Alma is the former Vice President, Human Resources of the Newhall Land and Farming Company/FivePoint who recently retired after 36 years in Human Resources.

As a lifelong resident of the Santa Clarita Valley, Alma feels the importance of giving back to the community by volunteering is essential. Over the years, she has been involved with a number of civic organizations including Golden Oak Adult Education, United Way, Zonta, American Cancer Society, Boys and Girls Club and the SCV Sheriff Foundation.

She has been a member of the SCV Mayors Committee for Employment of Individuals with Disabilities since 2004 and currently serves as the Committee’s Treasurer responsible for maintaining accurate and complete financial statements and reporting while adhering to all Federal, State, and local laws.

Bret Lieberman brings over 20 years of experience working as a mild/moderate special education teacher specializing in working with young adults on the autism spectrum. Lieberman holds a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from California State Bakersfield and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications from California State Northridge. Additionally, Lieberman is a Certified Autism Specialist with the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) and is also a certified New World of Work Instructor, a curriculum developed under the Doing What MATTERS for Jobs and the Economy framework of the California Community Colleges system, which is the largest higher education system in the nation with 72 districts and 115 colleges serving over 2.1 million students each year. Lieberman is an instructor at College of the Canyons along with being newly appointed to the Board of the Santa Clarita Mayor’s Committee which helps educate, empower and employ individuals with disabilities.

Lieberman was awarded Golden Valley High School’s first Teacher of the Year award in 2005. Lieberman was also named one of Santa Clarita’s 51 most influential people in 2010 by the Santa Clarita Signal, and in 2014 was honored as one of the 40 under 40 awardees for making a difference in the Santa Clarita community from the Magazine of Santa Clarita. Additionally, Lieberman was honored as one of Canyon High School’s Most Influential Teachers. Lieberman also possesses over 20 years of experience in producing musical events throughout the greater Los Angeles area and Santa Clarita Valley. Lieberman is the executive producer and creator of the Summer Meltdown Arts and Music Festival. The Summer Meltdown is the only festival in the world that provides young adults with disabilities an opportunity to produce a concert event side-by-side with music professionals working within the entertainment industry.

Scott Shepard has provided career, transition, and competitive integrated employment services to students and adults with disabilities for over 4 decades, and is committed to the ideal that everyone who has a motivation to work can work, regardless of their ability.  Scott teaches courses on Behavior Assessment & Positive Behavior Support at CSU Northridge, serves as an Honorary Board Member of Cal-TASH, and provides direct support and service coordination to adults with I/DD in the North LA County area as the Executive Director of Avenues Supported Living Services.  He also provides consulting related to transition services, person-centered planning and self-determination through Beyond Assessments.  You can find out more information about the services he provides at Avenues SLS on their website:

www.AvenuesSLS.org