ADINE FORMAN
Executive Director
Adine Forman has over 30 years of managerial experience with Los Angeles based social service, workforce development and governmental organizations. She is currently the Executive Director of the Hospitality Training Academy (HTA), a non-profit institution and a labor-management partnership/Taft-Hartley fund that provides benefits to both contributing employers and the UNITE HERE Local 11 labor union, serving Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino Counties and the entire State of Arizona.
The HTA trains and upgrades the skills of UNITE HERE Local 11 hospitality and food service workers, who are predominantly women and people of color, and hail from all corners of the planet. The HTA works not only to upskill existing employees that are represented by the union, but also provides a variety of workforce services, registered apprenticeships, vocational ESL, financial and computer literacy, and training programs that are funded by foundations and government agencies to train low income, marginalized individuals for jobs in the hospitality and food service industry.
AARON GREENBERG
Deputy Director
Aaron Greenberg has more than a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership, public policy, and organized labor.
He was most recently executive director of Libraries Without Borders US, the American branch of Bibliothèques Sans Frontières, where he built partnerships with public entities and community-based organizations to increase access to literacy tools for under-resourced communities nationwide. He has also worked as a lead researcher with UNITE HERE Local 11, where he helped create an unemployment insurance clinic for laid-off union members and their families; administered the “Serving Our Community” program at HTA; and led electoral campaigns in Phoenix, Arizona and Atlanta, Georgia.
While in graduate school, Aaron served for five years as the president of the Yale graduate teacher union, UNITE HERE Local 33, and was elected three times to the New Haven Board of Alders (the city council). He holds a BA and MA from the University of Chicago and PhD in political science from Yale University.
ADRINEH TERANTONIANS
Director of Workforce Systems
Adrineh Terantonians has 18 years of leadership experience in workforce and career development, specializing in program management, employment and occupational skills training, quality assurance, data analysis, workforce operations, and compliance with federal and state programs.
She has designed, managed, and implemented workforce development initiatives across multiple agencies, including the Social Security Administration, the Department of Rehabilitation, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Labor’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and the Department of Social Services.
Adrineh holds a B.A. in English and is a certified Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF). She serves as an examiner for the California Awards for Performance Excellence (CAPE) and is an active member of the California Council for Excellence (CCE) and the National Career Development Association (NCDA).
STEPHANIE KOONTZ
Director of Quality, Learning and Compliance
Stephanie Koontz has 19 years of experience in employment and training programs including career center and youth/young adult program design and implementation, leading career center operations, contract management, program monitoring, and policy and procedure development.
Stephanie is experienced in developing and implementing quality assurance, continuous quality improvement, and compliance programs.
She is an instructional designer for in-person and on-demand learning environments, and facilitates various training courses including WIOA 101, Employment Plan Development, Effective Case Management, Time Management, Customer Experience, Preventing Sexual Harassment, and DEI.
Stephanie holds a BA in Political Science and History, and a MS in Gerontology.
STEPHANY MORRIS-NELSON
Director of Human Resources
Stephany Morris Nelson is the Director of Human Resources for Hospitality Training Academy (HTA), assumed the role in June 2024. Her career in Human Resources incorporate roles at other non-profits in the greater Los Angeles area.
An alumna of the University of Arizona, she also holds a Business Management Certification from Los Angeles Valley College, in addition to her PHR and SHRM-CP credentials.
Stephany is deeply engaged with the Professionals in Human Resources Association (PIHRA), where she serves on the Board of Directors for the Los Angeles Chapter as the Mentorship and Certification Chair, and as Co-Chair of the College Relations Committee.
Dedicated to her profession and community service, Stephany is also a devoted mother of three, grandmother of three, and has been married to her husband, Ronald, for 31 years.
JORGE GALVEZ
Director of Finance
Jorge Galvez has over 22 years of experience in the operations and administration of Employment and Training programs governed under JTPA, WIA, and WIOA. Through his years of experience, Jorge has managed over $100 million in public funds.
Before joining the HTA, Jorge spent 22 years working as the Financial Manager for Hub Cities Consortium, one of the largest WorkSource Centers funded by the Los Angeles County Department of Community and Senior Services (CSS), providing employment and training services to over 300,000 residents in Southeast Los Angeles annually. In addition, Jorge was the Chief Financial Officer of the Hub Cities Career Center Corporation, a 501(c)(3) organization, maintaining systems of internal control to safeguard financial assets and managing a combined budget of over $5 million.
Jorge’s areas of expertise include budget management, cost allocation plans, grant management, and policy development and analysis. Jorge was also a committee member of the continuous quality improvement (CQI) and the California Awards Performance for Excellence (CAPE).
GABRIELA JIMENEZ
Program Director
Gabriela Jimenez is a seasoned non-profit leader with nearly 20 years of experience in youth and workforce development, as well as program design and implementation. Her expertise spans recruitment, case management, job placement, and transition services.
Committed to leading with integrity, dependability, and open communication, Gabriela is passionate about supporting her team and driving impact. Through strategic program coordination and management, she has played a key role in successfully placing hundreds of clients into permanent employment or post-secondary education. She brings extensive experience in grant management, cultural competency, coaching, strategic planning, and program analysis.
Gabriela holds a B.A. in Political Science from California State University, Long Beach, and an M.P.A. with a graduate certificate in Public Policy from the University of Southern California.
JAIME CEDANO
Director of Special Projects
Jaime Cedano brings over 20 years of professional experience and a lifelong commitment to the labor movement to the Hospitality Training Academy. A Southern California native, he has spent much of his career in customer service in the Inland Empire.
Most recently, Jaime served as a Fresh Managing Supervisor at Walmart/Sam’s Club, where he developed and facilitated customer service trainings and helped implement marketing programs and strategies. His deep knowledge of the labor movement, strong community ties, and professional experience inform his work as a Bilingual Case Manager.
Jaime holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Arizona State University.
SEAN GLYNN
Special Contracts & Data Manager
Sean Glynn brings extensive experience in labor relations and union organizing to his role at HTA. As Project Manager, he oversees Serving Our Community, a $34 million initiative providing safely prepared meals to vulnerable populations impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before joining HTA, Sean spent 15 years with UNITE HERE in both Las Vegas and Los Angeles. His work ranged from organizing customer boycotts and mobilizing workers to negotiating contracts and resolving grievances. His experience includes leading labor strikes for healthcare benefits and developing cost-calculating negotiation tools for regional and national collective bargaining agreements.
Originally from the Midwest, Sean holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Grinnell College.
CHEF MITCHELL FRIEDER
Chef Mitchell Frieder boasts over 50 years of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry, excelling in front-of-house and back-of-house roles. He served as Sous Chef at San Francisco’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel, led acclaimed restaurants like Downtown Bistro in Lancaster, and operated Max Catering and Mack’s BBQ in Palmdale for over 20 years.
As co-owner of Le Gourmet Culinary in Orange, he fosters culinary education and innovation. Mitchell has been teaching culinary students for over two decades years and was a Chef Instructor at the Art Institute, Le Cordon Bleu, and UCLA Extension, and consults for various businesses including the Shanghai Trade School in Shanghai, China. He has been a food columnist, had a radio cooking show for five years and a television cooking show for ten years.
CHEF DANNY HAROLD
Chef Danny Harold brings over 35 years of culinary excellence, blending global education with high-profile experience. A graduate of Johnson and Wales University and the Montreaux Hotel School, Danny has served as Executive Chef at leading restaurants in Beverly Hills and the Hamptons.
As founder and proprietor of Harold Catering, he served Bruce Springsteen, President Barack Obama, the former NBC CEO Zucker, and major entertainment studios. Chef Danny has taught at the International Culinary School at The Art Institute and is a member of the James Beard Foundation, the American Culinary Federation, and the Chefs de Cuisines of Los Angeles.
CHEF ABRAHAM ORTIZ
Chef Abraham Ortiz brings over 15 years of culinary expertise, honed at acclaimed restaurants and hotels in San Diego and Los Angeles. His career includes working alongside renowned chefs like Thomas Keller at Bouchon Bistro, Daniel Humm at NoMad Hotel, and Curtis Stone at Gwen Restaurant, where he and his team earned a Michelin star in 2022.
Abraham has also contributed to Tartine Bianco, Tartine Bakery, and Nicolas Eatery with Nicolas Fanucci, former GM of The French Laundry during its 3-Michelin-star era.
Born in Tijuana, Mexico, Chef Abraham specializes in French cuisine, skillfully blending it with Mexican ingredients to create innovative dishes. His leadership and creativity have made him a standout chef in Southern California’s dynamic culinary scene.
FARID ZADI
Born in Lyon, France, Chef Farid Zadi brings a wealth of global culinary expertise and over two decades of teaching experience. A graduate of the Ecole Atelier Auguste Escoffier, Farid began his career at esteemed establishments such as the three-Michelin-starred Chez Jacques Cagna in Paris and La Machonnerie in Lyon. His journey later took him to London, Scotland, and Korea, where he earned acclaim for transforming underperforming restaurants into profitable ventures while catering to diplomats and business leaders.
Since 2000, Chef Farid has focused on culinary education in the United States, teaching at institutions like Le Cordon Bleu, Sur La Table, and Central Market. As a California state-certified instructor, he uniquely excels in both culinary and pastry arts.
Featured in outlets such as The Los Angeles Times, Gourmet, and The New York Times, Chef Farid continues to inspire through his innovative approach to food and education.
ROGELIO DIAZ
Chef Rogelio Diaz, inspired by a family tradition of cooking, brings a deep passion for Mexican, Italian, and Spanish cuisines, along with LA’s vibrant street food scene. A 2019 graduate of HTA’s Chef de Partie apprenticeship program, Rogelio began his career at the Sofitel Beverly Hills, a four-star hotel specializing in American/Mexican cuisine. Since then, he has honed his skills at renowned establishments like Joey DTLA and Soulmate West Hollywood.
Committed to his roots, he supports HTA through events, mentoring graduates, and joined as an assistant instructor in 2022.
MISSY MAYHUGH
Missy Mayhugh brings over 15 years of experience in the coffee industry as a barista, manager, consultant, and certified trainer. As an Authorized SCA Trainer, she has spent five years teaching classes and certifying coffee professionals. A seasoned competitor and award-winning expert in coffee mixology and latte art, Missy now serves as a Head Judge for the U.S. Barista Championships and contributes to the Competitions Working Group, advancing training and standards for the industry.
KELLY CORWIN
Kelly Corwin is a career barista with over ten years of customer-facing experience in the industry. Kelly was trained by SCA-certified trainers at Allegro Coffee Roasters in Berkeley, CA to bring attention to the smallest of details both in drink preparation and customer interaction. Soon after, Kelly developed a barista training program for Sweet Bar Bakery in Oakland, CA which served wood-fire roasted Mr. Espresso Coffee. As a trainer, most recently for Erewhon and Equator Coffees here in Los Angeles, CA, Kelly helped over a hundred new baristas learn the skills they needed to succeed on the job through intense, three-day trainings. Kelly is dedicated to providing an environment that is safe for students of every background. Kelly believes the most important quality for a teacher is compassion.
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