Uplift Team Members
PROJECT DIRECTOR
Quinn Brady
Quinn has extensive community organizing experience, including as co-chair of a successful $349 million school bond effort, a founding board member of SLO County UndocuSupport, and years of work in climate action, racial justice, policy advocacy, and non-profit development. Quinn is dedicated to fostering belonging in communities through collaboration, big conversations, and equitable solutions.
PROJECT MANAGER
Lady Freire
Lady has a background in supporting women who want to develop and grow through starting small businesses or joining the workforce, starting in her native Chile and most recently for Visión y Compromiso, and is passionate about working with the community to contribute to the construction of a more just and equitable society.
Community Engagement Manager, EDC
Alondra Gaytan
Alondra has been with the EDC since 2014 and recognized as a 40 under 40 leader in the Pacific Coast Business Times. As the Director of Strategic Relations, she drives the EDC’s mission for a thriving and inclusive economy, while also dedicating herself to community engagement and working with the EDC’s key partners and stakeholders for the economic vitality of the region.
Community Engagement, MBEP
Jahyzanna Wieder
Jahyzanna, a Monterey County native with a multicultural background, is driven by her passion for diversity and ethnic inclusion. As an Operations Manager at Monterey Bay Economic Partnership, she actively engages with disinvested communities in the region, working towards making a difference. With a commitment to ensuring all voices are heard and promoting inclusivity, Jahyzanna is dedicated to her work and excited to serve the community she calls home.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, EDC
Iriany Sánchez
Iriany works with organizations seeking to engage communities in regional initiatives, connecting people to resources and support as they work to fulfill their needs and aspirations in the greater Ventura and Santa Barbara County region. With over 20 years of experience in the lending and banking world, Iriany has held key management positions where she guided business partners and served as an expert in collateral management matters for specific products and businesses. Iriany is a native of Venezuela who has connected with the love of her first language and community by doing Spanish Theater for over 20 years and lately working as a Communication Coordinator for a local Non-profit Organization.
REGIONAL CONVENER, REACH
Melissa James
REACH President and CEO. A community leader with a proven track record of building highly effective teams and coalitions, Melissa brings a deep background in economic development, public policy, strategic communications and public relations. A Cal Poly graduate, Melissa worked as a capitol director in the state legislature before returning to the Central Coast, where she’s been instrumental in shaping policy and advocacy for several leading organizations. Melissa serves on the workforce development board for SLO County and the Board of Directors for San Luis Coastal Education Foundation. She’s been named to the Pacific Coast Business Times’ Top 50 Women in Business and Top 40 Under 40 as well as the San Luis Obispo Tribune’s Top 20 Under 40.
REGIONAL CONVENER, EDC
Bruce Stenslie
Bruce Stenslie has 30 years of experience in workforce and economic development and has served since 2007 as President and CEO of the Economic Development Collaborative (EDC). Stenslie is a Governor’s appointee to the California Workforce Development Board and serves in leadership positions for several state and local organizations, including the California Stewardship Network, California Statewide Certified Development Corporation, California Small Manufacturers Health and Welfare Trust, First 5 Ventura County, Ventura County P-20 Council and the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County.
REGIONAL CONVENER, MBEP
Tahra Goraya
Tahra brings to MBEP strong skills in leadership, management, policy advocacy, and public affairs. She is experienced in diverse issue areas across multiple sectors, including nonprofit management, business, and government. Tahra’s passion for health equity and economic justice was shaped by her experience growing up in a rural area which made her appreciate the tremendous contributions that agricultural communities bring to the Central Coast.
ACCOUNTS & CONTRACTS, EDC
Monica Estrella
Monica Estrella has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the entrepreneurship and economic development realms. She currently works as the Grants & Contracts Manager for the Economic Development Collaborative in Ventura County. Previously, she served as the Assistant Director for the nationally ranked Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship (IECE) at California State University San Bernardino (CSUSB). She was the Director of numerous programs, including the nationally recognized Integrated Technology Transfer Network (ITTN). Monica created and taught undergraduate and graduate-level courses for CSUSB and hundreds of workshops throughout her career. Monica received both her undergraduate degree and graduate degrees from CSUSB
