Our Faculty

Education: M.A. degree, Journalism, UCLA; Executive Management Program Graduate - UCLA Anderson School

Experience: More than 15 years in media; special expertise in video editing, production and animation, history of graphic design, business communication, marketing and entrepreneurship. Work and industry history includes newspaper and magazine journalist/photographer (Newsweek, Arizona Star and many freelance magazine articles) and non-fiction book author, Getting the Best of L.A. As co-owner of JAM/S Advertising and BBC Productions, produced, wrote and/or voiced hundreds of print, radio and TV commercials for lifestyle clients. Also served as producer and VP Sales & Marketing for Image West, a top-line computer graphics animation house (clients included ABC Sports, Olympics, NBA, World Cup Soccer, and Live Aid). Other past positions include co-owner/co-producer of three different music TV shows (MV3/Video Beat/World Beat); advertising consultant and corporate video producer/director at MGA; and10 years as VP of Sales & Marketing, Hotels/Resorts/Spas for California Tan. Currently runs Monte Gast & Associates Consulting, a firm that provides startup business advice.

What I love about teaching: I love seeing the enthusiasm and smiles when students truly connect with what I am trying to convey. Sometimes there's a nod or a chuckle; other times it's just a look in the eyes. There's that great moment of connection, when the new information clicks in the mind and enables them to see the world in a fresh way, I can tell that they get that they'll be able to do something new, different and maybe even exciting with that knowledge in a useful, real-world sense.

Conveying information that's actually useful and can help people do a better job, make more money, or perhaps just relate to the world and other people more effectively is what I strive to do. That's a real pleasure to me and even more so, when I can make it relatable for the students. It's an exciting world out there and I try to bring some of that energy into the classroom. Then I get a lot of energy back in return. It's great.