Every year, the Daily Breeze brings together experts in a variety of fields to discuss important issues relating to health, longevity and improving the quality of life.
2017 Speaker Information
9:30 am – 10:15 am
Pier 3 (2nd level)
Senior Friendly Comedian
Joey the B (aka Joe Bensoua)
It took a 43-year detour into the newspaper business for Joey The B (aka as Joe Bensoua) to turn his attention to performing comedy. After retiring as a web editor from the Daily Breeze in 2014, he’s thrilled to be able to do comedy for the same company that helped shape a naïve college student into what he is today … a naïve senior citizen. Joey The B used to shudder at those words, “senior citizen,” but after discovering early bird specials and 25-cent bus rides, he embraces the label. His focus is on performing “clean” comedy, especially senior citizen comedy and performs in many assisted living facilities in the Harbor Area and the South Bay. (joeybcomedy@gmail.com, 310-344-0702)
9:30 am – 10:15 am
Pier 4 (2nd level)
Medicare 101 – Understanding your Medicare Plan Options
Larry Plewniak, Independent Agent, AGA Medicare Options Presented by HealthCare Partners
Medicare options can be confusing for those approaching 65. Mr. Plewniak will help to answer and clarify questions and concerns about when you are eligible, what are parts A, B, C and D, advantages and disadvantages, and guidelines for signing up. Being educated on all available options will help you make the best choice.
Larry Plewniak has 26 years of experience as an Insurance Agent and represents most major companies with a Medicare contract. He feels strongly about educating his clients on all options available, which gives them the “power to compare and the freedom to choose.”
HealthCare Partners is a Sponsor and AGA Medicare Options is an exhibitor at the expo.
10:30 am – 11:15 am
Pier 3 (2nd level)
Successful Aging: Are we having fun yet?
Helen Dennis, Columnist, Consultant and Aging Specialist
Aging is inevitable. So how do we make it work for us? Learn the role that purpose, friendships, fitness, giving back, resilience, joy and humor play in our lives. Please join us and share a few laughs and learn how to leverage this new life stage–the gift of time. Leave with one new idea that could add to the aging experience for you.
Helen Dennis is a nationally recognized leader on issues of aging, employment and retirement. She has been the recipient of numerous awards for her teaching at the Davis School at USC’s Andrus Gerontology Center and for her contributions to the field of aging, the community and literary arts. Editor of two books, author of over 50 articles, frequent speaker and weekly columnist on Successful Aging for the Southern California News Group, she has assisted over 15,000 employees to prepare for the non-financial aspects of their retirement. Ms. Dennis is co-author of the LA Times bestseller: Project Renewment: The First Retirement Model for Career Women. PBS Next Avenue has recently named her one of the 50 influencers in aging for 2016.
10:30 am – 11:15 am
Pier 4 (2nd level)
25 Facts about Your Bones and Osteoporosis
Maria Vollucci, D.O., Family Practice, Torrance Memorial Physicians Network Sponsored by Torrance Memorial Health System
Board-certified family medicine physician Maria Vollucci, D.O., has been a resident of the South Bay for over 25 years, and is happy to live and work in this community. Although she enjoys treating adults of all ages, her passion is geriatrics and diabetes. She is a strong supporter of disease prevention and incorporates that philosophy into her treatment style. Dr. Vollucci believes that helping patients make healthy food choices and including exercise into their lifestyles makes for a stronger and healthier person. Dr. Vollucci also keeps current on advancements in medicine which impact her patients. She is a volunteer for many local educational events, providing advice and information as needed as well as giving lectures.
Torrance Memorial Medical Center is a sponsor at the expo.
11:30 am – 12:15 pm
Pier 3 (2nd level)
Keynote Presentation: Demystifying Palliative Medicine – Realizing the Best Care Possible
Panel Discussion presented by Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Centers San Pedro and Torrance and Providence Medical Institute
Matthew Gonzales, MD
Chaplain Stephanie Ryu
Social Worker Andrea Strouth, MSW
You don’t have to be seriously ill or even elderly to receive the benefits of palliative care – personalized medical treatment that also attends to your physical, emotional, social and spiritual well-being. Palliative care helps you assess your values and priorities, and balances those with your goals of medical care. Palliative care is about engaging you and your family in shared decisions. It’s about enlisting you, your loved ones and your medical team to achieve the best care possible.
Join us for a discussion with members of the Providence Little Company of Mary Torrance Palliative Care Team – a doctor, a social worker and a chaplain – to see how they can help heal you and your loved ones: Mind, Body and Soul.
Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Centers San Pedro and Torrance and Providence Medical Institute are sponsors at the expo.
11:30 am – 12:15 pm
Pier 4 (2nd level)
HECM Reverse Mortgage Loans – Are you a homeowner born before May 1, 1955?
Brad Dela Cruz, American Advisors Group
Cost of living is rising, and people are living longer than ever. All things considered, it’s no wonder more and more retirees are choosing to turn their home equity into additional money for retirement using a government insured Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) loan. A HECM is a special government-insured FHA loan that converts a portion of unused home equity into extra money for homeowners 62 and older. These special loans allow senior homeowners to continue living in their property and get the extra cash they need for retirement without selling their home or tapping into savings. Mr. Dela Cruz will educate attendees on the details of how these loans work.
For more than a decade, Brad has specialized exclusively in reverse mortgages, and is dedicated to serving the best interest of all those he advises. He is very proud of the company he works for and believes they have solutions to many problems and concerns that older Americans face in retirement today. Brad can help you make an educated decision on whether or not a Reverse Mortgage is right for you or a family member.
American Advisors Group/Brad Dela Cruz is an exhibitor at the expo.
12:30 – 1:15 pm
Pier 3 (2nd level)
Clutternomics: Get Your Life Back – DeClutter Now for Instant Abundance!
Kathleen Ronald, Speaker, Trainer, Author, Consultant
How many hours do you waste looking for things? Do you feel stuck in any area of your life? Do you feel you are drowning in life clutter to the point where you are drained of your energy? Does your clutter cause you stress, loss of time, money and peace of mind?
Clutter affects 19 areas of your life. The results are many and deeply transformative once you begin to get rid of the clutter. In this session, you will Discover tools to eliminate the physical, mental, spiritual, environmental, body and people clutter. Get in touch with how much your life-clutter has really cost you over the years. Implement “one” easy rule and get back 7 hours a week. Realize the de-clutter secrets of getting a bigger paycheck. Learn a few simple tricks to begin to get your life back NOW!
With an electrifying, comedic style all her own, Kathleen Ronald delivers empowering programs that not only motivate but also produce bottom-line results. She is a Business Growth Expert, an unparalleled networker, an internationally renowned speaker-trainer, an award-winning business consultant and poet, a contributing best-selling author and, the founder of Speaktacular! Kathleen has more than 30 years of experience providing custom, inspirational keynotes, training seminars and consultancy to Fortune 500 companies, small business, direct sales organizations, and professional associations. She has also appeared on The Doctor’s show and The Dr. Phil show.
Kathleen Ronald is an exhibitor at the expo.
12:30 – 1:15 pm
Pier 4 (2nd level)
How To Take On Aging As A Sport And Have Fun Doing So
Sharkey Zartman, Radio Host, Health Coach, Speaker and Author
Sharkie Zartman views aging as being a challenge instead of an inevitable period of decline, and encourages people to get off the bench and into the game. Author of “Take on Aging as a Sport – and Have Fun Doing So” Sharkie has an empowering, sometimes humorous approach to aging that anyone over fifty will be able to identify with, enjoy, and utilize as they play the most challenging sport of their lives—the Aging Game.
Sharkie Zartman is a former All-American volleyball athlete and champion competitor at UCLA. She was a member of the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team, competed in the Women’s Professional Beach Volleyball Association and is a member of the California Beach Volleyball Hall of Fame. She was a winning coach at El Camino College with nine league and two state titles. Sharkie holds degrees in kinesiology and instructional technology and teaches health and fitness at the community college. She hosts “Sharkie’s Pep Talk” on Healthy Life Radio. Sharkie is a certified health coach with the official sanction of the New York State Education Department and the Institute of Integrative Nutrition.
Sharkie Zartman is an exhibitor at the expo.
1:30 – 2:15 pm
Pier 3 (2nd level)
Forgotten Hollywood
Manny Pacheco, Hollywood Historian, Radio and TV personality
Take a trip down memory lane as Hollywood historian Manny Pacheco looks at how the Golden Age of Cinema influenced Americana. An Oral Presentation that includes stories about Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet, Van Heflin, Frank Morgan, and Lionel Barrymore; and a short video presentation that offers a stirring conclusion, along with discussion and Q&A. If you love Classic Cinema, and TCM, you will love the engaging nostalgic look at the Studio Era of Hollywood.
Author Manny Pacheco has enjoyed a growing acclaim through his Forgotten Hollywood Book Series, now included in the library collections of the Hollywood Heritage Museum, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and American Film Institute, among others. He’s currently in production to turn his literary work into a Forgotten Hollywood Documentary. A Southern California television and radio personality for over three decades, currently hosts Forgotten Hollywood, a weekly syndicated radio program on 90.1 FM KBPK. At his booth, Manny will have available autographed copies of his Forgotten Hollywood Book Series for purchase.
Manny Pacheco is an exhibitor at the expo.
1:30 – 2:15 pm
Pier 4 (2nd level)
Smart Income Planning and Tax Strategies for the Complete Retirement Plan
Danial Fereydani, President, Pendo Insurance Services, Inc.
Mr. Fereydani will cover how to save up to 40% in taxes, how to protect your principal while safely meeting your income needs, and what to do to leave a tax-free legacy for your loved ones. He will also present a case study in purposeful retirement planning.
Danial Fereydani, the President and founder of Pendo Insurance Services, Inc. is a licensed independent insurance advisor and a registered investment advisor affiliated with Fidelity Institutional Services.
With offices in Beverly Hills, CA, Mr. Fereydani specializes in income, liquidity and tax-efficient estate planning. He focuses on helping clients achieve their long-term financial goals by understanding their specific situation and implementing a strategy that positions them for guaranteed retirement income with principal protection, minimizing taxes and leaving a legacy for loved ones. Mr. Fereydani ranks among the top 1% of insurance advisors in the country.
Pendo Insurance Services is an exhibitor at the expo.