Arturo is an author and social impact leader with over 30 years of work experience as a nonprofit leader and management consultant. As the author of "In Pursuit of a Noble Cause, A Social Justice Leadership Journey", he provides a perspective on community-based innovation, racial equity, and social justice in nonprofit development. He specializes in economic development, strategy, risk management, finance, and organizational change management. In 2023, he was a visiting social entrepreneur at the Center of Social Innovation at Stanford University. He earned a Leadership Certificate from the Stanford School of Business, an MBA in Strategic Management and Leadership from the Peter F. Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University, and a BA in Economics and a concentration in Finance from the Haas School of Business of U.C Berkeley.

Carlo leads our Spanish Basic Entrepreneurship Program in Oakland. Before, he spent three years in Mexico City helping small and medium-size businesses increase their productivity and competitiveness in collaboration with the Secretaría del Trabajo y Fomento al Empleo. Carlo also grew up in an entrepreneurial family, and this very personal experience is what inspired him and led him into the field. He also has a degree in Economy and a Postgraduate in Globalization and International Economy from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM).

Courtney serves as an Entrepreneur Trainer for Centro in Stockton, California. Having worked in several small businesses within the Food & Beverage industry, she appreciates and respects the entrepreneurial struggle. Courtney holds both an MBA and a BA in Sociology from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. She also has experience in economic development and enjoys connecting entrepreneurs with resources that can aid them in achieving their goals.

Damanbir is a seasoned cross-sector professional with over 14 years of experience in the non-profit, for-profit, and social impact sectors. As a Director at Centro Community Partners, he excels in implementing successful fundraising strategies, managing and writing grants, and creating comprehensive reports for funders. Damanbir develops strategic relationships with funders, including corporations, family foundations, and individuals, to support Centro’s programs globally. With a diverse background in finance, startups, education, and family businesses, he holds an MBA from the University of San Francisco and an MS in International Management from Portland State University. Damanbir is based in Canada, and he is committed to creating positive community impact through strategic initiatives and stakeholder engagement.

Gracie is responsible for managing all technology, including IT, at Centro Community Partners. She oversees software systems such as the Centro Web App, Salesforce, and the company website. Initially specializing in Salesforce customization and optimization, she has since expanded her expertise to include a broad range of IT skills. With a background in Esthetics from Skyline College, Gracie made a successful transition into the tech industry and has accumulated extensive experience in the Salesforce ecosystem. She manages a Business Analyst and a developer, spearheads the development of the Centro CEO app, and is dedicated to providing hands-on training, crafting custom reports, and ensuring seamless technology operations.

Lesly Arellano leads the Community Success team at Centro overseeing the engagement, orientation and success of our entrepreneurs. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with undergraduate degrees in Sociology and Political Economy. Lesly comes from an entrepreneurial family and has gained experience managing her family’s business. She is passionate about serving the community, and in her involvement, she has collaborated with organizations that support the education and economic development of underserved communities in the Bay Area.

Luisa is in the community, advising and supporting low-income women and BIPOC entrepreneurs from underserved communities to access Centro’s programs and services. She is passionate about helping people overcome their challenges and thrive. She listens and guides them to reach their goals. Luisa has seven years of work experience in customer, delivery, and community service. She is a Psychology undergraduate student at San Francisco State University and earned an Associate of Arts in Psychology at Skyline College. She is originally from Ibague, Colombia, and enjoys painting and cooking.

Lupita is the instructor for the Spanish Entrepreneurship program. Lupita is based out of Stockton California. Owner of All Business Consulting LLC. She has experience in assisting businesses in creating positive changes towards achieving their goals. She is versed in business and personal tax preparation. Lupita enjoys working with the local community leaders to help small businesses grow. Her experience in multiple industries allows her to assist a more diverse group. Her work with the community gives her a greater understanding of what challenges entrepreneurs are facing. She hopes to bring her experience and knowledge into the field of training and make a difference in the world of entrepreneurship.

Mary has extensive experience across diverse professional settings, from small business startups to large corporations like UL, Inc., and Standard Insurance. Her expertise in administrative processes, operational efficiency, and organizational management has made her highly adaptable and effective in supporting complex operations. With a strong background in academia, she excels in coordinating academic programs, providing essential support to students and faculty, and managing critical administrative functions to ensure smooth and efficient operations. Mary holds a degree in Project Management with a minor in Computer Information Systems, enhancing her ability to manage projects and integrate technology into her work.

Nancy serves as an Entrepreneur Trainer for Centro. She holds a BS in hospitality and tourism management from San Francisco State University. After years in the hospitality industry, she joined the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising focusing in promoting, marketing and events management. After COVID’s impact, Nancy became committed to collaborative entrepreneurship and began her cohorting entrepreneurship programs with Centro to empower the small business entrepreneurs. She has connected entrepreneurs to co-work, support, and collaborate in the small business communities.

Oscar serves as an Entrepreneur Trainer for Centro in Oakland and Miami, USA. With ten years of experience, he has been dedicated to helping entrepreneurs create successful ideas, design winning business models, drive the growth of their businesses in an organized and solid manner and even guide them to expand nationally and internationally in Latin America, Spain, and the USA. He holds a degree in Electronic Engineering and a Master's in Startup Administration from the Polytechnic University of Valencia and the University of California, Berkeley. Oscar's dedication has earned him prestigious awards, including the National Entrepreneurship Award and recognition from organizations such as the Organization of American States (OAS) and UBI Global.

Patricia has over 20 years of experience in the education industry, gaining professional experience in organizational management, educational program development, and leadership. Her strengths include analytical thinking, solution creation, and team development. She has the capacity for responsibility, teamwork, and achieving organizational objectives. She is passionate about working in organizations with a growth mindset, innovation, and social justice. Among her values ​​are integrity, authentic leadership, and self-discipline. Patricia earned a Bachelor's in Administration, Finance, and Global Business from the Telesup Private University of Lima, Peru.

Rae is our Salesforce Business Analyst at Centro. With a profound command of Salesforce, Rae engineers innovative solutions, spanning configuration, customization, data modeling, and analytics to optimize Centro’s business processes. Beyond her role at Centro, Rae is dedicated to professional excellence, pursuing a Biology degree, and actively engaging in community service. She serves on leadership boards outside of Centro for QTBIPOC and Disability communities and leads the Indigenous Trailblazers Salesforce User group. On weekends, Rae transitions to her own entrepreneurship as a small bakery owner, showcasing entrepreneurial spirit at local farmers’ markets.

Rosa is responsible for facilitating capital access to entrepreneurs and guides Kiva grantees. She has a heart centered approach with practical applications to move the needle and continue forward. She brings her experience as an entrepreneur and fundraiser to overcome the barriers of accessing capital with our clients. As a student of sociology, graduated from the University of San Francisco, she understands the greater landscape of entrepreneurship, as the career is not experienced equally by all people in this country. She believes that good business can change the world, one interaction at a time. She understands and has lived the trials and tribulation of being a minority in business.

Sean is a Software Engineer who has empowered people to leverage technology for the past 7 years. He is inquisitive with an inherent autodidact enthusiasm and continually explores emerging technologies. He has delivered scalable, efficient software solutions while streamlining complex processes. He is committed to empowering entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities by creating solutions that support their unique challenges and drive their success. Raised by a single mother who owns a small business, the mission of supporting and enhancing the entrepreneur experience is personal.

Uvania, a Nicaraguan, works as an assistant in the Community Success department. She serves as the first point of contact between entrepreneurs and the community partners center. Her primary goal is supporting entrepreneurs, ensuring they meet their goals and expectations for business and personal development. As a former entrepreneur, she understands the path to entrepreneurial success and is pleased to guide others on their journey. Her passion lies in helping the community grow and learn, ensuring their businesses thrive.

Vernisha serves as an Entrepreneur Trainer for Centro Community Partners based in California. She is currently the owner of a company that connects individuals and businesses to quality notary services nationwide. Vernisha has over 7 years of experience starting and growing multiple businesses and is very passionate about inspiring others to follow their entrepreneurial dreams. Vernisha holds a B.A. Degree in Psychology from Holy Names University.

Zara, a Colombian, is part of the Community Success team. She is passionate about serving and engaging with the community, as well as nature and art in all its forms. A singer, her entrepreneurship is rooted in the music industry, a field she has been dedicated to since childhood. Since a young age, Zara has been involved in community work, thanks to her mother's influence. Throughout her life, she has pursued this passion both out of vocation and through projects that have had positive effects in her city and other vulnerable areas of her country. She considers community service one of her life purposes. Being part of CENTRO is an honor for her, and she is excited to learn as much as she can and contribute from her experience. Furthermore, she looks forward to witnessing the positive impact that her team achieves in the community.

Anita Dharapuram is a Community Development Officer at PNC Bank, covering the State of California. She partners with nonprofit organizations and internal partners to ensure PNC receives an outstanding Community Reinvestment Act rating by exceeding set goals. Before joining PNC, Anita served as Executive Director of several nonprofit organizations focusing on economic development, entrepreneurship, and workforce development. She has deep knowledge of racial and social justice frameworks to support BIPOC communities in need. Anita currently serves as the first woman Board Chair in the 50-year history of Casa Familiar. She has also been the Board Chair of the National Asian-Pacific American Women’s Forum. Outside work, she enjoys living in Los Angeles with her rambunctious puppies and delightful husband.

Felix is Partner at Carroll & Associates LLP and manages most of the firm’s internal audit and risk management consulting engagements. He has 25 years of experience and expertise in enterprise risk management, indirect lending, risk-based lending and pricing, credit scoring systems, real estate lending, collections, investments, asset liability management and accounting systems infrastructure. Felix is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), licensed in the states of California and Nevada, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He is also a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), and a Certified Technical Guideline Auditor (CTGA) with respect to TR-39 PIN Security and Symmetric Key Management. Felix graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

She is a proud native of Cleveland. She studied Criminal Justice at Bowling Green State University and embarked on a five-year career as a probation officer. During this time, she discovered her passion for advocacy, working to inspire individuals to make positive changes in their lives rather than focusing on punitive actions. This commitment to helping others navigate difficult circumstances led her to pursue a law degree at Cleveland Marshall College of Law. While in law school, Arleesha was a member of the Trial Advocacy Team, where she developed her courtroom presentation and client advocacy skills—skills she continues to apply in her legal practice today. As an attorney, Arleesha is dedicated to helping clients navigate the complexities of the legal system, using her knowledge of the law to guide them through challenging cases. Although she doesn’t promise to win every case, she does promise to fight for her clients with unwavering dedication. In addition to her Juris Doctor, Arleesha holds a Master’s degree in Urban Planning, Design, and Development from Cleveland State University’s Levin College and a certificate in Urban Real Estate Development and Financing, both earned in 2017. She is an active member of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, the Cuyahoga County Law Library, and the Ohio State Bar Association. Arleesha is admitted to practice before the Ohio Supreme Court and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio. Her broad expertise and her passion for advocacy drive her commitment to making a meaningful impact in the lives of her clients and her community.