The 2026 Blue and Gold Pathway Conference: From Stress to Strength will take place on April 23 and 24 from 1:00–5:00 p.m at the Faculty Club. This student-centered conference focuses on helping students build confidence, resilience, and practical skills in managing money and making informed financial decisions. Through honest conversations about financial stress and interactive sessions featuring tools, strategies, and real-life stories, the conference supports students in strengthening their financial well-being for the long term.
Reserve your ticket now to secure your spot!
Conference Schedule
Thursday, April 23 | 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Theme: Tools, Choices, and Habits for Real Life
- 1:00 – 1:05 PM — Opening Remarks: Associate Vice Chancellor Cruz Grimaldo
- 1:05 – 1:20 PM — Keynote Address: Vice Chancellor Steve Sutton
- 1:25 – 2:15 PM — The Framework No One Taught You: Making Decisions When Money and Everything Else Collide | Michelle Florendo
- 2:20 – 3:10 PM — You Work Hard. Your Money Should Too. (Does it?) | Serene Lau
- 3:15 – 4:30 PM — From Stress to Strength: Real Stories, Real Strategies (Panel Discussion) | Cary Koh, Jeff Kwok, Michael Firestone, Val Torres,
- 4:30 – 5:00 PM — Reception & Networking
Friday, April 24 | 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Theme: Where Finances Meet Well Being
- 1:00 – 1:05 PM — Opening Remarks: Deputy Director Kerry Franzetta
- 1:05 – 1:20 PM — Keynote Address: Associate Vice Chancellor Cory Vu
- 1:25 – 2:15 PM — Exploring Your Money Mindset | Pei-Ling Lee, Leah Kennedy
- 2:20 – 3:10 PM — Uncovering the Millionaire Pyramid | Erick Bell
- 3:15 – 4:05 PM — From Financial Stress to Intentional Decisions: Recognizing the Hidden Pressures Behind Financial Choices | Ockemia Bean
- 4:10 – 4:30 PM — Closing Remarks
- 4:30 – 5:00 PM — Reception & Networking
Cary Koh | Merrill Lynch Wealth Management 
Cary Koh joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2013 and is a key member of Ting & Associates. He focuses on building strong client relationships and engages in thoughtful communication to help identify clients’ evolving wealth management needs and goals. As a former concert violinist and professional conductor, Cary brings discipline, precision, and creativity to his work in wealth management. He draws on his unique background to guide clients through intricate planning considerations with focus and composure. Cary holds a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree in violin performance from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. He serves as Bank of America’s Corporate Board representative on the Board of Trustees of Cal Performances, which unites exceptional artists, ideas, and audiences through live performance to enlighten and enrich lives. He is also a member and Past President of the Rotary Club of Burlingame & Hillsborough and a former Board Trustee of The Crowden Music Center in Berkeley, an organization dedicated to inspiring students of all ages through the integration of music and education. Beyond his work with clients, Cary enjoys golfing and playing chamber music.
Cory Vu, OD | Associate Vice Chancellor of Health & Wellbeing, UC Berkeley
Cory Vu joined UC Berkeley as the Associate Vice Chancellor of Health & Wellbeing in 2024. He was previously the Associate Vice Chancellor of Health, Wellness and Divisional Resources at UC Davis for 7 years. Cory completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Biology at UC Davis in 1990. In 1994, Cory received his Doctor of Optometry degree from UC Berkeley, School of Optometry. Outside of work, Cory enjoys spending time with his family and 2 dogs. He also enjoys gardening, playing golf, hiking, casual walks around the neighborhood, and cooking.
Cruz Grimaldo | Associate Vice Chancellor of Financial Aid, UC Berkeley
Cruz helps make dreams come true in her role as Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs leading Financial Aid and Scholarships and Cal Student Central at UC Berkeley, where she leads a team of 80+ professionals and 40+ students across two departments. Cruz provides strategic vision to the campus on the awarding of over $1 billion in student support to over 33,000 students. Cruz also operationalizes care at scale via navigation of financial aid, billing and enrollment processes, holistic advising, and promoting kindness and community at Berkeley. Originally hailing from Huntington Park, CA, Cruz has spent the last 25+ years of her career advocating for students and working to keep Berkeley as accessible and affordable as possible for all students. Cruz was a grateful recipient of financial aid as a low-income college student and truly treasures Berkeley and her Berkeley education.
Erick O. Bell, D.Min, CPA | Professor, Hass School of Business, UC Berkeley
Erick O. Bell, CPA is an accounting and financial wellness professor at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and Las Positas College. Prior to pursuing academia full-time, Erick held senior leadership roles at StoneTurn Group LLP, Deloitte Financial Advisory Services, LLP and KPMG LLP. In addition to serving as an educator, Erick is the Chairman Emeritus for the Accounting Career Awareness Program, and a board member for Alameda Youth Basketball. Erick is the sole proprietor of an accounting firm that provides financial reporting and analysis and forensic services. His tagline is “presenting complex financial concepts with passion and simplicity” which is evidenced in his two books: Living Healthy – 6 simple strategies to achieve a healthy life physically, spiritually, and financially (2021) and How to Close the Wealth Gap in 66 Days – Without the Government (2025).
Jeff Kwok | Haas EWMBA Alumni ’17 
I am a practicing anesthesiologist that also went to Haas, out of a curiosity to explore opportunities throughout medicine. In addition to clinical practice, my path has led to serving on the board of my state professional society, where I am the assistant treasurer. Other activities include delving into the innovation space with my parent company, Vituity. What draws me to this conference: I have a keen interest in improving the financial interest of medical trainees. I can see how this could easily include college students.
Kerry Franzetta | Deputy Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships, UC Berkeley 
Kerry Franzetta is Deputy Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships at the University of California, Berkeley where she oversees Fiscal Management, Compliance, Work-Study, Business Systems, Research and Staff and Student Engagement. She has deep experience leading and innovating multi-million dollar financial aid programs and directing data-driven decision and policy making, conducting large-scale data analyses and synthesizing results for policy, advocacy, education and media audiences. Her work is guided by a deep commitment to providing equitable access to an excellent education for students and meaningful work for her teams. Prior to joining the Berkeley campus, Kerry spent over five years as the lead Policy and Program Analyst for Student Financial Support at the University of California, Office of the President. While working at UCOP, Kerry’s responsibilities included running the financial models for allocation of UC’s Undergraduate Student Aid Program grant funds and directing the UC-wide undergraduate Cost of Attendance Survey. Kerry has over 20 years of experience in education administration and research including experience at Child Trends, The University of Chicago, and the University of California. Kerry earned her B.A. in Sociology at Pomona College.
Leah Kennedy | 5 Buckets Foundation
Leah Kennedy serves as the Program Coordinator at 5 Buckets where she supports program delivery, volunteer engagement, social media campaigns and outreach efforts. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from American University in Washington, D.C. During college, Leah worked in childcare and interned at a nonprofit supporting unhoused communities. These formative experiences deepened her commitment to compassionate service and highlighted the importance of financial education that acknowledges trauma, stress, and generational cycles. Originally from Hamburg, Germany, Leah moved to California during high school. She is fluent in both English and German, and in her free time, enjoys painting, knitting, and spending time at the beach.
Michael Firestone | Fire Capital Management 
Michael J. Firestone, CFA, is the Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Fire Capital Management, an independent RIA providing investment and advisory services to wealthy families and private foundations. He has spent his entire career advising high-net-worth clients and managing capital on their behalf, with a focus on growing and preserving wealth across generations. His experience spans public and private markets, and he works closely with clients on complex investment decisions, asset allocation, and strategic planning. Prior to founding Fire Capital, Michael was a Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at Fiduciary Trust International, where he managed client portfolios and led equity research across multiple sectors. He currently serves as Co-Chair of the Professional Advisor Council at the San Francisco Foundation and has previously held leadership roles within the CFA Institute network. Michael earned his MBA from UC Berkeley Haas, a Master of Science in Finance from Florida State University, and is a CFA charterholder.
Michelle Florendo | Powered By Decisions, LLC
Michelle Florendo is a decision engineer and executive coach who helps individuals and organizations move from analysis paralysis to confident, clarity-driven action. She is the founder of Powered By Decisions, where she has delivered decision-making workshops for organizations including Google, Stanford, and Harvard Business School. Her work makes the principles of decision engineering accessible and immediately applicable, helping people untangle the emotional and analytical sides of high-stakes decisions so they can move forward with clarity and confidence. She hosts the podcast Ask A Decision Engineer and is passionate about equipping people with practical frameworks they can use for decisions of any size, including the financial ones that shape their everyday lives. Michelle earned her engineering degree from Stanford and her MBA from UC Berkeley.
Ockemia Bean | O.So.Inspirational, Inc.
Ockemia Bean, MSBA, is an author, speaker, and founder of O.So.Inspirational, Inc., where she equips individuals and organizations with practical tools to strengthen communication, improve decision-making, and prevent burnout. She is the creator of The Positive Path to NO, a framework and book that helps individuals build healthy boundaries, use their voice with clarity, and make aligned, confident decisions. Her work explores patterns such as conditioned self-silencing—the tendency to override one’s internal voice in order to meet expectations—and provides practical strategies to shift those patterns. With over 25 years of experience across corporate, nonprofit, and entrepreneurial sectors, Ockemia integrates psychology, behavioral insight, and real-world application to deliver meaningful, actionable learning experiences. Through her work, she helps individuals recognize their internal patterns, communicate with clarity, and make decisions that align with both their well-being and their purpose.
Pei-Ling Lee | 5 Buckets Foundation
Pei-Ling Lee serves as Director of Programs & Partnerships at 5 Buckets, where she leads programs, partnerships, volunteer engagement, and strategic initiatives. A trauma-informed coach and integrative wellness practitioner, Pei-Ling is especially passionate about helping people develop a more mindful, empowered relationship with money. She brings a holistic, heart-centered approach to financial education — grounded in practical application and personal growth. Alongside her training as a multidisciplinary facilitator, Pei-Ling holds a B.A. from Boston College, summa cum laude, and studied abroad at the London School of Economics.
Serene Lau | Foreword Financial 
Serene Lau is a UC Berkeley alumna (Business Administration, B.S. and Public Health, B.A.), and proud to be back on campus! Serene’s career has spanned from healthcare to design, focusing on creating communications and user experiences that are meaningful, functional, and most importantly – delightful. Now, she uses her user research and storytelling superpowers to fuel her longtime passion of helping women and 1st gen families get smarter about money. Serene founded Foreword Financial to make understanding finances easier. As a money coach, she empowers her clients with personalized financial education and money management strategies. Serene believes that everyone can be great with money – because don’t your dreams deserve to be fully funded?
Steve Sutton, EdD | Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, UC Berkeley 
Stephen C. Sutton, EdD, has served as the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at UC Berkeley since 2017. Dr. Sutton has spent his career advocating for students and operationalizing policies, services, and programs to support students in their growth and success. He has held several different administrative positions at Berkeley, including serving as the associate vice chancellor for Residential & Student Service Programs (RSSP).
Val Torres | VP, Community Financial Wellness Program Manager 
Val Torres has been in banking since 1987—helping people with their finances long before online banking existed. She spent most of her career at Bank of the West, building trust, relationships, and mastering more spreadsheets than she cares to admit. After decades in finance, Val took a bold detour to chase a dream: joining a brand‑new winery in Napa’s Carneros region. She dove into the wine world from the inside out—with plenty of tasting and zero regrets. Now back at BMO, Val brings her blend of financial know‑how, local insight, and genuine care to her role as a Financial Wellness Program Manager, partnering with businesses to deliver financial wellness that actually makes sense. Outside work, Val is a devoted soccer fan cheering for Arsenal and FC Barcelona—so she’s well acquainted with dramatic goals and emotional rollercoasters.
Anne Xiong: Program Manager, Center for Financial Wellness
Audrey Lim: Financial Wellness Coach, Center for Financial Wellness
Jen Towers, Assistant Director for Student and Staff Engagement, FASO
Jadyn Lily Stafford, Senior Financial Wellness Coach, Center for Financial Wellness
Kate Qian: Financial Wellness Coach, Center for Financial Wellness
Kathy Nguyen, Financial Wellness Coach, Center for Financial Wellness
Malia Koliander, Financial Wellness Coach, Center for Financial Wellness
Nina Kini, Senior Financial Wellness Coach, Center for Financial Wellness
Rafael Villasenor, Senior Financial Wellness Coach, Center for Financial Wellness
We appreciate your support in making our conference a success!