Distinguished Alumni

ASHLEY DANIAL

Aerospace Executive

Northrop Grumman

_{ATTENDED ECC (1997-1998)}

_{When Ashley Danial’s sixth-grade teacher wrote in her yearbook, “Shoot for the moon, and if you miss, you’ll be among the stars,” neither could have imagined how literally Ashley would take those words to heart. Inspired by curiosity and a drive to explore, Ashley built a remarkable career in aerospace engineering—one defined by persistence, reinvention, and passion for lifelong learning.}

_{Ashley’s path to and through El Camino College was anything but traditional. After earning her bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University and a master’s degree in the same field from UC Berkeley, Ashley returned to the classroom as an adult learner at El Camino College. She sought to deepen her understanding of electrical engineering principles, and ECC provided the perfect hands-on environment to expand her skills. Her studies there later inspired her to pursue a second master’s degree, this time in Electrical Engineering from USC.}

_{Ashley looks back on her El Camino experience with great fondness and respect. “I received a very hands-on, practical education that allowed me to pivot both my educational and career trajectory,” she recalls. “At ECC, I was surrounded by students who were balancing work, family, and school. Their dedication and determination were truly inspiring—it was a powerful reminder of what commitment to education looks like.”}

_{Today, Ashley serves as the Senior Director, Office of Space Sector CTO at Northrop Grumman, where she has worked for over two decades, contributing more than 27 years of experience to the aerospace industry. Throughout her career, she has led innovative teams, advanced critical technologies, and helped shape the future of flight and defense systems.}

_{Ashley’s journey into engineering was driven by a desire to defy expectations. “I didn’t see many women going into engineering, and I wanted to do something different,” she says. Now, she’s proud to see her own daughter showing signs of a budding scientist or engineer—and even prouder to serve as a visible role model for young women entering STEM fields.} 

_{A passionate advocate for STEM education and opportunity, Ashley and her husband, Albert, are longtime supporters of the El Camino College Foundation. Their generosity has bolstered STEM programs, the Student Emergency Fund, and the President's Circle. With her exceptional professional accomplishments, dedication to STEM education, and unwavering commitment to lifelong learning and community service, Ashley is truly deserving of this honor. She continues to inspire future generations of students as they pursue their own paths to the stars.}

BILL KIM

Founding Chairman/Former CEO

Kizan International

_{ATTENDED ECC (1965-1968)}

_{Bill Kim, an esteemed alumnus of El Camino College, is a visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist whose business journey began with a small 1,200 square foot office in South San Francisco in 1972. He founded Kizan International, Inc., which had grown into one of the largest men’s dress slacks companies under the brand name of Louis Raphael. The company designed, manufactured, imported and distributed its products to major department stores and chain stores across America and Canada. In 2019, he sold the company to Haggar Clothing in Texas and happily retired.}

_{Born in South Korea, Bill came to the United States in 1964 to pursue his education, beginning at El Camino College, where he actively engaged in campus life and met his beloved late wife, Mary. His time at El Camino laid the foundation for his future success and community involvement. After El Camino, Bill moved to the San Francisco area to further his education by completing the Executive Program at Stanford University.}

_{Beyond business, Bill is a dedicated philanthropist and cultural advocate. Since 2003, he has served on the board of Give2Asia, a nonprofit organization facilitating over $300 million in philanthropic efforts across Asia, focusing on education, health, poverty alleviation, and disaster relief. He led the organization as Board Chairman from 2007 to 2010. Bill’s commitment to preserving Korean culture is reflected in his long-standing role as a commissioner and trustee of the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco since 1999. He chaired the Korean American Chamber of Commerce NPC and is a member of the Council of Korean American Associations in Washington, D.C.}

_{Bill’s passion for cultural preservation also inspired him to raise $85,000 in 1985 to sustain the Korean language program at Stanford University when it faced closure due to funding shortages. His leadership and contributions have been recognized internationally, earning him the prestigious "Dong-Beak-Jang" Medal of Honor from the President of South Korea in 2013.}

_{In 2022, Bill endowed $1 million for the Korean American Community Foundation of San Francisco. Bill’s philanthropic work has impacted numerous other organizations in America. Also in 2022, Bill pledged $1 million over ten years to support scholarships for immigrant students at El Camino College, to show his appreciation and to allow students to have the same opportunities he had when he arrived in America. Since inception, this generous scholarship has helped over 200 students achieve their dreams.}

_{Bill’s immigration story has been featured at the Smithsonian American History Museum in Washington, DC. Bill’s story is one of determination, innovation, and deep community commitment—a true embodiment of El Camino College’s spirit and impact.}

JERRY MARCIL

President

Palos Verdes Investments

_{ATTENDED ECC (1971-1974)}

_{Jerry Marcil is a seasoned real estate developer and investor based in Palos Verdes Estates, California, with over four decades of experience in the industry. A lifelong South Bay resident, Jerry grew up in Torrance and attended North High School. He began his higher education at El Camino College, earning an Associate of Arts degree before transferring to California State University, Long Beach. His strong academic performance earned him a full scholarship to the University of Southern California, where he completed his bachelor’s degree in business.}

_{After graduation, Jerry entered the world of real estate, initially planning to stay only a few months while waiting to start a restaurant venture with a friend. However, success came quickly in a strong market, and his passion for the industry grew. He partnered with an experienced developer selling condominiums before striking out on his own, founding Palos Verdes Investments in 2005. Under his leadership as President and CEO, the company has been involved in residential development and management projects valued at over $1 billion. Over time, Jerry’s focus shifted from new construction to purchasing and revitalizing existing apartment communities, which he holds as long-term investments.}

_{Jerry’s journey has not been without challenges. He candidly shares that he “went broke twice” —once in the early 1980s and again around 1990—but each time he rebuilt his business and continued forward. Prior to Palos Verdes Investments, he founded Property Dynamics Inc. in 1980, a property management and development firm he later renamed Palos Verdes Management Company.}

_{Beyond his business ventures, Jerry and his wife Carol, whom he met at a personal growth seminar and married in 1988, are deeply committed to philanthropy. They support nearly 100 charitable organizations with a special dedication to the YMCA, where Jerry has been involved since 1986. He has chaired the local YMCA board, led major gift initiatives, and currently serves on the YMCA Metropolitan Board overseeing 29 branches across Los Angeles County.}

_{Their community involvement extends to local and global causes, including the El Camino College Foundation, Torrance Memorial Medical Center, local school districts, Los Angeles Mission, Partners for Pediatric Vision, and international organizations such as Plant With Purpose and Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation. Jerry reflects, “We believe that improving your own community is the first step toward making a difference in the world—and we’re proud to do that right here in the South Bay.”}

_{Jerry and Carol have two sons, Jason and Ryan, and Jerry is also a proud father to his daughter Adriana. Together, they cherish a life filled with close family, a supportive community, and a commitment to giving back.}

JOHN SWEENEY

Principal Attorney

The Sweeney Firm

_{ATTENDED ECC (1969-1971)}

_{Few attorneys in California history have demonstrated the breadth of trial experience and record of achievement that defines John Sweeney. A 1969–1971 alumnus of El Camino College, John has built an extraordinary career as a trial lawyer whose cases have shaped law enforcement policy, advanced civil rights, and delivered justice to victims of catastrophic injury.}

_{John’s career is truly unparalleled. He has successfully defended clients in death penalty trials—earning exceedingly rare not guilty verdicts—and prosecuted complex civil cases that have exposed corruption and led to policy reforms within law enforcement agencies. Transitioning from criminal defense to civil litigation, he became the only attorney in U.S. history to win a death penalty jury trial and later achieve numerous multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements in serious injury cases.}

_{John’s distinguished career has garnered top honors in the legal profession:}

_{2025 Cal-ABOTA Trial Lawyer of the Year (highest California trial lawyer honor)
2022 Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame, State Bar of CA (now awarded by the CA Lawyers Assoc.)
2022 Community Impact Award, Los Angeles Business Journal
2021 Street Fighter of the Year, Consumer Attorneys of California
2021 California Lawyer of the Year, Los Angeles/San Francisco Daily Journal
2017 Trial Master Award, National Bar Association (inaugural recipient)
2012 Leadership Award, Rainbow PUSH Coalition}

_{In 2022, New York Magazine profiled John’s extraordinary life and career in a feature article that is now being developed into a motion picture.}

_{John credits El Camino College as the foundation for his success and is happy to support the College. Arriving as a 17-year-old student-athlete with dreams of pursuing basketball or baseball, he left two years later with a transformed sense of purpose. Courses like astronomy in the campus planetarium, he recalls, “opened my eyes to a much greater world” and ignited a lifelong passion for learning. He often reflects that his education at El Camino College provided “the springboard” for his career achievements that followed at the University of Southern California (B.A., History, 1973) and the California College of Law (J.D., 1979).}

_{Today, after a groundbreaking legal career that has spanned decades and drawn national attention, John Sweeney continues to inspire future generations with his belief that excellence begins with opportunity—and that for him, that opportunity began at El Camino College.}

MARK WARONEK

President/CEO

M&M Consulting Group

_{ATTENDED ECC (1986-1987; 1992-1993)}

_{Mark A. Waronek, a proud alumnus of El Camino College, brings over 26 years of extensive experience in government relations, community advocacy, and public affairs. As the owner and President/CEO of M&M Consulting Group, founded in 2019, Mark leads a respected consulting firm dedicated to serving public and private sector clients across Los Angeles County.}

_{Mark’s career highlights include pivotal roles in some of the region’s most influential public affairs firms. Prior to launching M&M Consulting Group, he was a key team member at Ek, Sunkin & Bai, one of the largest public affairs firms in Los Angeles County. He also held a vital position as South Bay Senior Deputy to Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn from 2016 to 2018, overseeing diverse communities from the Palos Verdes Peninsula to Marina del Rey.}

_{A dedicated public servant, Mark currently serves as Mayor in the City of Lomita, having previously served as Mayor in 2020-2021 and 2016-2017. He also served on Lomita City Council from 2003-2007, serving as Mayor from 2006-2007.}

_{His commitment to local governance and regional collaboration is demonstrated through his active participation in several key organizations throughout California. Throughout his career, Mark has worked closely with a broad spectrum of Los Angeles County’s 88 cities, building trusted relationships and delivering impactful advocacy.}

_{Mark is a passionate community supporter and serves on many philanthropic boards, including his favorite, the El Camino College Foundation, where he’s served on the Board of Directors for nine years, two as president and six on the Executive Committee. He also serves on the boards of LA Harbor Boys & Girls Club, Community’s Child, the South Coast Botanic Gardens, Lomita Sheriffs’ Station Foundation, Salvation Army, and Cal-Nev-Ha Kiwanis Foundation. One of his favorite past times is the role of public address announcer for football and basketball at his alma mater, Bishop Montgomery High School, which he has cherished for 36 years. Mark is an active member of his church, St. Margaret Mary in Lomita.}

_{Mark holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with an emphasis in Communication Studies from Loyola Marymount University. He resides in Lomita with his wife of  30 years, Kristine, and their two children, Madeline and Marky. He also enjoys coaching youth sports, traveling, and exploring his passion for wine.}