Carmen Herrera-Mansir
Executive Director
Carmen Herrera-Mansir is the Executive Director of El Pájaro Community Development Corporation (El Pájaro CDC), under her leadership, El Pájaro CDC has become a leading practitioner of effective and innovative microenterprise development, transforming lives through entrepreneurship. The granddaughter of Bracero farmworkers and the daughter of a farmworker-turned-successful-entrepreneur, Herrera-Mansir has always been deeply drawn to creating opportunities for broader economic inclusion for underserved communities. Her family history provides her a unique perspective and an inspiration for El Pájaro CDC’s success. Under her leadership, El Pájaro CDC, has expanded its programs and services and now offers both space – its Commercial Kitchen Incubator and the Plaza Vigil Business Incubator – and comprehensive small business education and technical assistance program to successfully support a growing roster of local small businesses. The organization has made a real difference in our community. Along with her team, Carmen is currently working to develop a new Microlending Program. El Pájaro CDC serves 300 clients each year. El Pájaro CDC is also a general partner of Northgate Apartments and 84 low-income unit rental housing projects.
The organization’s latest program – the Commercial Kitchen Incubator – successfully capitalizes on the unique culture of the Pájaro Valley. The Commercial Kitchen Incubator empowers new and emerging businesses to access an affordable, shared commercial kitchen and its industrial kitchen equipment, network with other business owners, and access appropriate technical assistance including marketing, packaging, distribution, and capital. The Commercial Kitchen Incubator is the only program in the Central Coast region of California.
Ms. Herrera has a Law degree from Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico and a Master’s Degree in International Policy (Governance and Development Specialization) from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies (formerly Monterey Institute of International Studies.) She earned a certificate in Economic Development Financing from the National Development Council in 2006.
