OCD Southern California is happy to announce the return of the Speakers Series this April 2024! These low-cost ($15 per person), in-person events will feature presentations by local OCD specialist treatment providers. They will facilitate panels and presentations on OCD and related disorders and host a question-and-answer segment. Note: The San Diego, Inland Empire, and Los Angeles Speaker Series are now sold out. The Orange County location has limited capacity and is close to filling up as well. If you are interested, please register as soon as possible!
We are providing 3 CE credits to clinicians at the Orange County location. We welcome OCD therapists as well as non-OCD clinicians who would like to learn about OCD treatment. The cost to attend for CE credits is $45.00. CE credits are for continuing education activities for clinicians; these are not for the general public.
Note: Each location has its own unique Eventbrite sign-up page. For each venue’s specific registration link, see below.
These events are open to individuals with OCD, their family members and loved ones, mental health providers, students, and the general public. Please join us at your local event, or feel free to attend all four!
Email us with any questions at info@ocdsocal.org. OCD SoCal does not want registration costs to prevent you or your family from attending. Please email us and ask us for a scholarship, which will waive registration costs.
The Orange County Speaker Series is being held on Saturday, April 6, 2024 from 10am – 3pm PST. Check-in for the event will open at 9:15am. Coffee and tea will be served. We suggest you arrive early for check-in and then the event will begin promptly at 10am. If you have not registered for the event, there are still low-cost tickets available. Your registration includes a catered meal, beverages, and free parking. For more information and to register, visit: OCD SoCal Speaker Series – Orange County Tickets via EventBrite
Here is a list with details of the break-out sessions being offered:
Registration: 9:15amPST
The check-in desk is located near the entrance of the hotel, to the right when you enter, in front of the Ballroom. You do not need to bring your EventBrite ticket; we have the names of everyone who registered and will check you in at the check-in table.
Introduction and Welcome: 10 – 10:15amPST
OCD Southern California board members Chris Trondsen, LMFT, APCC, Liz Trondsen, Barbara Van Noppen, Ph.D., LCSW, and Sue Chudy, LCSW, (http://ocdsocal.org/about-us/board-of-directors/) will welcome attendees, go over the day’s events, and announce additional important information. Then the event’s presentations will begin.
The event is offering 9 total presentations with a final 10th presentation featuring all of the day’s speakers for an “Ask the Expert” Q&A Panel. If you scroll below, you will notice that the day is split into 4 sessions. During the first 3 sessions there are three talks being offered simultaneously and you can pick which one you would like to attend. Then the Q&A panel is for everyone in attendance. Following the “Ask the Expert” Q&A Panel, OCD SoCal is excited to present a special screening of the movie “Exposure,” a psychological thriller by director Peter Cannon, who has OCD himself.
New this year, we are offering 3 continuing education credits (CEs) for licensed clinicians. These talks, specifically for mental health providers, will be held in the venue’s boardroom and will be held at the same time as the talks for the general public.
This presentation is for family members and loved ones supporting someone with an OCD diagnosis. Often individuals with OCD do not accept their diagnosis, are refusing treatment, and get angry when approached on the topic. If they are in treatment, they may not be putting their all into the therapy. This presentation aims to help family members and loved ones gain an understanding as to what their loved one is going through and what may be causing this resistance. The talk will then provide tangible interventions and tools on how to deal with treatment resistance, approach your loved one, and create engagement in the recovery process. Attendees will leave with an understanding of OCD, its treatment, how to approach a loved one about attending treatment, and how to motivate them once in therapy.
OCD is often depicted as excessive handwashing and door-checking or careful steps over sidewalk cracks. Given this, it’s no surprise that so many people remain completely unaware of mental compulsions. While these internal behaviors are invisible, they are every bit as debilitating as their overt counterparts. So how can we spot them? And, once we do, how can we handle them? In this talk, attendees will learn about mental compulsions: what they are, how they differ from obsessions, how to identify them and ways to support disengaging from them. The talk will also cover non-engagement responses, and the difference between dropping mental compulsions and thought stopping.
Although OCD is a debilitating disorder, the treatment is proven to be effective and the majority of people recover, living fulfilling lives. While Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and in particular, Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) are becoming more well known beyond academia and select clinicians, its application to the treatment of OCD is not always well explained or understood by those seeking treatment. Therefore, the treatment can be misunderstood, causing resistance in therapy. In this session, ERP will be examined and explained in the broader context of CBT and how it works to change the lives of those with OCD. Attendees will learn how to effectively utilize ERP to reduce OCD symptoms and begin to experience freedom!
Family accommodation predicts poorer therapeutic outcomes and is associated with greater OCD impairment. This presentation will explain accommodation behaviors through the lens of functional behavioral analysis. Specific types of family accommodation in OCD will be identified along with validated measures. We will then discuss methods of accommodation reduction that can be used for child through adult populations including common language, family contracts, and motivational scripts. Video will be used to demonstrate behavioral family contracting. We will end with a discussion of child methodologies including the Supportive Parenting for Anxious Emotions program (SPACE) and token economies.
During this presentation, the speakers will discuss how to apply Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for meaningful treatment of OCD. This modality provides a parallel, yet nuanced approach to other forms of OCD therapy. The presenters will provide an in-depth explanation of the ACT Hexaflex and explain how to practically implement ACT throughout daily life. This presentation will also address how to use values (vs fear) to help guide meaningful treatment, as well as mindfulness, acceptance, and committing to decisions as helpful techniques.
OCD rarely occurs in perfect isolation. OCD often shows up before, during, or after other co-occurring disorders such as an eating disorder, social anxiety, specific phobias, generalized anxiety, or depression. OCD may also arise in the context of other developmental disorders such as ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorders. This all sounds very messy…much like real life! The good news, is that we can conceptualize these problems within the same general framework and we can reply on the same set of treatment principles to find freedom from all of the above! Exposure therapy, as well as other aspects of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), will be the central methods of intervention discussed as we explore how to understand and treat OCD alongside other co-occurring disorders.
In an effort to cope with challenging situations, families often engage in behaviors that perpetuate OCD and interfere with treatment. Family responses to OCD, particularly family accommodation, worsens OCD symptoms, leaving family members and individuals with OCD feeling frustrated, angry and at odds with one another. This presentation will cover what might drive accommodating behaviors, introduce behavioral contracting and the addition of motivational strategies. Family-based intervention that brings family members into the therapeutic process of exposure and response prevention is for people with OCD at all ages. Hopeful, additional elements from The Supportive Parenting for Anxious Emotions program (SPACE) will be described as well. This interactive workshop is for people with OCD, their family members, and loved ones.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a debilitating mental health condition that affects 2.3% of the US population. The disorder is characterized by obsessive and intrusive thoughts, images, and urges that are unwanted and jarring. Sufferers are then compelled to engage in both mental and physical rituals as a way to prevent a feared outcome or to reduce anxious emotions. This presentation will give an overview of how to assess for OCD, and educate a client on the condition, through both discussion and role-plays. The talk will then shift to an overview and role-played presentation on exposure and response prevention (ERP), the gold-standard, front line treatment for the condition. The presentation will conclude with a Q&A.
This presentation will review evidence-based medication treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We will discuss which medications are effective for OCD and which ones are not, the doses and duration of treatment required for effective pharmacotherapy of OCD, and myths and misconceptions about psychiatric medications. We will cover serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) – the first-line medications for OCD, as well as secondary and augmentation strategies for patients who do not have adequate response to SRIs. We will also discuss other related topics, including comorbidity, assessment, treatment planning, predictors of treatment response, practice guidelines, multimodal treatment combining pharmacotherapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), intensive treatment, neuromodulatory approaches, mechanisms of action of pharmacotherapy, and the neurobiology of treatment response in OCD.
Tackling Taboo Topics and Silencing Shame – Kevin Foss, MFT https://calocd.com
The more we try to suppress taboo obsessions the more we have them, and the more guilty and shameful we can feel. No matter how normal it may be to have thoughts of sex, violence, and blasphemy, OCD can twist the message that you are alone and worse off than everyone else. But, there is hope. This talk will bring light and air to the thoughts, images, and topics we aren’t supposed to talk about in “polite society.” We will discuss how these obsessions manifest, how to change perspectives on their meaning through treatment, and how to find freedom and peace from shame through self compassion.
An OCD diagnosis doesn’t just affect the person with the disorder; instead, it seeps into all facets of life, including romantic relationships, friendships, and familial relationships. The closer the relationship, the higher the likelihood that the sufferer will experience interpersonal anxiety and symptoms that complicate, dictate, and, all too often, destroy the quality of social bonds. This presentation will identify the ways OCD shows up in relational contexts, including dating, friendships, and the parent / child and sibling / child relationship. The talk will clarify the role and responsibilities of the sufferer and their loved ones in healing affected dynamics. It will conclude by offering a roadmap for healthier, non-compulsive interactions. The presentation will conclude with a Q&A session.
The benchmark treatment for OCD is generally accepted to be cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and specifically exposure and response prevention (ERP) (Koran & Simpson, 2013, American Psychiatric Association, 2010). Its usage is well documented (Law & Boisseau, 2019), yet its application across clinicians varies significantly based on previous training, experience, and ability. In this workshop, specific skillsets relating to ERP and its application to OCD will be introduced and discussed, focusing on its application in the context of CBT. Additionally, common mistakes and issues in its application will be discussed, followed by a case example, and finally an open Q&A session.
Lunch: 1:45pmPST
The Costa Mesa Marriott is providing a catered lunch and beverages. There will be different food options to choose from; you will select your preferred option at check-in. The lunches are provided in a portable dinnerware, we ask you to bring your food into the main Ballroom as we begin the final session presentation.
Session IV: 2 – 3:00pmPST
Ask The Experts: Summary Q&A Panel – All of the event’s presenters
Please join us for an opportunity to ask questions of a panel consisting of all of the event’s presenters. This is an opportunity to ask any of the questions you were unable to ask during the day, or if you were unable to attend one of the presentaitons, that talk’s presenters will be able to answer your questions at this panel. The panel will consist of leading OCD experts.
We will begin the screening of the film, “Exposure” (https://www.discomfortsthepoint.com) with an introduction by the film’s director, Peter Cannon. Then we will show the movie and follow the film with a Q&A with Peter, led by OCD Southern California’s Vice President Chris Trondsen, LMFT. The film will be viewed in the venue’s Ballroom and is free for anyone who registered for the Orange County Speakers Series. Here is a description of the film:
Years ago, Tanner (Douglas Smith; Don’t Worry Darling, Big Little Lies, Big Love) was kidnapped, tortured, and poisoned by an unknown assailant. After being inexplicably let go, he was left obsessed with the idea that his kidnapper was still out to get him. Day in and day out, his compulsive checking to confirm that his house is secure and his food is safe to eat slowly erodes his relationship with his patient and caring wife, Nicole (Margo Harshman; NCIS, The Big Bang Theory, Even Stevens).
One day, Nicole hears that the man who did this to Tanner was released from prison earlier than expected, and Tanner’s obsession spirals out of control. To save her marriage, Nicole forces him to face his fears head-on with exposure therapy, and ultimately confront the fact that he’s experiencing obsessive compulsive disorder. Reluctant at first, he takes to it well—and perhaps to a dangerous level.
Event Concludes: 6:00pmPST
On your way out, please make sure to sign up for OCD Southern California’s mailing list, as well as visiting the front desk of the hotel to have your parking ticket validated. Parking for the event is covered by OCD SoCal.
Registration is open for OCD SoCal’s Orange County Speaker Series. The event is happening at Orange Coast College, 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 on Saturday, May 3, 2025 from 10am – 3pm PT. A catered lunch, beverages, and parking are provided. For more information and to register for the event, click here: OCD SoCal Speaker Series Orange County Ticket Registration – EventBrite. Here are the event’s speakers in alphabetical order by first name:
Bio: Dr. Adam C. Frank is a psychiatrist, researcher, and Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. Dr. Frank currently divides his time between caring for individuals with OCD in an outpatient psychiatry clinic, supervising and teaching psychiatry residents at USC, and conducting research on the mechanisms of OCD and improving treatment outcomes through the use of neuroimaging, wearable biosensors, and neuromodulation.
Bio: Barbara Van Noppen, Ph.D. is the Vice Chair for Faculty Development, Director of Well-being, and Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at University of Southern California (USC), Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles. Dr. Van Noppen is co-Director (with Adam Frank, MD) of the OCD Treatment and Research Program at Keck Medicine, USC. As an internationally recognized specialist in cognitive behavioral therapy and family-based treatment, Dr. Van Noppen has treated OCD for 39 years and “coined” the term “Family Accommodation” for OCD in 1990.
She teaches and supervises in the residency training program at LA General Medical Center, serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of the International OCD Foundation, the Scientific Advisory Committee of The Canadian Institute for Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (CIOCD) and International Accreditation Task Force. Dr. Van Noppen is most well known for her contributions in OCD family treatment, particularly the development of a Multifamily Behavioral Treatment (MFBT), Family Accommodation Scale (FAS), group CBT for OCD and she has numerous publications and clinical research in these areas. In addition, Dr. Van Noppen is a faculty member for the Behavioral Therapy Training Institute of the International OCD Foundation, and is on editorial boards for peer reviewed journal articles on OCD.
Bio: Chris Trondsen suffered with severe OCD, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), major depressive disorder, along with the anxiety that came with these disorders, until receiving specialized treatment. No longer under the control of the disorders, Chris now works as a licensed clinician in the mental health field, treating OCD, BDD, and related disorders at The Gateway Institute in Costa Mesa, California. Chris has shared his story of recovery on the Montel Williams Show, Dr. Drew, Fox 5 San Diego, Vox, Vice, Buzzfeed, NBC, Wondermind, as well as speaking at International OCD Foudnation (IOCDF) annual conferences. He is Vice President of OCD Southern California and also serves on the Board of Directors of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF). Additionally, he is one of the IOCDF’s lead advocates publicly sharing his recovery story. He is also a leader of multiple IOCDF Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and created the Young Adult Track at the annual IOCDF conference. He hosts a livestream (“Ask The Experts” and “Lunch and Learn”) every Wednesday, from 9am – 10am PT for the IOCDF.
Bio: Curtis Hsia is a SoCal native, having completed his undergraduate degree at UCLA. He earned his Ph.D. at Hofstra University, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at Boston University’s Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders. Dr. Hsia then held a professorship at Azusa Pacific University for a decade before founding the OC Anxiety Center. He has been involved with the OCD community since his internship in 1998 at the Bio-Behavioral Institute, and has authored over a dozen peer reviewed articles, and presented over a hundred workshops, symposia, paper and poster presentations domestically and internationally, and is active with the International OCD Foundation.
Bio: Kelley Franke is the Director at The Center for OCD, a private practice specializing in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, with a focus on Exposure & Response Prevention, in adults, adolescents, and children suffering from OCD, and other Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders. Kelley completed her master’s in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University. She received her initial training at The OCD Center of Los Angeles. Additionally, she received training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy from Behavioral Tech Research through The Linehan Institute. Kelley is also the co-host of Purely OCD and has spoken at numerous conferences specifically related to the treatment of OCD.
Bio: Kevin Foss, MFT, is the director of the California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center in Fullerton, CA. His clinical specialization spans the full range of the anxiety spectrum. In addition to speaking on various aspects of OC-spectrum disorders and writing for Psychology Today, he is the host of the FearCast Podcast, a question and answer based show about OCD and anxiety.
Bio: Kimberley Quinlan, LMFT, is dedicated to providing outstanding therapy and counseling for those with OCD and related disorders, eating disorders, and body focused repetitive disorders (BFRBs). Her approach is both collaborative and compassionate. Kimberley has extensive training in cognitive-behavioral therapy and exposure response prevention (ERP) for OCD and OCD-related disorders. Additionally, she teaches other clinicians how to provide quality CBT and ERP for OCD and OCD related disorders. Kimberley also hosts the “Your Anxiety Toolkit” podcast!
Bio: Lauren Rosen is a psychotherapist and the director of the Center for the Obsessive Mind, an outpatient clinic serving individuals in California, Florida, Utah, Nevada and Oregon. Lauren specializes in treating OCD, Anxiety Disorders & Eating Disorders and supports people using Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure & Response Prevention and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Lauren has her BA and MA in Psychology from UCLA and Antioch University, trained at the OCD Center of LA and is a certified Intuitive Eating Counselor. In addition to her work as a therapist, Lauren co-hosts the Purely OCD Podcast and does social media advocacy.
Bio: Matt Codde is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in helping people overcome OCD & Anxiety-Related disorders. Matt is the founder of the online platform Restored Minds, the host of the OCD & Anxiety Show, and the author of From Stuck to Unstuck. Matt offers a unique approach to treatment that draws from both personal and clinical experience. You can connect with Matt through his website www.restoredminds.com.
Bio: Michelle Malloy, MFT, PMH-C, completed her Bachelor’s Degree at UCLA in Psychology and went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Cal State Fullerton. She has worked in mental health for over twenty years. She received training from the UCLA Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Clinic and Western Youth Services. Michelle has completed the Behavioral Therapy Training Institute (BTTI)’s general and pediatric training programs through the International OCD Foundation and specializes in using cognitive-behavioral therapy and exposure and response prevention to treat OCD. She also treats generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and eating disorders. Additionally, she is certified in perinatal mental health and EMDR trained.
Bio: Dr. Sepehr “Sheperd” Aziz is a physician and currently Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine and Behavioral Sciences, where he works in an outpatient psychiatry clinic seeing university students on campus. He completed his general psychiatry residency training at the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMass), and a subspecialty fellowship in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) where he worked in the OCD and Tic disorders specialty clinic. His research experience includes clinical trials of stimulant medications for ADHD and esketamine for refractory depression. In addition to English, he speaks fluent Persian. His approach to psychiatry is integrative, individualized, and culturally-informed.
Bio: Dr. Stephanie Davis is a licensed psychologist who runs a private practice in Orange County specializing in OCD, anxiety disorders, and misophonia. She began her clinical career counseling young adult populations at universities (BYU, Texas A&M, and St. Edward’s). While there she led anxiety and OCD groups, supervised graduate students in their clinical work, and supervised employees at a university crisis hotline. To further solidify her specialization in anxiety disorders and OCD, Dr. Davis completed a second post-doctoral position at the Orange County Anxiety Center and continued working there until opening her private practice. Dr. Davis offers consultation services to clinicians and is a frequent speaker at conferences and community events addressing OCD and anxiety-related concerns.
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We look forward to seeing everyone at the OC event. Make sure to register before the price goes up after the early bird discounted cost, or the event is sold out! For more information and to register for the event, click here: OCD SoCal Speaker Series Orange County Ticket Registration – EventBrite.
A reminder, OCD Southern California is offering 3 CEs for LCSW, LMFT, LPCC, and Psychologists who attend the CE track of this event!
Registration is open for OCD SoCal’s San Diego Speaker Series. The event is happening at the Mira Mesa Library at 8405 New Salem Street, San Diego, CA, 92126 on Saturday, April 20, 2024 from 10am – 1:30pm PST. A lunch, beverages, and parking are provided. For more information and to register for the event, click here: The San Diego Speakers Series is Sold Out.. Here are the event’s speakers:
OCD Spectrum / Related Disorders: What are They and How are They Treated
Bio: Dr. Saxena is the Director of Clinical and Research Affairs for the International OCD Foundation. He is a Psychiatrist who specializes in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Hoarding Disorder, other OC-Related Disorders, Anxiety Disorders. He is also Clinical Professor (non-salaried), UC San Diego Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Saxena is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, and a Fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.
After completing his residency and fellowship, he joined the faculty of the UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and served as Director of the UCLA OCD Research Program and Associate Director of the UCLA Anxiety Disorders Program. He then moved to UC San Diego and served as Director of the UCSD Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders Program and Director of UCSD Outpatient Psychiatric Services. More recently, he was the Adult Psychiatrist for Rogers Behavioral Health San Diego.
Dr. Saxena was elected into Best Doctors in America every year 2005-2020, and elected into Castle Connelly’s and US News & World Report’s America’s Top Doctors every year 2008-2021. He continues to be heavily involved in teaching psychiatric residents and therapist trainees, and has won multiple teaching awards. He is also active in community education at the local, national, and international level.
Dr. Saxena also served as the psychiatric consultant for the motion picture, “As Good As It Gets” (Sony Pictures, 1997), in which the lead character, played by Jack Nicholson, suffered from OCD. Dr. Saxena’s research has focused on the neurobiology and treatment of OCD, Hoarding Disorder, and related disorders. He has authored or co-authored over 80 scientific articles and book chapters. He has received awards and grants from the American Psychiatric Association, American Neuropsychiatric Association, International OCD Foundation, and the National Institute of Mental Health. Dr. Saxena serves on the Scientific and Clinical Advisory Board for the International OCD Foundation and was an advisor to the DSM-5 Workgroup on Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders. He and his colleagues developed the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for Hoarding Disorder.
His research has garnered attention from local and national media, and he has been featured on ABC, CNN, Larry King Live, MSNBC, the Discovery Channel, National Public Radio, BBC News, the New York Times, Time Magazine, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, and Facebook Live.
Bio: Katherine Pica, LCSW, is a therapist and owner of Resilience Counseling. Katherine has worked in this field for over 18 years and enjoys working with people to help them learn coping skills to overcome life’s struggles. She specializes in treating OCD, BFRBs, Trauma, and Anxiety. She utilizes evidenced-based methods to help, including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Comprehensive Behavioral Model (COMB), and a Mindful Self Compassion based approach. By combining her clinical expertise with a natural ability to form warmth and connection, Katherine has been able to help so many clients throughout the years conquer the struggles that have kept them stuck. There is so much hope to healing. You are not alone.
Bio: Summer Contreras is a Certified Peer Support Specialist living in San Diego, CA. Summer grew up with OCD, but wasn’t diagnosed until age 18 and didn’t seek proper treatment until age 22, after her mother – with whom she was very close – passed away from cancer. Since then, she has been a passionate advocate for those with OCD and related disorders so others don’t suffer the way she did. Summer has a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the University of Arizona and hopes to specialize in treating OCD. She volunteers at a research lab at San Diego State University and advocates through her blog and social media. She is currently writing a memoir. Outside of advocacy, Summer likes to play the Pokémon Trading Card Game competitively and enjoys reading, writing, and mathematics.
Pat Dugan (Panelist)
Pat Dugan, age 73, has experienced OCD symptoms on and off for most of his life, but he was not officially diagnosed until his mid-40’s. Once diagnosed, he was able to manage most of his symptoms with medication and therapy. However, after experiencing a series of traumatic life events in retirement, his symptoms spun out of control and left him feeling anxious, depressed, and full of shame. Pat will share how this late in life existential crisis became a blessing in helping him find a new way of living through gentle acceptance and letting go.
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We look forward to seeing everyone at the SD event. Make sure to register before the event is sold out! For more information and to register for the event, click here: The San Diego Speakers Series is Sold Out.
