Accountable, transparent, and community rooted

Matt Faulk serves as President of the Board of Heritage & Hustle Foundation. He is a BIPOC executive, artist, and organizational strategist with more than 30 years of leadership experience across the nonprofit, public, private, healthcare, technology, and cultural sectors.

Matt is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Cadence Insight, where he helps mission driven leaders and organizations identify root challenges, strengthen strategy and governance, create organizational clarity, and turn meaningful ideas into sustainable progress. His experience includes serving as Chief Services Officer for a national crisis support organization, Vice President of Clinical Operations for North America, and in executive leadership roles within Washington State and municipal public service.

Within the arts and cultural community, Matt served as Transition Lead for Cultural Space Agency, guiding the organization through a complex transition while rebuilding trust and productive relationships with community, philanthropic, and public partners. He also served as a Board Member for Melodic Caring Project, an arts nonprofit connecting musicians and meaningful musical experiences with critically ill children and their families.

A lifelong professional drummer, musician, and songwriter, Matt understands both the creative process and the structural barriers that can prevent talented people and community rooted ideas from becoming sustainable. As both a BIPOC artist and leader, he brings lived experience together with executive, governance, operational, and partnership expertise to help Heritage & Hustle expand access, strengthen capacity, and create lasting opportunities for artists, entrepreneurs, cultural workers, and communities.

Pam Boea is an accomplished nonprofit and association management professional with over 15 years of experience driving organizational growth, member engagement, and operational excellence across national and international platforms. She brings a collaborative, values driven approach to leadership grounded in strategic planning, volunteer coordination, and community partnerships.

Throughout her career, Pam has held key roles at the heart of impactful service delivery. At The Center for Association Growth, she spearheaded initiatives that grew membership by 25%, boosted corporate sponsorships by 60%, and oversaw operations for 30 international chapters. Her work at The Sherwood Group and CICC further expanded her expertise in global committee management, strategic board support, and stakeholder communication.

Her dedication to inclusive economic development is evident in her leadership of large volunteer teams, creation of grassroots service projects, and strategic connections with community stakeholders. Her focus on reducing barriers to access, especially for marginalized communities, aligns seamlessly with our mission to make business success accessible for all.

Tamiko “Miko” Shudo is a Japanese American vocalist, violinist, songwriter, educator, and community arts facilitator born and raised in Thousand Oaks, California. A fourth generation Japanese American, or Yonsei, she developed an early love for music and has since performed throughout the United States and in Japan. Her creative work draws from her experiences in the Japanese American and Buddhist communities, often exploring themes of mindfulness, identity, grief, healing, love, and emotional wellbeing.

In addition to performing and writing original music, Miko creates welcoming spaces where others can express themselves and build community. She hosts workshops, open mics, and intergenerational arts programs that encourage storytelling, reflection, and meaningful connection. Her work has included collaborations and performances with Buddhist temples, Japanese American cultural organizations, and community gatherings across California and the country. Her Buddhist upbringing continues to influence her songwriting, including original compositions inspired by the relationship between pain, joy, and personal growth.

Through her music and community engagement, Miko uses the arts not only as entertainment, but as a tool for healing, cultural preservation, and collective belonging. Her work reflects a commitment to honoring Japanese American stories while helping people of different generations feel seen, heard, and connected.

Ava Bernstine-Mitchell, affectionately known as Ava Flav, is a veteran dancer, choreographer, and master educator with over two decades of experience. Discovered at just 16 years old by the legendary Debbie Allen, Ava became the youngest dance instructor at her dance academy and began assisting Debbie Allen in choreography and productions, a launchpad that set the stage for her extraordinary career.

Ava has since become a highly sought after choreographer in film, television, and live entertainment. Her credits include associate choreographer for Apple's first musical film production Spirited starring Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, and Octavia Spencer, and Unfrosted with Jerry Seinfeld. She works extensively in the NBA and collegiate dance worlds, choreographing and mentoring for Clippers Spirit and the Los Angeles Laker Girls.

Her performance resume is global. Ava Flav has toured with Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus, and Britney Spears, and performed with Beyonce, Usher, Chris Brown, Mariah Carey, Nikki Minaj, and more. On screen, her dance work appeared in La La Land, Step Up 3D, Crazy Ex Girlfriend, That's So Raven, Apple's Physical, The Academy Awards, and many more.

For seven years, Ava acted as resident Associate Choreographer on The Late Late Show with James Corden, collaborating with Emmy nominated choreographer Chloe Arnold. As a team, they have choreographed for CBS's The Talk, HBO's A Black Lady Sketch Show, John Legend's Christmas Special, and Kacey Musgraves Christmas Special, to name a few. In 2019, Ava was chart topper Khalid's head choreographer and continues to collaborate with him today, most recently choreographing for his 2025 album release.

Beyond the stage, Ava is passionate about education and mentorship. Her teaching is grounded in more than movement. It promotes self-advocacy, humanity, and personal growth. Whether working with beginners or experienced dancers, she empowers students to shine, through her calm presence, professionalism, and remarkable ability to connect on a personal level. Ava has a special gift for relating to children, helping even the most novice movers feel confident and look great while dancing.

Traveling across the country with NRG Dance Project, Ava teaches hip-hop to dancers of all ages and serves as a judge at national competitions, consistently inspiring and uplifting the next generation while upholding high standards of artistry and encouragement.

Ava holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication and Broadcast Journalism from Cal State University, Northridge. She is an integral part of Dancers Alliance and sits on the National Dancers Committee at SAG-AFTRA, participating in contract negotiations and decision making for the betterment of the community. Her guiding mantra of “Why Walk, When You Can Dance?” perfectly embodies her. Dancing is not a job for Ava. It is her life, a form of storytelling that moves the soul.