Monumental Talks
Honored Guests Biographies

Charles Avelange – Composer; “Commandment of Valor”
Charles-Henri Avelange is mostly known for his symphonic music scores. He started making music with his first electric keyboard when he was 9 years old. Even though he is now able to compose for a hundred-piece orchestra, he never had formal training in music composition and only trusts his ears. When the time came for university studies, he decided to focus on sound engineering so that he could master all the technical aspects of musical composition and recording. He graduated from the Superior Institute of Sound Technics (ISTS, Institut Supérieur des Techniques du Son) in France in 2004.

When he was only 22, Charles-Henri was already being compared to composers like Hans Zimmer. Gilles Tinayre, the President of the French Film Composers’ Association, called him the “French Hans Zimmer” and strongly recommended he go to the United States where he could find far better professional opportunities than in France. His career as a film composer started just after his arrival at the United States in March, 2005. His first contact with the American people inspired such great feelings in him that he created a symphony for a CD called “The Age of Heroes” – 11 themes resounding like those of a big action motion picture, in a symphonic Hollywood movie style, as a tribute to all kinds of American heroes.

Charles-Henri is one of the few independent artists distributed at a national level by Barnes & Noble corporation. After he became a BMI registered artist and a member of the Seattle Composers Alliance, his CD became an official fund raiser for the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters (W.S.C.F.F). He has been personally recognized and complimented by the President of the International Association of Fire Fighters (I.A.F.F), Harold Shaitberger, as well as Washington State Governor, Christine Gregoire.

Numerous corporations have benefited from Charles-Henri’s music, including Microsoft Corp., the Lion’s Foundation. and Kostov Productions. Charles-Henri recently had the opportunity to score a documentary set during World War II, titled “Roystone at War” and produced by Exposure TV in England. Charles-Henri appeared on the well-known French TV show, “Nice Morning”, where he talked about his incredible adventure in the United States, and how his CD “The Age of Heroes” was linked to the American fire fighters.

Charles-Henri now applies the skills which have taken him to success with his music upon the broader and deeper oceans of producing.

Everett Mayor – Cassie Franklin
Cassie’s career has been defined by leadership and service. Since an early age, she has been drawn toward mission-driven work and making a positive impact in her community. After completing graduate studies in psychology, she began working in the nonprofit sector for organizations focused on education, housing and homelessness, and animal welfare. That trajectory led her to Cocoon House, a regional nonprofit serving at-risk youth with housing and comprehensive support to find stability and belonging in our community while preventing youth homelessness. Under Cassie’s leadership Cocoon House became a recognized national leader in the field and grew to create a comprehensive Hub of all-inclusive services for youth experiencing homelessness to support the region.

In 2013 she was invited to participate in the City of Everett’s Safe Streets Initiative, led by then-mayor Ray Stephanson. The experience of engaging with other dedicated local leaders to find solutions to this issue, coupled with her work on regional and national boards on housing and homelessness, inspired her to step up and do even more for her community. She ran for City Council and she was elected in 2015. In that role she continued leading the effort in Everett’s safe streets programs as the council liaison, served on the Animal Shelter Advisory Board and the Council’s Public Safety committee, as Lodging Tax Committee Chair, and established Everett as a Safe City for all residents.

In wanting to put to use her executive experience and strengths to better serve the city, Cassie ran for mayor in 2017. She is proud to have become the first woman elected mayor in Everett, and looks forward to serving another four years.

Steve McLaughlin – Monumental Talks Speaker
Steve McLaughlin served 25 years in the United States Navy, including command-at-sea, and in a variety of training and foreign policy assignments. Steve was also a qualified Special Warfare Combat Crew, having served as Operations/Training Officer in two Special Boat Units. In the commercial sector, Steve recently retired as the Fortis Global Risk LLC CEO, an international risk management, training, and security services provider where he led an exclusive staff of former Special Operations professionals. He has extensive experience in business management, and security system design and construction. Many of the projects he successfully completed include, critical infrastructure protection of military and commercial ports, and designing security systems for commercial nuclear power facilities in the United States and globally. Steve is a qualified Incident Commander with substantial experience in emergency management, crisis response, and incident command. He taught the FEMA senior Incident Command Courses for 13 years, training over 3,000 first responders in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. He also commanded incidents and events of national significance, including wildfires and wildfire recovery, flood response, and major high profile military events.

Steve is the author of papers on port security assessment processes and on vessel protection in ports and harbors.  Steve holds a B.S. in Biology from University of Oregon, an MS in International Affairs from the Royal Naval College Greenwich UK, and he earned a Master of Arts (with distinction) in National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College.    He lives in Washington State.

Antonio Williams (wife Ena) – Monumental Talks Speaker
Hello, my name is Antonio Williams. I grew up in Cleveland Ohio. I am the oldest of 6 brothers and sisters. I played football, basketball and ran track all through high school. I graduated from John Adams High School in 1987. Then, I joined the United States Navy and left for basic training immediately after graduation. I did my basic military training in San Diego, California. I served on board the USS Halsey CG 23, the USS Tripoli LPH 10, the USS Abraham Lincoln CVN 72 and the USS Ford FF G54. I completed two security tours to Fallujah, Iraq.

I served in the United States Navy from June 1987 until June 2007. I had the opportunity to visit over 44 countries and interact with people from different cultural backgrounds, while deployed in several military campaigns (Desert Storm; Desert Shield, Operation Restore Hope and the Global War on Terrorism). During this time, I earned Surface and Air Warfare pins, medals and ribbons. By way of paying my respect to those who fought in WWII, I re-enlisted on board the USS Missouri BB63.

I am currently a Quality Manager at the Boeing Everett facility. I have taken my military training to the Boeing Company, which allows me to further my education and continue my career as a leader. I earned a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Columbia College.

I have been married to my beautiful wife, Ena D. Williams, for 31 years. We have two lovely daughters and two handsome sons-in-law. My second greatest pleasure is being grandpa to my six wonderful grandchildren. I do Charitable work with the Combat Veteran Motorcycle Riding Association.

I would like to take a moment to express the love, respect and honor I have for those who have served our great country. For those that gave their lives for the cost of freedom. I am no one special. I am just a man that served his country, along with brothers and sisters, who did not return. And for those that returned but were not whole. We are there for you.

Jeff Swan, Rock 22 Speakers; New Vet. Org. for PTSD.
Hello, my name is Jeff Swan. The founder of The ROCK 22. I joined the US Navy, Oct 1993 and was on active duty as a Boatswain Mate on the USS Scott (DDG 995). When my enlistment was up , I got out and came back to Washington State where I started with Washington State Dept. of Corrections- still there. In 2004 I went back into the US Navy as Master at Arms (Military Police)- Reservist. In 2008 I was deployed to Bagram Afghanistan, working in the Bagram Theater Interment Facility (BTIF). The BTIF was a prison for AL Qaeda and Taliban insurgents. We have up to 600 detainees there at one time. I oversaw a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) of up to 15-17 service members. In 2012 one of my closest friends, from the deployment, said to that he was done with everything and was going to kill himself. After that, that is when I started to have a passion to help out other veterans dealing with this issue. A couple years ago, God brought it to me heart to start this group up. Along with Ray Lockman we started The ROCK 22. The 22 signifies the amount of veterans committed suicide a day. Ray and I are now helping fellow veterans dealing with: PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, VA issues and SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. Our ultimate goal is to reach as many veterans as we can and get that 22 number down to 0. God bless you and God bless America. Thank you, Jeff and Ray- The ROCK 22 organization.

Ray Lockman, Rock 22 Speakers; New Vet. Org. for PTSD.
Ray Lockman was raised in the hills of WV in a coal camp. Life in coal camps was hard , but life in the jungles of Vietnam proved to be even harder. He served with the Army 173rd Airborne , 2 tours, 1967-1969 It was a long journey for his well fought healing . Ray eventually ended up with Pointman Int. Ministries where he served as WA state coordinator. He traveled the country and the world bringing help to war veterans in the form of PTSD programs.

Today Ray serves veterans along side Jeff Swan , founder of the Rock 22 organization as well as the members of local Rock Church.

Ricardo Velasco (wife Marci) – Immigrant Speaker
Ricardo Velasco is a dynamic restaurant owner and manager with over 30 years of experience in the bustling hospitality scene. He currently owns and operates Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant in Everett, Wa. Having immigrated from Jalisco Mexico in 1980 with nothing to his name and unable to speak the English language he had many obstacles to overcome to reach his goals. Ricardo is passionate about collaborating with his team to give his customers the best experience possible. He is more than an owner/ manager but really puts his whole heart into everything he does. When he’s not serving up delicious Mexican food his favorite pastimes are exercising and exploring the PNW with his wife and friends.

Donya Ziraksari – Refugee Speaker
Donya Ziraksari is an Iranian-American human rights activist, author, engineer, and filmmaker. She founded and presides over the Equal Human Rights Organization, a Houston-based nonprofit that addresses human rights violations locally and globally. A member of the Baha’i faith, Donya fled Iran in 2007 as a religious refugee. Her memoir, Tehran to Miami, and short film, The Ticket, highlight the struggles of Iranian women and religious minorities. A prominent media figure and advocate for justice, equality, and human rights, Donya has received numerous awards, including congressional recognitions and honors from the City of Houston and the State of Texas as one of Houston’s 2024 most influential women.