Mike's passion for photography started at age six, when he was first caught taking photos with his parents' cameras. The tools have changed over the years, but his dedication to capturing meaningful, lasting memories has never wavered. He founded Cherished Memories in 2001 at 21 years old and has built it into one of Southern California's largest school photography companies — while staying deeply rooted in the community as a past chairman of the Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce, a five-year chairman of the CTE Committee in LEUSD, and a longtime volunteer with the Trauma Intervention Program.
A devoted husband and father of three — Brealyn, Tatum, and Hudson — Mike is a passionate Angels fan, a proud Heinz Ketchup and Coca-Cola enthusiast (there's a sign in his kitchen that reads, "I put ketchup on my ketchup"), and has a vast collection of stories — including an unforgettable run-in with a skunk while camping. With a sharp wit and self-deprecating sense of humor, he's always ready to make those around him smile.
Raised in Lake Elsinore, Alex has always been deeply involved in his community. He attended UC Merced, where he was active in student government, the school newspaper, and a professional business fraternity before graduating with a degree in Management in 2012. He returned to Lake Elsinore, became General Manager of Cherished Memories at 22, and has since scaled the company from a single studio to seven locations across Southern California. Alex also served as president of the Rotary Club of Lake Elsinore during the 2018-2019 year.
Outside of work, Alex enjoys exploring Southern California's newest restaurants and playing video games with the Cherished Memories staff.
Christina brings over 20 years in the photography industry to Cherished Memories, with a track record of scaling a $3M company to $15M+ through strategic leadership and team development. Since joining in 2023, she has accelerated growth and strengthened teams across multiple states. She specializes in building strong teams, optimizing operations, and fostering leadership at every level.
Outside of work, Christina enjoys gardening, cooking, traveling with her husband, and spending time with family. She's a firm believer in the power of photography to preserve memories and connect us to our past.
Originally from El Salvador, Gaby brings warmth, passion, and vibrant energy to everything she does. With a degree in Business Economics from UC Irvine, she approaches projects with a unique combination of intellect and creativity. She leads workflow development and project management across the company, bringing the same precision to operations that she brings to her impressive Japanese stationery collection.
You can often find Gaby immersed in 2000s R&B music, surrounded by a colorful array of pens and notebooks — transforming even the simplest tasks into creative endeavors.
Veronica serves as Chief Financial Officer, overseeing the company's financial operations and human resources. Before joining Cherished Memories, she spent over a decade as CFO and partner at a real estate conglomerate, overseeing real estate, mortgage, and escrow services in Western Riverside County. Early in her career, she pursued a passion for animal healing and holds formal education and certification as a Veterinary Assistant.
A proud cat enthusiast, Veronica enjoys a fulfilling family life as a happily married wife and mother of four.
Mandy leads all retouching and design work at Cherished Memories — ensuring every image that leaves our studios meets the highest standard. She oversees the creation of staff and student ID cards, plaque designs, and all photo editing across the company. Working closely with the production team, Mandy has built the workflows that keep quality consistent across hundreds of thousands of images each year.
A dedicated wife and mother of three, Mandy has a passion for the outdoors. She enjoys tacos, Oreos, and Hot Cheetos — and when she's not in the office, you'll usually find her on vacation with her family.
A film school graduate and Army veteran, Juan brings a wealth of experience to Cherished Memories. He has worked in the film industry, had the opportunity to meet many of his idols, and now inspires local students through mentoring programs with Cherished Memories and Rotary International. He's committed to advancing the quality of photography and is always exploring new techniques and staying up to date with the latest technology.
Known for his witty humor, sharp sarcasm, distinctive beard, and signature collection of beanies.
Lindsey — the Queen of Sports — manages and schedules all Southern California middle school, high school, and youth sports league photography. Her attention to detail, strong work ethic, and organizational skills make her the go-to person for all sports-related shoots. Her journey with Cherished Memories began in 2016 while coaching softball alongside Mike, where her passion and vibrant energy quickly earned her a spot on the team.
Known for her signature messy bun and Converse, Lindsey represents the spirit of margarita-drinking, true-crime documentary-watching softball moms. She's dedicated to coaching and supporting her two daughters, their teams, and various leadership roles in her community — deeply committed to ensuring every child feels seen, heard, and empowered.
Andy and the Production Team are responsible for refining and perfecting the images that become lasting memories in homes. From the 8x10 portraits displayed in living rooms to the ID cards tucked into students' wallets, the team produces a wide range of products with precision and care — working tirelessly to ensure schools receive images from photo days and events as quickly as possible. No request is too big or too small.
Andy is always the first in the office to ask what's for lunch. In-N-Out is the only correct answer.
Taylor joined Cherished Memories in the summer of 2019 after completing college, starting in a seasonal role behind the front desk. She quickly advanced to Assistant Manager and eventually became Head of Customer Service — the role she holds today. Under Taylor's leadership, the team is committed to delivering an exceptional experience that goes beyond the ordinary, with a strong emphasis on attentiveness, friendliness, and efficiency.
Taylor recognizes that photographs are more than images in a frame — they're cherished memories that preserve life's most meaningful moments.
Hannah started with Cherished Memories in 2019 as a photographer and customer service representative while attending college. Since then, she has helped open multiple studio locations, managed the Moreno Valley studio, and has grown into her current role leading marketing efforts — creating strategies that connect families, students, and schools with lasting memories. She's passionate about community engagement and actively volunteers with CADA/CASL, supporting student leadership programs.
When she's not working on campaigns, Hannah loves spending time in the kitchen cooking and getting out to the river.