Marek Helstrom
Marek works closely with the Institute for Human Development’s at risk population to help them with sorting out and making sense of their choices, complicated emotions and feelings in an effort to guide them to a more successful outcome. Marek is also a performance specialist with Insperity HR Solutions, where he works with executives to bring transformation to companies and individuals alike. He brings a wealth of business experience to our Institute as well. He has a dual major from USC in Geology & Geophysics along with Environmental Systems from UCLA. He also holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management from the Univ. of Phoenix. He is gifted with his ability to coach individuals to high achievement success by having them understand their emotions at a profoundly deeper level. His ROI for companies and their senior level executives who work with Marek is so high in the areas of turning the leaders and their culture around that he is the most in demand performance specialist in the nation for Insperity HR. For the Institute of Human Development Marek handles our education presentations and content where he helps individuals understand how they can be more affective.
Ronn Sarno
Ronn brings a wealth of experience to the Institute as he has served on the boards of the California Repertory Theater for CSULB and was part of the Founders Club for Musical Theater. He has worked with the Public Corporation for the Arts and Long Beach Symphony. He has been active in his service to the Long Beach Playhouse and Child Help USA. Ronn’s love of musical theater is only matched by his connection to community engagement as he understands the power that the Performing Arts has to reach people. He has devoted his time to Hoag Hospital’s American Cancer Society and the International City Theater. Ronn plays a vital ole in advising the artistic direction of how audiences engage with our program The Awakening and has served to be invaluable in his understanding what audiences need and want.
OUR ADVISORY BAORD AND MANAGEMENT TEAM
Andrew Meneses
Andrew works with The Walt Disney company in real estate sales. He brings over twenty years of real estate experience to Disney as he also holds his own broker license. He has an MBA from UC Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business and holds a Bachelors Degree from USC’s Marshall School of Business with an emphasis on Real Estate Finance & Marketing. With The Institute for Human Development he is a liaison between the community and our targeted at risk populations. In addition, he plays a leadership role in defining future programs.
Paul Krause
Paul brings a strong technology background to The Institute for Human Development as he is the former CIO of Traverse Inc. In addition, for many years he has owned, managed and operated home health care facilities in Southern California and provides us with great knowledge on aging, disease and what many Americans are struggling with as they enter retirement, often times fully unprepared. These play central themes in our outreach.
Jennifer Ponhold
Jen brings a ton of social media and marketing experience to the Institute. In addition to these activities she plays a vital role in coordinating our outreach programs. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration, Double Major Marketing & Information Systems from Cal State Long Beach. A master chef, Jennifer spent several years in the culinary industry working with Michelin chefs and five star Forbes dining restaurants. She also worked at the prestigious Pelican Hill and Waldorf Astoria and several others.
Glenn Grant
As the founder & Executive Director of The Institute for Human Development, Glenn Grant brings his diverse career to the forefront. He is a Professional Speaker, Real Estate Investor & Developer, Author of several books, Business & Life Strategist, Entrepreneur, Filmmaker— turning his book into the film The Awakening.
Recognized as one of today’s most provocative new voices on the subject of human potential, Glenn Grant’s journey of triumph above overwhelming odds, loss and tragedy is the feel good comeback story that will inspire you.
Passionate about personal development, Glenn is the author of the new books for 2026, Finding Your Human, How To Create The Love of Your Life, and the new book Golden Years, Living Your Best Life in The Age of Loneliness & Isolation. This book deals with the devastating nature of Dementia, which has robbed Glenn’s father of his memory and now requires 24 hour a day care. The book explores what new research is telling us about how we can avoid coming down with this insidious disease.
The Awakening which has been turned into the film of the same name and two other books, chronicles the car accident that killed Glenn’s best friend and walking into find his mother dead from a stroke at just the age of 20 years old. The book is a healing look at how people can employ specific strategies to recover from tragedy and build a better life.
Compound Wealth, 9 Steps To Financial Freedom, and The Psychology of Higher Living—all available on Amazon.
Glenn began his speaking career when he became a drug prevention speaker for the City of Chino’s Human Services Dept., working with at risk students. Glenn’s speaking would evolve and continue into the business arena having worked for Fortune 500 public companies ABM Industries and Pacific Bell.
Emblematic of his diverse career is Glenn’s ability to help individuals from all walks of life overcome adversity and tragedy to illuminate a paradigm shift in their thinking & choices, which ultimately helps people create the life they truly want.