Mark Flores is Director of Recreation and Community Services for the City of Lynwood. Mr. Flores has over 25 years of experience managing and developing municipal recreation and community programs, facilities, and large-scale public events. He received his bachelor’s degree from Loyola Marymount University.

Stephen Faulk is the Business Operations Compliance Manager for American Honda Finance Corporation where he uses his experience as a lawyer for 15 years to ensure large companies protect the public and follow the rules. He joined Honda in 2012 as part of its Corporate Legal Department working with legal matters concerning product liability and finance law. Prior to Honda, Stephen worked for a law firm Bowman and Brooke. Stephen is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Pepperdine University School of Law.

Theresa Price is founder and president of the National College Resources Foundation and The College Expo, which connect students to colleges, universities, and post-secondary certification programs, as well as scholarships and college preparatory programs and resources. Ms. Price began her career in radio and television working for KGFJ-AM, KACE-FM, KCBS-TV, and Cox Broadcasting before founding her own marketing firm, Jabez 3 Enterprises, serving entertainment and recording companies, as well as local businesses. She attended California State University, Long Beach with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism.

Lalo Trujillo is the founder and principal of Mission Trail Advisors, LLC, which specializes in advising school districts and municipal entities on financing for facilities improvement programs. He has over 25 years of experience in the commercial banking and municipal bond industry and has held leadership positions at the municipal bond departments of major commercial banks, investment banks, and in the financial advisory industry. Mr. Trujillo has served as Director of Finance for a city and a governmental agency in southern California. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the Anderson School of Management at UCLA.

Teresa Blanco, the Director of Community Engagement and Wellness at Northgate González Market since 2010, is a passionate advocate for community well-being. Her role integrates her dedication to community service with her work on behalf of Northgate Market, a family-owned business committed to uplifting its store associates and the communities it serves. She spearheads "Viva La Salud," a health and wellness-focused cause-related marketing program. Teresa also manages company donations, and initiatives to combat food insecurity, and supports community grants, such as the Southern California Nutrition Incentive Program, "Mas Fresco, More Fresh" in collaboration with UC San Diego. Furthermore, she coordinates the annual "Cooking Up Change," a high school healthy lunch culinary competition. In 2016, Ms. Blanco co-founded and continues to manage "Nueva Esperanza," a cancer support group for Northgate Market associates and their families.

Clay has served as Chief Executive Officer of St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood since 2022. Previously, Clay served as Chief Executive Officer at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital in Fountain Valley. Clay previously held progressive administrative positions at Los Alamitos Medical Center in Los Alamitos, and Nacogdoches Medical Center in Nacogdoches, Texas.

Clay earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Texas in Austin, McCombs School of Business, and his Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Clay also served in the United States Air Force as an Acquisitions Officer for the Space and Missile Systems Center in Los Angeles, California, and Electronic Systems Center in Hanscom, Massachusetts. Clay is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Natalia Flores is the Senior Vice President of Regional Program and Operations at Think Together, the largest provider of expanded learning programs in California serving over 100,000 students at more than 400 locations in over 40 school districts and charter partners. Through this work Ms. Flores works closely with leadership to provide programs and services to students with the goal to Change the Odds for Kids.  Ms. Flores is the daughter to immigrant parents from Jalisco, Mexico, a Lynwood Unified School District alumnus, and continues to be a Lynwood resident. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Chicano Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles and a Master’s degree in Education from Cal State University, Long Beach.  Ms. Flores loves to travel, spend time with her family and friends, and looks forward to the impact that the foundation will have in the Lynwood community.

Gary Hardie, Jr., has served on the Board since 2014 when he was elected at the age of 26. He is a proud product of Lynwood in the culturally rich Southeast Los Angeles, with demographics consisting of predominantly African Americans and Latinos, to which he credits his grit and resilience. After pursuing a degree in English at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Hardie dedicated his life to building healthy individuals and leading by example, to further promote the broader vision of community building and goals of society. Hardie enjoys more than 15 years of experience working and volunteering in public, non-profit, and school settings that include management, public relations, marketing, and administration. Before joining the Social Justice Learning Institute as Director of Policy and Advocacy, Hardie worked as a Policy Advisor to a member of the 115th and 116th Congress. Hardie has also served on several boards and commissions, including the City of Lynwood Personnel Commission, California Advancing Pathways for Students Joint-Powers Authority, President of the California Association of Black School Educators, and the California Student Opportunity and Access Program Advisory Committee. Hardie's vision to affect real change in his community has led him to launch The Village Project - in response to President Obama’s My Brother's Keeper initiative - to address the issues of equity and access for our most vulnerable student populations.

Anqui Renise Heming has been a parent volunteer with the Lynwood Unified School District (LUSD) for 15 years. She has four children who have attended LUSD schools including: Mark Twain, Rosa Parks, Lynwood Middle School, and Firebaugh High School. Anqui works with and supports the Lynwood African American Parent Advisory Council and the Equity Department. She also is the owner of A.R. Starlite Productions (ARSP),which promotes growth, development and appreciation of music through the arts, with the Nova Troubadours Big Band, The Compton Conservatory of Music, and The Compton Sheriff's Annual Benefit and Toy Drive for the children of Compton, Lynwood and surrounding cities.

Pauline Herrera is a rising senior at Firebaugh High School, where she currently serves as ASB Vice President. She is a well-rounded student leader involved in FHS and club volleyball, the Student Site Council, and the ELCAP Committee as a student representative. A committed scholar, Pauline has been part of AVID for five years, has taken advantage of dual enrollment courses, and AP classes.

She attended Marshall Elementary and Cesar Chavez Middle School, and she plans to pursue a career in nursing or pediatric medicine. Pauline’s favorite thing about Firebaugh High School is the deep sense of community and unity that defines the campus culture.

Denise Lopez is a dedicated student leader at Lynwood High School, where she serves as ASB President. A proud product of Lynwood schools, Denise attended Rosa Parks Elementary and Hosler Middle School before joining LHS. She is actively involved in the Humane Action Club and Project IMPACT, contributing to causes that uplift her community.

After high school, Denise aspires to become a teacher and return to Lynwood to educate and empower the next generation. Her favorite thing about Lynwood High School is the strong sense of community shared among students and staff.

Martha Maldonado is a Financial Services Professional who has served in the retail banking industry for 18 years. She is the current VP, Branch Manager of the Downey branch, which is located in the premises of the Los Angeles County of Education. She holds a Master’s degree in Education, and a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services. She has a passion for helping people, which has translated to the financial retail sector in the way she advocates for clients; always guiding and educating them towards achieving financial success. Martha’s passion for helping people stems from her background as a first-generation immigrant, a mother of a child with special needs, and someone who can identify as having been a part of underserved communities.

During her tenure as a Branch Manager, Martha and her team have reached the highest levels of achievement in sales, service, membership growth, and retention, achieving the highest ranking for three years in a row, and number two for the fourth year. This is largely due to the culture of support and care provided to the clientele at the Downey branch, which leads to a steady flow of member referrals. Her efforts in business development throughout the community include active participation in chamber events, job fairs, being a judge in academic decathlons, outreach to local city officials, etc. She is also a member of the group Long Beach Professional Women for Good, which is centered around business networking opportunities while assisting fund raising efforts for various charitable organizations.

Outside of her role, Martha is a mother of two sons and she enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends as well as traveling.

Dr. Maribel Martinez has dedicated over two decades to the Lynwood Unified School District, where she began her career in 2003 as an 8th-grade teacher. Since then, she has held multiple leadership roles including Teacher on Special Assignment, Dean, Assistant Principal, Principal, and Coordinator. For the past five years, she has served as Director of Student Services, leading initiatives that support the social-emotional, and wellness needs of students and families. Dr. Martinez has led the implementation of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework, helping Lynwood Unified earn recognition as a PBIS Model District. Dr. Martinez also played a central role in securing a $24.5 million Community Schools Grant, significantly expanding wraparound services for students. Through the Health Collaborative, she has cultivated strong partnerships with local agencies, bringing comprehensive health and wellness support to Lynwood families.

Most recently, Dr. Martinez, along with two talented student multimedia editors from Firebaugh High School, received the prestigious National School Communications Award from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) for Beyond the Classroom, a district podcast she hosts.The podcast features timely conversations on mental health, physical wellness, and family-centered strategies that empower the community beyond the school setting. Dr. Martinez earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California. Her leadership reflects a deep commitment to equity, community, and the belief that every child deserves access to the tools and support needed to thrive.

Carlos Zaragoza is the Interim Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources for Lynwood Unified School District. He began in the Lynwood community in 2010 when he became the Principal of Lynwood High School (LHS).During his tenure at LHS, Mr. Zaragoza demonstrated exceptional leadership by spearheading initiatives to eliminate tracking, promote heterogeneous classes,and champion open access to Advanced Placement courses. These efforts culminated in Lynwood Unified being recognized as the 2017 AP District of the Year by the College Board.