MEET THE TEAM & BOARD

Our Team

Rocio Andrade

Business Development Manager

Meet Rocio

Karla Ballesteros

Executive Assistant

Meet Karla

Luz Falcon-Toledo

Office and Property Manager

Meet Luz

Carmen Herrera-Mansir

Executive Director

Meet Carmen

Claudia Manrique

RWBC Program Director

Meet Claudia

Amy Mascareñas

Grants and Evaluation Manager

Meet Amy

Gerardo Rodriguez

Loan Officer

Meet Gerardo

Isaac Rodriguez

RWBC Program Assistant

Meet Isaac

Griselda Solis

Loan Officer

Meet Griselda

Cesario Ruiz

Kitchen Incubator Program Manager

Meet Cesario

Our Board

Ana Luis Cortez

Vice Chair
Retired

Brad Barbeu

Board Member
Executive Director, Institute for Innovation & Economic Development (iiED) CSUMB

Eduardo Cervantes

Board Member
Dean of Education Centers, Cabrillo College

Guadalupe Zepeda

Board Member
General Manager – Mas Mac Corporation

Heidi Pickman

Board Member
Vice President, Engagement and External Affairs, CAMEO

Jorge Reguerin

Chair
Business Development, Santa Cruz County Bank

June Padilla Ponce

Treasurer
Owner, Sun Valley Farms

Rosa Sanchez Duran

Paralegal
Salinas, CA

Board meetings are scheduled on the second Monday of every other month at 4pm.

El Pajaro Community Development Corporation

23 East Beach Street, Suite #209
Watsonville, CA 95076

Hours of Operation:
Monday – Friday : 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Phone: (831) 722-1224
Fax: (831) 722-3128

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Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U. S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.

Accommodation for individuals with a disability will be made. Please notify a staff member of your needs in advance.

Rocio Andrade

Business Development Manager

Rocio joined El Pájaro CDC team in 2018 and she is excited to be part of a passionate team working towards supporting underserved entrepreneurs in the community. As the Business Development Manager, she assists aspiring and existing entrepreneurs to navigate and access the programs and services offered by El Pájaro CDC. She focuses on coordinating training for startups, conducts basic business counseling, and provides guidance with accessing capital. She also contributes to the development of new programs targeting the needs of entrepreneurs.

Before joining the El Pájaro CDC team, Rocio worked as the Business Development Manager for the Downtown Fresno Partnership, an organization working towards the revitalization of Fresno’s central business district. Rocio graduated from Fresno State with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.

Rocio is originally from Jalisco, Mexico, and migrated with her family to Monterey County in the early 2000s. In her free time, she enjoys creating new memories with family and friends and exploring new places in the tri-county area.

Karla Ballesteros

Executive Assistant

Karla Ballesteros joined El Pájaro CDC team in 2023 as the Executive Assistant. She is excited to be part of a team dedicated to helping an underserved community with entrepreneurship opportunities. The Executive Assistant supports the Executive Director in fulfilling the agency's goals and objectives by providing high-level administrative support for the ED, EPCDC managers, and the Board of Directors.

Before joining El Pájaro CDC team, Karla worked in the banking industry and customer service in retail. Her interest in continuous learning and growing professionally, she attended Cabrillo College and San Jose State University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. She is glad to support the Corporation's mission in fulfilling the goals and objectives of many in the community.

Karla enjoys spending time with the family and creating fun memories with her three daughters and husband. Specially, spending time on outdoor activities and eating by exploring different restaurants.

Luz Falcon-Toledo

Office and Property Manager

Luz was born and raised in Watsonville. As the daughter of Immigrants, the Pajaro Valley is very special to Luz because her parents both worked in agriculture. Her father migrated to California as part of the Bracero Program in the 60’s to work in Watsonville’s apple orchards and in later years, her mother joined him and worked in Watsonville’s growing strawberry industry.

Luz joined El Pajaro Community Development Corporation in March 2023 as the Office & Property Manager. Out of High School, Luz started her career in banking as an entry level teller. Realizing that helping clients with financial stability was her passion, Luz continued to work towards educating and supporting anyone that asked for help.

Luz has over 23 years of experience in banking and finance and is very excited to bring her knowledge to a non-profit which promotes equal access to economic opportunity for members of the community. Through hard work and dedication, Luz has always focused on exceeding in her role to provide the best service for her clients.

On her free time, Luz enjoys family time. A backyard barbecue surrounded by family and friends, making lasting memories, is a great evening for her.

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; 65% of these clients are women, and 84% are Latino or other minorities. 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.

Claudia Manrique

RWBC Program Director

Claudia Manrique joined El Pájaro Community Development Corporation in September 2022 as the Regional Women’s Business Center Director. Mrs. Manrique was born and raised in Guanajuato, Mexico and attended La Salle, high school, and later graduated from UDL as an Organizational Psychologist. Claudia has more than 17 years of experience working for financial institutions in Mexico. She has spent more than 10 years working for non-profit organizations in the Central Coast Region, providing Financial Capability to minorities in the region.

Claudia has provided financial coaching for low-income families, helped small business owners plan their financial future, and planned and developed workshops and coaching to provide financial literacy. She has served as a program administrator, provided leadership to her team, and managed federal grants. Being an immigrant has helped her be more understanding and empathetic towards her clients who have come to this country seeking to achieve their dreams.

Claudia enjoys spending time with her children and her husband, playing board games, traveling, and cooking during gatherings with friends and family.

Amy Mascareñas

Grants and Program Evaluation Manager

Amy oversees grant writing and managing grant, also leads El Pájaro CDC’s program evaluation efforts.

Out of high school, I started working in floriculture and worked in both retail and wholesale nurseries for 20 years. In my time in agriculture, I saw the drastic contrast between owners and workers. Having grown up with an activist single mom, I knew I had to find a way to be part of a more equitable solution. I had the opportunity to return to school and study Global Economics at the University of California Santa Cruz where my studies were focused on post-NAFTA Latin America. I love the work we do at El Pájaro CDC because we are supporting people to create their own path to economic autonomy. I value the work we do with women-owned businesses and small family farmers and seeing employees become owners is the best! I have lived in the Monterey Bay region my entire adult life and have seen changes both positive and negative and I am proud to be part of the positive change.

Gerardo Rodriguez, MBA

Loan Officer

Gerardo joined El Pájaro CDC team in fall 2021. He is very excited to start his career with a non-profit that focuses on supporting underserved local communities in creating and expanding their businesses. Coming from a family of entrepreneurs has given Gerardo a deep appreciation for people who want to follow their dreams and start a business. As a child, Gerardo witnessed the benefits of his family starting a business. His family began their journey by working in the local Salinas flea market and saw the evolution of a small flea market stand turn into a brick n mortar business on Alisal Street in Salinas, California. Once Gerardo completed his Bachelor of Arts degree, he returned home and joined AmeriCorps where he had the opportunity to work alongside the City of Salinas as a Small Business Support Coordinator. While working with the City of Salinas, he learned about the various resources available for small businesses in his community and developed relationships with many business owners on Alisal Street.

Gerardo admires all the work El Pájaro CDC does to guide and motivate their clients to have a successful business.

In 2017, Gerardo graduated from Vanguard University, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History/Political Science. In 2021, Gerardo enrolled at Concordia University Irvine, where he plans to complete an MBA degree.

Gerardo loves watching historical dramas and enjoys spending time with friends and family. During his free time, he loves playing his guitar and keyboard.

Isaac Rodriguez

RWBC Program Assistant

Isaac joined the El Pajaro CDC team in 2022, and as the Program Assistant, he works directly with small business owners to help them navigate our services and assists clients who are applying for grants. Isaac comes from a family of small business owners and was motivated to join the team because he is passionate about helping others find the resources they need to start their businesses.

Isaac graduated from Vanguard University (VU) with a degree in Business Administration and a Minor in Communication. Before joining the El Pajaro CDC team, he worked as a student advisor at VU and discovered his passion for coaching and development and is now excited to have the opportunity to work with small business owners. He has also recently been accepted to Biola University, Crowell School of Business to pursue an MBA.

During his free time, Isaac enjoys being around his friends and family. He also enjoys traveling to new places and collecting souvenirs along the way.

Griselda Solis

Loan Officer

Griselda Gil-Solis is a loan officer with El Pajaro CDC. She provides loan consulting services to small business clients in the greater Tri-County area. Prior to joining El Pajaro CDC, Griselda was part of Accion Opportunity Fund for over 8 years, where she Managed the Small Business Loan team and later joined Partnership team as a Client Advisor.

Griselda, who ran her own small notary public business for over 14 years, understands what it is like to run a small business and leverages that experience when working with her clients. She found a love for the Non-profit sector, Microlending and working in underserved communities.

She is a proud mother of 3. Her eldest sons both attend UCLA. Richard is starting his Senior year, with a Political Science major, Jose David (J.D) is starting his sophomore year with Business Economics major. Lali, her youngest daughter, is an incoming first-year student at Alisal High School in Salinas active in Volleyball and Basketball.

In her spare time, you will find Griselda volunteering with her family's basketball Academy in Salinas, Gil Basketball Academy, where her children are active participants and volunteers.

Cesario Ruiz

Kitchen Incubator Program Manager

Cesario Ruiz joined El Pájaro CDC’s in 2013 to manage the Food Business Incubator Program.

Growing up in Andocutin, Guanajuato, a small village in Mexico, better known as El Bajio (one of the richest zones in agricultural and livestock production) Cesario comes from a traditional family where cooking formed part of the quotidian life. It was at the age of 11 that he asked his mother to let him cook a meal for his entire family (he has 8 siblings). With their mom’s guidance and support, he was able to accomplish his goal. His passion for cooking was just getting started. His first official food service-related job was as a dishwasher in a commercial kitchen. His interest in cooking made him advance in the kitchen, and after a few months in the restaurant he was promoted to the prep station, then to cook, and finally, store manager. With limited room for growth in that position, he decided to explore other options. He worked with two prominent local businesses while mastering the financial and administrative sides of food service.

His strong background made Cesario the ideal candidate as a manger of El Pájaro CDC’s Business Incubator Program. He is responsible for the coordination the operation of the kitchen and providing support and resources to current and aspiring food entrepreneurs. Cesario is also the instructor and creator of our new How to Start a Food Business program curricula. Thanks to his leadership the Kitchen Incubator Program has support over 50 entrepreneurs in developing their own food products and brands.

He believes fundamentally that the best way to create stronger connections between people is to share anything you excel at- pay it forward.

Cesario is also a food entrepreneur and has a passion for Cuban culture, especially music and dance (he’s been teaching Cuban salsa for almost two decades). One of his favorite hobbies when not in the kitchen or assisting other food startups, you will find him teaching dance and expanding his network of friends and community members.

MEET THE TEAM & BOARD

Our Team

Rocio Andrade

Karla Ballesteros

Luz Falcon-Toledo

Carmen Herrera-Mansir

Claudia Manrique

Amy Mascareñas

Gerardo Rodriguez

Isaac Rodriguez

Griselda Solis

Cesario Ruiz

Our Board

Ana Luis Cortez

Brad Barbeu

Eduardo Cervantes

Guadalupe Zepeda

Heidi Pickman

Jorge Reguerin

June Padilla Ponce

Rosa Sanchez Duran

Navigation

Resources

Accommodation for individuals with a disability will be made. Please notify a staff member of your needs in advance.

Rocio Andrade

Karla Ballesteros​

Luz Falcon-Toledo

Carmen Herrera-Mansir

Claudia Manrique

Amy Mascareñas​

Gerardo Rodriguez, MBA

Isaac Rodriguez

Griselda Solis

Cesario Ruiz

Karla Ballesteros

Amy Mascareñas