Valerie Reynoso is the director of foundations and development for the Del Oro Division of the Salvation Army. Founded in 1885, The Salvation Army is a worldwide organization whose mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination. 
 
Valerie served as manager of corporate advertising and social editor of Comstock's magazine for 10 years. Her career began as a writer for California Governor George Deukmejian following graduation from Cosumnes River College and the University of Southern California. The Governor later appointed her deputy director of the State Health & Welfare Agency where she remained for the Governor's two terms in office. 

Following her service in California State Government, Miss Reynoso was named vice-president of a local public relations firm, where she consulted on media campaigns for candidates for local office, local ballot measures, including "Measure H - Save the Memorial Auditorium," and served as a publicist for professional athletes and media advisor to nonprofit organizations and government clients. 
 
A lifelong Sacramentan, an award-winning author, publicist and fundraiser, Miss Reynoso has been active in a number of philanthropic organizations and served as president of the board of directors for the Sacramento SPCA, director of youth ministry at Saint Anthony Parish, Girl Scout troop leader, and member of the board of directors for Catholic Charities, the local chapters of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives and the Public Relations Society of America, and the local Advisory Board of the Salvation Army. 

In addition to the National Latina Business Women Organization, Sacramento Chapter, Miss Reynoso's current board seats include the Mercy Foundation Community Council, the Lincoln Club of Sacramento and the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She is also a proud member of the Rotary Club of Sacramento. 

Katrina is the owner of KL Salazar Company which specializes in project based CFO services for small and medium sized companies within the Sacramento region. Ms. Salazar provides her clients with customized financial analysis, budgeting, and financial and management reporting services and advises clients regarding development of policies, procedures, and internal controls.

Previously a senior audit manager with the Reznick Group, Ms. Salazar has 15 years experience in audit, tax and finance for a variety of public and private organizations. Her industry experience includes commercial and residential real estate, non-profit organizations, health care networks, publishing (print, audio and video), construction contractors, employee benefits plans, food processors and distributors, and the hospitality industry. She is a licensed California Certified Public Accountant as well as a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the California Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the Rotary Club of Sacramento. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Ms. Salazar has held numerous leadership roles with non-profits, including CFO of one of the 20th largest Red Cross Chapters in the United States and former board positions as the Treasurer of the Sacramento YWCA and Northern Virginia Commercial Real Estate Women.

Ms. Salazar graduated from the University of Redlands in California with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts in Economic. She also studied economics at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. She is married to Roger Salazar and proud parent of two children.

Information coming soon…

Sylvia retired from UC Davis in December of 2006 after 24 years to pursue her life long dream as a small business owner of Reyes & Associates, which she founded over 9 years ago.

Reyes & Associates (R&A) is a successful comprehensive consulting and conference & event management company. With over 30 years experience in community outreach and coordination of conferences, meetings, and events, R&A is based in Sacramento, CA with established clients in California, New Mexico, Tennessee, Georgia, Texas and Mexico. The R&A mission and business relations goal is to provide a “one stop shop” and incomparable customer service for clients. With in house experts in all areas of event management, community outreach, fund development, graphics and web design, R&A represents non-profit, small business, public sector and corporate clients.

Currently Sylvia is guiding her company with a focus on providing healthcare awareness, patient advocacy and strategic outreach to diverse, under insured communities. Reyes & Associate clients include Creating Healthier Communities Diversity Coalition of Greater Sacramento, Latino Social Worker Network, Fontana Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Health Professionals Education Foundation.

Her leadership, community commitment and passion for community volunteerism was recently recognized by the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce who awarded Sylvia with the 2006 Business Woman of the Year Award. Sylvia is engaged to Alfredo Sanchez, has two sons and four grandchildren.

Sandra is the President of Thompson Enterprises, which works with the fast-paced internet economy. Thompson Enterprises works with individuals who wish to take advantage of economic trends, including affiliate marketing, the shift in retail consumer traffic, revenue sharing options, and performance-based marketing. Ms. Salazar-Thompson also provides leadership training and coaching to candidates, both on an individual basis, and in group settings such as regional training sessions, interactive voicemail, and video and audio conferencing. She also works with demographic trends and works with companies that recognize the demand for health and nutrition products that are tasty, healthy, and convenient. She is a frequent contributor to conferences and seminars. Her previous professional experience includes several executive positions within state government. Founder of the Latina Leadership Network in Sacramento, she is a graduate of Hastings College of the Law, the Center for Creative Leadership, the National Hispana Leadership Institute and Harvard University's Executive Program. Ms. Salazar-Thompson has worked extensively in the area of leadership development. She has three daughters, all three of whom will be in college this fall.

A native New Yorker Rhoda Santamaria has resided in Sacramento for almost 9 years. After 28 years in a corporate Media environment Rhoda ventured on her own and opened Casa Bella Galleria a Furniture and Accessories store in the up and coming Sacramento Hot Spot Del Paso Blvd.

Rhoda's passion for style and design led her to bringing a New York flavor to Sacramento. Casa Bella Galleria offers everything from NY Urban Minimalist to Classic Mediterranean Home Furnishings and wonderful accessories to tie it all together.  Shopping at Casa Bella is always a treat. Rhoda loves helping her clients create an environment that they love to come home to. Rhoda is fluent in Spanish (Puerto Rican Mom and Spanish Basque Dad) so she also loves catering to the Hispanic Market.

Rhoda has a BBA from Bernard Baruch College and loves running Marathons.

Gloria Torres has been a leader in Early Childhood Education in Sacramento for over 25 years. This, her first love, has competed with her second, art. She has made artistic creations, including her renowned “Frida Kahlo Purse Box Collection”, for many years and just recently formed her own business, “Chica Gloria Creations”, in order to share her artwork with others. Her one-of-akind creations are hand-designed; each of her purses is unique and the decorations adorning them are not duplicated. To learn more about Gloria and her creations, e-mail her at FoundCen@aol.com or contact her at Sacramento Montessori School at (916) 444-7786.

Amy has been in the insurance industry for over twenty five years. Her passion is helping families and small businesses protect what is most important to them. Combining her passion and knowledge of Long Term Care insurance, Amy has the opportunity to provide products from Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, a 150 year old company rated AAA in its class and named Fortune’s Most Admired Insurance Company for the 24th year in a row. She provides creative ideas from a network of specialists in all areas of financial security and support and enjoys helping individuals and families in preparing for retirement, special needs and estate planning. Her office is in Roseville, not too far from the State Capitol and she is thrilled to be a part of the NLBWA Team of Dynamic Women. Amy shares her passion by mentoring young Latina women, in educating women, and creating legacy among these women and their families.

Amy studied Pre-Med student at the University of California, Davis, but changed schools to attend the University of California, Santa Barbara. She received her Bachelors of Science in Biology and also Bachelors of the Arts in Liberal Science, with emphasis American Intellectual History, Entomology and Native American Religious Traditions. She  also received her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from National University.
Amy lives in the Sierra Foothill town of Grass Valley, with her husband, son, a large garden and many pets, of which a Cavalier Spaniel is her favorite.

Mayra Diaz
Board Member

Mayra Diaz is founding board member of NLBWA-Sacramento and a partner and shareholder of Los Compadres Auto Plaza in Sacramento, California.  Along with her husband Jesus, and business partners, Israel and Lori Ramirez, Mayra launched Los Compadres Auto Plaza in 2002.  Understanding the difference between launching a business and establishing a business, the four young entrepreneurs were determined to learn all aspects of the car dealership business. Designating September 2002 as the opening date for the car dealership, Mayra and her business partners spent one year learning all of the components in the car dealership business; including administration, operational, financial, liabilities, risk, profit margins, marketing, and accounting.  During this timeframe, they also built their business plan. Exactly one year later, Los Compadres’ Auto Plaza was established. During the first year of business, Los Compadres’ Auto Plaza earned an impressive $6,000,000 in gross revenues and created four new jobs within the Sacramento community.

Launching a successful car dealership with her partners gave Mayra the inspiration to embark on her own journey.  Recently, Mayra  returned to school to formalize her accounting education and complete her accounting degree.  She is currently a full time student studying business and accounting.  Mayra aspires to become certified as a California  Certified Public Accountant.  Mayra pursues these ambitions in Sacramento with her husband, Jesus,  and two daughters.