Staff/Board

Gloria Cruz

Gloria Cruz is a passionate public servant with over 20 years of experience in actively developing policy and advocacy with a race and equity framework. She has also been a lifelong activist for LGBT and Immigrant rights, being a member of both communities. She was born in Michoacan, Mexico, and migrated to the United States …

Gloria Cruz Read More »

Rebecca Hanson

Rebecca Hanson is the Executive Director of the Education Fund, a nonprofit partnership between 6 SEIU local unions and 22 healthcare industry and public sector employers working to advance the careers of 100,000 SEIU healthcare workers. She serves as the Chairperson of the California Interagency Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship and is a member of the …

Rebecca Hanson Read More »

Jaclyn Moreno

Jaclyn Moreno is the Program Director for the California EDGE Coalition.  She has over two decades of experience as a psychologist focusing specifically on mental health and ensuring successful transition from high school to career or college for students with disabilities.  Jaclyn has also worked as a college professor through Loyola Marymount Universities teacher preparation …

Jaclyn Moreno Read More »

Abbie Langston

Abbie Langston, Director, Equitable Economy, leads efforts to redesign our economy on the principles of equity, sustainability, and shared prosperity, developing partnerships and systems-change efforts focused on power building, narrative change, and policy advocacy. Through the National Equity Atlas partnership between PolicyLink and the USC Equity Research Institute, she produces tailored research to support grassroots campaigns and cross-sector …

Abbie Langston Read More »

Bianca Blomquist

Bianca directs California’s policy and government affairs operations in California. She also directs outreach for the Northern California region, including the Bay Area and Silicon Valley. She leverages the collective voices of California stakeholders and small business owners to compete on a level playing field and to provide quality jobs for themselves and for California …

Bianca Blomquist Read More »

Bob Lanter

Bob Lanter is currently the Executive Director of the California Workforce Association leading the way in workforce strategy and the implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act for the state of California. Bob has worked almost two decades in the public sector and non-profit industry, with experience in the field of workforce development and …

Bob Lanter Read More »

Lawrence Gayden

Lawrence Gayden is Policy Director for the Sacramento-based California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA). CMTA is the sole statewide trade association for manufacturers, representing more than 400 manufacturers on various competitiveness issues and programs. Born and raised in Oakland, Lawrence received his Bachelor of Arts in English at California State University, Sacramento. After a stint …

Lawrence Gayden Read More »

Marinez Ruiz

Marinez has a passion for helping underserved communities. She has worked with the Black, Indigenous and People of color (BIPOC) community by providing resources, creating connections, delivering support, and engaging in advocacy. Marinez is committed to helping others receive the adequate education, knowledge, and support necessary to thrive in today’s economy. Prior to joining the …

Marinez Ruiz Read More »

Sebastien Chaubard

Sebastien is a Program Manager with the CA EDGE Coalition. He is responsible for timely completion of contract deliverables, reporting, and producing awareness events focused on closing California’s education and workforce skills gap to achieve greater equity, a broadly shared prosperity, and economic mobility for all Californians. Sebastien has spent the last six years of …

Sebastien Chaubard Read More »

Lexi Lopez

Lexi Lopez is the CA EDGE Coalition’s Program Director. Lexi has a passion for advocacy and spent four years working to eliminate educational inequities for K-12 students as the Director of Communications and Advocacy at EdVoice where she led the development and implementation of strategic statewide and local communications and advocacy to advance policies in California …

Lexi Lopez Read More »