Steering Committee
Chaired by Palm Springs City Councilmember Jeffrey Bernstein, the committee guides programming, partnerships, and the long-term vision for PS/NExT — connecting creativity, technology, education, and entrepreneurship across the Coachella Valley.
Group Vice President, Cloud Applications Development · Oracle Corporation · Palm Springs resident
Group Vice President, Cloud Applications Development at Oracle Corporation, leading product management teams responsible for Cloud solutions. 30+ years in the software industry — joined Oracle in 2000 and has driven strategic direction for Oracle's ERP solutions for over 15 years. Earlier in her career: 10 years as a management consultant at Bain & Company.
Senior Vice President, Foundation · Eisenhower Health
Senior Vice President, Foundation at Eisenhower Health since 2017, expanding philanthropy in support of the desert's only not-for-profit hospital — currently leading the $300M Cardiovascular Institute campaign. Senior executive with deep experience across business development, strategic planning, and sales leadership at Move, Inc., Realogy/Cendant, and Universal Services of America. BA, Economics, Rollins College.
Chair · Palm Springs City Council, District 2 · Former Mayor
Civic champion behind the original 2025 AI & Creativity Expo — the event PS/NExT evolves from. Identified Tech as one of four economic drivers for the city and is pushing AI degree pathways at the College of the Desert Palm Springs Campus.
Foundation Director · Palm Springs Unified School District Foundation
Foundation Director at the Palm Springs Unified School District Foundation since 2013, mobilizing community investment behind student success across the Coachella Valley. Two decades leading mission-driven organizations — formerly Executive Director of Playworks San Francisco and Variety Children's Charity of Northern California. Stanford LEAD executive education, with deep expertise in fund development, board governance, and nonprofit strategy.
CEO & Co-founder, Domus Tech Solutions
CEO & Co-founder of Domus Tech Solutions, building AI-driven smart-home platforms that make consumer tech feel approachable. Software engineer with deep expertise across mobile and web development, cloud computing, machine learning, and system integration & automation. Focused on practical applications of AI for everyday productivity, creativity, and digital safety.
Creative technologist · formerly ILM & DreamWorks Animation
Three decades at the intersection of film, technology, and creative innovation — senior roles at Industrial Light & Magic, DreamWorks Animation, and Animal Logic (associate producer on Oscar-winning Happy Feet). Adjunct Professor of Creative Intelligence at UTS Sydney and senior adviser to INDEX: Design to Improve Life.
Tech Advisor & Consultant · Former VP at Microsoft
30+ years at Microsoft as a product and engineering executive across M365, Office, Visual Studio, Tablet PC, and Engineering Excellence — most recently as VP leading initiatives for small business and modern content delivery. Now invests in and advises AI and design startups, including serving as Special Envoy to the Machines on Baratunde Thurston's Webby-winning Life With Machines podcast — creator of AI co-producer BLAIR. Patent holder in collaborative editing and machine learning.
Strategic Communications · Event Production · VIP Protocol & Diplomacy · Palm Springs resident
Senior communications strategist and experiential events executive with nearly three decades across global hospitality, entertainment, and mission-driven organizations. Former VP, Brand & Corporate Communications and Events at Princess Cruises and Director of PR & Media Events at The Beverly Hilton (home of the Golden Globes). Faculty at Michigan State University College of Communication Arts and Sciences. Certified expert in protocol, diplomacy, and intercultural business etiquette.
Chief Economic Development Officer, City of Palm Springs
Palm Springs' first-ever Chief Economic Development Officer, positioning the desert as a hub for tech, innovation, and creative industry — and helping anchor PS/NExT as a regional economic platform.
Clio-winning marketing executive · formerly Disney, EA, Expedia Vrbo · Palm Springs resident
30+ years transforming leading businesses and startups across entertainment, gaming, and travel — senior roles at The Walt Disney Company, Electronic Arts, Expedia Vrbo, and the Los Angeles Times. Most recently CMO of Light & Wonder. Now advises CEOs, CMOs, and PE GPs on transformational marketing strategies.
Best selling author · Emmy-nominated host · Webby winner · Palm Springs resident
Emmy-nominated storyteller weaving interdependence across nature, humans, and technology — bestselling author of How to Be Black, PBS host of America Outdoors, and creator of How to Citizen. His podcast Life with Machines just won the People's Voice Webby for Best Creative Use of AI and Technology, built around an AI co-producer named BLAIR.
Engineering Director, Infrastructure Security · Google
Leads the organization that anchors Google's production security in trustworthy hardware — driving strategy and execution for platform integrity, confidential compute, and AI/ML security. Previously Engineering Director at Cruise, Production Engineering Manager at Facebook, and senior engineering leadership at Dell EMC and ESPN. University of Florida College of Engineering.