Innovation Hub Advisory Board

Chará Swodeck is a community collaborator, problem solver, and innovator; bringing ideas to life with goals, milestones, and conditions of satisfaction. Owner of Open Box Designs, LLC - Design and Marketing Consultants - Chará has spent over 20 years in event production and design, and 6 award-winning years in television/video production. She currently serves as Executive Board Member of the Fairplex Child Development Center, Founding President & CEO of the African American Advisory Alliance (Pomona4As), Pomona Girl Scouts Service Unit Manager, previous Chair of City of Pomona Historic Preservation Commission, VP of Communication for National Women’s Political Caucus - Pomona / Inland Empire (NWPC-PIE), Founder of Kwanzaa Joy Celebration and Shop Downtown Pomona. Chará Swodeck has served as President of the Pomona Council Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Volunteer Coordinator for the Pomona Christmas Parade for 11 years, Coordinator of the annual superhero-themed Pomona Children’s Festival, and much more. Connecting the dots, designing events, and creating impactful experiences have been part of who she is since she was a child. Chará Swodeck and her family have been committed to not only giving back, but also engaging in community building and advocating for equitable policy for her neighborhoods in art, business, education, housing, and public safety. Along with her husband, Joshua, they have lived in Pomona for 21 years and have two children.

Andrea Rico is the Governmental and Community Affairs Manager for the City of Pomona. She has worked for Pomona for 17 years. Ms. Rico serves as the City’s liaison to community-based initiatives and efforts. Her focus in incorporating community voice into decision making through authentic community engagement. Currently, she is the City’s dedicated staff member dedicated to Pomona’s Investment in the Early Childhood Ecosystem (PIECE). In addition, she also oversees the Pomona Household Universal Grant (HUG) Pilot Program which is a guaranteed income program for parents or guardians prenatal to three. 

Prior to her current position, she worked for the City of Santa Ana as an Educational Program Coordinator for eight years and was responsible for at-risk and prevention programs for youth and their families. She has over 25 years of experience working in the field of community engagement and programs. Mrs. Rico holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Vanguard University and a Master’s Degree from Chapman University in Criminal Justice with an emphasis on behavior.

Hector Lopez grew up in Chino Hills and Los Angeles in a family of 8. As the eldest, he was very closely involved in the family business of food service distribution in downtown LA. Both his mother and father immigrated to the United States in their very early twenties in pursuit of the American Dream.

Professionally, Hector Lopez is a seasoned Commercial Real Estate Agent with a focus on industrial and mixed-use properties. With over 16 years of experience in CRE, Hector has honed his expertise in helping property owners and prospective buyers achieve their long-term real estate goals. His primary focus has been in the Pomona and the surrounding markets. He is currently the Managing Director at the REMAX Commercial in Chino Hills, CA.

Growing up in an immigrant owed small business has given him a great deal of perspective of the difficulties and challenges of owning a small business in California. Often times the business owner is the sales team, human resources, accountant and even delivery driver all at the same time.

“Seeing the struggles of owning a small business has helped me understand what the individual usually needs. I strive to help them achieve the goals they want and often times helping to open their eyes to the possibility of where the next goal should be. Seeing someone grow from a one-man operation to a full blow 10 or even 100+ employee business brings me great professional fulfillment.” -Hector Lopez Jr

He was introduced to Pomona in my early 20s when he met his now wife, Jessica. Pomona would typically only be known for auto repair or taco-related reasons. Meeting Jessica gave him more motivation to be in Pomona. Fast forward through their wedding and 2 kids as of 2024, they are still happy residents of Pomona.

“Living and working in Pomona has opened my eyes to some amazing people in this city. There is a lot of help needed to continue to push residents and business residents further down the road to success. I volunteer my time to Co-Chair the Economic Development Initiative as well as sit on the Board of Pomona’s Promise. My ultimate goal is to help everyone I come in contact with from making a simple business card to helping them purchase their first building.” -Hector Lopez Jr

Matt Ryczek’s career is defined by resilience, resourcefulness, and an unwavering belief that every challenge presents a path forward. With over 20 years of experience in product launch strategy, engineering, design, brand development, and finance, Matt has become a trusted leader in guiding new product inventions from concept to market. His involvement across public, non-profit, and private sectors, where he has held multiple board positions, highlights his broad-reaching impact and strategic insight. 

Matt’s career spans all aspects of product development, from hands-on roles in engineering and design to leadership positions in project management and strategy. His journey, supported by his MBA from Concordia University, has given him a unique perspective on bringing ideas to life. He holds numerous US patents and has worked with distinguished brands like Walt Disney Imagineering, Verizon, Behr Paints, Home Depot, and TRX Training, while also supporting many growing brands.

For the past five years, Matt has served as the CFO of Idea House & Co., where his role extends beyond traditional finance. He is the architect behind the company’s growth and the lead strategist for clients, helping them navigate the complexities of product launches. Under his guidance, Idea House has transformed into a client-focused, data-driven organization that prioritizes transparency, accurate forecasting, and meaningful growth.

Matt’s ability to reshape Idea House’s operations—from restructuring internal processes to expanding the team—demonstrates his creative and strategic approach to leadership. His expertise enables him to help businesses not just launch products, but to create solutions that matter. 

Outside of work, Matt finds balance in activities like hiking, playing sports, camping, or setting off on new adventures. These moments of connection and exploration reflect his belief in maintaining a well-rounded life, both personally and professionally. 

At the core of Matt’s philosophy is the belief that good ideas deserve a path forward. His guiding principle is simple: Do what you can with what you have now. Matt’s vision for Idea House & Co. is to continue being a trusted voice in product development, dedicated to nurturing innovative ideas and pushing industries forward.

Monique Robles was born in 1978 and raised in Pomona, California. Monique struggled in  her late teens and early 20’s as a single mother, uncertain of her future. At the young age of  21, she embarked on a career as a Correctional Officer. However, her journey took an  unexpected turn in 2008 when she was medically retired due to an on-the-job injury.  

Determined to make the most of her situation, Monique pursued a bachelor's degree in  human services. With her newfound knowledge and passion for helping others, Monique  ventured into the world of nonprofit management, accumulating over 20 years of  experience in the field. Throughout her career, she has made significant contributions to  various organizations.  

Currently, Monique is actively involved in several prestigious positions within numerous  community organizations and specialized committees. She Co-Chairs the Economic Development Committee for Pomona’s Promise and the College, Career and Workforce  Development Taskforce- LAP3. She is a member of the Business Engagement Committee  for the Economic Development Opportunity Department for Los Angeles County, the Cal  Poly Innovation Hub Advisory Committee, The Fox Community Cultural Foundation, and  the Pomona Unified School District Grant Oversite Committee. And most recently, was  asked to be a part of the Leadership Team for the City of Pomona Conrad-Hilton Grant.  

As a visionary business leader, she strives to foster a strong sense of community and  inclusion among businesses and all individuals within the city of Pomona. In her current  role as President and CEO of the Pomona Chamber of Commerce, Monique is fully  committed to supporting the efforts of the city's leadership and the community to facilitate  the growth and prosperity of Pomona. 

Olukemi Sawyerr, Ph.D., is the Inaugural associate vice president for Academic Innovation at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona) where she provides strategic direction and administrative oversight to the Office of Academic Innovation, which curates opportunities for experiential learning, discovery, and innovation for the Cal Poly Pomona community, through the Career Center,  Center for Community Engagement, Kellogg Honors College, Innovation Incubator, Office of Undergraduate Research, and the Student Innovation Idea Labs. She is the Principal Investigator (PI) on CPP INVESTS, a $3 million National Science Foundation (NSF) HSI Improving Undergraduate STEM Education grant, and the CPP NSF I-Corps site grant. She is PI on a Small Business Administration $1 million grant supporting the creation of the Community Innovation Hub in the city of Pomona CA, funding that was secured for Cal Poly Pomona through the office of Congresswoman Norma Torres. She is also the PI on a Michael and Susan Dell Foundation grant of $1.6 million and a California Community Foundation Grant of $100,000 both supporting course-embedded micro-internship in non-profit organizations to provide students professional experiences to ready them for their future life. She has also served as PI on multiple grants aimed at supporting innovation and entrepreneurship in the Pomona Valley Region.

Dr. Sawyerr is leading the development and implementation of Future Career Paths, a career and professional readiness model to prepare Cal Poly Pomona students for the future of work and human and civic engagement. Before this role, she served as the inaugural director of the Student Innovation Idea Lab (iLab), creating the infrastructure to engender and support student creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship. She has overseen the creation of innovative learning spaces on campus including the Maker Studio on the second floor of the Library and Innovation Orchard at Ganesha High School; and founded multiple innovative programs including programs in partnership with NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center. Her curricular innovations have garnered her national and international attention, including invited presentations at the Thematic University-Business Forum: Breaking Boundaries for Future Careers sponsored by the European Commission, and at the International Forum on Industry and Education sponsored by the Center for Schooling Development Programme in China.

Her current research interests focus on entrepreneurship education and its impact in higher education. Her research has appeared in multiple peer-reviewed journals and she has presented her work at national and international academic and professional conferences. Dr. Sawyerr received her Ph.D. in Strategic Management from the University of North Texas and her Bachelor of Business Administration and MBA from Texas Woman’s University. She is a professor of strategy and entrepreneurship in the Management and Human Resources Department in the College of Business Administration at Cal Poly Pomona.