March 23rd

Chris Willison – Lt. and assistant Chief of Police in the City of Indian Wells

He is the lieutenant and assistant chief of police in the City of Indian Wells and he supervises a group of 12 subordinates, including a sergeant, deputy, CSO’s who work together to keep the neighborhoods of Indian Wells safe.

February 24th

Brandon Weimer – Toffee maker

Brandini Toffee is sold around the world and has been featured on Oprah Winfrey’s O List, The Martha Stewart Show, the Food Network, and has been served at the White House. Come and enjoy this lively conversation with a successful local entrepreneur!

March 2nd

Christopher Freeland was appointed City Manager for the City of Indian Wells on May 2, 2019.

He has extensive experience in economic development, working on the revitalization of several shopping centers, an auto plaza, a regional mall, and an award-winning brownfield development. 

February 3rd

Mary Perry – Public Information Officer for Desert Sands Unified School District.

February 10th

Paul J Reulbach – Palm Springs Life Publisher

Paul Reulbach has worked in the field of publishing for over thirty five years. Paul graduated from Northeastern University and has had a successful publishing career working for Lawyers Weekly Publications, Business Review magazine, San Francisco magazine, and Silicon Valley Magazine.

Now he aims to bring his insight and expertise into the valley as the newest publisher at Palm Springs Life.

January 13th

Aaron Espinosa
Director of the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory

Over the course of his career with the City of Rancho Mirage, Aaron been involved in some amazing projects. He was instrumental in the design and construction of the Joe and Gigi Roberson Mineral Collection and the management of space planning of the Library and Observatory.

January 20th

Michael Carter
District Attorney Inspector 

Michael Carter is a Supervising District Attorney Inspector with the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. He started his law enforcement career, in 1986, with the Newark Police Department. In his 12 years at Newark he worked patrol, investigations, SWAT, DARE, as Field Training Officer and the department Personnel and Training Officer. 

December 16th

Clay Behm
Certified Reverse Mortgage Professional

In addition to being a Certified Reverse Mortgage
Professional, Clay is a member of the National Reverse
Mortgage Lenders Association, the Financial Planning
Association, and the California Desert Association of Realtors. He has three decades’ experience in the Mortgage industry.

December 30th

Gerald Colucci
Italian Entertainer

Years before Gerald Colucci took his first voice lesson, he studied the great Italian singers, from Caruso to Dino. Many of his songs are classic Neopolitan songs. Dale McKinney of “The Desert Entertainer” said “Colucci personifies the passion of the great Italian singers.”

November 18th

Patrick Evans – Meteorologist

Patrick Evans is the KESQ News Channel 3’s morning and noon meteorologist, and Host of Eye on the Desert. He will be talking about the weather in the Coachella Valley.

December 2nd

Eric Ornelas – Sunnylands
Communications and Public Affairs Coordinator

“A place of history, hospitality, and diplomacy in the California desert.”

October 28th

Aimee Byard – Big Horn Institute

Aimee is a Field Biologist at the Big Horn Institute and serves as the Institute’s Associate Director.

November 4th

Jeff Stone – State Senator
“Senator Jeff stone will be giving us an update about what is happening in the state of California.”

Indian Wells Rotary Scholarship Gala 2015

Entrepeneur of the Year

Nachhattar Chandi