Directors
The 1440 Multiversity Leadership Team
1440 Multiversity is one of the most premier learning and wellness destinations in the industry, and inspired by our co-creators, Joanie and Scott Kriens, we believe the journey of growth and discovery starts with us.
The directors of 1440 Multiversity, engaged and led by Managing Director Frank Ashmore, comprise a dynamic and diverse team of culture champions whose business accomplishments, genuine passions and life experiences bring immersive learning to life in meaningful ways.
Collectively, the entire 1440 family represents a rich, authentic and inclusive group of deep hospitality professionals devoted to our mission of charitable work and inner fitness of each visitor by energizing and inspiring one another all 1440 minutes of each day.
Our Directors
Frank Ashmore
Dusty Bellangero
Luigi Califano
Katie Denbo
Jose Fernandez
Manuel Lara
Deric Nadeau
Amy Natividad
Julie McKay
Frank Ashmore
Managing Director
Frank Ashmore, Managing Director of 1440 Multiversity, leads the "Hospitality Committee" - a dynamic and diverse team of greater good champions. As the cultural leader of 1440, he expects true authenticity from each staff member as a foundation of trust in all relationships. Through the strong belief that the journey of growth and discovery begins within one's self, Frank is devoted to building community by encouraging others to show a deep love to one another and maintaining an openness to having conversations that matter regardless of circumstances. "Our goal is to inspire everyone in life to make the most of each minute of each day (1440 minutes) and create hope for others to live well. We know we are fulfilling our mission at 1440 when visitors leave campus with more energy than they arrived with."
Dusty Bellangero
Director of Business & HR Affairs
- Dusty joined 1440 Multiversity in 2017 as a member of its opening team and has been honored to serve from the heart in many capacities since then. As Director of Business & HR Affairs, she draws on over 20 years of experience working in roles in service to others, making a positive impact across all aspects of the organization thanks to her unique ability to act as a strategic partner while exercising deep hospitality and keeping people at the forefront. In her spare time Dusty likes to read, cook and spend time on the road in her family's travel trailer alongside her husband of 18+ years, Ronnie, and their two children, Elliana and Luca.
Luigi Califano
General Manager
- Luigi became part of the 1440 family following 18 years of work at ultra-luxury hospitality properties around the world, most recently in Italy where he was born and raised. His passion for "serving people" began at a very young age while helping his grandfather at his shop during the summer months. At 6 years old he experienced the lifestyle of the Scouts, where he stayed for 13 years and become one of the youngest leaders in Italy at age 17. A native of Amalfi, Luigi brings with him the characteristic passion of his culture, the love for food, an international dynamic and a highly detailed and innovative approach to everything he touches. A devoted husband and father, Luigi loves to spend time traveling and exploring with his family.
Katie Denbo
Senior Director of Marketing & Employee Engagement
- Katie is a storyteller who oversees all marketing strategy and employee engagement functions for 1440 Multiversity, helping to share the 1440 mission and vision with the world while fostering workplace wellbeing. Katie is also a Certified True Colors Elite Facilitator (including advanced trainings in Communication, Conflict Navigation and Teambuilding), Certified Corporate Wellness Specialist, and coordinates our Helping Hands community-building volunteer initiatives. Before joining 1440, Katie spent 15 years working with organizations and clients in the sports, hospitality, nonprofit, and lifestyle industries, along with leading public relations and marketing operations for major special events including the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. Committed to the learning environment both personally and professionally, Katie is an after-hours silversmith and metalsmith who enjoys creativity, playing tennis and golf, and exploring California on weekend road trips.
Jose Fernandez
Executive Chef, Culinary Experiences
Chef Jose Fernandez leads the 1440 Culinary Team as Executive Chef, Culinary Experiences, and brings a passion for nature, community and flavors to his role in the redwoods. Originally from Barcelona, Spain, Chef Jose honed his skills in Michelin-starred restaurants throughout his native country before moving to the U.S., where he has since held top culinary positions while evolving and perfecting his craft at award-winning restaurants and luxury hospitality establishments in different regions all across the country. It was Chef Jose's early experiences, coupled with memories from his own family's kitchen, that ultimately shaped his culinary point of view, which is to use fresh and seasonal ingredients with an emphasis on organic and sustainable whole foods.
Chef Jose is passionate about incorporating elements of the local culture, authentic flavors and regionally-grown ingredients into his dishes, while also blending distinct influences from his native country and other places he's explored around the world that have inspired him. In his free time, Chef Jose enjoys spending time with his family outdoors and mountain biking in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Manuel Lara
Senior Director of Event Operations
A determined, poised and dynamic leader, Manuel has a natural ability to connect with people and inspire them to look within and become more aware of the importance of a mind-body-energy balance. Manuel joined 1440 after more than 15 years in luxury hospitality and real estate with Four Seasons Hotels, The Irvine Company and other organizations. He now directs his enthusiasm to his own self-awareness and work at the unique and significant places that life continues to bring him to.
Manuel oversees the 1440 Event Services team and believes in attention to detail and exceptional customer service to provide campus guests and team members a sense of trust, clarity and accomplishment. His extensive strategy and project management experience, along with a tenure of managing world-class real estate including mix-use sites, residential communities, resorts, and multi-million-dollar income-generating assets, have helped Manuel develop a high degree of self-motivation, ambition, and intelligent, practical decision-making skills.
When Manuel isn't working, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, participating in the natural beauty and multi-cultural learning and entertainment activities that Santa Cruz County - and the world - have to offer.
Deric Nadeau
Director of Room Operations
- Deric Nadeau joined the 1440 Multiversity team in May 2017, first starting as a hybrid pastry chef-cook and over his tenure advancing into roles in culinary, Food & Beverage, campus operations and now as Director of Room Operations. In his role, Deric manages the front desk, housekeeping and room experience while helping our visitors feel the Deep Hospitality that 1440 provides. Throughout his time at 1440, Nadeau has embraced the organization's culture, learning to connect with others in meaningful ways. A native of Michigan, in Deric's free time he loves to cook, camp, hike and experience nature.
Amy Natividad
Director of Business Strategy
- Amy oversees all revenue management strategies that lead to optimizing and balancing the financial objectives of 1440 Multiversity, and ensures these strategies align with our mission philosophies and initiatives. Prior to joining the 1440 family, Amy spent 10 years with The Irvine Company Resort Properties where her passion for hospitality and revenue flourished. She has been married to her husband Robert for 17+ years and enjoys spending quality time with their daughter, Natalie, and son, Riley.
Julie McKay
Director of Philanthropic Partnerships
Julie leads the efforts to advance and promote the social initiatives of 1440 Multiversity through outreach to mission-aligned organizations and foundations. She brings a wealth of experience promoting social justice in communities through her direct service work in the non-profit sector, which has provided her with a real-world perspective of the existing gaps of social engineering. With a proven track record of success in implementing innovative ideas while advancing stakeholder value, she is energized by imagining new ways that nonprofits can work effectively to fulfill their mission while having measurable impacts for both funders and society at large.