Morning America in New York City. She has also worked as a newscast producer for KATU-TV in Portland, Oregon, KSL-TV in Salt Lake City, Utah, and WSLS-TV in Roanoke, Virginia.
A D.C. area native, Tamara started working in the news business when she was 18, scurrying with political journalists behind-the-scenes at conventions for the 1996 presidential election. From there, she muscled her way into an internship at a local TV station, waking at 3:00 a.m. for a full day of work before tackling her over-packed schedule of college courses. As a motivated Dean's List student, she graduated from Roanoke College with a double-major in just three years, placing her among the school's youngest graduates in its nearly 170-year history.
Tamara also has a master of arts degree from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, where she was a recipient of the full-tuition Lee Bollinger Fellowship. It was in grad school where she first started writing about dating in New York with her thesis project, Celibacy and the City, a radio documentary profiling single Mormons in Manhattan.
After years in the busy news business, Tamara now spends her days writing about love, dating, and the life-changing project that helped her find the kind of man she never believed existed. She spends lots of time watching movies, lots of money on theater and concert tickets, and lots of calories eating cupcakes. She and her husband reside in Los Angeles.
MARK "Mad Dog" MADSEN is an American assistant coach and former professional basketball player. Madsen played NCAA basketball at Stanford, where he finished his career ranked in the school's career top 10 in blocks and rebounds. In addition, Madsen helped the Cardinal to four NCAA tournament appearances, including a Final Four berth in 1998. Perhaps his signature moment at Stanford was his dunk and free throw that gave Stanford a lead over Rhode Island, propelling the team into the Final Four, where it lost to eventual champion Kentucky. Madsen was a two-time All-American and a two-time All-Pac-10.
The Los Angeles Lakers selected Madsen in the first round (29th pick overall) of the 2000 NBA Draft. He contributed to the Lakers' NBA championships in 2001 and 2002, and became well known for the way he danced at the victory parades for those championships. Talking about his prime with the Lakers, Shaquille O’Neal said that the only player who could thwart him from his dominant play was Madsen. "He used to beat me up in practice”, O’Neal said. From 2003-2009, Mark Madsen played for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Mark served as a missionary for the LDS Church in the Spain Malaga Mission. In fall 2010, Madsen enrolled in the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He is expected to earn his MBA in June 2012.
Currently, Mark is the assistant coach for the Stanford Cardinals Men's Basketball team.
The Los Angeles Lakers selected Madsen in the first round (29th pick overall) of the 2000 NBA Draft. He contributed to the Lakers' NBA championships in 2001 and 2002, and became well known for the way he danced at the victory parades for those championships. Talking about his prime with the Lakers, Shaquille O’Neal said that the only player who could thwart him from his dominant play was Madsen. "He used to beat me up in practice”, O’Neal said. From 2003-2009, Mark Madsen played for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Mark served as a missionary for the LDS Church in the Spain Malaga Mission. In fall 2010, Madsen enrolled in the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He is expected to earn his MBA in June 2012.
Currently, Mark is the assistant coach for the Stanford Cardinals Men's Basketball team.
DREW MANNING is a certified personal trainer through NASM and formerly a neuromonitoring technician. An admitted fitness addict, he had never been overweight, had never craved processed foods, or known what it was like to move through the world carrying dozens of extra pounds. So he decided to learn what millions of Americans, and many of his clients, live with every day. Manning went from fit to fat (gaining 75 lbs) to fit again. His journey was documented via his website, Fit2Fat2Fit (over 500k hits a month), as millions followed via Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. A number of these followers call themselves Team Drew and lost weight in tandem with Manning.
His blog became a viral hit with a Yahoo story, quickly landing him on major national shows including Good Morning America, the Tonight Show, and Dr. Oz. His book Fit2Fat2Fit: The Unexpected Lessons from Gaining and Losing 75 lbs on Purpose tells his amazing story and reveals his insights about the weight-loss struggles so many Americans face.
His blog became a viral hit with a Yahoo story, quickly landing him on major national shows including Good Morning America, the Tonight Show, and Dr. Oz. His book Fit2Fat2Fit: The Unexpected Lessons from Gaining and Losing 75 lbs on Purpose tells his amazing story and reveals his insights about the weight-loss struggles so many Americans face.
EDDIE & WANDA WILLIS were former members of the Black Panther Party in the 1960s who later joined the LDS Church. Eddie and Wanda will present "From Panther to the Priesthood" here at the OC Conference. Stay tuned for a more complete bio.
Here's more of their story as told from KSL TV http://www.ksl.com/?nid=968&sid=16208167
Here's more of their story as told from KSL TV http://www.ksl.com/?nid=968&sid=16208167
KIMBERLY SMITH & BRYAN DAVIS Born in Maryville, Tennessee in 1962, to Joseph and Sue Smith, Kimberly has used her love of writing music and stories to expound upon the importance of family. After learning at the age of 12 that she had an ancestor who built a church, Kimberly began a journey that would reveal to her an ancestry she had never known, and a family that had been sorely broken. Kimberly lives in Nauvoo, Illinois with her two children, Bryan and Leah. She devotes much of her time to writing and speaking on the importance of healing within the family. It is her desire as she shares what the Smith family has endured on their journey to find hope through Jesus Christ, that families may realize through Him all things are possible. There is no greater time than now to pull our families together.
Bryan Dale Davis was born in 1986, in Ava Missouri. From a young age he found that he shared a great love of music with his mother, Kimberly Smith. After Bryan’s conversion to the Church in 2000, he began to learn more of the history of his ancestry and his lineage to Joseph and Emma Smith. That same year Bryan and his mother began doing firesides throughout the western states, learning as he bore witness to those gathered that there is nothing as precious to Heavenly Father as family, and the unity thereof. Bryan served in the Canada Vancouver Mission from 2005-2007, he currently lives in Nauvoo, Illinois and is working together with his mother on music about the Smith family.
Bryan Dale Davis was born in 1986, in Ava Missouri. From a young age he found that he shared a great love of music with his mother, Kimberly Smith. After Bryan’s conversion to the Church in 2000, he began to learn more of the history of his ancestry and his lineage to Joseph and Emma Smith. That same year Bryan and his mother began doing firesides throughout the western states, learning as he bore witness to those gathered that there is nothing as precious to Heavenly Father as family, and the unity thereof. Bryan served in the Canada Vancouver Mission from 2005-2007, he currently lives in Nauvoo, Illinois and is working together with his mother on music about the Smith family.
DAVID NELSON is a Master Trainer and Consultant for VitalSmarts. As a professional, David has consulted, facilitated, and given speeches to companies throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and the Middle East. His list of clients include organizations such as NASA, Yahoo!, the United Way, and Honda. As a Latter-Day Saint, David has recently ended a three year assignment as a CES Institute Instructor at BYU. During his time of service, class attendance rose from 100 students per week to over 450. He loves baseball, hates long socks, wants to be a better writer, and currently lives in Provo, Utah with his wife Kim.
JEFF JACKSON, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the California School of Professional Psychology Couple and Family Therapy Program at Alliant International University, Irvine. He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in the state of Utah and an American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Approved Supervisor. He has experience working with individuals, couples, families, and groups from all life stages and backgrounds in a wide range of areas. His clinical specializations include marital distress, marriage enrichment, marriage preparation, parenting and parent-child relationships, reactive attachment, abuse, ambiguous loss, disability, chronic illness, and depression.
Dr. Jackson’s academic interests include theories of psychotherapy, group therapy, ethics, supervision, and premarital education. His research interests include relationship quality and stability, premarital relationship assessment, relationship enrichment, ambiguous loss, disability and chronic illness, and clinical outcome research.
Dr. Jackson’s academic interests include theories of psychotherapy, group therapy, ethics, supervision, and premarital education. His research interests include relationship quality and stability, premarital relationship assessment, relationship enrichment, ambiguous loss, disability and chronic illness, and clinical outcome research.
RUSSELL GREINER was born in Arcadia, California and raised in the Presbyterian Church. In 1971, Russ received a tennis scholarship to Brigham Young University where he joined the Church. One year after his baptism, Russ was called to serve in the Montana-Billings Mission. After his mission, Russ graduated from BYU in Communications and married Dianne Boden in the Los Angeles Temple. They have three children, Cora, Jenny and Rusty, and four grandchildren. They reside in San Clemente, California.
Brother Greiner has been a speaker for Especially for Youth, Education Week, and The Book of Mormon conference at BYU. He has represented the Church at the religious diversity fair and numerous non-LDS venues. He is currently an Institute Director in the Church Education System at the Mission Viejo, California Institute.
Brother Greiner has been a speaker for Especially for Youth, Education Week, and The Book of Mormon conference at BYU. He has represented the Church at the religious diversity fair and numerous non-LDS venues. He is currently an Institute Director in the Church Education System at the Mission Viejo, California Institute.
VINCE BREGLIO has more than forty years of senior management experience in strategic consulting and survey research. In politics, he served the Bush-Quayle campaign as Director of Polling during the 1988 Presidential contest and the Reagan/Bush campaigns as Deputy Director of Strategy and member of the kitchen cabinet in the 1980 and 1984 campaigns. Internationally, he has worked with the Christian Democratic Party of Italy, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB) and has served as political consultant to the Chief Executive of Hong Kong. He now serves as a senior consultant to the Mainland Chinese Federation of Industrial Economics (CFIE).
An impressive list of Fortune 500 companies as well as prestigious foundations, associations and educational institutions are numbered among Vince’s clients. He continues his service as a senior consultant in the education policy arena for The National Center for Education and the Economy and the Gates Foundation. He also consults with the Stanford University Center for Longevity on health care policy. He has conducted numerous research projects for the LDS Church Missionary Department and for Deseret Book. Vince earned a Ph.D. in Social Psychology at Brigham Young University.
Vince has been married to Susan Quinney for 49 years. They have four children and eight grandchildren. Vince has served as a Bishop (Cerritos, California), Branch President (Chinese Branch of Washington, DC), and in three different Stake / District Presidencies. He and his wife currently serve as ordinance workers in the Salt Lake Temple and as the advisers to the Utah Holladay Region Single Adult (31+) program.
An impressive list of Fortune 500 companies as well as prestigious foundations, associations and educational institutions are numbered among Vince’s clients. He continues his service as a senior consultant in the education policy arena for The National Center for Education and the Economy and the Gates Foundation. He also consults with the Stanford University Center for Longevity on health care policy. He has conducted numerous research projects for the LDS Church Missionary Department and for Deseret Book. Vince earned a Ph.D. in Social Psychology at Brigham Young University.
Vince has been married to Susan Quinney for 49 years. They have four children and eight grandchildren. Vince has served as a Bishop (Cerritos, California), Branch President (Chinese Branch of Washington, DC), and in three different Stake / District Presidencies. He and his wife currently serve as ordinance workers in the Salt Lake Temple and as the advisers to the Utah Holladay Region Single Adult (31+) program.
BARBARA EVANS OPENSHAW is employed by a communications consulting firm in Los Angeles, where she advises clients on communicating effectively with international audiences. Previously, she worked as a political pollster for Wirthlin Worldwide, where she was involved with multiple congressional, senatorial and presidential campaigns, as well as market research projects for clients including Toyota, Intel, Taco Bell, Century 21 and Southern California Edison. She has also conducted survey research projects for The Deseret News and the LDS Church.
Barbara has a B.A. in communications from BYU. She has written articles for a variety of publications, including The Ensign, The New Era and The Church News, as well as non-LDS publications. A California native, Barbara is the single parent of four children and serves on the Placentia California Stake Public Affairs Committee. In the past she has been Young Women President and Stake Public Communications Director.
Barbara has a B.A. in communications from BYU. She has written articles for a variety of publications, including The Ensign, The New Era and The Church News, as well as non-LDS publications. A California native, Barbara is the single parent of four children and serves on the Placentia California Stake Public Affairs Committee. In the past she has been Young Women President and Stake Public Communications Director.
DAVID CHAMBERLAIN currently serves as the Mission Viejo California Stake President. He has previously served as a Bishop and has been involved in working with the youth, particularly in Scouting. He served as a missionary in Nagoya, Japan, and is an avid basketball player and fan. President Chamberlain is currently the Chief of Pediatric Urology and an Associate Professor at Loma Linda University. He and his wife, Jennifer are the parents of six children.
JAMI WARD was raised in northern Utah and graduated from Brigham Young University in child development. She served a mission in Ecuador and taught full-time seminary in American Fork before marrying David Ward in the Salt Lake Temple. They raised their three daughters in California, where Jami has served in the Young Women program and Relief Society. She enjoys playing the organ and spending time with her family. Jami is currently the Stake Relief Society President for Laguna Niguel California Stake.
VICTORIA HOFFMAN was in the traditional medical field for nearly two decades until the death of her son. To help her deal with and understand the sadness and loss, she began studying alternative methods to healing.
She is the CEO and founder of Life-Transforming Wellness™, a referral based private practice located in Orange County, CA. She is an expert in the field of wellness using a combination of skills including coaching, guided imagery, relaxation, and many other techniques.
In her spare time Victoria is a speaker and coach of wellness and success. She is a published writer and is currently working on her book expected to be completed this year. She is a leader and volunteer in a local trauma program assisting those in crisis. She is also a leader/trainer at the “I Am Enough Institute”, an empowerment agency.
She is the CEO and founder of Life-Transforming Wellness™, a referral based private practice located in Orange County, CA. She is an expert in the field of wellness using a combination of skills including coaching, guided imagery, relaxation, and many other techniques.
In her spare time Victoria is a speaker and coach of wellness and success. She is a published writer and is currently working on her book expected to be completed this year. She is a leader and volunteer in a local trauma program assisting those in crisis. She is also a leader/trainer at the “I Am Enough Institute”, an empowerment agency.
We have an amazing line-up of speakers for this conference. Info on other speakers will be updated in this page shortly. Check back soon for more details.
If you can't see the drop down menu to the Workshops page with details about each workshop and room assignments from your smart phone, here's the direct link.
Workshops http://www.ocbcconference.com/workshops.html
If you can't see the drop down menu to the Workshops page with details about each workshop and room assignments from your smart phone, here's the direct link.
Workshops http://www.ocbcconference.com/workshops.html
