Silicon Beach October 2025 Chapter Meeting

Join BP Silicon Beach for their March Chapter Meeting!

This month’s speaker is Raffi Simonian (Bachelor of Science degree in Math/Computer Science from UCLA and an Executive MBA from Pepperdine University) whose current focus is a project which will deliver a comprehensive CRM solution leveraging Salesforce Education Cloud to support UCLA’s goal to increase meaningful alumni relationships, improve community engagement, and foster personalized experiences for constituents. By replacing fragmented systems and processes, this project will result in a centralized, scalable, and efficient platform that transforms how Alumni Engagement operates and interacts with its constituents. The CRM will serve as a robust hub for alumni data and engagement activities across campus.

Meet the Speaker:

Raffi Simonian

Raffi has been involved in the IT field for the past 35+ years. He started his career at Bechtel Corporation as a software engineer and has led large and small groups of software developers at such companies as SQRiBE Technologies (now Oracle), The Walt Disney Company, Candle Corporation (now IBM), DeskTalk (now HP), SeeBeyond (now Oracle) and Xdrive (now Verizon).

Raffi has managed more than 65 large-scale projects and has launched more than 20 different products from enterprise to online solutions. A strategic thinker with strong management skills and emphasis on building teams and relationships; communicating effectively; driving results; inspiring creativity and innovation; championing change and exhibiting professional excellence.

Raffi has taught IT and technology management courses at CSUN, UCLA Extension and Learning Tree since 1987. He has also done technology consulting and training at Northrop Grumman, UCLA, Paramount Pictures and numerous startups. Raffi holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Math/Computer Science from UCLA and an Executive MBA from Pepperdine University. Raffi is also Yellow Belt Certified in Lean Six Sigma.

Currently, Raffi is the Program Director for UCLA’s Epicenter where he manages the launch of new STEM certifications and project-based/experiential learning programs for the students in partnership with the industry. Raffi founded and launched UCLA’s Innovation Challenges for undergraduate and graduate students utilizing the Google Ventures Design Thinking framework. Due to their popularity, the tech bootcamps are now offered as a 4-unit UCLA Engineering course. Raffi has organized Emerging Technology Bootcamp for the Los Angeles City College and at American University of Kurdistan, Iraq. Raffi is also teaching “Fundamentals of Project Management” for UCLA’s Master in Quantitative Economics department.

Raffi is keen on workforce development focusing in the areas of Digital Building Blocks, Business Enablers and Human Skills. His consulting firm partners with companies and educational institutions in launching project based and experiential learning innovation challenges using the non-academic curriculum that he founded in 2018 at UCLA.

PAY ATTENTION TO NEW LOCATION!

Location: Large Meeting Room, #1130 Lg Conf Rm

Blank Spaces, 606 Venice Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90291

Cost: $15 for lunch