Johnny Castaneda –

As founder of The Castaneda Law Firm, Johnny Castaneda has been practicing criminal, law, family law, personal injury and workers compensation law since 1999. As a graduate of John Marshall Law School in Atlanta Georgia, Mr. Castaneda has in addition obtained a Bachelor’s Degree from Colorado State University and a MBA from Cleveland State University.  His practice has successfully secured favorable verdicts in criminal, family law, personal injury and Workers Compensation cases. 

Mr. Castaneda has taken on cases that other attorneys have given up on, turning preconceived guilty verdicts into favorable judgments for his clients. His exceptional legal skills have converted criminal charges into dismissed cases and Worker’s Compensation denials into full compliance. He has taken on complex and difficult family law issues and resolved the issues, finding common ground, common decency and fair and just settlements for his clients.  As a personal injury lawyers Johnny has stood up for the those who can not stand up for themselves and have secured positive decisions that have helped his clients recover financially, physically and provided needed peace of mind.

Frances D. Eleby Smith

Frances D. Eleby Smith is a graduate of John Marshall Law School and has been practicing law since 2001. Additionally she is a registered Nurse whose previous responsibilities included acting as Insurance defense counsel’s medical advisor that determined if the proposed settlements would be considered a justified payout by the Insurance companies. Her evaluation skills along with her medical knowledge and understanding of the internal workings of the insurance industry makes Frances an invaluable asset for the Castaneda Law Firm and a great benefit for personal injury clients.

Matthew Richards

Matthew Richards began his career after graduating from Michigan State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management.  The University’s Supply Chain program is ranked as the top program in the nation and upon his graduation Mathew’s talents and knowledge were quickly put to work as the Assistant General Manager for Schupbach’s Sporting Goods Inc. While at Schupbach’s Matthew would develop innovative strategies and training programs that ensured the creation of a true sales force. His service oriented platforms infused his team with a cohesive organizational framework that motivated and inspired them to increase sales by over 65% in an exceedingly competitive marketplace. 

After leaving Schupbach’s Mr. Richards joined Cabela’s Inc., a publicly traded company, (NYSE:CAB), and the “World’s Foremost Outfitters” in active outdoor apparel, sporting and recreational equipment. Matthew Richards’ illustrious career as an expert in the field of supply chain analysis and organizational management has traversed a wide range of duties and is replete with his share of success stories.  

As the Associate Category Manager for Cabela’s Inc. Mr. Richards was responsible for growing one of the company’s merchandise categories of 28 million dollar annual sales by double digits while simultaneously increasing their gross margins by an unprecedented triple digit base points. His exemplary managerial abilities spanned eight foreign and twenty-seven domestic vendors that incorporated product development sourcing, price negotiation and cultivate long term marketing partnerships which proved invaluable to the corporation’s success.  

In 2005 Cabela’s was experiencing a rate of growth that quickly threatened to implode the company due to distribution infrastructure inadequacies.  Tapped to spearhead this pivotal program for developing and implementing a fully actualized methodology, Matthew created a program that would integrate turn-key solutions for existing concerns while allowing for further expansions.  The ramp up was rapid and the need to produce detailed instructions and procedures was required to guarantee its success.  Due to his diligence, experience and creativity Cabela’s new system provided a level of achievement that represented not just an operational savings of 3.9 million dollars but solidified the company’s continued profitability through their aggressive expansion plan.

When public feedback about poor overseas working conditions by such brand named manufacturers as Nike and Apple became International news, Cabela’s took a proactive approach to the issue head on.  Once again senior management tapped Matthew to lead a team in the development of their own Social Responsibility Program. Within a year he had brought forth a fully operational and comprehensive Social Responsibility Program designed to proactively ensure Cabela’s supply chain would be free from unethical practices.

Mathew gained additional responsibility for Cabela’s risk management focusing on Conflict Minerals (minerals obtained/traded through inhumane methods also known as Blood Diamonds. As Cabela’s point of contact for the US Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection through the Customs- Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program (C-TPAT).  Mathew furthered his business acumen with a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification; a program developed by Bill Smith of Motorola that incorporated innovative quality improvement methods learned over the last 6o years.  The course taught students ability of manufacturing processes to produce a very high proportion of output within specification.  Through the course of his career Mr. Richards’ skills and tireless work ethic have proven he is the right man for the job and his successful programs and systems are still in use today.  Mathew has never let a challenge go unmet and continues to seek ways to improve for himself and those around him.

David Montanbeau

David Montanbeau’s accomplishment includes many financial and business successes and yet as a Member of the SPORTS for Exceptional Athletes Board of Directors David’s involvement with special needs adults and children is especially close to his heart.  As a director of activities and functions he is responsible for organizing events and raising funds for this very worthy cause. 

Beyond his philanthropic activities Mr. Montanbeau has brought his considerable talents and experience to numerous endeavors.  As Director of Sales and Managing Partner of Money Tree, David was the creator of a unique management, sales and production infrastructure that revolutionized their industry.  The success of Money Tree was due to its ability, under David’s direction, to provide its 200 + employees with a clear vision that allowed for concise and efficient communications resulting in an across the board motivational presence that allowed for a  cohesive production line from first call to closing signature.  His unbridled passion for creating an atmosphere of winners generated for Money Tree a 218% increase in the company’s net income in his first year. Mr. Montanbeau designed the comprehensive and innovative direction that took the company from a one location business to a 47 state enterprise within 8 months.  Utilizing a multi-platform media strategy David was able to create a national branding experience that established a full scale name recognition campaign while keeping the company’s expenses at 21% under budget.  As a precursor to Money Tree’s Nationwide Affiliate Program, Mr. Montanbeau developed, and was the seminar leader, to over 500 potential clients and partners.  This platform provided the springboard for the company’s launch of a successful franchise channel for its affiliates.

Recently Mr. Montanbeau has bought his talents and experience to the Internet marketing arena. As one of the elite Senior Marketing Consultants for the nation’s top Search Engine Optimization (SEO) companies, National Positions, David consistently acquired high valued clients that took advantage of his expertise in the world of online marketing and branding.  By developing digital media strategies which focused core elements of each client’s strengths, David was able to bolster sagging sales for slumping online stores and catapult start up enterprises into the high traffic zones that would ensure their profitability.  His understanding of the many facets of web based promotion and advertising gave his customers the required edge to push them past the competition.  From on-site optimization to video distribution and offline marketing, the full scope of what it takes to bring a business from obscurity into National recognition has been the hallmark of David Montanbeau’s story of success. 

During the early 2000’s Mr. Montanbeau was in great demand as one of Las Vegas’ premiere VIP Hosts. His natural gift for developing relationships garnered him the envied title as the “go to guy” for Sin City’s most powerful, influential and wealthiest clientele. As a VIP Services Associate for the Rio Hotel and Casino, Mr. Montanbeau elevated the bar for how casinos entertain and maintain their most selective and demanding clients, the High Rollers and celebrities. His blueprint for success in the capture and cultivation of these elusive and highly sought after customers has become the standard operational procedure for the casino industry. 

John Thomson

John Thomson combined his clever business skills with his passion for mechanical engineering to form Carousel USA, a niche firm specializing in the design and installation of commercial and residential turntables.

As a child, Thomson developed a passion for disassembling mechanical things to see how they worked and took pride in figuring out how to put them back together again. From building go-carts and rebuilding car engines to reconfiguring electrical sound systems, [he] always found a creative outlet in using his hands and understanding mechanics and engineering.

After receiving a BS from the University of Southern California in 1983, with an emphasis in Science, Thomson entered the work force with an opportunity to excel in the financial sector. Ever the quick study, he found immediate success moving from entry level chores to bond trading in Los Angeles and New York.  He made his mark on Wall Street during the late 1980’s as a Fixed Income Bond Trader, working for Credit Suisse First Boston.  When the opportunity presented itself to relocate back to Southern California in 1992, he jumped at the chance and moved with Citicorp.  He went on to receive an MBA from the Peter Drucker School of Business at Claremont College in 1997 and that same year moved to the Capital Group Companies.

It was in 2004 that Thomson conceived and founded Carousel USA a direct result of his personal need for a parking solution at his home. Built sixty-eight years earlier, his driveway was not designed for the modern-day sports utility vehicle (SUV) and was extremely narrow and long. Compounding the problem, was a beautiful but misplaced 250-year-old California Live Oak sitting directly in front of the garage doors leaving no room to turn-around the family SUV.

Thomson extensively researched a solution and purchased the best quality custom turntable he could find.  It solved the problem but left him feeling that the turntable was overpriced and was of a less than optimal design and quality. And this was the beginning:  he saw a void in the marketplace and set-out to design and source a better solution, thus the birth of Carousel USA.

Today, Carousel USA (www.carousel-usa.com) has successfully installed over 100 residential and commercial custom turntables domestic and abroad.  With 10 employees, the company has quickly become a coveted solution for many commercial and residential projects.

John resides in Pasadena, California with his wife Tina and their two children.