Exceptional Minds, the California-based non-profit training academy that works to bring young adults on the autism spectrum into digital arts roles has appointed four new professionals to its Board of Directors; Doug Gardner, Tim Gobran, Renard T. Jenkins and Maria O’Hollearn.
“These individuals bring a broad range of expertise to lead EM as we expand our programs to provide meaningful career pathways for autistic talent in the entertainment industry,” said Patricia A. Turney,
board chair. “We are thrilled to welcome four new members, effectively increasing our governance Board by 50%. Their passion for diversity, equity and inclusion, coupled with their dedication to empowering our students and alumni, will help drive our mission forward and ensure Exceptional Minds continues to thrive as a leader in neurodiverse talent development.”
Students and graduates at Exceptional Minds have gone on to join Disney TV Animation, CBS Sports, Mattel, DreamWorks Animation and NBCUniversal. Other alumni have landed full-time positions at Marvel, Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon studios.
Gardner joined Echo Horizon School in 2024 as its director of finance and operations leading the
finance, facilities, IT and health/safety functions.
Gobran is a managing director of talent and organization at Accenture. He serves as the Global
Lead for the team. He has over 28 years of experience in organizational transformation and change and organizational analytics, working with clients in multiple industries and geographies. With two neurodiverse sons, Gobran has a passion for neurodiverse talent and inclusion. He is a member of
the leadership team for Accenture’s Neurodiversity Employee Resource Group (ERG), and also serves on
the board of the Autism Society of San Diego.
Jenkins is the President and CEO of I2A2 Technologies, Studios, and Labs. A software development and consulting firm specializing in the creation of ethically responsible tools, solutions, and experiences.
He previously served as senior vice president, production integration and creative technology services
at Warner Bros.
O’Hollearn is a tech executive, multicultural marketer and global business strategist with
over 20 years of experience in leadership, management, sales, and training. She is the founder and CEO of IvyLatina, a consultancy dedicated to driving business growth through executive partnerships, with a
strong emphasis on diversity and inclusion.
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