We Keep on Growing!
The Business Department at Cañada College keeps on growing, and so we have had to hire on some new faculty to keep up. Learn more about some of the new faces you'll be seeing around campus and online!I am entering my 15th year of teaching at the community college level. Teaching at this level was my dream while attending community college after high school. Now, as an instructor I truly enjoy the teaching experience--both online and face-to-face.
My education includes a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. My background includes 28 years of experience in financial and administrative management. I have worked in a wide range of environments, including entertainment (Disney), manufacturing (aerospace), non-profit (AARP), and education (student services). I have also co-owned a small business since 1980.
Teaching is my passion. I have been with the Los
Angeles Community College District since 2002. I have also taught at the
university level and provided professional development for middle and upper
management.
This fall, I will have the privilege of teaching online at
Cañada College. As an instructor, I am enthusiastic, approachable, and
responsive. I will bring ingenuity to the classroom and
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Share my passion for business
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Respect students’ individuality
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Value participants’ skills, talents, and perspectives
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Develop lessons that are interesting and relevant
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Provide an organized learning platform with clear guideline
Brandon Napoli - Business Adjunct
Professor
Career:
A son of a community college teacher, I grew up on campus
and later attended Cuesta College. Both experiences planted a dream to
teach after gaining over a decade of experience. In 2006, I started my
career in poverty alleviation through supporting underserved
entrepreneurs. That year, Muhammad Yunus was awarded the Nobel Peace
Prize for his work in microfinance - providing small loans to people in poverty
to start and grow their business. Inspired, I pursued microfinance and
learned how access to capital helped entrepreneurs build dignity and create
jobs. After receiving my MBA from SDSU, I joined the Peace Corps in
Guatemala. I assisted the small business development efforts in
ecotourism, focusing on providing an alternative income to the subsistence
farming. After returning to the States, I supported entrepreneurs at
higher levels. First, as the Director of Microlending at Valley Economic
Development Center – growing the micro lending portfolio to top 5 in the US and
testifying to congress on the state of micro lending. Afterwards, I
became the Director of National Microlending Initiatives managing an investment
fund for microlenders across the US. At the end of 2016, I responded to a
passion to intersect faith and entrepreneurship and relocated to Palo Alto to
start a faith-based coworking space.
Life:
Passions outside of work include the outdoors, sports, and
travel. I was a three sports athlete in high school (football, wrestling,
and tennis) and two in college (track and field and rugby). I also
dabbled in Jiu-Jitsu for several years. My favorite outdoor activity is
bicycle touring - riding days/weeks while camping. Currently I am getting
geared up for a month long trip through Ireland and Italy.
Brian Bennett- Business
Department Adjunct Professor
Brian has
25+ years of management and consulting experience spanning industries including
high-tech, medical device, financial services, and public accounting
industries. He participated in an IPO and is listed as a co-inventor on three
issued patents. Also, Brian competed in the Olympic Games and has worked
internationally. In general, his classes are very interactive since the field
of business is constantly changing and he will draw upon real life business
current events, companies, products, and services to enhance your learning
experience. Fun facts - Causes Brian cares about include: inclusiveness,
economic empowerment, education, environment, and health. He is an avid hiker
and boogie-boarder.
“There is no
education like adversity.” (Benjamin Disraeli)
Oduro Takyi - Business Department Adjunct Professor
Degrees: MBA, Business Administration, Long Island University,
Brooklyn, New York; LLB (Honors) University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Teaching Experience: Foothill-De Anza Community College District, Los Altos,
CA (2000 – Present) Cañada College (2017 – Present) University of Phoenix, San Jose, CA (2000 – 2004)
Career Highlights: As a result of teaching prospective entrepreneurs in the
Silicon Valley how to write business plans to start their businesses at De Anza
College, I decided to start my own management consulting business, The
Boardroom Planning Group in San Jose, CA. As the Principal Consultant, I have
provided consultation to clients on business planning, financial management,
the development of feasibility studies, and product expertise. Clients have
included insurance carriers, county and city risk managers, and the State of
California Department of Industrial Relations. I have also been a Learning
Consultant at the Kaiser Permanente Regional Offices in the Information
Technology Division, Walnut Creek, CA where I trained management and their
staff and maintained curriculum for a software development initiative.
Passions: (1) Avid reader of numerous John Grisham legal thrillers;
(2) Aficionado of CNBC’s ‘The Shark Tank.’ (3) Professional basketball,
football and soccer enthusiast.
Favorite Quote: “A little learning is a dangerous thing.” – Alexander
Pope.