Cynthia Benelli is an economist and lecturer with expertise in labor economics, public finance, and managerial accounting. She has taught in the UCSB Department of Economics since 2009, offering courses in Managerial Economics, Labor Economics, and Development Economics. At UCSB Extension, she specializes in Business Communications and Etiquette. Benelli has also served as a lecturer at CSU Channel Islands and Santa Barbara City College, teaching economics at both undergraduate and graduate levels. As a former research associate at the Public Policy Institute of California, she focused on public finance and policy analysis. She is a recipient of the Eugene Cota-Robles Fellowship and UCSB Economics Departmental Fellowship, recognized for outstanding teaching and research.

William Karalius is a CPA and experienced accounting instructor specializing in taxation, auditing, and managerial accounting. He serves as adjunct faculty at Flagler College and the University of Tampa, teaching courses in corporate taxation, financial accounting, and auditing. Karalius previously worked as a senior auditor for the State of Florida Auditor General, where he led financial and performance audits of government entities. He is a curriculum developer for Becker Professional Education and has contributed to CPA exam preparation materials. His industry experience spans corporate finance, taxation, and risk management.

Richard Learman is a CPA and MBA with over 35 years of experience in corporate finance and accounting. He has taught at UCLA Extension, Pepperdine University, and Cal State Channel Islands, delivering undergraduate and postgraduate accounting and finance courses. Learman served as CFO of Elevate Services, overseeing global financial strategy and investor relations. He previously held senior finance leadership roles at Applied Materials and Varian Semiconductor, with responsibilities including corporate finance, auditing, and SEC reporting. His expertise spans corporate restructuring, international finance, and strategic planning.

Henry Phan is a CPA and MBA with extensive experience in corporate finance, taxation, and accounting. He serves as SVP of Corporate Development at Medialab.AI, where he leads financial strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and investor relations. Phan has held finance director roles at several technology and media companies, focusing on modeling, audits, and strategic planning. As an adjunct professor, he has taught at UC Berkeley Extension, UCR Extension, Carleton University, and Cal State LA. He is also certified in human resources (SHRM-SCP) and has expertise in corporate governance and compliance.

David Shea is a finance and strategy consultant with over 35 years of experience in accounting, finance, and operations. He currently advises early-stage companies on financial strategy and growth. Shea previously served as CFO of SimpliPhi Power (acquired by KPS Capital Partners) and Greenlots (acquired by Shell), and held senior leadership roles at Catalytic Solutions/CDTi (NASDAQ: CDTI), Enco Utility Services, Edison Enterprises (NYSE: EIX), and Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC). He holds an MBA from USC’s Marshall School of Business and a BA in Economics and Mathematics from UCSB.